Since I don’t know what is going to happen, that isn’t really possible – but I’m going to be realistic with anyone who approaches me on the subject. People were hurt, are still taunted by members of another fandom and there’s enough cruelty in this world, especially for queer kids. If I happen to accidentally spoil something, oh well.
You are welcome. I don’t know what to say, really. When you watch a trailer you know you’re only getting part of the story. The bigger part is what they don’t show you. For example: everyone thinks Clarke is dead, so a big part of what they want to surprise you with is what the reunions will be like. It’s been six years. Everyone will be a little different. It’s a good excuse to re-introduce these characters to one another (remember, they only really knew one another over the course of a few months, were strangers before), and, it could be theorised as a starting point for a romance between the characters – it gives the writers a clean slate if you will, to start all over again.
Basically, this idea erases Lexa and her importance entirely. It’s bad representation-wise because, once again, we get the female bisexual character who can only have a happy ending with a male character. They never wanted to do it before, but they do it now? That smells suspiciously of spite and pandering to another fandom instead of giving an honest narrative. If done, it basically has reduced Clarke to a prize. She’s the character, more than anyone, who was written as an enabler and eraser of Bellamy’s past wrong behaviour, his murders exonerated simply by her – inexplicably – forgiving him. Lexa had to earn Clarke’s trust and love and forgiveness – but Bellamy never has. It’s a little sickening, but that’s heteronormative bs for you (and don’t stop to think that if a romance is written between them, she’ll be ‘in love’ with the man whose actions led directly to Lexa’s death. Remember her? ‘Love of Clarke’s life?’ Yeah).
So, I don’t know. There’s a 50/50 chance it will happen. Trailers can be deceptive. Bottom line: if they do it, no surprise, really, a shit show is only going to give you shit, after all. No one is going to blink over it, the other fandom hasn’t ‘won’ anything, it isn’t a competition, it’s just the default of every television show and film ever made. It’s boring. It’s uninspired. But, on the other hand, they might leave Clarke alone to raise her kid. I’m sorry to say I don’t think that will happen (happy to be wrong, of course).
Good news: you don’t have to watch and there’s loads of free fan fiction that tells Clarke’s story better than the show ever could or would.
Two years ago, journalist Mo Ryan gave voice and validation to an abused and heartbroken fandom.
The response of the showrunner has, outside of a few unenlightening interviews, has been disappointing. Rothenberg live-tweeted the March 10 episode of the show as if thinkpieces and damning critiques were not still being churned out. In the limited array of interviews he did in conjunction with the March 3 episode, he has given little indication that he understands the depth of the sense of betrayal or the multitude of reasonable objections to the death story line. Since March 3, it has fallen to co-executive producer Javier Grillo-Marxuach, who wrote the episode, to engage with fans in any significant and meaningful way, but his compassionate and committed response has only highlighted Rothenberg’s abdication of responsibility.
Oh, right, Clarke’s Soulmate, Her One True Love, The One For Her, The One True Commander.
Nah, she’s been forgotten.
I’m not entirely serious, but I would be surprised if she is mentioned at all. The time of the commanders is over, remember? Lexa was only mentioned in series 4 out of spite.
Mind you, they’ve got the setups for it: Madi is a young reminder of Lexa, Clarke’s book of sketches should have a drawing or two of her (if she’s trying to remember everyone else, you’d think she’d include the Love of Her Life as well), and, of course, the scene in front of the tower. How could she not think of Lexa at that moment? Might she compare Octavia’s leadership with Lexa’s? Eh.
Yes, there are possibilities, there will be mirror moments, but she is no longer part of their story, everything about her long destroyed. I wouldn’t hold out for any hope on it.
I have and I have to hand it to them, they’ve actually been able to make an entire series out of telling the same story over and over with a kind of musical chairs for the surviving characters (and then convoluting things further by adding new characters…that are just replays of old characters). It’s plainly pastiche as well – in the past they’ve borrowed heavily from The Hunger Games, Mad Max, The Planet of the Apes, Battlestar Galactica, Game of Thrones, and this year it’s Aliens. Clarke and Madi = Ripley and Newt. What was in that guy’s stomach? I doubt it’ll be an alien, maybe some tech to tie us back to Becca? The logo on their computer screens looks a bit like the symbol Trikru used (biohazard). At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if they did a DC crossover and the ‘prisoners’ are all from the Phantom Zone.
Impressive how good the Ark crew looks after eating nothing but fungus for six years.
I do hope this is the last go round if only because their world keeps shrinking every year and if they go to a sixth series, they’ll be down to a little island with 15 people, six guns and a tin of lentils (and Clarke’s improbable art supplies as well).
Naturally Native (1998) dir. Jennifer Wynne Farmer, Valerie Red-Horse
Three Native American sisters decide to try to sell a line of cosmetics they call Naturally Native, based on old tribal remedies, only to have to fight an uphill battle with racist business people. The film is actually Red-Horse’s comment on her fight with the movie industry to get her films made and this film is the first to be totally financed by an Indian tribe, Connecticut’s Mashantucket tribe. [available to watch on vimeo]
Moodboard inspired by @liminalsmith’s post-apocalyptic tale A Place To Be Born.
“Are you laughing at me?” Clarke asks, full of mock offence. “I…oh my God. You are laughing at me. You are quite strange, Lexa Woods.”
“Likewise, Clarke.” Lexa shakes her head, stares out the window, then back at Clarke. Her voice is soft when she asks, “What are you so eager to sell your soul for?”
Clarke grips the wheel, bites the inside of her lip till she tastes blood. “You can’t sell something you don’t have.”
The Doctor Is Out 