In The 100 season 2, episode 10, some characters gained a lot of respect. Some lost it. And some thought they were auditioning for We Bought a Zoo.

Quick question: what’s the last thing you would ever expect to see fly out of the jungle on The 100? An EFFING GORILLA?! Yeah, me too.

And just when you think the show can’t surprise you. Wow. Writers, you brought it big time, and I would kill to be a fly on the wall in your room. Only true geniuses find a way to not only match Lost‘s polar bear jungle surprise, but amp up the tension by like a million.

Of course there’ll always be storylines we enjoy more than others. I got lots of good here, and a liiiitle bit of bad. Let’s discuss.

Listen for the cry of a million angry fangirls in 3… 2… 1…

Dear Lincoln: maybe try not to put Bellamy’s life in danger by selfishly giving into your weird addiction which, let’s be frank, no one really understands? Sincerely, a concerned fan.

But hey, if the writers are actually planning to kill him off, I suppose having Lincoln lead Bellamy into Mount Doom and then letting his Gollum show was definitely the way to turn the fangirls against him.

Early in the episode, Lincoln did score a +1 by correcting Bellamy’s statement that, “You made her strong” (referring to Octavia). “She made herself strong,” Lincoln replied, which… well, after this episode, no one’s gonna argue with that.

Ironically though, it seems like Octavia and Lincoln are on opposite paths now: where Octavia started as the prisoner and grew to own the Grounder thing, Lincoln is becoming meeker and more trapped (both literally and internally, cause of the drugz). I suppose the whole “Romeo & Juliet” analogy is starting to make more sense. But it’s still sad to witness.

This storyline ended with Bellamy – who Clarke, incidentally, had just named as the One and Only Savior of the Grounders and Sky People – naked (ish) and afraid, being led to the Mt Weather cages as Lincoln lay powerless on the floor, having given in to the temptation.

You’re not supposed to be weak, Lincoln! You’re not human, you’re a TV character! What’s with the inappropriately timed character depth, eh!? Jeez. Fangirl hearts are at stake here.

Octavia joins Dauntless

You know, we’re looking to Clarke for a feminist role model (and that’s great), but NEVER forget Octavia. Talk about true equality.

And speaking of Clarke, there’s an interesting parallel here: while Clarke is bonding with Lexa (the most compassionate “heartless” Grounder there ever was), Octavia is bonding with Indra. While Clarke is teaching Lexa the ways of the Sky People, Indra is teaching Octavia the way of the Grounders.

And you know, I would not be surprised if, when Lexa inevitably dies (shhh don’t think about that now), the Grounders get a sign that her spirit has passed into Octavia, and make her their leader.

In this episode, Octavia sulked in the shadows while she watched Kane good-heartedly try to make peace with the Grounders. Octavia, knowing as well as we do that the Grounders don’t respect a good heart, volunteered as tribute: allowing that Grounder dude to kick the sh** out of her to gain Indra’s respect.

When Indra offered Octavia the position as her Second, Octavia immediately agreed. It’s clear that Octavia has found her people – the Grounders may be cruel and ruthless, but they have an honor system she understands. The Sky People have convoluted systems and rules that led to her spending her childhood under the floorboards. Of course they’re not her people.

It’s exactly like Tris leaving her family behind for Dauntless – they may be violent, but at least they’re free. Live fast, die pretty (even the bloodstains are somehow flattering if you light them right).

Aaaand Jaha thinks he’s Moses

I’m just going to say it: the Jaha thing isn’t working for me.

In season 1, the dude tried to stage his own heroic death like five times before finally getting his way, only to see a “sign” telling him to go on. Now, he evidently believes that he is the Chosen One, and there is some magical oasis in the desert which will save them all from jungle purgatory.

The thing is, his childish faith has no place in the dark, ruthless world of The 100. After watching so much death and carnage, having a character say that it’s faith or destiny or whatever is a) cheapening the story, and b) naïve to the point of obstinance.

Let’s look at Jaha’s arc this week: Kane made a decision he disagreed with, based on faith. “That’s not faith,” Jaha told him. Because he’s the ultimate judge of that, apparently.

Crazy-Eyes then proceeded to leave his people behind, on a selfish quest to mourn his son. Who else do you see going on slow spirit walks, John Locke style, mourning one single life when they’ve lost thousands?

Then he claims a City of Light will save them, because of No Reasons. His faith, apparently, is superior to Kane’s – because it’s his. See what I’m getting at? Jaha is insanely self-centered.

I really, sincerely hope that there is no City of Light. I hope Jaha only finds empty desert, and realizes there is no Magical Faith Fix to solve their problems. (Please, please don’t pull a “God did it” ending like BSG, writers. I implore you.)

The only way to solve their problems is to work through them, fighting for peace and unity like Clarke, Kane and Lexa are doing in each their own flawed way.

Meanwhile in–HOLY SH** IT’S A F***ING GORILLA

Last week we were all amazed by Lexa’s subtle sexuality reveal. This week? There’s a f***ing gorilla. What can’t this show do?

The Clarke and Lexa vs Gorilla showdown started when Clarke took a walk in the jungle by herself (always a good idea), and was attacked by a grumpy Grounder. He wasn’t happy about her nixing all his fun Kamikaze mission ideas, apparently.

Then Major Byrne had her arm torn off. Let’s take a moment to – you know what, no, I’m over it.

Lexa had just asked Clarke to honor-kill the Grounder who attacked her when she heard the roar, and without a second thought she incapacitated the guy to give the rest of them time to escape. The other guy, who was clearly just there to be a Red Shirt, was torn apart when they arrived at the gorilla’s old feeding ground (a maze of zoo cages), while Clarke and Lexa locked themselves in one of the rooms.

Lexa was upset with Clarke for not letting her die, and believed that Clarke still had weakness. While I do think there’s compassion between the two of them, Clarke’s argument also made sense: “I saved you because I need you. You may be heartless, Lexa, but at least you’re smart.”

It’s true. Like the alliance of the 12 tribes, the alliance between the Grounders and the Sky People dies with Lexa.

Of course Lexa believes that her spirit will pass into the new leader, who is apparently chosen when the Grounders think they see a sign. This certainly explains how Lexa obtained the command at such a young age: it’s not because she was the most skilled warrior, or because she won some kind of election. It’s because they saw a sign.

It kind of demystifies her a little bit, I guess, but I’ll take it.

Clarke tricked the gorilla and they escaped. Lexa then told her, “your heart shows no sign of weakness,” which is basically Grounder for “I love you.” (…And/or “I deeply respect you as a platonic friend.” Either works.)

Then Clarke figured out how to beat Mount Weather (hasn’t she said this exact sentence like two times before?): her very own Captain Underpants is going to save the day. Er. We hope.

Closing thoughts

– Bellamy wrote Lincoln’s childhood friend from the sky off as a “Suicide by Earth.” Do we buy that? Could there be other Ark survivors/other space refugees on the ground?

– As gorillas aren’t native to the North American hemisphere, I assume this one’s a mutated survivor of a zoo animal. So how long until the zombie penguins? I mean they probably work for the Queen of the Ice Nation, don’t you think?

– You know what’s super unrealistic? That half the characters on this show aren’t missing all their teeth. Octavia should’ve lost at least three in that fight alone.

– How long do you think the writers have been trying figure out how to organically work another shirtless Bellamy scene into the show?

What did you think about ‘The 100’ season 2, episode 10?