The 100 - S5E1 - Eden

Previously on The 100

You Got This

The 100, for 5 seasons, has been a splendid example of using an ensemble cast. However, it was made clear in this episode that Clarke Griffin is the star of this show. Clarke may not be the most popular character of the series, but this episode needed her to take the lead to bring us up to speed on the current situation on Earth: Clarke’s journey from the lab to finding the rover buried in sand, to finally making it to Polis. Unfortunately, the bunker where the remaining clans found shelter were buried under so much rubble Clarke could not join them there, so she searched the globe for food and shelter; going two days without water and eating splattered bugs off the windshield just for some semblance of food.

Unfortunately, when Clarke got out of the Rover to do her best Timon and Pumba impression, she was caught in a windstorm which destroyed the solar panels of the Rover,  leaving Clarke to travel on foot. Clarke put a gun to her head, opting to not live if life was filled with suffering, but saw a buzzard that led her to Eden. Eden is a green, lush part of the planet that appears to be the only place that wasn’t destroyed by the death wave. Clarke promptly thanks the buzzard and then shoots it. I’m pretty sure cooked buzzard is more filling than bugs.

There Are No Heroes

Before Praimfaya, Eden used to be inhabited by the Shadow Clan before the radiation killed them. Eden has shelter, fresh water, and food, which definitely makes survival much easier. There is also a survivor of the clan; a young nightblood by the name of Madi. When Madi thinks Clarke is a Flame keeper that is there to take her away, Madi sets and catches Clarke in a bear trap. Once Clarke gets free and addresses her wound, she passes out. Madi uses this time to steal Clarke’s weapons. However, they eventually become friends when Madi sees a picture that Clarke created of her.

We skip to six years later and Clarke and Madi are still alone when they notice a ship coming from space and landing just outside of Eden. Once Clarke sees prisoner transport labeled on the side of the ship she orders Madi to run and hide while Clarke remains to assess the situation. Clarke can see that a small army with enough firepower to give Thanos pause exits the ship.  

Two of the new arrivals are able to find Madi and attempt to punish her for shooting one of them in the ear, but Clarke saves. Madi kills one of them and as Clarke gets ready to kill the other attacker, Madi tries to stop Clarke saying that he might be a good guy. Clarke corrects her stating that there are no good guys and shoots him in the head.

Overall, even though it was a Clarke heavy episode, “Eden” does well to establish the situation on Earth and the immediate threat. The episode does touch on Bellamy, Raven, and the others that made it to space and their current desperation to make it back to Earth. There is a lot more of story to tell with those seven, the least of which is the current relationship statuses of the crew in space. With thirteen episodes this season there is more than enough time to properly get us caught up to speed with what has happened in space. Finally, we do know that Octavia and the remaining clans are alive. How well they’re doing is up for debate as the cliffhanger shows a coliseum like battle where a warrior was killed in combat as Octavia watches.