A solid episode of The 100 is ruined by a shocking twist ending that does a long-time character dirty.
Clarke’s plans are derailed by the red sun toxin, while the Shepherd and his disciples put Shedheda in his place.
Usually, I go through the entire episode, dissecting the parts that need dissecting and glancing over others that aren’t as important to the overall story. But given the events that took place at the end of the episode, we have to start with what is a terrible ending for a long-standing main character.
In the final scenes of the episode, Bellamy — who along with Bill is one of only two people from Bardo still alive — finds a book that reveals to him that Maddie may hold the Key to the Last War within her memories. And in a moment of ultimate melodrama, Clarke — even though she has plenty of other options available — shoots and presumably kills Bellamy.
Let me break down why this is one of the dumbest storyline decisions I’ve ever witnessed, and may have just crushed any chance for the show to end on a high note:
- If the information the Shepard wants is within the minds of people who have had the MindDrive within them, then Clarke and Shedheda should have it as well, meaning Maddie isn’t in as much danger as Clarke apparently thought.
- Clarke shooting Bellamy is the definition of plot-driven action. It’s not rooted in character motivation. Why shoot Bellamy when the Shepard can do exactly what Bellamy could to Maddie? Why even care about the book when it was sitting on the same table around everybody the entire time and only when Bellamy picks it up does it matter? Why not take Maddie with you to the other planet to save her? Why not do literally anything else than shoot someone who has only been on the other team for five hours?
- Bellamy has not been a Disciple for very long, nor has he done anything he can’t come back from. Clarke killing him is way out of proportion.
It only takes a few moments of thought to realize the glaring plot holes here. And the worst part is that the rest of the episode was actually pretty good, but the ending is an absolute deal-breaker and ruins everything that came before it.
Grade before final scene: B-
Grade after final scene: F-
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