The 100: A Sort of Homecoming (7.14) Things of Notes

Struggling but I’m here. It’s not because the episode was bad. Actually, it was quite good. Jessica Harmon did an excellent job on the directing! She got some great performances out of her castmates. I liked her choices, especially using the falling of the rubble to fade out at the end of the episode. Anyway, these posts are work! I was unemployed during season 6 so it was a lot easier to devote time to this. I have a full-time job now and things have been super hectic. All that said, let’s get into this!

Goodbye and hello. Clarke arrived in the rotunda distraught over killing Bellamy minutes earlier. Indra and Jackson informed her that they were in the Second Dawn Bunker aka hell. Clarke put it together that they were on Earth and wondered how it was possible. Cadogan told her that it was the perfect place for her. He was definitely thinking of hell when he said that. Cadogan pulled a blue-green nano-tracking pill out of his robes and popped it. He said, “What is it you say? May we meet again.” and poofed back to Bardo. Such a great twist on a classic villain line! I have to give it to him for being prepared. Anyway, Clarke and co stood stunned for a few moments before Gaia welcomed Indra home from the rafters. They grasped arms and each took a long look at the other. Not a word was spoken but so much was said. Indra and Gaia were relieved and glad to see each other. Madi embraced Gaia and asked how she got there. Gaia told the story of how she arrived via the closing bridge. When the shutdown code is entered, the bridge defaults to the origin of human DNA, Earth. I really believe that passing the final test (I still think Jordan is more right than Cadogan) will bring everyone to a restored Earth. Gaia fought the Disciple and prevailed. I loved it when she said “I’m not a man” in response to “For all mankind”! She was there for a few days until Octavia and co arrived that morning.

Emotional Conversations

Just as I thought, this episode was filled with emotional conversations.

Breaking the news. Clarke and co climbed out of the bunker and were greeted with the sight of green. Looks like Monty was wrong about Earth being uninhabitable forever. He just needed to give it another 58 years or so. Anyway, Octavia and co had set up camp not too far from the bunker entrance. Hugs were exchanged but Clarke remained aloof. The reunions were somewhat joyous. That is until Echo and Octavia saw Bellamy wasn’t there. Clarke didn’t answer at first when Echo asked where he was. When pressed by Octavia, Clarke simply said that Bellamy was dead. Murphy was confused. Clarke told them she killed him. She couldn’t even look at them when she said it. She explained that he had Madi’s sketchbook and was going to hand it over to the Disciples. Madi would never be safe. Clarke told them that she did everything she could. That is debatable. She didn’t try much of anything besides talking to him. She went from 0 to 11 in thirty seconds in terms of things to try! The writers probably should have left that line out. As Clarke was talking, Octavia was walking towards her. She looked like she was going to punch Clarke in the face at first but then her expression softened as she got closer. She pulled Clarke into a hug and told her she understood and that the “old Bellamy” would as well. Echo still looked skeptical and angry but she said Bellamy died a long time ago. Cadogan gave him meaning and that’s what killed him in her mind. She, Clarke, and Octavia share a tearful group hug. The rest of the group stood sadly. A single tear dropped from Murphy’s eye. I think this was going to seem “off” no matter what. The rush reverberates here. Echo said the Bellamy she knew died “a long time ago”. He was a Disciple for a day or two at the most! Not that long of a time. At the same time, I think both she and Octavia are operating on the thought that the Bellamy they knew died on the day of the stone room explosion. That was over 3 months ago for them.

Clarke is wrong. Murphy decided he was out after hearing there was no hot water or electricity. Underneath that, he was concerned about the Sanctum folks. Raven put on the helmet left by Gaia’s kidnapper and saw that the stone was 100 ft below the rotunda. Murphy had a plan. Go back to Sanctum, shower, and stock up on supplies. Gabriel also mentioned bringing his people home. I guess no one told him that there was only one Child of Gabriel left. Or maybe he was thinking like Nelson in that the Sanctum folks were also his people. All these plans were ruined when Clarke destroyed the helmet. She said that everyone that was from there is there. No, that’s not right! Wonkru and the Eligius prionsers are from Earth too! Remember them? She also said that everyone they cared about was there. Really, everyone she cared about was there. No one else’s ties/bonds matter except for hers. Definitely not Gabriel’s. Madi was ticked! She was upset that Clarke had “decided for her” yet again. Clarke decided for everyone because that’s what Clarke does. She didn’t ask for Clarke to kill Bellamy to save her. She didn’t want Clarke to have to live with that choice. The fandom would agree. Clarke tried to diffuse the situation by starting to reminisce about Shallow Valley and wanting their friends to come back. Nope, not their friends, Clarke’s friends. Madi’s friends, Luca and Picasso among others, were back on Sanctum. She may never see them again. Madi told Clarke that she ruined both of their lives before walking off. Despite the preteen angst, Madi made some valid points. Meanwhile, Murphy and Emori also believed Clarke was wrong. They had the helmet and were hoping Raven could fix it so they could bring Wonkru, the Sanctum folks, and the Eligius prisoners home. Murphy convinced Raven by invoking Hatch’s death. Watching Bellamy work her on the Ring came in handy. Oh…

Mackson gets intimate. Miller and Jackson were laying in bed in a sort of afterglow. There was a dark mood in Miller though. He had told Bellamy that he would forgive him but he can’t now. Bellamy forgave Miller for the things he did while following Blodreina. Miller didn’t think his own father would even do that. Jackson reminded Miller that his father gave up his spot in the bunker so he could live. He has lived in spite of everything. Jackson believed that Earth could ultimately be their second chance. They have each other and that’s all they need. I loved everything about this scene! The lighting was moody to match the moodiness of the scene. There was a tenderness to it that ws really beautiful. Mackson doesn’t get a lot of action but we see here that their relationship is built on deep intimacy and vulnerability. This is the pinnacle moment for them! I think my heart might have melted a bit. That actually doesn’t happen often. It was also lovely when Jackson woke Miller up and greeted him with, “Hey baby.” I always wish we would have seen more of their relationship and of them as individuals. However, I am very pleased that we got this.

Welcome to Niylah’s. Niylah brought Gabriel, Jordan, Hope, and Echo to her “rec room”. Gabriel made a beeline for the piano. He hadn’t played in 200 years so he’s quite rusty. Too bad they couldn’t replicate a piano on Sanctum. They managed a nightclub though. Anyway, Niylah dug out her stash of booze from an air vent. She told Jordan it was never safe before taking a swig. It was terrible but it was Monty’s recipe so Jordan was interested in trying it. Have to love all these little nods to Monty (not Harper though, it’s never Harper). Niylah offered Echo some but she declined the drink and to stay. Bellamy’s death is weighing heavily on her. Gabriel immediately wanted to go make sure she was ok but she needed space. Gabriel and Echo’s friendship doesn’t get mentioned much so it was nice to see a glimmer of it here. Jordan was ready to party so he took the bottle and offered Hope some. She wasn’t keen at first but relented when Jordan mentioned that his dad made it. She understood what it meant to him to have a line to his father through this drink. I’m sure she was wishing she had something like that. Later on, Madi joined the party, having been drawn to the room by the sound of Moonlight Sonata. Jordan and Hope were sharing a dance. It was actually quite cute. Jordan twirled Hope and she started laughing. They locked eyes for a bit and then she ran off. Jordan was confused but Gabriel encouraged him to go after her. Niylah was so drunk that she vomited and left the room. Madi wanted to hear another song. Gabriel did her one better and offered to teach her instead.

Facing the past. Octavia was camped out above ground. Despite 10 years on Skyring and a hallucination fight with Blodreina, Octavia still couldn’t face what happened in the bunker. Indra caught her as she was saying a prayer that Lincoln had taught her. Indra wasn’t her only teacher but she was the best! Anyway, staying outside would be Indra’s penance as well. She is just as responsible for what happened in the bunker as Octavia. She’s the only “adult” who owned up to it. Neither Kane nor Abby got a second chance to take responsibility for their role in Blodreina’s reign. I think that’s what Octavia needed to hear. She was isolated and alone in bearing the guilt but she wasn’t completely responsible. Indra told her they would face her demons together. It was good to see Octavia and Indra reconnect. Walking back into the bunker, Octavia had flashes of the fighting pits and reuniting with Bellamy after 6 years apart. Indra looked on. Gaia admitted that she used to resent the way Indra looked at Octavia like a daughter. She doesn’t anymore because Octavia was the warrior Indra wanted for a daughter. Indra apologized and told Gaia that she was her “Seda”. The look in her eye said that she was proud of who Gaia is. That was definitely something Gaia needed and wanted to see from her mother. Indra finally accepts her for who she is. There’s also a degree of admiration and respect between them.

Sharing secrets. Niylah sauntered into a room to find Echo still awake. When she asked, “Why are you still up, Echo?”, Echo revealed to her that her name is actually Ash. It seems that she contemplated telling Bellamy (and maybe the rest of Spacekru) but she never got the nerve. She did tell Ryker but that was to save her life. Echo thought that made her a coward. She didn’t want Bellamy to pity her for what she went through. She did manage to tell him about Queen Nia burning down her house, killing her parents, and taking her away. Although that’s quite traumatic, it seems that killing her best friend and taking her name was even more so. Still, I think it weighs on her that she was never able to share that part of herself with Bellamy. I wonder if she’ll end up telling more people. Niylah also had a secret. Her mother was Azgeda and she was named for Queen Nia. Her family lived far out in the woods so no one would see her mother’s scars.

A shared guilt. Murphy was impatiently waiting for Raven and Emori to fix the helmet when he heard Hope sobbing. He went out and formally introduced himself but Hope already knew who he was. Octavia had told her the “not so good” stories about him. Before Murphy could find up what was wrong, Jordan showed up and said he had it covered. Murphy made sure he mentioned that he was Jordan’s favorite. Anyway, Jordan apologized for upsetting her, thinking he had misread the situation. He was having fun and thought she was too. Turns out she was but she also was feeling guilty about her mom. Jordan felt the same way when he woke up from cryo. The only other person he ever told that was Delilah. He assured Hope that it would get easier. That made Hope feel a little better. Jordan suggested they go back to the rec room but Hope wanted to dance in the hallway. I was vehemently against these two getting together romantically. Now, I’m not sure I mind so much. It has this teenage awkwardness to it that you never see on this show. They have been vulnerable with each other in a way that they haven’t been with anyone else. Hope has Octavia, Echo, and Gabriel but they don’t understand her experience the way Jordan does. Jordan doesn’t have anyone to truly relate to. Aside from Hope and Gabriel, everyone else is a character in his childhood stories. While a romance isn’t necessary to facilitate this kind of connection, it’s really not so bad.

The Action

Temporary Disciple. Clarke left some loose ends in the form of two Disciples and Sheidheda because plot’s gotta plot. Anyway, the Disciples brought Sheidheda to Bardo and they didn’t waste any time strapping him into M-Cap! Cadogan was flipping through Madi’s sketchbook, spending some extra time on the drawing of Callie. Try as he might, he can’t hide his love for her. Sheidheda told him that he knew who drew the sketches. He would reveal their identity if Cadogan and the Disciples let him rule Sanctum. This amused Cadogan It’s not going to matter once the Last War starts. He explained that winning would mean transcendence for all of the “human family”, even Sheidheda. Losing would mean death for the “human family.” He told Cadogan that Madi is the one with the memories. As Cadogan was leaving, Sheidheda saw an opportunity. Obviously, Cadogan was going to send some soldiers to get her. Sheidheda suggested sending him instead because he has been inside Madi’s head and knows how she thinks. Transcend or die sounds like a good slogan but it’s not much of a choice. He has a point. In a way, both options are a kind of death. Cadogan agreed to the arrangement and Sheidheda was pleased. He looked like someone who was about to have a lot of fun. Being a Disciple soldier has its perks I guess.

Sheidghost: Room to Room. The bridge opened and Octavia, Gaia, and Indra got their weapons ready. No one stepped through which perplexed Octavia and Gaia. Sheidheda was there in ghost mode. Sheidheda is smart! Indra quickly figured out that someone was there and they sprung into action. Octavia went to find Madi while Indra and Gaia stayed behind. Sheidheda obviously followed Octavia to where Clarke was. He listened as Octavia told Clarke that someone was there to kidnap Madi. He tagged along as they checked eight levels of the bunker. Sheidheda then followed Clarke and Octavia to the workroom where Raven, Murphy, Emori, Jordan, and Hope were. Clarke inquired about the smashed helmet and informed them that the Disciples were after Madi. Hope told them that she was in the rec room. That’s all Sheidghost needed to know! He locked them in the workroom and made his way to the rec room where Madi was having a piano lesson with Gabriel. Sheidghost stabbed Gabriel. Madi tried to get away via the vent but he grabbed her and threw her around. Once he backed her against a table, he de-ghosted. He had that “Heeeeeeerrrre’s Johnny!” look on his face. Sheidheda told Madi that she was the key to the transcendence of the human race. He doesn’t give a toss though. He’s not interested in transcending. He likes being a “meat sack” just fine especially if it means he can still rule over Sanctum. Cadogan gave him “options” for bringing her back. Nano-tracking pills if she went peacefully, locator dagger if she resisted. He preferred to kill her. Just when he was going for it, Gabriel tackled him. Gabriel told Madi to go find Indra in the rotunda before Sheidheda stabbed him multiple times. Madi got to the rotunda but Sheidheda was right behind her. He was filled with glee! Gaia told Madi to run before she and Indra took him on. Madi didn’t quite leave the room as she later jumped on Sheidheda’s back. He quickly knocked her off. Just when he was ready to spear her, Indra kicked him in the crotch. Indra was finally going to kill him. Not today! Sheidheda took the locator dagger, stabbed himself, and disappeared.

RIP Gabriel. I knew this was coming. I always believed that Gabriel was guaranteed to die this season. Death has been a big part of Gabriel’s arc. He’s been (reluctantly) cheating it for over 200 years. He had hoped that his previous body would be his last but he was resurrected again. He was tired. Anyway, Octavia and co found him bleeding out from his stab wounds. Hope immediately ran to him, distraught at the possibility of losing yet another person she cared about. Gabriel was glad to see Hope, calling her his friend. Echo wasn’t there though. He basically told Clarke that he tried to keep Madi safe from Sheidheda. Miller and Jackson came into the room and Jackson attempted to assess Gabriel’s wounds. Gabriel stopped him, saying that he was ready. Hope pretended not to hear this as she later told Jackson to do something. Gabriel told Hope that he wanted to die. Octavia said the Traveler’s Prayer and everyone said the “May We Meet Again”. Gabriel shed a tear as he took his last breath. After 2.5 centuries, he can finally rest. Gabriel conquered death but knew right away that it was wrong. He never wanted to be resurrected but he went with it for Josephine. Over the centuries, he realized that death made life important. For 70 years, he rescued Null babies from the Offering Grove and raised them on death is life. He (likely) died without knowing that all but one of his “children” were killed. At his core, Gabriel was a man who loved the joy of scientific discovery. He won’t get to see the mystery of the stones be fully revealed but in the end, I think he felt that some mysteries were better left unsolved. Gabriel turned out to be one of my favorite characters on the show. I love that he was grounded and yet had his cheeky moments, especially in this season. I had hoped he would at least make it to the finale but it is what it is.

Madi turns herself in. As Gabriel lay dying, Clarke was gungho to go back to Sanctum and get an “army”. Raven said she wasn’t able to fix the helmet but Sheidheda left his behind. It too was damaged but Raven she was able to see that the stone was somewhere in the rec room. Seeing what was happening around her, Madi made a move for the nano-tracking pills. She really didn’t want anyone else to die because of her. Clarke vetoed the idea. Madi snuck out via the vent system to the rotunda. When Clarke found her, Madi was ready to stab herself with the locator dagger. She was giving herself over to Cadogan because he would just keep sending people otherwise. She told Clarke she loves her before plunging the dagger into her side and disappearing. Clarke is devastated. The bridge opened and instead of ghost Disciples, a bomb on a cart appeared. Miller figured out what it was immediately and threw it out of the room, saving them all from death. However, damage was done to the structure of the bunker. Emori left the rec room to check it out. Murphy went to get her back but she could hear rumbling. They attempted to run to each other when rubble came down from above. Looks like they’re all stuck. Cadogan wasn’t taking any chances. Smart! The plan was near perfect but not only are they not dead, Sheidheda left the nano-tracking pills behind.

Other things. The new title card is interesting. It flickers between the fighting pits and the clean rotunda. I take that as a sign that Earth will be restored at the end of it all. “Sins” will be wiped clean. I’ve seen people say that it could mean it’s a simulation. I think that would be the worst ending ever! I think it’s a copout and negates everything that happened. I may have the same blue shirt Clarke has been wearing. Did the costume department shop at Old Navy? Indra had witnessed Disciples coming through the bridge in ghost mode. Why didn’t they put something down to detect movement? Also, Octavia carried on like there wasn’t someone lurking around in ghost mode. Those two things made me *headdesk* but they had to happen to move the plot along. It’s funny how Gabriel was the only one drinking Monty’s brew out of a cup. A copper Moscow Mule cup at that! Love how “hero Murphy” freaks Raven out while Emori is turned on by his heroism. He doesn’t like the title much although he has all but embraced what it means.

Next Time on The 100…

Clarke and Octavia go rescue Madi from Bardo. Levitt returns at last! He’s running Madi’s M-Cap session while Cadogan looks on. I’m willing to bet that he’ll give the same desert scenario he gave Octavia to establish the neural link. Maybe Madi’s memories will help him see Cadogan for what he is. I predict Octavia’s going to kill him though, especially if he’s solid with Cadogan.

Two more episodes to go! I’m excited to see how the story ends.

Until next time!