The 100 Review: Exit Wounds (Season 5 Episode 6)

The war for Eden takes a turn into political intrigue on The 100 Season 5 Episode 6, “Exit Wounds,” as Diyoza and Octavia try new tactics to assert their power.

Meanwhile, Echo and Kane must navigate the shaky alliances they’ve made with the two warring serpents fighting for the valley.

Directed by Michael Blundell and written by newcomer Drew Lindo, “Exit Wounds” takes a deeper dive into the relationships between some of our favorite members of both Spacekru and Wonkru.

Both Diyoza and Octavia know the cost of war and they’re each willing to do what it takes to make sure that they are leading the winning team. But caught in the middle are people like Clarke and Madi, Bellamy and Echo, and Kane and Abby, who remind us of the humanity their leaders risk giving up.

DEFECTION AND SEDUCTION

As we saw on The 100 Season 5 Episode 5 “Shifting Sands” Octavia isn’t pleased with Bellamy’s relationship with Echo. On “Exit Wounds” Octavia proves she’s definitely the type to hold a grudge, immediately insisting that Echo leave or be thrown into the gladiator ring.

I understand that Octavia doesn’t know Echo the way that Bellamy and the rest of Spacekru do, but it’s a stretch maniacal to think that she can force someone who isn’t one of her people into her twisted justice system.

Octavia’s grip on her power is tenuous at best after Wonkru’s defeat in the desert, but she’s determined to win the valley and control her people even if it means sacrificing some of them.

The way that Blodreina rules is borderline too far for me, but from her perspective, the perspective of a ruthless leader at war, her tactics make perfect sense.  We may not be comfortable with the choices Octavia is making on The 100 Season 5, but as much as I disagree with her, when it comes to the defectors she has a point.

But Octavia isn’t the only brilliant tactician in Polis right now. Echo’s history as an Azgeda spy makes her just a clever as Octavia, if not more so.

Echo: She’s fighting an enemy she can’t beat and now, Diyoza is using the fact that her people know it to pull them apart.

Like Octavia, Echo has changed a lot over the 6 years that they spent apart. But where Octavia became Blodreina, Echo has become someone much softer, who cares about not only her space family but also the lives and humanity of strangers from Wonkru.

Octavia: A spy and a murderer with a conscience. You’re right Bellamy, she has changed.

But just because Echo and the other members of Spacekru have softened during their time on the Ring, doesn’t mean they won’t also do what it takes to protect each other.

Spacekru’s plan to defect works because they still have something to offer Octavia, but their main goal continues to be to keep each other alive and protect their family.

One of the greatest things about The 100Season 5 is that each of our heroes is still fighting for “their people,” but more than ever before that statement feels tangible and real in the actions of the show. Now each person’s “people” is narrowed down to their family.

Bellamy and Echo are fighting for Spacekru, Clarke and Madi are fighting for each other, Kane and Abby are fighting for each other. Diyoza and Octavia are the only ones left fighting for a mass of people rather than a select few that they love and care for.

As the groups that built relationships over the past six years continue to get intertangled with the other factions of The 100 and separated from each other, the bonds they share will be tested.

It’s riveting to watch these characters we love make decisions based on their relationships with specific people rather than an arbitrary commitment to their “Kru” or the greater good.

BONDED BY BLOOD

Even more narrowed down than Bellamy’s priorities, Clarke’s focus is entirely on protecting Madi. Clarke and Madi obviously anticipated that Octavia and others within Wonkru might take interest in the little nightblood.

Mama Bear Clarke is my favorite Clarke and I’ve always been a pretty big fan of her in general. Seeing Clarke in the position of her own mother during the first few seasons of The 100 is a joy to watch.

This Clarke is everything we’ve seen before, from the young leader of the delinquents to Wanheda to the girl who carried the weight of humanity on her shoulders. But now she’s all that wrapped around one little person. This is a Clarke who will do anything to protect her child, damn the rest of the world.

Clarke: I can’t risk anything bad happening to you. You’re my family, and family looks out for each other.

However, Madi’s infatuation with Octavia and her desire to protect Clarke drive her to go against her quasi-mother’s wishes and turn herself in to Octavia as a true nightblood. Can Octavia be trusted? What are her plans for Madi? How will she use her to get what she wants? Will Clarke be forced to take on Octavia to protect her child?

Right now I have more questions about this plotline than answers.

Gaia is the one member of Wonkru I expected to be entirely devoted to Blodreina, but she still remains faithful to her role as flamekeeper at least in the religious aspect.

This is a scene I had to watch multiple times to fully understand, probably because Gaia threw me for a loop in revealing even the slightest possibility that she would go against Octavia. But I suppose her faith as a flamekeeper is just as strong, if not more, than her commitment to Blodreina and Wonkru.

Clarke: Who’s side are you on? What are you flamekeeper or Wonkru?

Gaia: Blodreina saved my life, but that doesn’t mean I can forget my faith.

Meanwhile, Niylah’s commitment to Octavia is surprisingly strong. There are still hints of the soft woman that ran the trading post, but her faith in her leader is stronger than the bond she once shared with Clarke.

I’m so happy to learn that Niylah is alive but sad to see her so much darker. I hope we’ll see more of her as The 100 Season 5 continues. Perhaps we’ll see why she’s so dedicated to Octavia, and whether her past feelings for Clarke will cause conflict in her allegiance.

Clarke: Everything’s so different.

Niylah: Not so different.

WE CAN MAKE IT GO BOOM

Apart from the Wonkru drama of “Exit Wounds,” the relationship drama between Murphy and Emori finally comes to a boiling point. In space, these two reached a very understandable breaking point. And on the ground, they finally get the alone time to work out why their relationship fell apart.

Another great thing about The 100 Season 5 is that the show is taking the time to work through relationship conflict in a very realistic and compelling way.

Having Emori be the one to rescue Murphy allows him to take a step back from his sarcasm and see that she really is good at the new things she learned on the Ring. Murphy’s rare vulnerability also gives her a chance to see the real reasons that he pushed her away in his own insecurities.

Emori: On the Ring, I was a part of something bigger than myself. I didn’t know I needed that, but I did, and you punished me for it.

Emori is absolutely in the right here, but it’s so good to see these two working together again. Now that begun to talk through their issues with each other and had some delightful make-up kisses, we can only hope that their relationship continues to heal.

And successfully completing a mission together and getting their very own hostage certainly can’t hurt their chances.

OTHER THOUGHTS: 

• Diyoza keeps feeding me so well. Thanks for referring to Abby as Kane’s girlfriend, let’s hope he puts a ring on it by the end of the season, wink wink.
• Kane’s idea to send Wonkru food and offer peace and safety from Octavia’s harsh rule is brilliant. I love that Octavia knew it was him too.
• That steamy Becho goodbye scene was everything, sign me up for the reunion version too, thanks!
• Raise your hand if you cried when Clarke told Madi to find Abby if anything happened to her.
• Would Diyoza have actually killed Clarke if they went back? There wouldn’t really be a point in doing so, in fact, Clarke would be another leverage point to get Abby to do what she wants, the smart play would be to keep her alive.
• Kara Cooper is fanatical and fascinating.
• I love the tiny moment that Echo and Kane share on the ship as they try to keep the girl who got shot alive.
• If you need me between now and June 19th I’ll be screaming over that Kabby content in the episode trailer.

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

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

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