ignis et sanguis @commandervalyria - Tumblr Blog

can you talk about the fealty scene I really need to read some new ideas after 3 years lol. serious tho.

OMGsomeone wants a long post. You know I can’t not write this. You know it and yousend me these things. Ok. Fine.

Now we’vehashed this stuff like ten million times, but you’re asking for new ideas, soI’ve been scratching my head some more. How else can we look at this scene (andevery connected scene after)?

Well,one other way is to take the romance out of it.

Ifwe take Clarke and Lexa’s relationship at face value, they haven’t known oneanother very long, they met and worked together through a build-up to war, withlots of tension and anxiety thrown into the mix. They had to learn to trust oneanother though there was no reason to. They connected because they were youngwomen who could see something of the other’s life/dilemma in themselves andbecause leadership is a burden that is best shared.

And,no matter how you look at it, Lexa was impressed with Clarke’s daring, whileClarke had the confidence of control over Lexa. We don’t call Clarke abrilliant manipulator for nothing.

Lexawas able to relate to Clarke over Finn’s death. Lexa felt responsible forCostia’s, just as Clarke felt responsible for (and was the direct actor to) Finn’s.This became a direct line toward the (I know this will be an unpopular opinion,but I’m trying a different tack here) unlikely kiss in the tent. Did Lexa haveto be written as being so easily pushed by Clarke? The moment is more aboutpresenting Clarke as the Biggest Badass Who Fears Nothing and is Way Tougherthan Big Time Savage Grounder Commander Lexa, than it is about “romance.”It’s almost a total mockery of Lexa as a Leader. Why did they include a kiss inthat scene? The long-suffering joke of Lexa being a “total bottom” anda “useless lesbian” gets its kick-off here and while funny out-of-context,in the moment, it’s just baffling (and maybe a little bait-y). Itcertainly serves Lexa, if we are to believe her as the leader of these people,very poorly.

When Clarke runs the assassin intoLexa’s tent or backs Lexa against the table, when she comes up with the trickto outwit the pauna, or even how to “cure” Lincoln, her dominance in Mt.Weather, figuring out Gustus’ poisoned cup, her ability to lead, Clarke isgiven the kind of characterization that might be a variation on a “Mary Sue.” Even though she is only17 when we meet her, has been raised in relative comfort to the rest of theArk, has no particular training in anything other than medicine and art, sheappears almost genius-like in the first two seasons, courageous and dangerousto a fault (though circumstances for survival are the given justifications forher more hardcore qualities).

Clarke is the stand-out characterbecause she stands up to everyone, is cleverer than people much older and moreexperienced than she is (Lexa, for example, is supposed to be a bit older,trained from childhood to lead, to survive in that wild environment that Clarkehas only experienced for a few weeks by the time theymeet, to be a strategic thinker and warrior with no concern for her own life,with even an AI embedded in her brain to help her, but she is mostly depictedas a kind of post-apocalyptic fop, easily humiliated and even intimidatedby Clarke). While “Mary Sue” istypically a derogatory term (and a highly sexist one considering how many malecharacters fit these characterizations), it also follows that Clarke’scharacterization will be dragged down in later seasons, pushing her far off thepedestal the writers deliberately placed her on. Punishing strong female characters is another trope this showcan’t stay away from. Clarke’s exceptionality in the first two seasons meansshe will be devalued and all but destroyed in later seasons (starting withseason 3).

In season 3, Clarke and Lexa’sroles from season 2 are almost reversed: now Clarke is the “savage grounder” inher grungy clothes and hair, still exceptional in her ability to hunt and hide,while Lexa is the one living in the sky: cleaner, more regal, more queen-likein her comfort zone in Polis Tower.

This time around, though, Lexashows some of her innate exceptionality: while Clarke has already devalued herand considers her weak (Lexa can’t lead her coalition without the power ofWanheda, she couldn’t possibly win in a fight against Roan unless Clarkeinterferes first), Lexa’s hidden talents are allowed to surface. We get a hintof her force when she does something we were more likely to see Clarke do inseasons 1 or 2: she kicks an enemy off a tower (compare this to Clarke takingdown and frog-marching the assassin into Lexa’s tent). This is a cool momentand we cheer because Lexa is finally showing herself to be as much a badass asClarke is. Unfortunately, this is also the moment that Lexa loses control ofher coalition and will face betrayal by her (understandably) anxiousambassadors. These women cannot be exceptional and succeed: they have to betaken down (imagine if a male actor were playing Lexa in the exact same scene:his intimidation routine would probably brook no further confrontations).

Clarke’s “concern” for Lexa isplayed off as only concern for the well-being of her people. Does it mean sheloves Lexa though? Clarke is compassionate; she’s not a cold-blooded character(though she is truly “ruthless” in a physical way that Lexa is only describedas and never acts it). We can look at Clarke’s “concern” as nothing more thanthat: Lexa is putting her life on the line to protect her world and if shedies, Clarke will have no friend in the Grounder world and what will happenthen?

Clarke ran away from her people,has been hiding from them (and the rest of the world) for months whenseason 3 opens. She’s let “her people” take care of their own business andlikely never had any intention of going back. Clarke doesn’t want to be draggedback into anything to do with Lexa, her people, the grounders, any of it.She’s angry when she’s kidnapped, she’s confused and anxious by the Wanhedarevelation and is no doubt suffering a kind of PTSD, and doesn’t need to hearhow she’s “haunted by what she’s done” from Lexa of all people (compare this toher own confession to Madi in season 5 about not wanting to be “haunted” by theghosts of her past).

Clarke isn’t in love with anyone,has no desire for anyone. She hasn’t been pining for Lexa. If she ever allowedLexa to cross her mind, it was likely to rue over her anger and a desire forrevenge. Did Lexa use her? Was the kiss just a trick? Everything in her recent past becomes tainted. Even any possible revenge desire is quicklybetrayed by her sense of guilt and responsibility. Lexa’s actions did not automaticallylead to Clarke pulling a lever. That was on Clarke (and Bellamy, let’s notforget). Lexa pointing this out, beingas cavalier as Clarke has been with her in the past, is like, well, spitting inher face (for Lexa, it’s a necessary tactic: she needs Wanheda at her side).

So why are there such deep emotionsbetween Clarke and Lexa?

We can chalk a lot of things up tophysical attraction, heat-of-the-moment desires at a time when tomorrow maynever come. A mutual need for redemption from the one person whounderstands completely what we are suffering.

Lexa and Clarke understand oneanother in a way no one else does and their physical attraction forces a handof forgiveness, but not too soon: this has to be dragged out so Clarke’s futuredevastation is total.

In the moment she swears fealty toClarke, with all the gentleness and humility she can muster, Lexa fulfills hercharacter’s fate as subordinate to Clarke (and to Clarke’s people; Lexa willeven kill her own people in the CoL to protect Clarke in her Ultimate Herorole), acknowledging Clarke as superior, rendering herself as the leader(unknowingly) complicit with her people’s downfall. She does this to establisha beachhead for Clarke’s trust; Clarke has bowed to her though she had noreason to do so, so Lexa must give something in return. Instead of making promisesClarke will not believe, Lexa offers her own life as forfeit in this would-begame of thrones.

Throughout the first half of season3 Lexa is almost reassuring Clarke constantly that she will die, butcontingencies have been made: it’s as if she’s saying See, Clarke, you andyour people will be ok because I’m going to die soon which will make you happysince you hate me so much and the next Commander will be convenientlysubservient to you!

PS: I’m completely mad for youbut I’d never insult you by telling you, so this is the best I can do. Perhapsyou’ll think better of me someday.

If you look at her actions thisway, Titus’ frustration with the entire situation is completely justified (nothis actions, but his feelings).

Over the following days and weeks,Lexa seeks to elevate Clarke even further, showing her a deference and respectin public that unnerves Titus. He knows that Lexa sees Clarke as a strongerleader than she is, has even made Aden (and the other Nightbloods) obedient toClarke’s needs (which Lexa misunderstands as always protecting herpeople). Titus’ outrage is that of thedesperate patriot watching his beloved leader sell their country out to anenemy.

And Clarke’s people fulfill therest: in a moment that should have been a bridge to real peace, Pike andBellamy decide mass murder is a better option. Titus is proven right and Lexais placed in a terrible position of once again having to choose what sheprefers (Clarke) over her leadership obligations to her people.

Lexa acts as pragmatically as shecan, hoping to keep Clarke’s trust and stall long enough for Skaikru to takedown Pike from within. It is a terrible mistake and one she knows she ismaking, one the voices in her head (the AI) remind her of constantly. Lexa is goingto pay the ultimate price for putting Clarke first and it’s a lesson Clarkewill never forget.

In all of this, Lexa never believesClarke has any real feelings for her beyond bitterness, resentment andresignation. She treats Clarke with quiet deference; Lexa gives, Clarkereceives. No demands are made, no feelings open for trade. Lexa serves herpeople and Clarke is now First of those people.

But Lexa sees Clarke as a betterperson than she is and Clarke, in a more peaceful environment where she iscatered to as the Skaikru ambassador, doesn’t fail. In Polis Tower, Clarkeisn’t her forceful, bossy self as she has been in the past. She is almostpassive this time around, never really seeming to connect with anyone oranything. She remains mostly aloof, her feelings only betrayed when she thinksLexa is about to be killed in the fight with Roan. Lexa interprets Clarke’sfrustration as seeing her as weak (she almost hisses when she tells Clarke“you’ve never seen me fight!”), and has to keep her own in check when Clarkefoolishly interferes by dealing with Nia herself.

Clarke has no idea who Nia is orwhat she is capable of, in spite hearing stories from Lexa that she is givencause to doubt thanks to Roan. Clarke’s feelings allow her to be easily manipulatedby someone Lexa knows too well. Lexa knows how to play Nia’s game. Clarkedoesn’t.

And I go off even further how allof that got wasted, but this is going to be long enough as it is.

Clarke’s reaction to Lexa kneelingbefore her isn’t far off from her reaction to watching Lexa fight Roan (andwin): she’s confounded, a little awed and ultimately, relieved of a burden thatLexa never wanted her to have (“I never meant to turn you into this”). By the time Lexa wins her fight, Clarkeknows, now, that Lexa is strong and capable and, in the quiet moment togetherin her room that evening, knows Lexa’s sincerity is without question. The kisswasn’t a trick. The betrayal hurt them both. There are, sometimes, no gooddecisions to make in war. We do the best we can. And Lexa has now proven shestands with Clarke and will not leave her side.

But does Clarke love her?

At this point in the story Clarke’sfeelings are certainly starting to thaw, but she hasn’t given herself theluxury of hoping the world will change for the better. Lexa’s victory over Niagives her a moment of hope (one too quickly taken away by Pike and Bellamy),but Clarke isn’t going to go around falling in love with anyone and planningfor a future life. What life could she have with Lexa? The attraction is stillthere and that understanding that they share…but she’s not ready. She may neverbe ready.

Lexa’s feelings are slightly moreopen: her actions are a silent plea for, if not forgiveness, at least peacebetween them. She wants peace for Clarke and their people. Lexa’s feelings area deep infatuation with someone she sees as Better, someone, if Lexa had herway, she would probably put on the throne herself. In Lexa’s mind, Clarke isthe best of all of them and deserves whatever good Lexa can bring her. Lexa’sdeference, born of a motherless child raised to be a ruthless leader, is almostchildlike and innocent at times. Her otherwise pragmatic qualities are just acover for a real idealism: can Clarke be the leader that will inspire and uniteeveryone? And if she doesn’t want it, Lexa will do everything she can toprotect her.

By the end of Watch the Thrones,Clarke can be in no doubt of Lexa’s regard, of her sincerity and possibly evenher desire. Lexa comes to her that night after the fight with Roan with nothingbut gratitude and humility. This isn’t the Commander. Her hair isn’t braidedand she wears no armor, no sash, no weapon. She is open and vulnerable. Shespeaks softly and with care. She is mindful of Clarke’s feelings and respectsthem. If Clarke had felt an equal desire, she could have done whatever sheliked. But Clarke’s desire was not the same.

Clarke’s walls are still very muchin place, but she has grown more thoughtful about recent events and is openlyre-evaluating her anger and pain, if it is even justified anymore. Lexa haschanged her mind, but Lexa is off-limits. Clarke is smart enough to know thattheir places in this society are too fragile, too filled with responsibility toothers. She isn’t going to allow herself to fail this time: she may have neededa “human connection” when Lexa kissed her, but she fully rejects it now, foreveryone’s sake, even if there will always be a hint of wonder and care for theCommander.

I think it’s pretty significantthat throughout season 2, Clarke constantly referred to Lexa by her given name(without consequence), especially in private, but now, she is just “Heda.”

You have your place, I havemine. This is how it must be.

If Lexa looks hurt, she knows shehas no right to be and meets Clarke’s rejection with kindness and thecarefulness she is determined will heal everything. She knows Clarke is right.Lexa leaves that room hiding a broken heart, but determined that she and Clarkemight at least develop a friendship. They are once again on the same page, heading in the same direction.

None of this is allowed to progressof course, because Pike and Bellamy have already set the wheels of fate inmotion. There is a sickening parallel to Pike and Bellamy returning from theirgory task after we have heard Clarke jokingly refer once again to Lexa’s death.We’re meant to see it: Lexa’s death is now a certainty.

Pike hatched this plan because hewas traumatized by Azgeda and xenophobic as a result. His cult-like sway overBellamy and others is meant to parallel the return of Jaha with his bag ofchips (and the cult-like following that he gathers for Alie). Titus, anotheranalogue for Pike and Jaha (the three un-wise men), is preparing his finaloption. Lexa and Clarke, two queens safe in their tower, have no idea what isabout to happen.

It is no coincidence the show keepsbringing Octavia into the story (the three unwise men have their analogues too:the three queens Lexa, Clarke, Octavia) and this time she’s back to guilt-tripClarke into a pointless expedition back home. But Clarke doesn’t argue with anysincerity or with any of her season one or two ferocity. She’s not fighting atall.

In the scene in her room withOctavia, Clarke can’t quite bring herself to offer a sound argument toOctavia’s pleading for her to go home and solve the problem: if she did goback, it is more than likely she would have been killed outright and if notkilled, she might have been held hostage, used as a bargaining chip, kept lockedup and silent. Even if Clarke could rally a few more to their cause, they don’thave control of the weapons and Clarke is completely ignorant at this point ofJaha and Alie. If Clarke had made it back to Arkadia, it’s very unlikely itwould have solved anything. Octavia, too desperate, isn’t going to see that andClarke, trapped between here and there with the burden of being the Commanderof Death and the savior of her people, is too closed to any other idea. This ishow it always goes. She’s the self-sacrificing hero and her mother’s life isalso at stake.

There is no plan only a hope and asingle chance in hell that Clarke knows is probably going to get her killed.Standing at the window, reluctant to face Octavia, Clarke knows it. She knowsthis is probably the end. Her people have gone too far and there is no goingback (and she still doesn’t know the half of it). She killed over 300 in Mt.Weather. She killed or ordered the killing of 300 of Lexa’s warriors. 300 morewere slaughtered on that hill. At some point the balance has to spin the otherway. Clarke and/or her people will have to pay for their “crimes.” She ran away. She’s had a brief respite. Nowit’s time to pay the piper.

Emerson’s recent visit is onlyanother stark reminder of that. As Lexa told her, she can’t run away from whoshe is.

And Lexa loves her.

Lexa, who already lost someone sheloved to a dictator. Will her head be delivered to Lexa’s bed next?

Lexa was wrong. She’s not going todie soon, Clarke is.

Clarke knows her death isinevitable and the only thing on her mind is how it will affect Lexa.

So she goes to her.

Finding her gone, Octavia departsin disgust, never to know anything of this relationship or its histories orwhat any of it means. She sees, like her brother, through a myopic lens ofeveryone else’s obligations, but never their hearts (contrast her ignorantdisgust here with Bellamy’s hypocritical disgust toward her in season 5, allover histories he knows nothing of. The Blakes are a pair).

In Lexa’s room, Clarke has a momentof panic: she’s not there. We see how anxious she is to find her. She needs toexplain, needs to know Lexa will be okay, that she won’t turn into a monster,that love is not weakness. That, maybe, one day, they will owe nothing more totheir people. No one understands like Lexa. No listens or cares or gives theway Lexa does. At this moment, she needs the one person who will never doubther, who looks at her with a constant and unyielding affection. Lexa will nottry to talk her out of her duty; Lexa will simply be there for her. More thananything, Clarke needs Lexa’s quiet strength to get her through this.

Maybe one day we will owenothing more to our people.

The writer Javier Grillo-Marxuachsaid this line was his tribute to the John Boorman film, Excalibur. Season 3 isa little bit of a medieval hodgepodge with Lexa the Noble and Chivalrousmonarch whose death, like Arthur’s will signal the downfall of herkingdom. In Excalibur, there is a scenetoward the end, before the last battle, where old Arthur goes to visit hislong-lost queen, Guinivere, who has become a nun. It is her old affair withLancelot that helped spur Arthur’s downfall (his unwillingness to punish themby the rules of his own law, echoed in Lexa’s unwillingness to punish Skaikruor kill Wanheda), but Arthur has no resentment. He loved Guinivere and stilldoes. He offers unconditional forgiveness and tells her that he hopes that oneday there might be a time when they can be just man and woman, husband and wife,as simple as that, no more or less. She gives him a present: thethought-to-be-lost Excalibur and he goes off to meet his fate.

Clarke, in this fashion, does thesame with Lexa: she is going off to fight and probably die and she wants noanger or misunderstandings between them anymore. Clarke is trying to accept herdeath. The look of devastation on Lexa’s face tells her the same. This isgoodbye.

And this is the moment we ask: doesClarke love Lexa now? Or is it simply the need to forgive and leave Lexawithout a sense of regret?

Could you look into the eyes ofsomeone you know loves you as sincerely as Lexa loves Clarke and not feelsomething? Even in that moment, Clarke might have convinced herself that shefelt the same, that their attraction was more than just physical.

But did she really love her?

If you could freeze the moment andask Clarke herself, what would she say?

I want to. I want it more thananything.

She couldn’t offer it then, but shecared and she was moved by Lexa’s devotion and kindness and the need forcomfort and to give comfort was overwhelming.

There was no plan to fall into bed,but Clarke was bringing their relationship full circle. It started in a tent,with a kiss that had given her so much hope and reassurance and now, eventhough it is impossible, she needs to repay that kindness. Lexa’s plainlybroken heart won’t let her go without it.

And from the moment their lipsmeet, all the pain and hunger and loss is dissolved instantly.

If she can give Lexa nothing else,if she can’t fully commit her heart (now that she’s about to go off and die)she can give her this: her body, at least, in comfort and pleasure, but mostlycomfort, so there might be a spark of hope left, a memory of a singularhappiness that one of them gets to keep. She doesn’t expect it to move both ways.

And for that hour or more, ignoringOctavia, ignoring everything else, Clarke gives in to a brief fantasy of whatSomeday might look like and Lexa’s smile and warmth and touch gives her body andmind a little peace before she leaves her for what might be forever.

She has no idea how right and wrongshe will be.

After the last time, after one morekiss, Lexa’s eyes close and she retreats a little in the bed, letting Clarkerise and move away easily, without calling her back, she lets her go quietlyunder a pretense of sleep.

Clarke stands for a moment, naked,physically sated, but her heart is aching and her mind churning with thoughtsand excuses. She knows Lexa is pretending. She knows Lexa is doing this forher, to make it easier, but all she wants to do is climb back into bed, to rollthe other woman over and press her into the mattress, to drape herself like ablanket and cover her, to wind herself around and around until there is no undoingthem, no unmaking them, and the words flash in her mind, but she won’t saythem. It’s too late.

Slipping away toward her room tocollect her things, the words are still there. Lexa’s touch still lingers alongher spine, how her lips ghosted there, how her fingers circled each notch andcurve of her. She tries to hold the image in her mind, Lexa’s face, gazing upat her with so much adoration. How did she earn that? How did she deservethat?

Lexa’s face pressed to her body,how hot her mouth was, how her eyes never left hers. Lexa’s reverence as shemade love to her.

How did I deserve this?

She isn’t paying attention as shewalks, as she enters her room. She isn’t expecting what waits for her.

Lexa’s eyes opened the momentClarke left the room. She wanted to linger in Clarke’s scent a moment longer,another hour, but something was clawing at her, a voice in her head telling herGo, Go Now.

She rose and dressed quickly. Ifnothing else, she’ll escort Clarke to her horse and make sure she has all sheneeds. She’ll make sure one of her trusted guards travels with her, makes sureshe gets through the blockade with no trouble. Maybe Joroum.

Stepping outside her door, herhackles rise.

The guards are gone. Where iseveryone?

She dashes toward Clarke’s room andshe hears it, the first shots and she knows.

Damn you Titus!

Every muscle, every nerve burns asshe reaches the door, her mind screaming for Clarke and then nothing. A suddenstop. A sting.

“Lexa!”

The sting has become a burning, anexplosion inside of her as if she has been run through by a flaming blade.

For a moment she remembers an arrowsticking out of her side; she had been 12 and Anya’s Second. Anya had held her,apologizing as she pushed the tip through the other side. As she placed hersword in the fire and used it to cauterize her wound. She hadn’t cried, butAnya did.

She doesn’t know how much time haspassed, but she is being lifted and set on something soft. She feels cold.

Clarke’s face is wavering in frontof her, frantic.

Was it just a moment beforeClarke’s face had been washed in pleasure? What happened? What did she dowrong?

Clarke is talking, she’s going tofix this, she’s always fixing things, but the room is going dark and she’s socold.

Clarke had been so warm. The softest warmth she’d ever known.

She knows it’s all gone wrongagain, she miscalculated again.

And now she has to bestrong because in her death, there is uncertainty for Clarke. Clarke will worryabout the blockade, about her people, about what Titus might do next. She hasto make sure Clarke is okay. No matter what, at least she’s prepared for thismoment well. The Nightbloods will obey her. The next Commander will protecther.

She isn’t prepared forwhat Clarke tells her.

Clarke is so good. Sheis being so kind.

“I don’t want the nextCommander. I want you.”

She doesn’t love you,but she’s kind and gentle and it’s more than you could have ever hoped for. Youcan’t burden her anymore. You can’t say the simple thing, but you have to letClarke know. Let her know she was right and she has to believe in herself. Bethe leader their people need.

“Life is about morethan just surviving.”

Clarke gave her themost beautiful gift and she hadn’t been worthy of it. But in those lastmoments, she is so grateful. Clarke is so good. Clarke will find a way.

And she knows, evenunseen, she will be there too, she will guide the next Commander and everythingwill be ok.

“Don’t be afraid.”

This is what Lexakneeling before Clarke meant. This is what it was about.

You are made ofwisdom, strength and compassion.

You fell from thesky and you are made of light. .

You are the one Iput all my hopes and dreams into.

You are the one whowill lead us out of darkness.

You are the one.

Lexa’s faith is that ofthe supplicant who has seen and touched the holiest of objects: in Clarke, allthings are possible.

Clarke personifies theHero Foretold that we’ve seen in characters like Paul Atreides from Dune, Neofrom the Matrix films, even Luke Skywalker from Star Wars: the outsider withseemingly unnatural ability who leads the rebellion (though seasons 4 and 5make a huge mess of this characterization) and saves the world.

Lexa, on the otherhand, is the doomed True Believer: Paul’s father, Leto, Morpheus, Obi WanKenobi. She exists to give Clarke her confidence, wisdom and the weapon shewill wield to stop the enemy.

Once her role isfulfilled, there is no more. Whilethere are others who live that remember Lexa, there are none who could rememberher as intimately as Clarke does (and not simply because they were, briefly,lovers). Lexa got under Clarke’s skin and left a brand there: not the symbol ofthe coalition, but of her fealty and fidelity.

The infinity symbol isknown as belonging to the Commander and within its endless reiterations, Lexa’slove and hope, her soul, has spun itself around its living counterpart andholds fast forever and true.

Clarke did not see itwhole, as it was, when Lexa was alive. She couldn’t give in to “weakness” asLexa had once called it and out of spite she took it to heart, like apoison.

The moment Lexa kneltbefore her was a moment stretched out in time for the rest of Lexa’s days; shedidn’t do it for their people, she did it to free Clarke of the enemy of herheart and mind. In kneeling, Lexa is telling her, I was wrong, love is notweakness and life should be about more than surviving. This might be the lastthing I ever do but I do this for you and for what could be. I give youeverything. I trust you with it. I trust you, Clarke.

Are there words moreimportant to us than knowing we are trusted? Believed in?

I’ve seen fans writeabout this and discuss this, the romance of it, but I think once you back awayfrom the bait of the romance of it, it can be so much deeper and richer andthat is absolutely why, to me, their story is such a waste. This should havebeen the beginning of a bigger story, the kind that is told hundreds of yearslater with the kind of fantastical awe children can have toward ancient heroesand their mythologies. That should have been Clarke and Lexa. It should havebeen everything.

#clexa #commander lexa #clarke griffin #lexa was wrong when she said 'clarke elevates herself'#it was lexa who did the elevating all along

prismfeatures

I was thinking that one of the reasons why the Grounders don't really like Sky People is because they felt like these are the people that had it easy, by living in the space stations and never had to endure the hardship of living on Earth after the nuclear holocaust. Generations after generations, the resentment would have been passed down, besides they wouldn't know all the problems of living in space.

It’s obviously no secret that the Grounders immediately saw the Sky People as enemy the second the 100 arrived, but I believe it has nothing to do with resentment and everything to do with a classic colonialism narrative.

As far as we know, the 100 landing on Earth, and then later the Arkers, is the first encounter that the Grounders—at least those in the locations we’ve explored in the world so far— have had with people outside of their own clans, aside from the Mountain Men who have hunted them for 97 years. There’s no reason to believe that the majority of Grounders would have any idea that there were people living in space, so I’m hesitant to say that there would be any sort of generational resentment (especially because the Grounders are incredibly proud and ferociously protective of their customs and methods of survival—they have survived all these years despite continued attempts at eradication of their people from the Mountain Men, and that is due to the primal, hardened tactics they’ve developed).

What makes far more sense is that the Grounders have laid claim to this land for almost 100 years, expanding and creating a culture that has evolved and divided into clans, with only Mt. Weather as a force of opposition. And then suddenly, there are people coming from the sky saying that the Earth is their birthright, their homeland, and it belongs to them. And that doesn’t sit right.

We see the Grounders first through the eyes of the Delinquents as a terrifying enemy, watching as the characters we know are hunted and mowed down by a force they never expected to encounter, because everything the Ark has believed and observed for almost a century has told them that the Earth would be deserted should they ever return; like Columbus sailing to find the New World and expecting it to be a magical new land undiscovered by humans only to find a rich, established culture of indigenous Americans, the discovery is a shock to the Delinquents, who never thought to imagine they might not be alone.

Once we see more of the Grounders, we get to see far more pieces of the puzzle as attempts to make peace begin. At the meeting on the bridge in S01E09 Unity Day, Clarke is taken aback when Anya tells her the Sky People started a war they can’t finish, saying “We didn’t start anything, you attacked us for no reason”, to which Anya responds by telling her about the village destroyed by the Delinquent’s flares signaling the Ark. She then lands perhaps the most important line to understanding the Grounders’ motivations in this war and everything to come for the rest of the season:

Imagine instead, if we had seen the arrival of the Delinquents through the eyes of the Grounders rather than through Clarke’s experience. You live in a small village, going about your business and living life the way you always have. Suddenly a huge piece of machinery falls out of the sky, creating a great shaking, rumbling and destruction of vegetation. People storm out, start hunting your food, running around like they own the place, and soon after their arrival, destroy a village using technology you’ve only seen used by the enemy your people have been hunted by for years. People you know, care about, love, die in burning flames or see the only homes they’ve ever known destroyed. Are there more of the Mountain Men coming? Or are these people some new, unforeseen threat that could somehow be worse? You begin to fight back, make them realize that you will not give up your home without a fight, and they capture one of your most esteemed warriors, only to return him after days of brutal torture.

To these people, the Delinquents and the Arkers are nothing more than a new group of colonizers trying to destroy their way of life. And when Clarke meets Lexa offering an alliance in season 2, the situation has only escalated– Lexa’s knowledge of the Sky People goes so far as to know that 300 of her warriors were recently killed, and the last attempt at an alliance was squashed by the Delinquents shooting first during a ceasefire. The war is about protecting what is rightfully theirs, not by any inherent resentment of an “easy life” not on the ground. The ground, to the Grounders, is a statement of the tenacity of their people to survive the insurmountable.

-Leigh

commandervalyria

"The ground, to the Grounders, is a statement of the tenacity of their people to survive the insurmountable."

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

#as always: the grounders > sky shits #Lexa and the grounders is peak t1oo #I can't even believe that I rooted for the sky shits when I first watched the show #when the grounders were truly the most interesting and intriguing part of the show