The 100 Review: The Stranger (Season 7 Episode 12)

Once again, a number of characters are all paired off and back in their cells on The 100 Season 7 Episode 12, “The Stranger,” and they’re all wondering what the heck is up with Bellamy. 

Bellamy is the most puzzling piece of this episode.

While I want to believe that he actually experienced transcendence, when you have a show that, for the past season has put this idea of false gods at the forefront, having one of the central characters be born again like this feels out of character. 

One of the most out-of-character moves was sending Raven to memory capture. There’s no good reason for that! In fact, when it comes to having the m-cap technology, why bother questioning anyone at all. Octavia and Diyoza weren’t granted the same affordance.

Plus, questioning someone when you have that technology feels a bit like bringing a whiffle ball bat to a riot. 

Narratively it makes sense that he would go to Raven first because he knows Clarke and Octavia aren’t going to be too happy with the actions he took. Raven isn’t either, but sending her to m-cap is really just so that he and Echo can have a moment alone together. A moment that was richly deserved, but what did anyone gain from Raven’s memories? 

Sanctum on the other hand is feeling much more compelling.

Sheidheda’s rise to autocracy is terrifying. His summary execution of the Children of Gabriel was a prime example of how he’ll wield his power. The fact that he has one rule and it’s anything he sees as disloyal should give us chills running down our spines.

While his power is terrifying, the MVP of this episode is Richard Harmon as Murphy. He’s experienced some real character growth over the last several years, and it’s all been for the better. 

It really stands out when he’s opposite Nikki though. The moment when he remembers Hach and the time he was locked in with the reactor in The 100 Season 7 Episode 3, “False Gods,” is touching, and poignant.

I don’t know if he reached Nikki, but something tells me the fact that Nikki’s now in similar shoes might give her a change of heart. 

Murphy’s scenes with Emori are a bright spot, especially as he realizes that he’s actually caring about other people instead of just focusing on his own survival. There was a time when these two just ran, and didn’t have a place to call their own, and now they’ve found purpose and love for each other.

They’re a couple that deserves to get through the series finale intact, and it’s starting to look like they won’t. 

There’s so much about this episode that felt like it was leading Murphy to his doom. This amount of character growth Murphy’s had seems to be making him ripe for the picking. The fact that he’s now sitting opposite Sheidheda, in what is like a never-ending game of chess is also concerning. 

Where this episode gets really interesting is where the Bardo plot and the Sanctum plot intersect.

At some point, the worlds were going to have to collide, and while The 100 Season 7 Episode 8, “Anaconda,” set up for how the mythologies connect, the way they’re being brought together might be a payoff we’re waiting for.

Stray Thoughts:

• R.I.P. Nelson, it was nice knowing you. 
• I fully expected Emori to reveal she’s pregnant by the end of this season. Just putting it out there. They’ve had a bit of domestic bliss, and I feel like it’s just going to happen. 
• Did we really expect that there wouldn’t be a throne of skulls and the anomaly stone wouldn’t be brought right into the center chamber? Sheidheda is so the type. 
• Speaking of things we should have seen coming, did Clarke really expect that Cadogen was going to send them back to Sanctum. Come on Clarke! You should know to be more specific will all-powerful people, because when have any of them ever done anything that freely?
• Someone finally acknowledged that Gaia is missing. Okay, but now where is she? Something tells me the rest of the merry band of Bardo Kru is about to find her. 
• Do we actually want an answer as to if Reese was killed by his sister? I’m curious but I also feel like they need to leave some seeds for the spin-off if it’s ordered. 
• Madi’s friendship with Luca and her memories of the death wave are the perfect callback to Earth. 

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

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The 100 airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on The CW.

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