Colours

I originally adored The 100 for its daring writing and provocative character development. I loved to analyse the layered themes and characters. But at one point, I ended up writing posts on the abuse featured in the show. Abuse is a very important topic to me. I personally endured decades of emotional, verbal, and sometimes physical abuse. I saw it destroy the people around me. I know that my personality and perspective have been shaped by it, and that much of my life will be about recovery. (In my previous posts, I refrained from mentioning my own connection to this topic because I believe that, when analysing fiction, arguments based on canon and objective definitions are far stronger than subjective, personal discussions. But this is a personal post and so I feel it needs mentioning.)

I discussed abuse among the characters on the show, and was of the opinion that the subject was being treated carefully and that there was some overarching message. I assumed it was something to do with how people who are raised with abuse can become abusive themselves, and often abuse those they care about while trying to “protect” (i.e., control) them. But, having watched Season 5, I now think that the show actually normalises abuse. 

Over and over again, the main characters abuse each other emotionally, mentally, and physically. They are always, always forgiven, sometimes without  in-depth discussion, apology, or atonement. This is such a dangerous message. It actually reinforces the abusive cycle. That is, the abuser engages in abusive behavior. The victim reacts in some way and, depending on the relationship, demands some form of apology or atonement. The abuser apologizes or atones. They are so very sorry. It will never happen again. The victim accepts the apology. Eventually, the abuser reoffends. Often, the abuse is worse. 

I’m not going to get into the abusive cycle in detail because there is a huge amount of nuance. But, while The 100 does not always have the abusive character reoffend, the message it conveys to the audience is that, if the abuser is sorry and felt they had good reasons at the time, the victim should forgive them. Also, abusive relationships are those in which there is a pattern of abuse. In The 100, the relationships generally do not have repeated abuse. But, taking the show as a whole, the viewer sees characters abuse each other, apologise, and be forgiven over and over again.  Almost every relationship now has at least one incident of significant abuse. Most of those relationships have persisted with little detailed discussion of or significant fallout from the abuse. The overall message is that an abuser should almost always be forgiven. Again, that is very dangerous.

Don’t get me wrong. I think it is important to show human behaviour in all its forms. I think negative behaviours should be shown and discussed. However, I do think there is a certain responsibility not to normalize those behaviours. In other words, something in the writing should ideally signpost to the audience that these actions are not ok. That’s my personal outlook at least.

Working my way through Season 5, I held on to a fading hope that there was some grand, overarching message. Then, a major line was crossed. Clarke electrocuted Madi. That is child abuse. Emotional abuse among adults, which I mainly discussed on this blog, is complex and insidious, and merits thousands of words of discussion. Child abuse does not. it is very simple. You do not electrocute your child. 

YOU DO NOT ELECTROCUTE YOUR CHILD. 

EVER.

There is no justification. That act is unforgiveable. On the show, there were no lasting repercussions. Madi and Clarke still have a relationship. That is the WRONG message to send to the child of an abusive parent. I know that some characters had resentment towards Clarke for her behaviour in Season 5, but I feel the electrocution of Madi was glossed over. That is something I can’t really get past. I don’t feel that I should.  

After that scene, I have had zero investment in the show. I watched Season 6 as a distraction during a difficult time. I don’t think I posted about it. I will probably read synposes of Season 7 when it’s all over, but I doubt I will watch it. 

As far as analysis or online support for the show goes, I’m done.

*Finally, as far as Bellarke goes, by the end of Season 5 it is completely toxic. My memory of the details is fuzzy now, but I know that Bellamy leaves Clarke chained up and betrays her trust by manipulating and abusing her daughter (yes, putting a mind control chip in a child’s mind is child abuse--at that age, she is not capable of consent). Clarke then abandons Bellamy to die in the fighting pits. That is not a healthy, loving, or trusting relationship. IMO Bellamy is emotionally abusive to Clarke by betraying her trust and abusing her daughter. They both abuse Madi in different ways. I don’t think Clarke leaving Bellamy to die is abuse as she’s not directly harming him, but it’s definitely toxic. Since the end of Season 5, their whole “family” dynamic has been repellent to me. In Season 6, there were attempts to repair the Bellarke relationship, but I really wasn’t invested in it after Madi’s electrocution.

As I said above, I’m done.