The 100 Review: Stealing Fire (Season 3 Episode 9)

After a three-week hiatus, The 100 has returned to our screens with arguably one of the best episodes of the series.

Though I do say this with a heavy heart, because I think we can all agree Lincoln deserved so much better. I’ll come back to that later, but for now let’s get this fire started (get it, fire? Okay, I’ll stop).

Clarke does a good job compartmentalizing her emotions about Lexa’s death and pushing through to do what’s best for her people. But her actions now are also colored by her love for Lexa. It shows through beautifully in her more emotional moments and in her protectiveness of “the flame”–the A.I. pulled from Lexa’s back, the spirit of the commander. Murphy even brings his particular brand of wit mixed with genuine sympathy to the otherwise dark situation.

Aden reveals that Lexa had each of the Nightbloods under her promise they would protect Skaikru if the spirit chose them. Unfortunately it’s all for naught when Ontari brutally kills them all in their sleep. I don’t trust Ontari at all, but I do find her quite intriguing. How has she been raised so far in the Ice Nation that she has the confidence and the lack of conscience to simply take the throne by force? King Roan has returned with her and I cannot get enough of him. He’s protective of Clarke, but out of a sense of duty. The two of them are incredibly similar in that they would do anything to protect their people.

In a striking parallel to his introduction into the show, Roan is once again ordered to hunt down Clarke. I look forward to the nuances of their next game of cat and mouse.

Ontari: When I am Heda and the King bows to me, you and every last member of Skaikru will die.

Contrary to his initial wish to leave Polis, Murphy is trapped there once again. He’s got some kind of weird sexual tension going with Ontari, but his dry wit and his self-serving nature may just keep him alive in her unforgiving presence. Titus takes himself out at Roan’s hand after making Clarke the new Flame Keeper. He remains loyal to Lexa to the end, and though I feel his death is certainly deserved, the scene becomes a bit excessive as he falls into Ontari’s “purification bath.”

Another puzzling thought about the entire Nightblood system is, where do they keep coming from? Yes, we saw its origin and its importance with Becca–but she only had a certain number of vials, and now having the blood is supposed to be a genetic trait. How do Nightbloods turn up every generation if they are almost always killed so young?

We learn that Luna, the leader of Floukru (the Boat Nation), was the 8th officiate at Lexa’s conclave. She was mentioned by Lincoln in Season 1 and I am incredibly excited to see what she brings to the table, why Lexa wouldn’t allow her to be killed, and whether she’ll take up the mantle of Commander now, years later, in Lexa’s honor. (Although, without Lincoln’s help, Clarke may have a very difficult time finding her.)

Things are looking almost as grim back at Arkadia with Pike’s death sentence looming over the heads of our heroes. With the lives of Kane, Lincoln, and Sinclair hanging in the balance, many allegiances have shifted and relationships are put to the test.

Bellamy is terrified at the thought of losing Lincoln and Kane, moving him to do whatever he can to try and save them. Unfortunately, he’s burned all of his bridges this season by aligning himself with the wrong side for so long. He’s somewhat taken aback to find that no one, not even Octavia, trusts him anymore. I’m all for Bellamy’s redemption arc, but he doesn’t gain many points tonight. He even tells Indra he should have let her die–the only reason these two haven’t killed each other is Octavia.

Indra: Octavia is my people.

“Stealing Fire” is a make-or-break episode for all of our favorite relationships among the Sky People. Family members and loved ones on opposing sides of the Farm Station/Camp Jaha line are finally forced to face the truth. Bryan and Nate confess to each other what they’ve each been doing and Nate gives him an ultimatum: their love, or his alliance with Pike. Thankfully, Bryan chooses Nate and joins the rebels; we need their pure kind of love right now. Hannah and Monty are also forced to choose when Monty decides helping his friends is worth risking his relationship with his mother. Hannah is distraught and panicked over this revelation, but still protects her son against Pike. Is there hope that through the love of family, Monty can get his mom to see reason?

Kane is given a meeting with Abby before his scheduled execution. Whether she found out what happened and demanded to see him, or if Pike gave Kane the choice to say his goodbyes to whomever he cared about most, we don’t know. Either way the scene, and the development of their relationship throughout the episode is beautifully done. Kane and Abby essentially admit their love for each other without ever needing to say “I love you”: Kane by begging her to stay out of trouble and save their people, Abby by comparing his impending death to that of her late husband, Jake, who was also executed for treason.

Abby: I can’t do this again.

Ever the rebel, she ignores his request to simply stand back and let him die, and we finally get to see Abby join up with the delinquents to save Kane, Lincoln, and Sinclair. She does, however, choose to stay behind. Pressed for time, Kane reciprocates her feelings with a kiss and a “May we meet again” in the most hopeful moment of the entire episode. Abby will stay behind and be the light and hope in the darkness of Arkadia–ideally to save Raven, Jackson and the rest of the still-good souls of the Sky People.

Sadly, this moment is followed by one of the most tragic and heartbreaking scenes The 100 has ever done. Lincoln dies a hero, saving the innocent Grounders still in lockup as well as Kane, Sinclair and the rest of the escaping rebels. His death is noble and his love for Octavia is true, but I have to ask: was this necessary? How does the death of Lincoln move the plot forward? Why wasn’t his story given more attention this season? Additionally, the excessive brutality of his death does nothing but harm. Yes, The 100 is a graphic and violent show, but the same impact could have been made with long shots of Pike and Lincoln, saving the close-ups for Octavia’s reactions alone. It does no good to see a kind, innocent black man shot in the head when we are already faced with that horrific reality far too often.

Other thoughts:

• Where are the escaped Sky People going to go? Will they cross paths with Clarke and/or Roan? Or will they seek out Indra and head to Polis?
• Kane and Octavia’s relationship continues to become more nuanced and interesting every week.
• Did everyone just forget that Nate has a dad and Sinclair has a wife? How do they feel about their loved ones skipping town?
• Lincoln’s final words – “May we meet again” in Trigedasleng – were quite beautiful and symbolic of the blending of Skaikru and Trikru.
• Exactly how terrified should I be for Abby and Raven in the teaser trailer for next week’s episode?

What did you think of this episode of The 100? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The 100 airs Thursdays at 9/8c on The CW.

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