The CW's The 100 - Episode 7.04 "Hesperides"
Mysterious outsiders arrive with news of Clarke's missing people.
In 2019, the television industry aired 532 scripted shows across numerous outlets. The way people consume content now is different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, it's less necessary to provide ample coverage of each episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site provides shorter episodic reviews in order to cover as many shows as possible. With all of that being said, here are my thoughts on the next episode of The CW's The 100.
"Hesperides" was written by Sean Crouch and directed by Diana Valentine
Two separate stories have defined this final season so far. The drama has continued on Sanctum where Clarke has been trying to figure out how to lead in this new society after essentially dethroning the power structure that existed for centuries. Meanwhile, Bellamy has been taken by a mysterious group of new people called the Disciplines. The episodes so far have kept these plots separate from one another. The exploration of something new and the characters facing personal reckoning for their past actions while in purgatory has been a much more engaging and thoughtful plot. Everything happening at Sanctum feels like drama the show has delved into before. Sure, it's absolutely clear that the show is intrigued by dismantling the notion of false idolatry. Civilizations have a sense of order that allows them to rationalize and understand their behavior. When that is removed or challenged, turmoil ensues. Wonkru needs a commander. It can't just be any individual either. It has to be someone given the Flame imbued with the knowledge of all the previous commanders. That structure has been destroyed. On Sanctum, the people trusted the Primes. They saw them as gods who kept them safe. In reality, they were privileged individuals who found the way to become immortal. That structure has now been destroyed. The last prime has been taken over by a new villainous threat. And now, the show introduces this new society that seems defined by these same characteristics. The Disciples have a rigid sense of order. They can never step out of line because the punishment is incredibly severe. They have the technology to actually remove a person from society and have them experience years of isolation while only a few days pass. Diyoza found peace in purgatory. Octavia found a new family that allowed her to feel happy. Their lives were destroyed because of these people. The Disciples remain mysterious as well. The audience hasn't seen their home world just yet. It's just clear that they have mastered the bridges between worlds. They can navigate them with ease. That is the privileged afforded to them because of the decisions made by humanity a lifetime ago. They are a civilization planning for the end to all worlds. They make the argument that Clarke is necessary for whatever threat may be coming. But that only further highlights how these invaders know so much about the protagonists while remaining very cryptic themselves. It's still not clear what happened when Diyoza and Octavia were taken by them. Hope has fought to reunite her family. She spends years training in purgatory ready to save them. She has made deals. She has made mistakes. She hopes for the best. That may not be good enough. The plan can change at any moment. Five years could be transformational for the characters. That was clear at the start of the fifth season when various groups had to survive the apocalypse isolated from one another. They always find a way to survive and make it back to each other. Their luck may be running out. Sanctum is essentially abandoned here by the new people in power. Clarke has to handle this threat and takes many key characters of interest with her. Gaia can't even return to Sanctum to warn the people about what's coming and protect Madi from the pending fallout. That will create a vacuum for power and control that could add some much needed intensity and interest to this corner of the world. Meanwhile, Echo is more than willing to use a fellow prisoner for information and then betray their deal when the time for action finally comes. Hope killed in order to survive. Echo kills in order to ensure that nothing compromises the mission to save Bellamy. She will risk everything to save him. She doesn't know what happened or why he was taken. Those answers may not be forthcoming either because Clarke and her friends are still navigating this new piece of technology. Raven directs them to a new planet. That may not be the location of their friends. It may just be a frozen wasteland with no value. It further expands this world. And yet, the same issues persist. Raven agonizes over the people who died because she saw it as the only way to avoid a nuclear meltdown. And now, she is forced to kill once more. She is being put through the ringer just like always. The protagonists are exploring the far reaches of the universe. They are expanding their understanding of what is possible. It is astonishing. But the core corruption and failing of humanity may be present no matter where civilization decides to form. As such, it's important to reckon with one's past actions. Only then can something more hopeful be created. It may be an arduous battle regardless though because certain power structures will refuse to relinquish their control easily.
