The 100 Review: DNR (Season 4 Episode 9)

The 100 has returned from its three-week hiatus and things are looking bleak for our favorite apocalypse crew.

As ALIE said in the Season 3 finale, death is inevitable. We’ve reached the point in Season 4 where many of our heroes have come to accept this, and let’s just say some people are taking it better than others.

THE GOOD

It’s safe to say that the stories that have taken place on Science Island have consistently been my favorites this season, and that between Raven and Murphy on The 100 Season 4 Episode 9, “DNR,” is no different.

These scenes are devastating, humorous by turns, and heart wrenching on every level. Both Lindsey Morgan and Richard Harmon stand out in “DNR” each giving incredibly compelling and emotional performances as Raven begins to embrace her supposed fate.

The relationship between these two has come full circle in Season 4. Raven has been through so much, and to an extent a lot of her pain came from Murphy shooting her in Season 1. But these last few weeks she’s come to see him as a friend, and now, with the death wave only 6 days away she’s forgiven him.

Raven: Go, survive.

Murphy: That’s what cockroaches do, right?

Watching Murphy actually apologize, with remorse shows how much he’s grown over the last four seasons. He genuinely cares for her and respects her, which makes letting her choose to die in space that much harder.

It’s also really nice to see Miller and Jackson prove Emori’s doubts about Skaikru wrong for once. She’s not used to people sticking around or following through on their promises. So when they don’t get left behind, she’s truly touched.

Murphy: Who needs food when you have love, right?

Back at Arkadia Jaha, Monty and Bellamy hit a roadblock when Jasper and Harper choose to stay behind and die. In a way their choice is fairly similar to Raven’s: she doesn’t want a life where she can’t use her brain, they don’t want a life where they have to live in a hole in the ground.

They struggle back and forth for much of The 100 Season 4 Episode 9, but in the end it all comes down to agency and allowing people to choose their own fate. It’s a truly difficult balance, no one wants to watch their friends choose death, but there comes a time when you have to respect another person’s wishes even if you disagree.

Bellamy: May we meet again.

Jasper: We won’t.

Bellamy: Whatever the hell you want.

Bellamy and eventually Jaha’s respect for these kids autonomy is just as satisfying as seeing Monty refuse to give up on his friends. With Monty staying behind I’m sure this isn’t the last we’ve seen of team Do Not Resuscitate.

THE BAD

I want to love Octavia, at several points in Season 4 I’ve understood her pain, I enjoyed her dalliance in political intrigue, but since her “death” it almost feels as if The 100 writers have changed her direction within every episode.

On The 100 Season 4 Episode 6, “We Will Rise,” it appeared as though Octavia had reached her breaking point, coming face to face with her grief for Lincoln. And then on The 100 Season 4 Episode 7, “Gimme Shelter,” she seemed to have begun to turn around to seek a life where she doesn’t have to kill.

Octavia: This is who I am.

Yet her entire arc on “DNR” revolves around her going right back to where she started this season, a warrior with little restraint and as much remorse.

It will be interesting to see how she will take on the conclave in Polis next week, but if she survives, I truly hope The 100 writers pick a direction they want her to go in and stick with it.

THE UGLY

The story in Polis is this week is just frustrating on every level. There were several directions in which this story could have gone. We could’ve gotten to learn more about the history of the bunker and Cadogan’s wildly interesting cult and its connection to Becca Pramheda.

We could have gotten to see Kane and Abby reunited after weeks of separation. I would’ve even taken Skaikru slipping quietly into the bunker while Azgeda and Trikru got the war they’ve been aching for since Season 3 out of their systems.

Sadly, none of those things happen. Instead The 100 comes dangerously close to sabotaging its main character by having her slip into the White Savior trope. Clarke Griffin is an incredible leader, she’d probably even make a great Chancellor one day. But she cannot and should not assume the role of Grounder Commander.  

Clarke does have the knowledge and the levelheadedness to save everyone, but doing so by hijacking the culture of the narrative’s more “primitive” group of people is deeply problematic. Thankfully, Roan and Abby intervene before Clarke can “ascend.”

Roan: Tell them Healer, go on, tell them all how it is your daughter became a Natblida.

Abby: Through science.  

While having the Grounder Hunger Games isn’t at all ideal (seriously guys, why can’t you just share?) it’s better than allowing Clarke to steal a leadership role she doesn’t deserve just to make everyone listen to her.

OTHER THOUGHTS:

• Is Gaia the only flamekeeper that put her tattoo in a reasonable place instead of shaving her head like these men?
• Seriously, what happened to that Kane and Abby reunion? Hopefully, there were kisses shared while they were locked up off screen.
• Who do you think will win the Conclave next week? Do you think more than one of our heroes will make it out alive?
• Monty and Harper are in love, but will they survive the end of the world?
• Niylah’s concern for Harper is a really touching detail. If Harper survives I’d like to see a lot more of this relationship.
• Can Echo leak her contour secrets?
• ARE JACKSON AND MILLER A THING? This needed to be yelled because it is very important.

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

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

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