The CW’s The 100 Remember Me TV Show Review. The 100: Season 2, Episode 9: ‘Remember Me,’ was mercifully free of eulogies, and relatively short on emotional fallout, while staying surprisingly focused on getting beyond the events of the mid-season finale. That focus, however, did make allowance for more abrupt character turns; leaving me wondering whether more dwelling time actually was necessary.
With Raven (Lindsey Morgan) now emotionally invested in a lifeless Finn (Thomas McDonell), moving on didn’t really seem to in the cards, for the prospective Grounder/ Sky People alliance – at least, not for Raven. It may not have been for Clarke (Eliza Taylor), either. Grounder Commander Lexa (Alycia Debnam Carey) may have mentioned Clarke’s mercy killing, forever staying with her, as an acknowledgement of the strength it required; but Clarke had a different interpretation. Finn wasn’t helping.
Somehow, Finn managed to needlessly complicate things further, from beyond the grave. I blame his distraction, for Clarke not recognizing how Raven tagging along could be a liability. Lexa was clearly prepared to piss off a lot of her own people, in order to make an alliance work; so in the event one of her own turned on her, not having a convenient scapegoat around would make it easier to ferret out culprits.
At Mt. Weather, the head of security demonstrated plenty of smarts; but I’ll assume complacency has something to do with the rest of the compliment’s shortcomings. For one thing, wouldn’t the rise in radio volume, every time Team Jasper (Devon Bostick) gets together, be a tip-off? No identification/ sign-in necessary for faceless hazmat guys getting the run of high security areas? It was good to see Jasper & Monty (Christopher Larkin) up to shenanigans, again; but the 47 really should learn to watch each other’s backs. Two down, forty-five to go; but the ball was handed over to the Ground-Sky alliance.
Perspective alliance, anyway. Raven wasn’t the only one out for blood, and Lincoln (Ricky Whittle) was in no position to act as arbitrator. If the Grounders were so wary of post-Reaper Lincoln, why would a Reaper cure even factor into this alliance? Still, it was one more reason for a lot of tension – before, and particularly after, the summit went sideways.
To the show’s credit, however, the obvious haters were left as obvious red herrings. Both sides needed to be on even footing, so the inevitable crime had to be as heartbreaking for Lexa to resolve, as it had been for Clarke. Unfortunately, the red herring aspect had to mean a sudden turn, for an otherwise steadfast character.
One sudden turn deserved another, it seemed. As the conspirator’s fate served to demonstrate, to Raven, just what was in store for Finn, the question became: just how far into herself was she, to not recognize Finn’s death as a mercy killing. Apparently that no longer matters. Raven’s radio was needed to tie into the Mt. Weather plot, which, in turn, firmly placed Raven back on team footing.
All-in-all, it was a banner exercise for all. The Grounders & Sky People found a bit of horizon, on matters of law, intrigue, and politics; Kane (Henry Ian Cusick) & Abigail (Paige Turco) recognized the fruits of the Ark’s efforts, in Clarke; Clarke recognized herself, in Abigail, and the grey area they now both carry with them. Clarke also may have seen just how narrow minded her obsession with Finn had been, in said Phantom’s face. Never mind Raven’s counterproductive demonstration, Clarke has two worlds, in need of saving, to merit a realigning of her priorities.
Still, even I’m not jaded enough to see her exorcist conclusion as a particularly healthy one; but Clarke’s overall role may require more Nietzsche than Jane Austen.
Given the scope of what remains at stake, her almost singular understanding of this, and her ability/ willingness to see the necessary through, I can understand Clarke being more of an arch-type, than a character. Her character swings, from moralist, to smitten obsessive, to absolutist, to selfless leader of masses, all make sense in this regard.
As long as the series delivers on truly grand things, I am willing to consider Clarke an instrument to any such ends – more subject of myth, than mere mortal consideration.
No one else gets this pass, however, and certainly not after the measured evolution of characters like Bellamy (Bob Morely), Abigail, and Kane. I understand that for every character that grounds the series, there has to be a wild card, just to keep things interesting; but too many wild card moments, and one has to question whether the audience is being taken seriously.
The good news is that The 100 has put its occasionally break-neck pace to good use, in keeping the show from dwelling too long on either element. It got us past Wells, past Octavia’s (Marie Avgeropoulos) acting-out phase, and a number of variations on the Lord of the Flies. If one baffling line, on the merits of love, is what it takes to finally get past the Finn triangle, I’ll take it.
As long as the series demonstrates that it is more concerned with the big picture, than scoring momentary points, then the devils, of the details, may each be relatively fleeting enough for me to look past them.
Eyes on the prize, everyone. Whuzzat, Phantom Finn? La, la, la, I-am-not-listen-ing….
Leave your thoughts on this review of The 100 below in the comments section. For more The 100 reviews, photos, videos, and information, visit our The 100 page, subscribe to us by Email, follow us on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, or “like” us on Facebook.