CW’s The 100 absolutely blew us away with their most recent episode, ‘Red Queen.’ In what is perhaps our favorite episode of the series, we see Octavia Blake’s transformation from a scared leader to an absolutely ruthless and badass one. The brilliant episode was written by Terri Hughes and directed by P.J. Pesce.
The Takeover | This second episode could double as a second part to the premiere. It follows the same basic timeline, beginning 46 days later then jumping to 6 years later. Octavia (Marie Avgeropoulos) is technically the leader of Wonkru, but no one wants to listen. Most of Skaikru is against Octavia, they do not like that she opened the bunker for all the clans. The other 12 clans don’t like Octavia because she’s not a nightblood and let Skaikru in. Jaha (Isaiah Washington) agrees with the rest of Skaikru, but is also understandable of O’s new position as leader and they types of decisions she’ll have to make.
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We meet a new member of Skaikru, Kara (Kyra Zagorsky), who is definitely against Octavia’s decision. She’s all about Skaikru and wanting only her people to live. After Octavia cuts everyone’s rations in half to help sustain them all for more than 5 years, Kara and other members of Skaikru waited until most of their kru was at breakfast, then locked themselves inside. They also took Abby (Paige Turco) and Kane (Henry Ian Cusick) “hostage.” Kara and the others plan on living in “the farm,” the place they grow their food and eat, until everyone on the other side of the door starves to death. Abby describes the horrors of starving to death, but Kara doesn’t open the door.
Choose | With the help of Jaha, Octavia makes it to the controls and plans on opening the door, but Jaha won’t let it happen. He’s the only one that can do it, and he makes O agree that there will be no killing–except for those responsible for locking the door. O agrees to try, but knows she has to work fast. Jaha has been stabbed and is dying, so time is of the essence. Octavia comes across a group of Grounders ready to take her out because of this, but Octavia isn’t having any of it. She tells them they are Wonkru or they’re not, they must choose. Those that don’t believe she’s much of a fighter attack, their mistake. Octavia kills close to a dozen men in seconds. And she’s never looked better than she does when she’s dripping in the blood of her enemies.The remaining Grounders surrendered and bent the knee to her, agreeing no one will be killed.
Jaha gets the doors open, but dies quickly after with O, Kane and Abby by his side.
Punishment | With a little guidance from Gaia (Tati Gabrielle) and Indra (Adina Porter), Octavia knows how to punish those responsible for locking the door. Still covered in blood, she holds a gladiator-style gauntlet, which becomes the way they deal with rule breakers over those 6 years. All those who broke rules go into a fighting cage, a single sword is thrown in, last man standing leaves with their life. This earns Octavia the name Blodreina.
6 years later, and Kane is in that fight cage.
The 100 airs Tuesdays at 9pm on The CW.