Living Nightmare

she/her they/them bisexual. Analysis is what I do. #the100 #Clexa #LOST

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Lexa's name in death

Lexa's name was uttered a fair amount in the first episode of season 4 and there's a huge history behind uttering someone's name after they've died. Across the world, it is often seen as taboo to say someone's name after death, particularly soon after a person's death. Clarke uttering it so frequently reinforced her status as leader, and as of the Commander of Death. Lexa loved Clarke and so death would not pursue her for speaking Lexa's name. Lexa's spirit would not allow it. Yet, when Clarke confessed her love for Lexa, she spoke of "her". She wasn't being defiant. She wasn't challenging anyone to live up to the great Lexa. She was acknowledging her love in the most respectful way she knew how while being crushed by her grief. The use of Lexa's name also can be contrasted with Finn. Finn was barely referenced, the most striking time he was spoken of was when Jasper asked about him because he didn't know Finn was dead. Freud believed the taboo around death was that if the dead were spoken of their ghosts would return. Clarke never wanted Finn to return, such was the weight of her grief, but she wanted Lexa back. She'd lost her in Polis, and in the Flame. By uttering Lexa's name, Clarke was trying to recall her partner.

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Bellamy's age- problematic?

A lot of the reason the 100 initially looked up to Bellamy was because of his age. Yet he was as immature as the others. This is fine, however, his relationships start to look problematic. All of the 100 were under 18 but we cannot assume that every single one except Charlotte was 17. Bellamy slept his way through a lot of the girls in the opening season but we knew almost nothing about them (except Raven). The one downside with the quick paced nature of The 100 is that it can gloss over these fundamental issues. Is Bellamy a 24 (ish) year old desperate creep making his way through teens, or is he just a single guy with those old enough and who are merely embracing their sexual autonomy away from the oppression of the Ark? It's interesting that Gina was his only relationship that he viewed with any romantic value or respect. Gina wasn't part of The 100, she was older and therefore represented a maturity in terms of story. That doesn't paint the greatest picture of Bellamy's attitude towards women when it' spurt under scrutiny so it would be nice if there was ever more of an insight into Bellamy's early actions, or the people he was connected with.

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Why did Clarke seemingly forgive Bellamy in s3?

Forgiveness is a funny thing in The 100; even though Bellamy and Clarke have talked a lot about it, it doesn’t really matter if they’re forgiven. The fact is, life goes on and they are more preoccupied with surviving to often worry about forgiveness. Clarke also knows the cost of not moving on; she struggled to forgive Wells and shortly after discovering the truth he died, and she struggled to forgive Finn and ultimately he died. Clarke, at that point, had already lost Lexa, the person she wanted by her side the most, and she was facing yet another life of death scenario. She didn’t want to do it alone. Regardless of right or wrong, Bellamy understood what it meant to lead (and she didn’t have Lexa anymore who had been who she looked to with regards to sharing the burden of leadership). She needed Bellamy (and the others), so no matter how fragmented they were or how much residual anger there still was on both parts it was always going to come secondary to getting the job done. Clarke was driven by grief, by wanting to save her people but also by wanting to save Lexa’s people too. Having the energy to forgive is kind of a privilege for someone who has been through so much, she just wanted to save everyone and that was it. That’s not even unique to Clarke, although she exemplifies this struggle the most. How many times have The 100 hurt each other and yet they’ll still be there when they need it? For better or worse, they’re the 100 (as Monty would say) and sometimes some people find being with someone you don’t know if you can trust is still better than being alone. When there’s that much darkness and there’s death every day, there’s no obvious right answer. Clarke never once forgave herself for the Mountain, and yet she carried on facing every fight to protect her people. 

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Clarke has no home

Octavia's line that she has no home is harrowing and obvious given her history. However, when it comes to life on the ground, Clarke is regularly flitting between places and yet rarely belongs anywhere (although not to the extent of Octavia). The drop ship was once a home, but it was a home she was forced to occupy after being cast out by her people from the Ark. She was then taken as a prisoner at Mount Weather, and Camp Jaha was somewhere she rarely actually spent time because she was off to TonDC regularly to plan war with Lexa. Clarke's fixation has been with people and this was epitomised when she was so broken that she left Camp Jaha. Clarke turned her back on her own people, because of murdering an entire population and for the broken alliance with the Grounders. People, not places, matter to Clarke. Clarke was alone on the ground, she had almost claimed the ground as hers compared to her people who clung to the metal walls of Arkadia. Clarke embraced being a singular entity, away from responsibility. She wasn't happy, but she survived and was highly successful at doing so. In fact, the only place she wanted to stay was Polis but again that is due to who was there: Lexa (and it was the only time we saw Clarke in nightwear with her guard down or drawing since her confinement). She didn't want to return to Arkadia, and when she did it was on behalf of Lexa and as a traitor to her people. Clarke sets herself apart. The first season was defined by protecting the walls of the drop ship and in season three, Pike cried "this land is ours now". Clarke represents a borderless existence where there has been a recognition for the value of all lives, and the freedom of movement for all. Clarke speaks Trigedasleng regularly, she understands the ways of the Grounders, she dresses as both Skaikru and Grounder, Clarke is not limited to walls or even by clan although she is regularly assigned by leader. Clarke has no home, and is regularly uncomfortable even within the walls of where her people live, but she goes where people need her.

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Raven and Clarke's friendship

Just a reminder that the first person Raven asked for was Clarke. Part of this would have been due to how much they all rely on Clarke but after everything Raven and Clarke share huge respect, even though they've had their own conflicts at times. It is one of the best enduring friendships on the show.

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When Bellamy heard Clarke tell Abby that she loved Lexa it would have been a haunting moment for a couple of reasons. Bellamy is driven by an overwhelming (and patriarchal and paternalistic) urge to protect the people in his life (especially the women such as Octavia an Clarke). In this moment, he finally had his suspicions confirmed that Clarke did love Lexa - Bellamy had never actually seen the pair of them together much. This would have caused great guilt because a lot of Bellamy's actions led to her death. He's already carrying the burden of murdering the army and now he knows he's complicit in the death of someone his friend loved. Yet Gina also would have been on his mind. Seeing Echo obviously brought her death back to the surface for him, and Echo even mentioned her. Bellamy recognised that grief in Clarke, he missed Gina in that moment (and remember again his guilt for not being able to save her) and he was sorry Clarke was going through what he had also gone through. Perhaps there was worry too. He knows Clarke can be hot headed too. Clarke is unlikely to ever want to murder an army out of spite, and she has talked on unity, but he knows how broken someone can be after a loss like that.

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Clarke vs Dante (for Lexa?)

Dante's death brings up interesting questions around just how honest Clarke was. We know she can go deeply into denial, and there could have been an element of that to Dante's death. We hear Clarke say "I didn't want this" but does this statement stand up? Yes, Clarke did not set out to kill and it's something she tried to avoid at all costs but whether she wanted it or not was irrelevant - she was always going to do it, and she knew it. There is also the possibility that this was at least a slight lie (and perhaps she was trying to convince herself she didn't want it). When Dante revealed that he was the one behind the deal with Lexa, Clarke looks as though she's seen a ghost. The words take time to sink in and we see this from Clarke's reaction. She's standing before the man who took everything. Dante took her hope for peace, but he also took Lexa. In the chaos of everything, the devastation of Clarke's personal loss is often overshadowed because of everything else, but she was starting to fall for Lexa, she wanted Lexa there with her. When Clarke told Lexa she couldn't think beyond the war, it revealed that she trusted implicitly that they'd have time to think after the war, because Lexa would be there. Dante risked her friends, but he also stole any vision she had for after that day of a peaceful life on the ground and he was the reason Lexa left. It would have been an entirely human response if there had then just been a touch of spite when Clarke pulled the trigger. She was always capable of vengeance and perhaps Dante was set to die from the moment he envisioned that deal between the Grounders.

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Behind the character of Dante

Dante's name was probably one of the most recognisable names to be used in TV shows (outside of John Locke). Dante comes from the Italian poet who was celebrated mostly for his Divine Comedy where he explored hell, death and purgatory. It's inevitably a great name for Dante Wallace on a show depicting what it means to survive and fight death. The bunker in the Mountain was basically a holding station, like purgatory, but it also has the symbolism of hell through being buried in the ground. (I'll not discuss in detail the three clowns Dante created who could represent Tsing, Cage and Emerson). Dante (the poet) explored the nature of sin too; such as lust and let's not forget that the Mountain Men were driven to survival by their literal blood lust. Symbolism followed a lot of Dante's story; his own son delivered him his last meal (and it was his son again who decided his father should die as a 'sacrifice' for their people). It's ironic (and probably not unintentional) that it was Cage who was the most 'free'. Dante was burdened, trying to follow a moral path and avoid the pitfalls of hell. He warned specifically that they were the keepers of history. Cage however, was only trapped by the Mountain and he was willing to do whatever it took to get out of there. Dante, the visionary who wanted to uphold some morality, was actually already proved a failure from the beginning. He didn't want to use the teenagers but he still used grounders. His morality was already flawed and already shown to be hypocrisy. It was this failure that allowed his son to cage him in a cell, on an entirely different plateau (perhaps representing a circle of hell as depicted in the Divine Comedy) to that of his people and his son. In trying to do the best, he isolated himself against everyone by his own folly and everyone around him exploited that. This is not to say he was not a good man, or that he was worse than Cage. He was certainly far less ready to embrace murder than so many of his people, but the origins of his name and the connotations around that provide endless possible interpretations.

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Clarke's loyalty in season two

Clarke's loyalty was called into question several times throughout season two, but she made a very clear transition from solely of using upon her people, to caring about Grounder and Sky People alike. Her conversation with Finn, "the Grounders are attacking because that's what they do" is so different to that with Lexa, where she reassures the Commander that she's changed her beliefs. It's odd in some ways because while Lexa certainly was the one who inspired Clarke to change her beliefs, Clarke arguably became more open minded than Lexa in season two (who remained rigid in her duty). When Clarke shot the Mountain Man (via Lincoln) she told Lincoln very clearly "you are my people". Clarke saw them all as one. In some ways, Clarke was arguably the silent proposer of more than an alliance but of a Coalition. At the Mountain, it was Lexa who first separated Sky People and Grounders, telling Clarke she had made her deal to save her people. Only then, does Clarke give a bitter "where are my people?". It's interesting that it is then Octavia who calls her loyalties into question with "screw you, I know where my loyalties lie" and then jeering that "you trusted Lexa". Octavia was willing to excuse Indra who defended the dropping of the bomb on TonDC, and Octavia also felt kinship among Trikru. Yet, Octavia never accepted Lexa. Both Clarke and Octavia both began to see beyond Sky People, but with their different moral codes Octavia doubted Clarke's loyalty. Furthermore, perhaps Clarke identified more strongly as not just Sky Person at this point. Octavia chose to stay with her brother, she also vehemently asserts her loyalty to the 100 whereas Clarke is caught in conflict; she wanted Lexa by her side at that moment and them all in it together. Octavia fiercely tells Jackson "I have no home" but how true this becomes of Clarke when she leaves. She had the vision of unity, and yet leaves her own people because everyone doubted her judgement, loyalty and she couldn't live with what she did to protect them all. Clarke leaves her people to live within Trikru, but not with Trikru people. She seemingly spends most of the time in isolation. Clarke is without doubt utterly loyal, but her loyalties expanded further than even she anticipated throughout season two.

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Flarke had its brief merits. For one thing, it's nice whenever a bi character is given a relationship which isn't erased and isn't used to say "hey, x is actually gay/straight". The other strong point was that Finn was often a good balance for Clarke. Clarke is a brilliant leader and she has absolutely no limits, but when that determination is misplaced it can be dangerous. Finn would often call Clarke out, such as her choice to side with Bellamy with guns, but he had total respect for her. What was wrong though, was the complete execution of the relationship. I didn't mind the love triangle aspect because, actually, the big story from that was how Raven an Clarke still respected each other. Normally, a show would use a storyline like that to put the two women at war but it didn't happen. Yes, it was tense at times but they still developed an extremely close relationship, as can be seen by Clarke's "I'd pick you first" scene and Raven waiting all night (in pain with her leg) just to see if Clarke was okay. The story was worth it just to see such a nuanced portrayal from two women who normally would be reduced to a storyline that made them enemies. There was also a great deal of perspective when Raven challenged Clarke, and Clarke admitted that she hardly knew Finn. Clarke also showed huge strength by refusing to enter into a relationship with Finn. It was a refreshing storyline showing that Clarke wouldn't accept going back to someone who had broken her heart. A break up/ending doesn't have to be a bad moment; that scene was actually empowering and a nice break from usual content we get. However, the problem was with when and how Clarke and Finn got together. When Finn smashed up the art supply store, it could have been such a poignant moment to show the fragility of Finn and already how close he was to breaking. Yet it was coupled with the romance plot and this should never have happened. When a guy is smashing up any place right in front of you, it's scary and not attractive. This was a really bad trope that so many shows are guilty of. Clarke would have been running for the hills, or telling him to get some bloody control - she wouldn't have been falling at his feet. Then the next episode we see how peaceful they are together and it's just jarring and completely unrealistic. It completely romanticises what was actually a really terrible moment for Finn, and should never have been a moment Clarke swooned at. It was disappointing when it just wasn't necessary. They'd had many better and more tender moments but it really reduced both characters to quite limiting tropes in that moment; of the guy exerting his masculinity and the girl seeing it as so romantic. Both characters were better than that.

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Abby knew

I haven't watched the episode of the 100 so I can't comment on tone or its execution. I have seen comments that Abby said she knew Clarke loved Lexa, if this happened - well, of course she did. Abby never said it outright before but that's writing, the meaning is behind a lot of what's left unsaid, and credit to all actors for their interpretations. Abby argued constantly with Clarke in season two because she saw how much Clarke was looking to Lexa. Abby also watched in season three when Clarke turned her back on everyone to stay in Polis for Lexa. Abby could see right through, Clarke. PT's acting and that fearful but gentle nod were outstanding. Abby also sent Clarke to Lexa in episode 5 because she knew Clarke would be safer in Polis with Lexa (and think how hard that must have been to accept after Lexa left her daughter at the Mountain). No, Abby never did like Lexa but that didn't mean she didn't recognise (and fear) the love Lexa and Clarke shared.

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I think we can all agree Clarke's nicknames got better as The 100 went on.

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Octavia's father - the only candidate

I know Kane is a popular choice, and it is plausible as Octavia's identity was needed to be kept quiet for her mother's safety and her own. It makes sense Kane would not know. However, there was never a hint at a relationship between Aurora and Kane. Why would this need to be hidden before Octavia was conceived? Aurora never hid her relationship with the head of the Guard from Bellamy. Kane was focused upon his career but the Ark didn't prohibit relationships. It could have just been a fling, and therefore seemingly irrelevant but it's quite a weak explanation. The fact is, Octavia's parentage isn't actually important. The show isn't about relationships, and so it is highly unlikely to give us any father daughter reunion moments. But we have the remember the focus on the show is the hundred who were sent to the ground, so if they do reveal Octavia's father then how can it be relevant to that? By Jake Griffin. Jake would have to keep any relationship secret because he was married and had his own family. We also know very little about Jake's character because he was barely seen. We've only ever seen him through Clarke's flashbacks and she's heavily biased by how much she loved her father. This would work because Octavia and Clarke both represent two different philosophies on how to survive. Clarke will do so at any cost, whereas Octavia doesn't think it should be like that. They're likely to cross over in philosophies in season four, given Octavia's grief, but those two have argued since season one about how they should survive. Sharing the same father would certainly then be poignant, but without taking away from the plot. Jake is gone. He'll always be an influence but he's not stored in a chip . Death isn't an absolute in this show so he could be brought back, but for right now he's not tangible. He wouldn't influence them or make this a family drama (and even Clarke and Abby scenes have been sparse because of that). They would share a deeper connection, but there would be no answers because the man connecting them is already gone. Their focus would still be on survival.

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Death is not the end

We know know what the means because of the Flame and the beliefs around death, but actually the 100 has shown people beyond the grave a few times. The chip kept people alive within CoL. Finn and Wells also both appeared as hallucinations, as did Jake (and he was also seen through flashbacks). A show that is based on survival has to explore the concept of death, especially as it's scifi. Does that mean Lexa will come back? No comment. But can she come back? It wouldn't be in any way difficult. Any good writer could find a way to bring back any of the characters tbh and pull it off.

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Wells a good guy?

We never really got much content from Wells but actually, he has as many similarities with Bellamy as he has differences. The pair clashed because they came from very different backgrounds. Bellamy saw Wells as representative of the oppressive class of the councillors. Wells was also incredibly dismissive of the hundred, branding them criminals. He was right to argue for the wrist bands not to be destroyed but part of the reason his argument fell flat was that he saw the Ark through rose tinted glasses, when everyone else had suffered so much under the Council. Wells did also lie to protect Clarke. Yes, he was trying to be a good friend but Clarke deserved the truth. She wanted the truth, she never asked to be lied to and she didn't need it. It's actually incredibly disrespectful to lie to someone to shield them. Women don't need that. They're strong enough. Bellamy too often takes on that protector role but as Octavia said, she "never asked for it". Wells wasn't necessarily a bad guy. He clearly had a good heart and we'll never see how he would have coped with life on the ground, but even the good characters aren't the heroes we expect and are often presented as.

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Raven is the hope of the show

While the show may focus upon the hundred, Raven's storyline is just as essential. True, she was not originally designated as part of the hundred (and nor was Bellamy) but Raven set herself apart from the beginning. Raven was the only one who went down to earth to help. Yes, she was driven by her love for Finn, but as soon as she landed she pitched in to help everyone she could. Compare it to Bellamy (who was the only other person to choose to go down to the ground without knowing it was because the Ark was dying) whose focus on Earth revolved around himself and his sister. Bellamy eventually became a crucial member of the society, but from the beginning Raven always worked for a common good. That's why in s3, it was Raven who was able to bring them all back together. When she was trapped by ALIE, Raven was the only one left who could unite them all. She was the only one they all still believed in. Raven, despite her suffering throughout the show, represents the heart of the hundred. It's a nice contrast given that it's always her head that Clarke and the others have to rely upon, but she is undoubtedly the hope of the show, even when she carries no hope herself.

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Theories around Costia's Death

The idea that Costia was captured under Lexa's nose because suggests Lexa failed. Polis, was Lexa's and surrounded by her allies and her guards and so such a situation hugely undermines her credibility/competence. It was the one safe space she could count on, even pre Coalition this would still have been the most protected place. If Costia had been taken in Polis, Lexa would have had to murder the guard who betrayed her or all of them (if she did not know his/her/their) identity for failing her (Grounder culture doesn't hand out p45s). Additionally, if Costia had been captured in Polis (under Lexa's protection) then promising Clarke she would be safe in the city under her protection would have been hugely irresponsible. Lexa would not have been likely to risk repeating the same mistakes, particularly with her second love. So the question is how did Costia get captured? There are many potential theories. The simplest, is that Costia left of her own free will. This would have knowingly been a gamble on Costia's part because the Coalition did not yet exist. This means Costia knew how things could have ended up and she would have accepted her fate by leaving Polis, and Lexa would have known this and perhaps maybe found a little bit of peace from. So why would Costia leave? The first reason is that Costia was her own person and as much as she loved Lexa, she didn't exist just to be the lover of Heda. She could have left for her own job (maybe as healer, warrior, semet or whatever). Lexa clearly was attracted to strong willed and independent women, and it's okay for two people who love each other to go in different directions some times. Costia too would have been tremendously brave for such a decision. The second potential reason, is that Costia was from Azgeda. This would make it far easier for her to be captured; if she went to Trikru she would have been under Indra, Anya and Tristan's protection. Costia may have returned to Azgeda hoping to push for peace and Nia took advantage of the situation. The third potential theory is that they never were lovers. We never heard specifically that they were together; it could have been a one sided love. It's unlikely but possible. If Nia knew this then sending Costia's head to Lexa's bed would have been an even greater symbolic insult (of Shakespearean proportions). If Costia did not feel romantic and/or sexual love for Lexa then getting a bit of distance is understandable. (Also, love does not matter less if it is unrequited, this is just a potential theory and not my preference). The fourth theory, and possibly more in keeping with Lexa's character as the audience saw her, is that they were not romantically together at this time. Lexa had not been Heda for that long and was surrounded by people telling her "love was weakness". Costia would have respected that Lexa needed space and therefore leaving Polis was the inevitable scenario that played out. It may not have been permanent, but a chance for Lexa to work out how to be Heda. If such a scenario did come to pass, it certainly would have suited Titus's agenda. We will (likely) never know the full circumstances, but whatever happened my personal preference is that Costia was outside of Polis. This paints both in a braver light and shows neither of them were tricked or fooled, because they knew what awaited outside of Polis.