The 100: Bitter Harvest
February 26, 2016 2:39 PM - Season 3, Episode 6 - Subscribe
Clarke struggles with her morality while Abby grows suspicious of Jaha's motives.
Yes! The photo recaps are the best.
I thought this episode was really good. I now say EMERSON the way Seinfeld used to say NEWMAN. I was really hoping someone would make the distinction between the Mountain Men kidnapping people and literally sucking the life out of them, then dumping them like so much garbage, versus killing those rat bastards to save your own people. Yes, it was horrible to kill innocent children, and the people who had helped them. But that whole society was corrupt af. And I'm not saying Clarke should have killed Emerson, just that you can't equate her actions at Mt weather with his.
My absolute favorite moment was Jaha and Abby, "Wells?"
Boom. Now we know. Da Fuuuuu u u !
posted by pjsky at 9:30 PM on February 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
I thought this episode was really good. I now say EMERSON the way Seinfeld used to say NEWMAN. I was really hoping someone would make the distinction between the Mountain Men kidnapping people and literally sucking the life out of them, then dumping them like so much garbage, versus killing those rat bastards to save your own people. Yes, it was horrible to kill innocent children, and the people who had helped them. But that whole society was corrupt af. And I'm not saying Clarke should have killed Emerson, just that you can't equate her actions at Mt weather with his.
My absolute favorite moment was Jaha and Abby, "Wells?"
Boom. Now we know. Da Fuuuuu u u !
posted by pjsky at 9:30 PM on February 26, 2016 [1 favorite]
You missed the best recap.
I didn't know I needed the recap until I read it. Thanks! ("I'm cool, right?" Ahahaha.)
Overall, I liked this episode. I'm still having trouble with the whole Pike thing on a couple levels now though:
* I am still puzzled that there's no provision for removing a chancellor for war crimes. Pike already committed one atrocity, now he's openly planning a second, and nobody's blinking? Arkadia actually feels more like Lord of the Flies with the adults around than when it was just kids. (I realize it's possible their political system actually *is* that bad after a century in space, it just seems a little weird not to have some legacy stuff about the Geneva Convention.)
* I am surprised nobody in Pike's faction is concerned with Jaha's Pod People. It's not strange to me that Pike isn't - he's all Captain Ahab about the Grounders and probably takes Jaha for a harmless nut - but it's a small camp, and Jaha is clearly handing out Space Roofies. Seems like another thing that someone he trusts, (rather than just Kane), should be pressing him about.
Apart from that subplot sticking out like a sore thumb this season, it was fun though. Lexa is, once again, The Best. She's thoughtful and consistent, and Arkadia would be doing much better with her running the show. I also appreciate that Roan is playing ball. I also liked the Grounders turning on Octavia and scorching the earth, because of course they would.
I also expect that being forced to pick between 'his sister that he protected all her life' and 'the dumbass who will get everyone cut into a thousand pieces' will get Bellamy to make the right choice soon.
posted by mordax at 8:52 AM on February 27, 2016
I didn't know I needed the recap until I read it. Thanks! ("I'm cool, right?" Ahahaha.)
Overall, I liked this episode. I'm still having trouble with the whole Pike thing on a couple levels now though:
* I am still puzzled that there's no provision for removing a chancellor for war crimes. Pike already committed one atrocity, now he's openly planning a second, and nobody's blinking? Arkadia actually feels more like Lord of the Flies with the adults around than when it was just kids. (I realize it's possible their political system actually *is* that bad after a century in space, it just seems a little weird not to have some legacy stuff about the Geneva Convention.)
* I am surprised nobody in Pike's faction is concerned with Jaha's Pod People. It's not strange to me that Pike isn't - he's all Captain Ahab about the Grounders and probably takes Jaha for a harmless nut - but it's a small camp, and Jaha is clearly handing out Space Roofies. Seems like another thing that someone he trusts, (rather than just Kane), should be pressing him about.
Apart from that subplot sticking out like a sore thumb this season, it was fun though. Lexa is, once again, The Best. She's thoughtful and consistent, and Arkadia would be doing much better with her running the show. I also appreciate that Roan is playing ball. I also liked the Grounders turning on Octavia and scorching the earth, because of course they would.
I also expect that being forced to pick between 'his sister that he protected all her life' and 'the dumbass who will get everyone cut into a thousand pieces' will get Bellamy to make the right choice soon.
posted by mordax at 8:52 AM on February 27, 2016
RE: Pike, I think the reason Kane can't just call him out on his horrific policies and/or accuse him of war crimes is that he'll get no support. The election proved that the people wanted this, that's why they voted for Pike. Apparently a lot of Arkers agree with "All Grounders Deserve Death" + "This Land Is Ours Now" bullshit. Case in point -- Hannah (Monty's mom) authorizing the murder of that little grounder kid, which upset me as much as any of the many genocides this show has served up!
Bellamy and Monty need to wake up!
posted by pjsky at 9:48 AM on February 27, 2016
Bellamy and Monty need to wake up!
posted by pjsky at 9:48 AM on February 27, 2016
Apparently a lot of Arkers agree with "All Grounders Deserve Death" + "This Land Is Ours Now" bullshit.
That's plausible, but I'd like to see more stuff at the camp with the 'kill 'em all' and 'waitaminute' factions to get a better idea of how they work - I feel like I have a better handle on Grounder politics and laws. Right now, I think the problem for me is that the focus is a little too tight on Kane and Pike to get a good feel for the situation. It was nice to see things like the guard couple secretly on opposite sides of the issue, and I think more of that would add some texture to the whole thing, for lack of a better word.
posted by mordax at 12:54 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
That's plausible, but I'd like to see more stuff at the camp with the 'kill 'em all' and 'waitaminute' factions to get a better idea of how they work - I feel like I have a better handle on Grounder politics and laws. Right now, I think the problem for me is that the focus is a little too tight on Kane and Pike to get a good feel for the situation. It was nice to see things like the guard couple secretly on opposite sides of the issue, and I think more of that would add some texture to the whole thing, for lack of a better word.
posted by mordax at 12:54 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
Kane hasn't even tried to convince people otherwise, tho.
Like - rewind back to season 1 and you have Clarke and Bellamy making stump speeches, one after the other. That's exactly what Kane hasn't been doing. He's letting Pike tell people what's what without any contradiction.
Some people would blame it on the pacing? or the Idiot Ball? But I think it's actually in character, because (like Lexa) Kane's always been in a position of authority where he doesn't have to explain anything. He expects that he can just give people orders and they'll be followed; he expects he can just tell them that the Grounders are friends (not food) and people will believe him.
Clarke, on the other hand, has never been in a position where she could give people orders. The only authority she has comes from convincing people that she has a good idea. (and also rewind back to season 1 and remember she didn't want authority, she just kept ending up more and more in charge the more she talked)
This season makes more sense as a whole if you assume that Kane and Abby haven't bothered telling people shit, and Pike is the first one to tell them what the situation is outside. Kane and Abby are still idiots tho.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 1:01 PM on February 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
Like - rewind back to season 1 and you have Clarke and Bellamy making stump speeches, one after the other. That's exactly what Kane hasn't been doing. He's letting Pike tell people what's what without any contradiction.
Some people would blame it on the pacing? or the Idiot Ball? But I think it's actually in character, because (like Lexa) Kane's always been in a position of authority where he doesn't have to explain anything. He expects that he can just give people orders and they'll be followed; he expects he can just tell them that the Grounders are friends (not food) and people will believe him.
Clarke, on the other hand, has never been in a position where she could give people orders. The only authority she has comes from convincing people that she has a good idea. (and also rewind back to season 1 and remember she didn't want authority, she just kept ending up more and more in charge the more she talked)
This season makes more sense as a whole if you assume that Kane and Abby haven't bothered telling people shit, and Pike is the first one to tell them what the situation is outside. Kane and Abby are still idiots tho.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 1:01 PM on February 27, 2016 [2 favorites]
Pike just has to die, he is literally the WORST !!!
posted by Pendragon at 1:30 PM on February 27, 2016
posted by Pendragon at 1:30 PM on February 27, 2016
This season makes more sense as a whole if you assume that Kane and Abby haven't bothered telling people shit, and Pike is the first one to tell them what the situation is outside. Kane and Abby are still idiots tho.
Heh. That's fair. I think I'd be extending them more benefit of the doubt if they weren't giving Bellamy such poor characterization this season - the rollback on him calls into question anything else that looks even a little hinky, IMO. My other problem with this is that the security forces don't need to be *told* stuff - they've been holding joint operations with Indra and her people for awhile now, so I'd expect to see varying opinions from that group. To the show's credit, they're doing that a bit. I think they should show more of that.
But I think it's actually in character, because (like Lexa) Kane's always been in a position of authority where he doesn't have to explain anything.
While the rest of what you have to say is perfectly plausible, I do take issue with comparing Lexa to Kane or Abby. Her 'don't question me' thing is part of her role - she understands that she has to maintain a facade of invincibility to hold her coalition together. When pressed, she's realistic about what she needs to do to hold power. For instance, she understands that she can't use a second to fight Roan or she'll lose face, and she takes realistic precautions against the possibility that she'll lose to him even though she's confident in her abilities. Her moves are thoughtful and calculated... except where Clarke is concerned.
Tl;dr, Lexa is fronting, and only because that's the job.
The other thing about that is that it's unclear to me *why* power works that way in Ark society. What's Kane got that justifies being able to approach problems that way? Didn't the environment on the Ark require consensus-building? If not, why not?
*shrugs*
Personally, I really am more chalking this up to Idiot Balling.
posted by mordax at 2:19 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
Heh. That's fair. I think I'd be extending them more benefit of the doubt if they weren't giving Bellamy such poor characterization this season - the rollback on him calls into question anything else that looks even a little hinky, IMO. My other problem with this is that the security forces don't need to be *told* stuff - they've been holding joint operations with Indra and her people for awhile now, so I'd expect to see varying opinions from that group. To the show's credit, they're doing that a bit. I think they should show more of that.
But I think it's actually in character, because (like Lexa) Kane's always been in a position of authority where he doesn't have to explain anything.
While the rest of what you have to say is perfectly plausible, I do take issue with comparing Lexa to Kane or Abby. Her 'don't question me' thing is part of her role - she understands that she has to maintain a facade of invincibility to hold her coalition together. When pressed, she's realistic about what she needs to do to hold power. For instance, she understands that she can't use a second to fight Roan or she'll lose face, and she takes realistic precautions against the possibility that she'll lose to him even though she's confident in her abilities. Her moves are thoughtful and calculated... except where Clarke is concerned.
Tl;dr, Lexa is fronting, and only because that's the job.
The other thing about that is that it's unclear to me *why* power works that way in Ark society. What's Kane got that justifies being able to approach problems that way? Didn't the environment on the Ark require consensus-building? If not, why not?
*shrugs*
Personally, I really am more chalking this up to Idiot Balling.
posted by mordax at 2:19 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
I kind of agree. I'm sitting here going "okay, if this ISN'T an Idiot Plot, then what would explain that, and does that explanation jive?"
By that reasoning, if I assume Bellamy's characterization makes sense, then I would conclude that he doesn't have a strong moral compass on his own; and in season 2, when it looked like he was developing morals, he was actually just following Clarke's leadership, and her moral compass. And I think that observation is actually true. It makes sense based on his character and history.
(I mean, I also think Bellamy's not a good leader. He's a great right-hand-man.)
He also wasn't there for most of s2 when they were making friends with Grounders. We the viewers saw the whole thing over Clarke's shoulder; we met Anya, for instance, but nobody else did. He didn't meet Nyko or Indra except in passing. He was there for the initial peace talks at TonDC, which went horribly, but he wasn't there for the peace-building, alliance-building efforts after the bomb. He's only seen Heda Lexa, not Heart Eyes Lexa. He knows exactly three Grounders total. So I dunno. I can come up with reasons why the disconnect makes sense.
Kane's always been rather authoritarian - c.f. his approach to Bellamy in the season 2 opener. That's at least consistent. And the environment on the ark, i mean, they talked about consensus, but they also talked about murdering a few hundred people without telling anyone. So.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 4:25 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
By that reasoning, if I assume Bellamy's characterization makes sense, then I would conclude that he doesn't have a strong moral compass on his own; and in season 2, when it looked like he was developing morals, he was actually just following Clarke's leadership, and her moral compass. And I think that observation is actually true. It makes sense based on his character and history.
(I mean, I also think Bellamy's not a good leader. He's a great right-hand-man.)
He also wasn't there for most of s2 when they were making friends with Grounders. We the viewers saw the whole thing over Clarke's shoulder; we met Anya, for instance, but nobody else did. He didn't meet Nyko or Indra except in passing. He was there for the initial peace talks at TonDC, which went horribly, but he wasn't there for the peace-building, alliance-building efforts after the bomb. He's only seen Heda Lexa, not Heart Eyes Lexa. He knows exactly three Grounders total. So I dunno. I can come up with reasons why the disconnect makes sense.
Kane's always been rather authoritarian - c.f. his approach to Bellamy in the season 2 opener. That's at least consistent. And the environment on the ark, i mean, they talked about consensus, but they also talked about murdering a few hundred people without telling anyone. So.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 4:25 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
I just rewatched the first 3 eps of Season 1. Bellamy and Kane are both insufferable assholes. I had forgotten what monumental jerks they were. And now I am going to bed and probably have nightmares about a tiny girl stabbing me in the neck. Poor Wells.....
posted by pjsky at 8:49 PM on February 27, 2016
posted by pjsky at 8:49 PM on February 27, 2016
I am looking forward to duelling versions of ALIE sometime in the near future. Who will Jaha worship if ALIE1 and Upgrade!ALIE go full GrounderDome????
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 10:06 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 10:06 PM on February 27, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also, please don't kill Lexa's character off just so Alycia Debnam-Carey can go be on that shitshow Fear the Walking Dead for umpty seasons. That spin-off's a disastuh.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 10:10 PM on February 27, 2016
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 10:10 PM on February 27, 2016
"RE: Pike, I think the reason Kane can't just call him out on his horrific policies and/or accuse him of war crimes is that he'll get no support. The election proved that the people wanted this, that's why they voted for Pike. Apparently a lot of Arkers agree with "All Grounders Deserve Death" + "This Land Is Ours Now" bullshit."
Yay, another thing to remind us all of this election!
I hate to say it after all this "blood will not have blood" stuff, but Emerson needs to die because a freed Emerson will do nothing but crawl back for revenge.
The whole Alie situation gets creepier and creepier. Cheers to Abby for being all "hey, how does this work?" and "I think it's fishy that you somehow FORGOT YOUR OWN SON," buddy."
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:08 PM on March 12, 2016
Yay, another thing to remind us all of this election!
I hate to say it after all this "blood will not have blood" stuff, but Emerson needs to die because a freed Emerson will do nothing but crawl back for revenge.
The whole Alie situation gets creepier and creepier. Cheers to Abby for being all "hey, how does this work?" and "I think it's fishy that you somehow FORGOT YOUR OWN SON," buddy."
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:08 PM on March 12, 2016
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I live for world building and questions being answered, and this episode really scratched that itch. Polis being the 13th station makes perfect sense, and the nightbloods being connected to ALIE now has a direct connection.
Beyond that stuff, the scene with Clarke and Emerson was amazing, the acting on this show is just top notch. I love that Octavia is the active part of the rebellion with Kane telling her what's going on. Plus, I think that's going to be Bellamy's breaking point, there's no way he stays on her bad side for too long.
posted by hobgadling at 4:51 PM on February 26, 2016 [2 favorites]