Finally, the recap-review for The 100 The Last War is here. I know it has been a cold minute since the finale’s air date of September 30th, but better late than never they say. Read the review for the series finale by continuing below.
The 100 The Last War Recap-Review
The Guiding Light Of It All
Episode 716 aired September 30th, 2020
Written and directed by Jason Rothenberg
The light at the end of the tunnel finally has been switched on, albeit bleakly, as The 100 takes its last curtain draw. For seven years, The 100 further propelled me into my writing endeavors, and along with it, came equal ratios of pain, love, and anger.
I would never regret this journey, suspenseful as it was, and may it continue to be because it helped shaped my understanding of the world and gain a new perspective of myself. Not that I had a dysmorphia of dangerous values, but my thoughts and actions upon myself were not exactly the healthiest.
There are going to be times where challenges will preside, clouding above the ambitions, but that is a part of life and it is up to you how you tackle those challenges. Some will be more difficult than others and some easier.
Moving on, the series finale gave The 100 a sentimental farewell as many have finally found their peace after a lifetime of fighting and constant sorrow. Although how their peace was apprehended, it was gorgeous and uplifting in its own right.
My only issue is that someone deserved it more and he was not there.
Ready to join the ‘Other Side’? Read on!
The Test Of Time
After leaving Madi with her paralyzing stroke, Cadogan is first to take the Last Test. He is greeted by his judge, his daughter, Callie. Or so what he believes is his daughter. The Judge takes shape of our greatest teacher although they are not actually the person.
The Judge asks Cadogan if humanity is ready to take the leap into transcendence. With all the atrocities-including eliminating love-that Cadogan has operated, he feels like he is worthy of joining transcendence and saving “all mankind.”
The Last Test is not a violent war, but an actual test (Jordan was right) that will determine the faith of humanity with a series of questions, and if the answers are satisfactory, then the living can join them on the other side.
Before Cadogan delivers a penetrative answer regarding the question of love, Clarke codes in (after taking down Disciples with Octavia and Levitt) and executes the Disciples’ leader. Her reasoning behind this action is justice: for the death of her daughter, for the death of her best friend, and the suffering that he has caused.
Clarke’s choice will come at a price.
Who will be the Judge is someone who was Clarke’s greatest teacher.
They say our Judge is our greatest teacher. The one who taught us the most in life.
Clarke is obviously overjoyed to see the woman that she loves once again; her heart filled with happiness
The physical appearance of Lexa was not only wonderful but a near-perfect attempt to smooth out her wrongful death back in season three. While it does brace out some comfort that Lexa has returned in some formation, I think that having her FULLY would have made more of an impact.
But as a Lexa lover for all her qualities, I’ll take it.
Nonetheless, Clarke is now faced with a crucial dilemma. Lexa (we’ll go with this) is not satisfied with Clarke’s cold-blood murder and because that she failed the Test, she cannot join in the transcendence. Nor could her people.
Clarke is deeply disappointed because she had messed things up-but while her reasoning was beneficial for herself in word for Madi and the guilt that she feels for killing Bellamy. There is absolutely no doubt that Clarke has immense guilt-so much so that it clouded over her in the season’s remainder.
Given the verdict, Clarke goes back and shares the news with Raven.
Raven knows it’s up to her to prove that humanity is worth saving. With her kick-ass attitude, she goes in to see what she can, only to be faced with her own Judge.
Facing judgment in order to enter “the gates” holds a strong religious facet. In the Catholic faith, purgatory is the step before Entrance-where St. Peter greets potential Christians and analyzes if they are worthy to enter based on their life’s deeds and morals. If he finds it flawed, then the sinners have turned away, of to live in torment for their afterlife.
And purgatory is agonizing torment that might be passed before divinity and entry.
The same applies here if you take the religious outlook into consideration. It is a dark turn, but essential for the story to move forward.
Getting back, Raven’s Judge is Abby-who was also a delight to see, but mentally we all know that it was not her. They both witness The Last War take place in Bardo’s Valley. Abby is quick on the rejection, but Raven coerces her for more time.
It turns out that waiting for the precise moment was correct. It is an intense battle, but no one genuinely wants to fight, but this is The 100; fighting will always be present.
Octavia-of who had one of the most developed characterizations is the one who saved humanity by stepping in after Levitt and Echo get shot. Her speech is a powerful one as she speaks of Bellamy never being able to transcend and if they keep battling it out, then they will never know if he was right in his beliefs.
For Octavia, honoring her brother is one of the most monumental components as she did not get the last good-bye. Bellamy-next to Hope-was the most valuable person in her life and to be ripped from that good-bye is certainly one of the most heart-wrenching moves that The 100 has done.
And the Blake Siblings- despite their faults deserved so much better than what was given in the latter half of season 7.
The effect of Octavia’s words is enlightening and persuasive. Both sides lowered their weapons in the honor of peace and human salvation. It is a mesmerizing watch as they ended all that was evil to a degree of good.
In my opinion, this is a high peak for Octavia because she has emblazoned herself as a mass murderer to one of the softest pacifists. She had to learn and value life the hard way, but come with it, she took its lessons with a full heart and mind and even learned some things about herself in the process. Her transitions were superior-each causing some electric response from within.
At the sight of the harmony, Abby reevaluates her decision and allows Raven to pass the test.
Leave it to Raven (and Octavia) to save everyone.
Let It Glow (Bellamy Was Right)
No one should ever doubt the great Bellamy Blake. No one.
Humanity is questioned by the choices that one makes, only to be answered by one’s redemption. Bellamy may have tested rough waters in the seven seasons, but he always came back redeemed as he learned through the pain and anguish. Sometimes, it takes a great wave of suffering to realize life’s value; all the characters had opened their eyes to dire situations, and some survived to tell the tales.
Bellamy especially has witnessed life’s pain and after absorbing so much of it, he wanted better not only for himself but for his loved ones. It took climbing to the top of an Everest-like mountain, reuniting, with his mother, and being brainwashed to see the light through the darkness.
Without Bellamy, no one would have made it into a glowing spirit destined for the galaxies, Octavia and Echo forming a sisterhood, and the rescue of the human race. I believe Bellamy gave them a second chance (at this rate, a hundredth) at life and redemption, but it was only too late for anyone to realize.
Although Bellamy gave them that gift, he mostly deserved transcendence because his beliefs would have not been in vain.
Or have such an underserving and grisly death that left a permeant stain.
In the previous episode, Emori was gravely wounded by a support beam and created a blur of frenzy amongst the group. Yet, love and determination poured as Jackson, Murphy, and Raven fought to save her.
It was Murphy’s great mind and passion for his Emori to do a Nightblood transfusion, but unfortunately, it was not enough. Emori’s body refused the transfer and her body died.
And here I am screaming and sobbing at my TV as I thought another favorite has fallen down the rabbit hole. The 100 has not been shy of killing off favorites in twisted ways, and the emotional response is always an electrifying burn.
The wounds are bone-deep.
Murphy knows that he cannot live without his significant other, so after tense pressure, Jackson removes her mind drive and inserts it with Murphy’s. This is a known dangerous procedure, but Murphy does not give a damn; he just wanted to have his happy ending with Emori.
It was something out of a fairy tale for their last moments.
Emori is inside Murphy’s mind space-the Sanctum palace in the middle of the Dead Zone. The latter is where Memori first laid their eyes on one another and the former is where they had the ultimate test as a couple-where they passed with flying colors and became even stronger.
With their last moments together (Emori refused at first)) and Emori’s little green chemise, they wound up having their ever after. It was what Murphy wanted and to give a character that privilege (albeit that it should not be a privilege) is one of The 100’s higher points. It is what we all strive for in our lives, but oftentimes we get shafted or something does not align with our plans.
But speaking for the latter, who am I to contest the Higher Powers of the universe? Whether it’d be God or ET, they are the ones who make the final verdict without our input. We must place our faith and trust in Him (or Them).
And everyone failed in placing their trust in Bellamy for it was Him that led them to peace.
Yet, he still gave them that Gift. At least show some appreciation for the man who sacrificed so much.
Clarke knows that Madi must transcend, but the girl does not want to leave her mom behind. Clarke assures her that it is ok to let go, as heartbreaking as it was for her to share that. There is no greater pain than a parent losing their children-natural or not-and no matter what Clarke voices, a huge chunk of her heart will be an empty void because she will not have Madi.
Clarke is the last person on Earth and to further clarify this, she looks around for “survivors”. Yet, nobody is left, except for furry Picasso-who is left on Sanctum. She quickly runs to Clarke’s side and bonds.
It seems like Clarke will not be alone after all.
She chases the retriever to the beach where she is met with cosmic Judge Lexa once again. Lexa repeats that she can never cross over but assures that Madi is happy as she is with kids her own age. Then, came a surprise.
Transcendence is a choice; the souls can come back in human form and live the rest of their lives on Earth. The only downfall to this is that they will never be able to procreate and once they pass, that is it. There would be no more of the human race.
But I think the characters knew-Octavia, Echo, Emori, Murphy, Jackson, Miller, Niylah, Indra, Gaia, and Levitt knew about the terms before they rehumanized. The group decided to be there for Clarke so she would not be alone. It was a sweet gesture on their behalf because, despite their past hostilities with Clarke (they were all trying to survive), they have FORGIVEN her. I know it is hard to imagine conceptualization, but in order to have a feeling of solid peace and freeing yourself of anger, you must find forgiveness. Without it, we become discontent and not be able to move on.
As for Madi? She got to be a child and be with kids her own age. As hard it was for Clarke (and us) to let go of the girl who warmed our hearts, but as long she is happy, then that is what matters most.
The very ending of the finale was not bad, but it could have better. Bellamy and Gabriel should have transcended-regardless that only the living transcends-and be part of that reunion beach party. If anyone deserves it more, it is those two.
Their deaths would not be in vain, although Gabriel did have a more meaningful death than Bellamy.
But maybe they and the rest of the beloved characters are watching Clarke and the others from above. I’d like to think so because life should not all be doom and gloom. What is the purpose of life if there is not a glimmer of light in a world of somber?
Bonus Bullets
- Lexa was correct when she said that the human race was a “curious species.”
- The last-minute sequenced Clarke back into her cell on the ARK in the pilot. It can be interpreted as a dream and everything that has happened in seven seasons never did happen or it could be a premonition of what’s to come. Or a nice callback to where everything began.
- Bellamy WAS right.
- Clarke should have transcended too. Who cares if she made a mistake during the test? That man took away her daughter.
- The sequence of Octavia and Levitt sharing about transcendence and Bellamy had me crying. Why can’t the dead transcend? The human body dies, not their souls, and the souls are then transported to heaven. Shouldn’t the same occur for transcendence?
- How come Picasso did not transcend? Are animals not worthy of it?
- I don’t think it is fair that Echo and Raven are without their partners. Sometimes, you need that person.
- No Bellarke hug given.
- I am glad that Sheidheda was blown to bits by Indra. His narrative lasted far too long, but I think it had to because of that scene.
- Echo and Octavia saving one another? Yay queens!
- Echo’s and Niylah’s war paint though.
- At least there will be no more pain and suffering.
What did you think of The 100 series finale? Did you think that it befitted the show? What character will you miss the most?
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