Home » the 100 » The 100 The Face Behind The Glass Recap-Review

The 100 The Face Behind The Glass Recap-Review

by Evelyn Ulrich
The 100

Body swaps, distressing childhoods, and gorgeous gowns are the backbones in The 100 The Face Behind The Glass,  Written by  Charmaine DeGratè, directed by Tim Scanlan, the episode took us on an insane journey of what really happens in Sanctum.  Let’s sink our teeth in a sweet cult cookie as we review The Face Behind  The Glass!

The 100 The Face Behind The Glass Recap-Review

“Repent, Renew, Rejoice, Rebirth”

Episode 604

Aired:  May 21, 2019

Oh, my God.  Everything about The Face Behind the Glass kicked my emotions into the highest gear.  The storyline, the pairings, the cookies.  It was a wonderful episode that knocked it out of the woods, and I desired more!

The Face Behind the Glass was penned by Charmaine DeGratè and she has done a phenomenal job of breathing life into her story.  She knew how to hit all of the characters in their light, allowing us passage to see deep inside their souls. When one can achieve that aura, then they know how to craft their talents.

Let’s rejoice by recapping and reviewing The Face Behind the Glass!

 

Nobody Parties Like Sanctum

 Naming Day is finally here, and everyone is in excitement mode!  The center of the Day is Delilah Workman, who is spending her last morning as “Delilah” by spooning with Jordan.  Jordan shares about his parents and life on the Ring, but in all glory of the day, Delilah wants to unburden.  I guess when your own soul is ripped out and replaced with a dead person, you want to live up to the last moment of your life.

If I had to put myself in Delilah’s shoes, I would want that if I couldn’t fight the faith.

As we prep for the fun festivities, (There are cookies!) Clarke participates in the lanterns craft were sins are written down, then tied at the top of the lantern. At the ceremony, the lanterns are released into the air, the sins floating with them.  When the sins float, they’re erased, never to be mentioned again.  It’s beautiful and hopeful transcendence where we can renew and relieve ourselves, but unfortunately, it’s not that simple to escape sinning.  If we do not learn from our actions, then we can’t reshape ourselves, and forgiveness is unobtainable.

Clarke herself has done a lot of sinning, especially last season.  While it’s logically debatable that she has done many sins just to protect Madi, there is one that we can all agree that was horrible.

Leaving Bellamy behind to die.

Yes, that one.  Clarke finally addressed the haunting of her sin to Bellamy, who accepted her apology and gesture.  He understood why she had done it at the time, that Madi was her daughter and family, her life.  He clearly thought he was no longer her family.

Oh, but he is Clarke’s family and she made it perfectly clear to him.  Clarke was just blinded by all the stuff happening at the time that she just couldn’t see it.  She was obviously torn about, and it weighed her down quite a bit.  Before Madi, Bellamy was her person, somebody she got close to and was with her on a personal standpoint.

The 100 The Face Behind The Glass

I believe with a full heart and head (as unified as that sounds) that it takes a near loss to remind yourself that they are important and special to you.  With Clarke’s sin, it made her open about her caring for Bellamy, her value of him as a good friend, his essential importance, and what they been through all those years together.

“You’re too important to me.”

The moment was just what I’d hope it would be for them to reconcile and get back on the same wavelength.

Then, a hug happened, which was a nice way of solidifying just how resilient the two of them are.

This may be the last time that Bellamy will see her as Clarke, so the sendoff was well played and appropriate.  At the same time, I am going not to let go of the platonic soulmates.

Theoretically speaking, what if Bellamy sees past Clarke’s mind transformation and instills her with past recollections and reminders to bring her back?  It’s a long run as Bellamy has no conception of how Flame implantation or its culture, or what true intentions Sanctum carries, but fighting for Clarke’s life is one of his best traits.

In the worst of times, Bellamy and Clarke are magnets; their support branching out so that the other doesn’t have to be anchored down to pain, to the dilemma.  That is why they work so well as partners.  They have a language all their own and you must be directly entuned to listen.  Once you do, it’s a melody.

While Bellarke interaction was a great way to let go of the sins, another way is to dance it off!  If you thought Clarke in a sunset pink dress was drop-dead gorgeous, (which she was), then eyeing her in a revealing dark blue dress didn’t revive you.

The 100 The Face Behind The Glass

The lights are flashing, the music on full blast, and she is getting it on with a cute guy.  It’s Cillian and the two really hit off.  By the way, this is the guy with the snake.  Well, the two take the dance elsewhere and without getting too graphic, too explicit, Clarke, let’s say got something that she hadn’t had in a while.

At last, she is allowing some joys in her life.  Until her unlikely “death”.

 

A Thawing of Truama

The Face Behind The Glass did incorporate happiness, but this is The 100, so you know that will only be temporary.  It would be weird without the darkness, without pain, or the heart dips.

Bellamy is at the party, but he is not dancing or having any enjoyment.  The event happening represses a memory of his.  The last time that he attended a party, Octavia was arrested, which leads to his contemplation about leaving Octavia behind and the reasoning behind his choice.  Did he do the right thing, even though she is the cause of his anger and agony?  After all, Octavia is his family, despite what she has done.  Yet, allowing that anger and hurt to anchor Bellamy down is destroying him. It kills me just to see him like this.

Echo feels what he is going through, and she tries to help by saying that they should go get her.  Bellamy snaps, saying that she is not the same Echo that he has fallen in love with on the Ring.  That she is freezing up her feelings, just like she had done when she was an Azgeda spy.

Um, okay.  We have a couple in angst here.  I am not liking this.

But all couples quarrel, so why does this one prick so bad?  Often when quarrels happen, they’re spoken at the moment, not meaning to inflict anything substantial.  The motive of theirs leads to something much more impacted and unshielded a concrete layer for both.

The 100 The Face Behind The Glass

Bellamy joins Echo in the bar, seeing his girlfriend hurt by his words and behavior.  Feeling guilty, and knowing he has done wrong, he apologizes to her, but he also comes forward that he hadn’t seen her grieve for Monty and Harper.

Echo does miss them, terribly, but Bellamy is also right.  She was closing herself up once again, putting herself back into survival mode.  While some people see this as coldhearted, uncaring, emotionless, etc., I can assure you that this is a natural grieving process for some.  I can very easily see Echo’s perspective as I am one of those people who tends to bottle up any negative burden.  Allowing to express any degree of hurt or sadness often atones to weakness, erasing strength.

“One way to get the rats out of the pit is to start a fire.”

It’s time for Echo to share a childhood trauma with Bellamy, who listens with a full heart.  And tears.  Her parents were killed during a home invasion, giving a reflection on how the loss of her mother scarred her.  Soon after, Echo’s Azgeda spy training began, and the dismissal of emotion.

Bellamy grieves with Echo for her parents that he never met, the horrible experience that she had to endure, and sharing her pain.  He continues to be her rock, the key to her heart, as does she, and he makes the oath that they will move forward together.

I am not going to lie.  When he grieved with her, it shattered my heart.  It’s not every day that you get a man (or woman) like that.  Echo is a lucky girl.

The 100 The Face Behind The Glass

Overall, I am extremely gratified with how this segment unfolded.  While Becho may not have been traditionally written like a few of the other relationships, it does hold merit because it was written in a sense that could be read between the lines.  It wasn’t written to be obvious; it was written so that goodness and love can come from unlikely places, albeit the turmoil the characters shared.  The handling of this issue between them shown growth and maturity, that they came a long way from their days at Mt. Weather.

The only dispute that I have about this is that this could have been shared on the Ring.  It would have given the audience valuable insight and context on Echo as nothing was produced.   Then again, we got no Ring flashbacks, so no bias was intended.

Trauma victims have a difficult time sharing and opening up until they feel like it’s the right time to do so.  Echo may have waited as she was so torn and traumatized.   She felt comfortable and finding a loving partner in Bellamy that she felt it was the time to close the wounds.

If Bellamy’s and Echo’s story continue having incredible, well-thought personal connections such as this, then that will be another plus for the couple’s development.

Something tells me that we will be indulged as Echo’s arc and backstory will be delivered later in the season.

Get the tissues ready because I know that I am not ready!

 

Let’s Ride Into the Night

 Octavia and Diyoza, the devils of the earth, destined to be the saviors of Sanctum.  Or are they truly headed into the Danger Zone?  Anyways, when you team up the two antagonists from the prior season, there is bound to be some badassery.

Previously, Octavia was banished by Bellamy, fending for herself.  This is a world that she is unfamiliar with, but knowing just how adaptable O can be, she could probably survive.  As for Diyoza, she was a high-ranked Navy SEAL and Army sergeant, so her military skills and background will come in handy when faced with threats.

The 100 The Face Behind The Glass

The Children of Gabriel have Octavia and Rose as hostages.  Octavia becomes a surrogate mother to the child, doing whatever it took to keep her safe. Unfortunately, Rose was killed by gunfire from The Children of Gabriel, which will most likely unleash even more hostility from O.  As much as I despised many of Octavia’s dictating moves, she doesn’t need to be anymore challenged.  She lost everything, including her brother and this is just another nail in the coffin.

Now that Team Octoza or Diytavia (I think I prefer the latter.) are in action and on motorcycles, they’re on a mission to take down the “Old Man” of the group.  Assumingly, it’s Gabriel himself as he is their “God”.  Whether he is alive, or dead is yet to be discovered, but my bets are set on alive.

The citizens of Sanctum, including Russell, spoke that Gabriel was a demon and believed it.  What was really utilizing outside the shield was protection and saving of the “Royal Bloods.” They want to put a permanent stop to the horrors Naming Day exhibits.

The 100 The Face Behind The Glass

These people are not the bad guys, but the fallen angels of Alpha.  And, now that I know this for a fact, I am on their side.

Besides, I am already shipping Octavia and Xavier as they could power up and save everyone, including Skaikru, who we all know hate her guts at the moment.

 

Related:  The Children of Gabriel Review

Fresh New Start, Fresh New Name

Naming Day is the most celebrated event in Sanctum.  Food, fun, partying, and the reborn of a person.  The latter could not have been truer.

Earlier, I mentioned that it was Delilah’s Naming Day in which she’ll shed of her own soul and persona and become the host for Priya VII.  Why is hosting bring back lost people significant to Russell Lightbourne and his followers?  Theoretically, it’s the preservation and remembrance of that person and the bloodline.  Holding on to the rich history, and fearing an even greater future.  Nonetheless, the method used for preservation is beyond grotesque and psychologically disturbing and cruel.

The 100 The Face Behind The Glass

Delilah shares her literal last minutes with Jordan.  It’s hauntingly beautiful as she wants him to remember as who she was, not who she is about to come.

“Don’t let me be a face behind the glass.” 

Does Delilah have inner doubts about participating?  Does she know what happens with ascension?  The cryptic note that she gave Jordan hinted as such; that she knows more about what is really going on but is deathly afraid to stop it.

Minutes later, Delilah isn’t Delilah soul-wise as she steps out in a yellow-gold dress, and lights the beacon, officially unearthing Priya VII.

Poor Jordan.  Struck out once again.

Getting on with Clarke becoming Josephine.  Turns out that Cillian, Clarke’s cutie, is an insider for the Children of Gabriel, loathes the Primes and the hypocrisy that they carry.

Clarke at the time can’t make sense of what is going on with him, and perhaps that is partially her fault as she left her guard and opened her heart.  I can’t blame her though as the girl needed a break with a dose of pleasure.

The 100 The Face Behind The Glass

Cillian attempts to save Clarke in a harsh way, but it’s in futile because the guards took her whilst in a temp paralytic state.  Although she is conscious, she cannot fight against the horrors.

While Russell’s and Soren’s intentions were of pure and recognizable loss and grief, it doesn’t condone the monstrous procedure.

Once fully able-bodied, Clarke takes her first look as Josephine in the glass and her “parents” are thrilled.

But Clarke isn’t “Clarke” anymore.  And that is most definitely a depressing reality.

Bonus Bullets:

  • The Face Behind The Glass had everything—Becho and Bellarke content to fill my heart, Jordan smiling, Madi tasting her first cookie, Clarke dressing up, party aesthetics. Just everything.
  • Director Tim Scanlan has done a remarkable job getting all the pieces into sharp focus. He made the viewer, or at least me, feel like they’re in the episode, getting closer with the characters.
  • The lighting and colors schemes soothed the mentally charging aspects.
  • Girls, if you are attending prom or a formal event for us old people, best look at The 100 for inspirations and ideas. The dresses are out of this world!
  • We want more #Diytavia, yes?
  • Glad we got Princess Mechanic criteria, but it could’ve gone better.
  • I am all for Raven being happy and bubbly, but she should channel it through her mechanics and computer knowledge. Having a love interest, especially after losing Shaw, is too soon.  She was herself when she was fixing Ryker’s bike.
  • Is Ryker chipped too? Because he did hug Delilah/Priya and she addressed him as her son.  Something smells fishy.
  • Bring back Clarke, please. I miss her already.
  • Those stitches look familiar…
  • The Lightbournes have a lot of “skeletons” in their closet.
  • Murphy would’ve made some sassy remarks about Naming Day if he was in the presence.  He would have caught on its bs right away.
  • Tasya Teles did a wonderful performance reflecting on Echo’s backstory.  It’s a difficult challenge to professionally express trauma and fragility.
  • Echo’s story is only a sliver of what is to come for her character.
  • I love that Clarke is a strong and precocious bisexual woman, but her romantic relationships with men must be questioned.
  • Eliza Taylor playing two characters at once is a true reflection of her talent.
  • Jordan and Delilah are the cutest.
  • Stop harming Jordan Green.  Monty and Harper don’t like it.
  • Let’s discuss a theory. Clarke is not a natural Nightblood—hers was developed by medical science.  What if Josephine’s AI is rejected as it can only be supported by born Nightbloods?  Or it’s partially rejected and that’s why Clarke is glitching through in later episodes?
  • Soren was a doting mother as she kept her daughter’s AI close to her heart. Too bad she honored it evilly.

What did you like and/or dislike about The Face Behind The Glass?  What do you think of Echo’s childhood?  Is Clarke really Josephine or is she just playing the game?

Next on The 100:  The Gospel of Josephine!


Follow Grounders Source on Facebook and Twitter to keep updated with The 100 news!

You may also like