Thoughts on The 100 2x08

[brightcupenny]

I know, a TV show episode reaction in my livejournal? Who am I? But I typed some stuff as I was rewatching 2x08 on cwtv.com (trying to help boost viewing numbers) and I think this is really the best place to put it vs facebook or tumblr. I honestly don't know if anyone still reading this even watches The 100 or is caught up through the S2 MSF so,

Comments

[padawansguide]

I actually like how morally ambiguous this show is

[brightcupenny]

I'm totally with you, I love that everything and everyone is shades of gray on the show. My issue was and is basically with the writing of Finn's character-- they just didn't do as good a job with it. And my perception is skewed because I made the mistake of following the showrunner on twitter for a bit and either he was trolling hardcore or he just refused to understand why people were having such an issue with the Finn storyline. (And writing off those who disagreed with him as shippers who were just mad because Finn was in the way of their OTP, which oh man, there's a quick way to get me mad.) Looking back over the whole series, I'm no longer as bothered by Finn's character as I was, because I see now where they were trying to go with him. I just don't think they did it as well as they could have. In the end, he turned out to be a plot device for Clarke's character development. Which I'm okay with

[padawansguide]

I agree he could have been better written. And frankly, he could have been better acted. A fantastic actor might have sold this "romantic hero is is rash and as a result does something REALLY bad" better so that we felt for him. The right actor could have had people rooting for him even if he was doing bad stuff. I wasn't there with this actor

[padawansguide]

Also liked this comment from Onion AV Club

[padawansguide]

Which dovetailed with a different comment that was like - all those character LIKED Finn so they hand-waved bad stuff. Murphy's an asshole, so they're fine throwing him to the wolves. He's done bad stuff sure, and he's also a sociopath, but what Finn did was way worse. But Finn is a "nice guy."

Moral myopia indeed.

So looking back, there are lots of elements of Finn that worked - but maybe only in retrospect.

[brightcupenny]

Yeah! That's it exactly. Looking at it from that angle makes it a much better storyline. I get where the writers were coming from and what they were trying to do. But for me, at the time, in the moment, it just didn't work the way they intended.

(Also the most jarring thing for me was how vehemently Bellamy defended Finn. Because Clarke, Raven, absolutely. They both like him. Unless we missed a lot during their funtime trip through the woods earlier this season, Bellamy has never had a whole lot of personal love for Finn. His usefulness, yes, him as a person, no. Maybe it was meant to show how protective he is of all the remaining members of the original 100?)

[padawansguide]

I think with Bellamy it is that they're *his*. He sort of took over the de facto leadership and with the adults coming in and messing with things and making decisions. I think he is fiercely protective. I think it's like one of those sibling things where only you are allowed to pick on your sibling - but if anyone outside tries to... Finn is one of them, the people sent down sacrificially. Bad shit happened to them as a result and I think they're way more banded together as their numbers dwindle, then they were on Day 1

[brightcupenny]

I think you're right. I wish they'd been able to toss him a line like that to lend Bellamy a little more justification (and more character development, woop

[padawansguide]

Agreed on Bellamy.

Oh, very interesting.

Yeah, because Bellamy wasn't douchy popular guy on the ship, which doesn't gel very well with Bellamy on the dropship. Bellamy on the ship was the guy who made sure not to attract attention onto Octavia. But I like the head canon that this was his chance to be young and do whatever he wants. Clearly some of his actions were out of self-interest as well as protecting Octavia - because he didn't want the adults showing up and both taking his power and jailing him again. But so much of what he did was clearly in defense of Octavia. I like this headcanon.

:D

[brightcupenny]

Definitely agree about the acting. There are some amazing actors on this show and the guy who played Finn was not one of them

[padawansguide]

I don't think I was sad when he died because I sort of learned that anyone can die on this show, so I'm not overly attached to anyone. Though I love Octavia.

I think I was more sad that war and PTSD hurt everyone. And that Finn shouldn't have been in this situation. And that I didn't want him tortured because I feel so deeply that that is wrong.

Oh and I forgot that Finn was the idiot who undid his restraints on the dropship. Yep. Thoughtless idiot indeed. And I agree that he sort of wanted to be Bellamy, but could never really pull it off.

And yes, you're exactly right. Good intentions do not absolve you from consequences. And I think a better actor (and maybe better writing) could have explored that better.

And I think you're right about Murphy and that no one has illusions about him. But Finn is *nice* dammit! So it's easy to say he's more than his actions. When that's not really fair to absolve him because he's a nice guy with good intentions.

And you're right - Bellamy was called out for his selfishness.

[brightcupenny]

I am overly attached to Raven. If they kill Raven I will be very very very sad, because Raven is awesome.

For more 100 fun, this is my favorite recapper. Her photo recaps always make me giggle. http://www.tv.com/users/Toni_watches/posts/

[padawansguide]

I do love Raven too.

I'll check that out- thx for the link!