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justalittlebluetiefling · 4 years

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A Step By Step Guide to Bellarke #4

Word count: 11911

Last season was about Bellamy and Clarke figuring out who they are without each other. This season is all about survival and how they fit into each other’s survival.

This essay is filled with so much more wild emotional speculation than the previous ones, so I will reiterate a point I’ve made previously: I am not an expert in anything. Psychology or literature or film. Nothing. I’m usually pretty good at interpreting fiction and it’s really hard for stories to surprise me, so I usually just go with my gut. That’s what I’m doing now.

Okay, let’s get on with this!

Tagging @wolfheartgirl

4x01:

This is the first time in three seasons that we start with them together on the same side of an issue. They have a problem to tackle together. Clarke confided in Bellamy and only Bellamy about the end of the world. And with the fracture in their relationship repaired, we’re back to: Bellamy knows how to read people, Clarke knows how to read Bellamy.

Clarke knows right away that he’s worried about how people will react to finding out the world is ending in six months or less. She learned her lesson about this a long time ago, so of course she’ll take his advice and not tell everyone right away.

And what has Bellamy started do when Clarke is nervous? Make weirdly flirtatious comments that shouldn’t actually sound as much like flirting as they do. Besides, I could use a break from keeping you alive.

Of course, Clarke turns it into a very serious, meaningful moment. Thank you for keeping me alive.

This is one of the softest Bellamy faces we see ever in the history of this show. Everyone in this show is so stressed most of the time that people tend to focus on the things that they disagree with. Bellamy was, of course, joking around with her, trying to lighten the mood. Flirting in that slightly morbid way that they flirt. But Clarke responds to it so sincerely. It isn’t like he actually expects to be thanked for it. After all, she’s saved his life plenty of times. But this one comment puts them on very different ground than he expects to be. It informs a lot of both of their decisions this season.

Also, I think this moment shows us a significant shift in how they see each other. I do believe that Bellamy is fully aware at this point that he is in love with Clarke Griffin and vice versa. I also think that Clarke knows he might be in love with her. I don’t think he has any idea that she’s in love with him until right now. And it’s just a little hint. A little flicker that maybe her feelings might match his.

They don’t get many quiet moments on screen, as we all know, so this moment is ruined before he can make an equally sincere comment back. I’m realizing that I don’t think he’s comfortable making these moments sincere, because that would be too close to admitting the feelings that they’re both hiding.

My favorite thing about this episode is that we make it multiple scenes without these two stepping away from each other. They’re orbiting around each other like crazy. Like there’s an invisible string tied between their hips or something. When Clarke moves, Bellamy does, too, and vice versa. (Oh god, I’m going to say vice versa too much while writing this I am sorry in advance.)

They even share the radio by standing unnecessarily close to each other.

I know I’ve mentioned it a few times, but these two have no personal space bubbles with each other. Like… our brains create a buffer zone around our bodies. It’s hardwired into us. There’s a chart describing interpersonal distancing that shows four distinct zones: public, social, personal, and intimate. They’ve been in each other’s intimate space since… god, since 1x7. Before 1x7, even, but most of those were challenging each other for authority and that is a bit more complex.

Anyway, I got off track for a second. The psychology of personal space is just really interesting to me.

So, it’s funny that Bellamy just joked about how he could use a break from keeping Clarke alive since she’s in immediate danger as soon as they separate. And he’s fucking livid. He shouts Echo’s name from across the crowd, pushing his way through people. Clarke even tries to stop him from doing something. Kane has to physically hold him back. Yank him back to stop him from interfering.

Hey, Bellamy, don’t. Let her go, Echo. Let her go.

And all these feelings are completely understandable. Echo got him out of Mount Weather, so that he wouldn’t die in the explosion. It is partially her fault that Gina is dead. Of course he doesn’t trust her anymore. Especially not when she’s holding a sword to Clarke’s throat.

For reasons unknown, Echo decides to not kill Clarke. Because she stopped the City of Light and Echo is grateful? I think? Minor respect? Plot armor? Regardless, Echo shoves Clarke directly into Bellamy.

My guess would be that this is from her training as a fighter. Bellamy is aggressive toward her, so she’s putting an obstacle between them. However, Bellamy also wants Clarke alive, so she could just be giving her back to him. There is also the fact that anyone who sees Bellamy and Clarke in the same space for thirty seconds knows exactly what they mean to each other. And Echo owes him. She already got one of his girlfriends killed. Not killing his platonic-soulmate-not-girlfriend is the least she can do.

Let’s just keep going. Oh god, I’m almost at a thousand words and this is still only episode one. Shit.

Together, together, together. They’re going to make all these decisions together this season, because they saw what a horrible job they do on their own. This is an exaggeration, but is it really? Clarke looks to Bellamy before she tells Abby, Kane, Indra, and Octavia about their newest threat. She waits for his little nod.

They are the ones who decide who gets this information and they do it together.

Of course, we can’t just have a season where there’s only one antagonist, because that’s not how this show works. The end of the world isn’t enough for them to deal with. There have to be politics, too. Which means it’s time for me to start laying the groundwork to compare Clarke’s other ships to this one. And how Bellamy might feel about them.

While they’re locked up, Clarke spends some time focusing on the flame. She tells her mother how she was in love with Lexa. They don’t focus on anyone’s reaction except for Bellamy. They make a point of showing us that Bellamy is watching this. And that Kane sees Bellamy watching this.

Remember how I said before that Bellamy is starting to think that maybe Clarke might have feelings for him? Well, he’s about to second guess all of that. Here’s the deal. I don’t think he’s jealous of Lexa at all. He’s sad for Clarke. Maybe he doesn’t understand how she could fall in love with Lexa, but he knows what it’s like to have someone you care about ripped away from you so violently.

Clarke being in love with someone else doesn’t change the way he feels about her, of course. His desire to protect her doesn’t just come from a place of love. It comes from a place of respect and friendship and he knows what his life is like when he doesn’t have her there. He tries to rip himself off that wall when Echo comes in to take her away.

There’s no way Bellamy can know why they’re taking her away. All he knows is that he isn’t there to help.

And here’s a fun moment that will be paralleled later. Along with multiple other moments. Clarke gives up the Flame, Lexa, to protect her people.

It is not an easy decision. It’s shocking, even. She spent the last half of season three holding onto that thing like a life raft. Bellamy has to know what a big deal this is. Once again watching Clarke’s reaction. He sees the way she feels as someone else holds up the flame and knows what she’s lost.

I’m just going to leave this here for now. I’ll explain why in… ten episodes.

I debated not doing this, but I inevitably had to bring another Bellamy ship into this for comparison. I would also like to point out something that has to do with Echo! In hindsight, it’s already very clear to me that Echo already has feelings for Bellamy. She respects him, because of Mount Weather, but I think she’s also attracted to him at this point.

Once an alliance is reached between their people, Echo approaches them before she leaves. She engaged with Bellamy, not Clarke, although other grounders typically choose to work through Clarke. Because she likes Bellamy.

You think we’ll ever be able to trust each other again? I doubt it.

When he says this, she stops looking at him and has a long look at Clarke before addressing the rest of Skaikru. She sounded hopeful when she asked. She looks a little taken aback that he didn’t say yes. She knows that there’s more to his relationship with Clarke than meets the eye. I’m going to go on record and say that I don’t think Gina would have been jealous of Clarke. Or… well, she might have been a little. Even the best of us get jealous of our significant other’s close friends. But Echo feels threatened by Clarke before she and Bellamy even have a hint of a relationship. That’s… something else I wanted to point out, I guess.

There’s also a lovely shot of Bellamy and Clarke walking away, framed by Abby and Kane. The new leadership framed by the old, who happen to be a canonically romantic couple that were also giving the whole co-leadership thing a go before they admitted their feelings for each other. I think this isn’t exactly a romantic shot, though. It’s meant to be more inspirational. Those two have officially inherited the roles of leaders. They will be the ones to save the world.

There is also a lovely callback on their way out of the gates. Okay, Princess, what now? None of the shots I could get of this moment did it any justice. They were all a little blurry and I blame the lighting. But Clarke smiles the cutest little smile. It’s the first time Bellamy has called her Princess in a while and it’s the first time that we can see him call her that to her face in an affectionate way.

Affectionate nicknames? Check.

4x02:

Everyone is stressed out. They’re frantically searching for a solution that can not only save Skaikru, but the grounders, too. Bellamy and Clarke are concerned with starting a panic. Monty comes up with a solution, because well, he’s a genius. Unfortunately, this means that Bellamy and Clarke have to separate. No one wants that less than these two.

Clarke hands off the magic passport and Bellamy hesitates. They linger at the back of the truck to say goodbye in a way that is a thousand percent them. You can still come with us. He wants her there on this mission. Not because he’s afraid to lead it on his own, but because he wants to be around her.

Clarke is, unfortunately, responsible and stays behind. This gives her a chance to stare after him longingly when he’s not looking, because even though she wants to go with him, she can’t stop trying to save everyone.

New theme for the season: Clarke staring longingly after Bellamy leaves a room.

And things don’t go as planned. He knows that she would have argued on the side of Miller and Monty if she were on the mission. She would have argued that they could talk to Roan and find their people. Bellamy doesn’t regret saving people, but he is worried about Clarke’s opinion about that. Well, maybe it isn’t so much about him being worried about her opinion. He is worried about the fallout his choice has on her, though. She’s the one who has to face the people as a result of his choice.

Clarke gives her speech and when she says that she knows they can get through this together, followed by a long look over at Bellamy. To her, together means Bellamy. She’s fully committed to that.

Raven doesn’t like that Clarke held back the fact that only 100 people will be able to fit in the Ark, but she doesn’t dispute the fact with the group. Raven wasn’t on the ground yet when Clarke accused Murphy of killing Wells. She didn’t get to see the aftermath of that moment. They aren’t desperate enough to trust the public with the full truth. Right now, as Clarke says, hope is more important.

As soon as Raven turns around to start delegating, Clarke takes a step closer to Bellamy.

And another after he echoes his earlier sentiment: we save who we can save today.

Bellamy’s opinion of Clarke matters more to her than anyone else’s. The same way Clarke’s opinion of Bellamy matters more to him than anyone else’s except for maybe Octavia at this point.

4x03:

It’s Clarke’s turn to be #notonboard with something, because here we find out that Bellamy has decided that he will not be inside the Ark when Praimfaya hits. Bellamy’s annoyed reaction when Clarke insists that he’ll be inside is hilarious to me.

The reason is because it feels like a direct callback to season one, when Clarke was trying to convince Bellamy to talk to Jaha. It’s something she won’t stop talking about and clearly an argument they’ve had more than once.

Oh, and my new favorite subtle Bellarke moment is in this episode! I just noticed this the other day while I was watching. When Bellamy walks into medbay while Luna is coughing up blood, he glances over to where Clarke, Jackson, and her mother are standing. Clarke holds up a hand to silently tell him that it will just be a moment and then we can see Bellamy in the background try to pick up the slack for the time being.

It’s a lovely example of their nonverbal communication and a great moment for Bellamy as a caring human being in general.

This episode is one of my favorites in the series. It really shows how important Bellamy and Clarke are to each other. I mean, yeah, the entire series is about how important they are to each other, but they’re so unafraid to rely on each other.

They orbit around each other constantly.

Because they feel safe with each other.

They are very clearly presenting a united front to anyone that might challenge the other. It’s inspiring and sweet.

Also, this is the first time I’ve remembered to call out that we all should have been expecting a collision sooner than we got one. Bellamy needs a reminder to keep his eyes on the road when Clarke is in the passenger seat.

I guess we can’t blame him, since they don’t have driver’s ed on the Ark. And also because Clarke is hot and supportive and all around fantastic.

Now, Bellamy’s been having a rough time. Finding this bunker would be a real win. Even with everything going on, Clarke knows how hard things have been for him, so when Jaha says that they all deserve a lucky break, she smiles at him.

And when Bellamy still seems to be unhappy over their impending doom, Clarke tries to joke with him the way he jokes with her. What happened to us deserving a lucky break?

It’s hard for me to pinpoint exactly what is bugging him in this scene. Aside from the obvious world ending thing. There are a lot of things he’s going through. He has to live with what he did last season and we know he’s been struggling with that. He doesn’t think he deserves to be on “the list”. Clarke is so optimistic right now, because there’s a chance she won’t have to the one who is good at deciding who lives and who dies and she’s holding onto that hope.

I was going to say that this is one of my favorite callouts, but they’re all my favorite callouts. It’s like everyone is taking turns. Raven, Abby, Murphy, and now Jaha. He’s been able to see what they mean to each other since season one and Clarke spoke up on Bellamy’s behalf. And since he’s been on the ground, he’s been able to see in person what it looks like when they lead together. Jaha also has a personal stake in this. He was best friends with Abby and Jake on the Ark. His son was Clarke’s best friend. So what he tells Bellamy actually has quite a bit of meaning.

She’s lucky to have you. Leadership is a lonely pursuit. But you… you keep her centered.

I had to gif this, because it’s impossible to get a picture of the little shake of Bellamy’s head here. It’s so obvious that he disagrees. He takes a long look in Clarke’s direction, probably to make sure she’s out of earshot, before he says You got it backwards. Bellamy thinks he is the lucky one.

I’m not going to elaborate on this further, because I’ll have a lot more to say about it in 4x10.

Moving on! For now.

I saw a gif going around a while ago about this moment.

I wish I could find it to credit the person for the thought, but I think it was something along the lines of how casually Clarke sweeps the spiderwebs off of Bellamy. (If anyone can find it and let me know, I’ll update this section with credit to that person for the thought!) It’s just so easy for Clarke to do that. A little almost domestic moment. If you can call a moment in a bunker full of cobwebs and dead people domestic. It reminds me a lot of the way she grabs things off his belt without thinking. I don’t know. I just think it’s cute even if there are spiderwebs involved.

We also get another parallel to a canon romantic couple in this episode! The way Abby was sleeping on the chair while Kane was working last season to the way Bellamy is sleeping on the couch while Clarke works on the list.

I like to imagine that she was upset about having to write the list and he promised that he would help her with it, but they’ve been going so long that he was just so exhausted and ended up falling asleep. He also probably had the intention of arguing his case about not being included on the list one more time.

But she wrote it in pen, so TOO BAD, BELLAMY.

Clarke doesn’t feel any guilt about writing Bellamy’s name down. It’s something she feels good about. We have the scripts! Proof! She studies his face. Such a good friend. So much history between them. A warm smile tells us this one is easy. It’s easy to decide that Bellamy gets to survive. It’s easier to forgive Bellamy than herself. It’s unfair that this weight is on her shoulders, because she has no desire to decide who lives and who dies. And Bellamy knows what she’s thinking.

If I’m on that list, you’re on that list. Write it down or I will.

I do think that forgiving themselves is something they need to go through (it’s okay, we’ll get there), but this is a lovely moment. They both know that they each struggle with their own choices and will keep forgiving each other until they can finally forgive themselves. Hope that it’ll be enough to take a little bit of the weight off. And it’s huge that Clarke is finally willing to let him do that for her! She wasn’t willing at the end of season two, which caused a huge amount of problems for them in the following season. But now, she’s letting someone else help her carry her burdens.

He’s also the only person she can be weak around right now. You still have hope? We still breathing?

We hardly need the scripts for confirmation on what this means to her, but we have them, so why not use them.

Bellamy puts a hand on her shoulder. She puts her hand on his, never more grateful for him than right now. And he for her. Don’t get me wrong. This is a huge deal for Bellamy, too. But he’s never hesitated to lead together and share his problems with her. Well, not after Day Trip, anyway. He’s always been grateful for her and she’s always been grateful for him, but she’s finally allowing herself to openly feel it.

Maybe someone else can articulate that better than I can. It’s a complicated thing to try and explain.

Anyway. It’s also about time that we see more of Clarke staring longingly after Bellamy. It’s what he deserves.

I’m going to take one of those wildly speculative leaps here. There’s no way Clarke wanted him to leave so she could get rest, but they’re already treading a thin line. Their actions get less and less platonic by the second. She knows what she feels for him, she knows what she means to him, and she knows what it would mean if she asked him to stay. I don’t think either of them are prepared to take that step while the survival of their people is at stake. They’re too responsible for their own good, really.

4x04 & 4x05:

They’re giving us all these mini-separations this season to prep us for the biggest one of all. If only we had known….

So, yes, We start off episode four and Bellamy has been on a hunting trip too long. Monty sees that Clarke isn’t able to enjoy the prank on Jaha too long.

What’s with the ‘we’re all gonna die’ face? Bellamy should be back by now.

Monty tries to offer her some comfort, hunting parties are late all the time, but we all know how Clarke gets when Bellamy isn’t around.

This is also the episode where the list is exposed. Clarke does her best to calm down the angry crowd, using facts and rationality. This is a moment where Bellamy would have been helpful. He’s always been better with crowds than she has. She doesn’t have to defend her decision to put Bellamy on the list when asked, although I’d love to know what she was going to say.

Still, Jaha’s got something to say that’s probably better at calming the crowd. Of course Clarke and Bellamy should be included. Strong leadership is essential for survival. He’s unifying them in front of the crowd on purpose. Everyone knows that Clarke will be inside. She has medical skills on top of her leadership skills. But Jaha’s statement makes it clear that they’re a package deal.

A package deal indeed. Monty is still mad at her in 4x5. She asks if there’s been any word from Bellamy’s unit and he sarcastically says that they’re back and no one decided to tell her. And then when she makes it into the meeting with the guards, he makes sure he is the one to tell her that they found the rover and there was no sign of Bellamy and Stephens.

Monty may be mad at her, but he knows what this means. He knows that this information will hurt her and he’s careful with how he tells her. Everyone knows that Clarke and Bellamy function better together. What they mean to each other. And this is an example of how desperate Clarke can get when his life is on the line. Hell, she decides to face down an entire army, trusting that she knows Roan well enough, so that she can talk him down.

Of course, Roan also knows what Bellamy means to Clarke and he’s not afraid to use that against her.

When they’re in the cave, arguing about peace, he absolutely uses it against her.

We’ll both take losses. Kane and Bellamy among them. You think you can shake my resolve? I was willing to sacrifice my own mother to stop Alie.

I think this is another thing I have to put off writing about until 4x11, just to keep structure, you know? But Clarke is posturing here. She’s channeling Bellamy once again, channeling who she had to be to manipulate Bellamy into going onto the rescue mission in 1x2. She puts on the arrogant face here, because she can’t show what her real emotions are.

So, moving on until I can talk about this more.

When they get back to Arkadia to find Alpha Station on fire, it sort of sounds like they’re going to separate, since he needs to find Octavia, but they stay in each other’s orbit. Either he stays with Clarke or she stays with him. But still, she sees Octavia first.

And she runs to check on Octavia’s injury after getting Niylah settled. I’m not sure how much to write about the dynamic between these three, but it is also one I really appreciate. Clarke and Octavia were closer in season one and most of two. Octavia was kind of a bridge between Bellamy and Clarke and although Bellamy realized his respect for her on his own, the way Octavia liked Clarke really contributed to that. And as Octavia and Clarke grew further apart, Bellamy and Clarke grew closer together. I don’t really equate those two, because a lot of that is about Octavia’s character growth and trying to figure out where she fits in the world. Octavia is one of the first people to recognize how important these two are to each other. She sees their reunion in 2x5. In 2x9, she is clearly worried about Bellamy’s dedication to Clarke and where that will get him. But in season three, she knew that if anyone could get through to Bellamy, it would be Clarke. And I do think that Clarke genuinely cares for Octavia outside of what she means to Bellamy. This just isn’t a world where things are easy and they can explore what that means.

Anyway, I like to think that these shots are significant.

In Octavia’s moment of weakness, Clarke and Bellamy are both people she can rely on. Bellamy clings to her in his lap while Clarke holds tight to her hand. It’s a small bit of found family in a horrible time.

4x06:

Bellamy wants to say goodbye to Octavia before they can leave and it does not go well. He is short with Clarke on his way into the rover and she knows something is wrong.

(Warning: I just finished the season 4 finale, so I’m sad. I don’t know how that will affect this, but I’m very emotional over these two right now.)

I like all these moments, because they remind us how many conversations between these two we miss out on. Their relationship is deeper than we know. The way that back in season two, when Finn points out that Grounder is wearing Clarke’s watch, Bellamy knows that isn’t something she’d part with willingly. The way that right now, Clarke knows that his conversation with Octavia didn’t go well and he’s upset, because the world is ending and his sister still can’t forgive him.

Is it Octavia? Keep your eyes on the trees. She hasn’t forgiven you, has she? I told you it would take time. We don’t have much of that left now, do we?

I like the little reminders like this that they truly are best friends.

I also like the way Bellamy is in no way surprised when Clarke hops out of the rover to try to help the Trikru people on the road. What is she doing? Being Clarke. And this moment is a callback to their time in the woods with Atom. There isn’t anything she can do to help this man, which means they need to keep moving.

Like I said before, it’s Clarke’s turn to stare longingly at Bellamy. He stared longingly at her so much in the first few seasons that it’s a given. They’re such dorks.

She stares after the rover for kind of a long time as he and Roan drive off to go find some place to cross the river.

Bellamy can’t let her longing looks outshine him, though, so he goes into a quiet panic as soon as she doesn’t answer her radio.

When they get back, they see the bag in the river and there is actual relief in Bellamy’s whole body when they open it and find out it’s not Clarke.

And it’s not a fun day for these two if one of them isn’t putting themselves in danger to rescue the other one. Or, as the scripts say, if they’re not desperately relieved to see each other.

I’m not sure I can classify this as trust, but I’d like to. Bellamy tells Clarke to get him a clean shot, trusts that she will, and then puts the rover directly in line of the car. And she trusts him enough to stop her captor from turning the car away.

Here’s what real relief looks like, though.

That was an insane shot. If they were any less responsible, I’d say the adrenaline would mean they would immediately start making out, but…. They’re too busy being good leaders right now or something. Still, I love Clarke’s little relieved laugh and Bellamy’s answering grin. It was a crazy moment and they knew that the other would come through.

Wow, I’m like, all screenshots for this episode. They just have such expressive faces when they’re talking. And this beach convo? It’s one for the books.

First of all, Roan decides to unload the fuel as a #subtle way of giving Clarke and Bellamy time to talk.

Second of all, Clarke is “subtly” checking Bellamy out way more than she did at Unity Day.

Like… way more. Damn girl, just make a move already.

Third of all, I guess we should get into the serious stuff, which is dissecting this conversation. So I guess we have to go a little backwards before Clarke checks him out, because that happens during this emotional rollercoaster.

While Bellamy is standing in front of the rover, he’s fidgeting like crazy. His right hand keeps tapping his thigh, he moves his foot around a few times. He’s nervous, because he’s decided to leave and he is about to tell Clarke this. And they might never see each other again.

I’m gonna take the Rover back to camp. He glances at her a couple times, but he barely looks at her while he’s telling her this. Clarke isn’t surprised though. She knows what it’s about. Octavia?

He looks annoyed at himself. He feels stupid. It’s pathetic, right? She hates me, but I keep coming back for more. Little do you know, Bellamy, that this is something that Clarke loves about you. She’s your sister. Your blood. She’ll come around and see how special you are. I love that she’s excusing him from any guilt that he might feel over going back at the same time she’s telling him that she values him as a person.

And Bellamy also loves that. It’s time to kick off my wild emotional speculation again. Clarke tells Bellamy that he’s special and he thinks she’s special. He knows it’s possible that they won’t see each other again after this and well, with the world ending, why not tell people what you like about them?

Clarke, if I don’t see you again… No, you will.

I can’t tell if Clarke’s interruption here is more about Bellamy or about Clarke not being ready to hear what Bellamy’s goodbye would be. It might be a little of both. Or it could be about the fact that she can’t let herself believe that the end of the world will happen before she can see him again. I think I like to lean that way? Clarke is so sure that they’ll see each other again that now isn’t the time for confessions or heartfelt speeches. Maybe she’s afraid that it would make his choice to go back to Arkadia harder for her to deal with. There are too many options.

All I’m really sure of is that Bellamy is a little annoyed at being interrupted. Just let him have all the heartfelt speeches he wants, okay?!

Short Separation

I’m not even going to split this into episodes, because there isn’t much worth talking about in regards to Bellarke here. There are two things I want to mention.

We know, because Bellamy says in 4x10 that Now there’s hope again, that he lost hope sometime after episode 6. What’s so different about this time in Arkadia for him? He went back for Octavia to find her gone. Which means he left Clarke to go to the island alone for no reason. And then he can’t save someone from the black rain. I’m not saying that Octavia and Clarke are a significant source of Bellamy’s hope, except….. well yeah, that’s exactly what I’m saying.

When Clarke decides they’re going to test the Nightblood solution on herself instead of Emori, Abby loses it and smashes the radiation chamber. This ties into two moments. When Clarke goes to hug her mother, Abby says I can’t lose you. Which is a not-so-indirect callback to Clarke saying the same thing to Bellamy in 2x9. Of course, back then, Clarke was “learning” that love is weakness, so she sent Bellamy away to the mountain anyway. Abby isn’t able to send Clarke into the radiation chamber, though. Also. We’re close enough to me talking about 4x11 that I’ll just say it. Abby and Clarke have sacrificed a lot of things and people for the survival of humanity, but Abby draws the line at Clarke. She refuses to sacrifice Clarke for humanity, the same way Clarke is about to refuse to sacrifice Bellamy for humanity.

4x10 & 4x11:

So we’re here. I’m going to group these two together, because they feel like a two-parter to me.

This season parallels itself so fast, I swear. Clarke looks for hope from Bellamy back in episode 3 and it’s easy for him to give it. Here, Bellamy looks for hope from Clarke.

Clarke (to Octavia): You got this. Bellamy: You really think she has a chance? Clarke: Right now, she needs to believe it.

It’s unfortunate that Clarke is unable to truly provide it. I’m not sure if this is about her wanting to be honest with Bellamy or if she’s already distracted by what the Conclave means. Clarke is someone whose brain is always going a mile a minute and even before Luna shows up, she has to know that the likelihood Grounders will survive in the bunker without anyone from Skaikru to help them run the machines is minimal.

I love that this show reminds us every few episodes how deep the trust goes between Bellamy and Clarke. He trusts her with his vulnerability. And his sister, who he’s spent his whole life protecting. And now, he’s trying to protect himself by not going to talk to her or save Octavia from having to see him when he knows she still hasn’t forgiven him.

You should go with him. I wouldn’t know what to say to her. Besides, you’re her brother. You not being there is worse than saying the wrong thing.

But Clarke isn’t having any of it, because she knows how much he loves his sister. That’s actually a bigger part of this season than I realized. I think it’s obvious when I’m in the season, but it isn’t something I think of as a recurring theme afterward. Clarke spends a significant amount of time this season trying to make sure Bellamy can repair his relationship with his sister. Reassuring him that it can be fixed.

And, of course, staring longingly after Bellamy when he leaves.

I’ve debated mentioning this, because I think it’s only indirectly a Bellarke thing. I wasn’t going to and then I was, so I wrote up multiple paragraphs on it, and then I changed my mind. I changed my mind again and I can’t go back now. This will be brief, because I’m not sure how much I actually think it ties into Bellarke, except for the fact that Bellamy’s relationships with Octavia and Clarke are tied together very tightly this season. He tells Kane up in the tower that he “couldn’t tell her that he loved her, even with the world ending”. I really do think that he was referring to both Octavia and Clarke in this moment. It’s much more obviously about his sister, but Octavia isn’t the only one he’s had more than one heartfelt goodbye with this season. She isn’t the only one he hasn’t been able to say what he wanted to re: beach scene.

Anyway, that’s a very brief summary of my thoughts on that.

I’m sort of under the impression that Bellamy, Kane, and Octavia were the only members of Skaikru that were left outside when Clarke and Jaha decided to take the bunker. This is loosely implied in the show, but we don’t have 100% confirmation.

That doesn’t really matter, does it?! What matters is that they’re able to get Bellamy inside… and they place him in the office where Clarke is working… for drama. You can see Clarke brace herself for conflict when he wakes up.

She knows him, so she knows he’s not going to be totally stoked by her decision.

Bellamy: Clarke, you agreed to this?

Jaha: It was her idea.

Clarke: We did what we had to do.

Clarke has prepared herself for a fight against this guy that uses his heart to make all of his decisions. It’s something she loves platonically of course, don’t at me about him, but this is one of those times that following his heart can get them all killed. And I think she has not only prepared herself for a fight, but she’s prepared herself for Bellamy to never forgive her.

Of course, there was a chance that Bellamy might forgive her for this until they find out that Octavia won. Bellamy looks at her with such relief, but to Clarke, that’s just sealing the deal. She knows Jaha is right and that they can’t open the door, but that means losing her relationship with Bellamy. It’s another thing she has to bear.

And then she has to watch the guards subdue Bellamy. The last thing we see in that scene is him looking to Clarke and her absolute devastation over all of this.

This isn’t Clarke meta, so I’m not going to defend her actions. I’m just going to keep going, that’s hard for me. I will say that we know what Clarke’s mindset is, because of her conversation with Jaha and her mother. Yesterday, we were right. Today, we have to live with being wrong. Still, she’s prepared to stick to her guns. And Jaha is using Bellamy to placate her. Bellamy will go free as soon as the death wave passes, okay?

She’s okay with him hating her as long as he’s alive. But she knows Bellamy enough to worry. Murphy knows Bellamy enough to worry. Enough to know what Clarke is sacrificing by committing to this. Clarke, this is his sister we’re talking about. I think we both know he’s never just gonna let that go.

Bellamy’s freedom was enough to calm her down back in the office, but when she’s faced with the reality, it’s too hard. Before, when she thought Luna would win and this was the right call, he would have been on her side. She would have helped him through his loss and their friendship would be intact. But now, she’s faced with the possibility that not only will he never forgive her, but that they might have to keep him locked up for five years just to keep him alive.

Murphy wants her to talk to him before she goes and she says she will, but this isn’t a possibility she considered. I don’t think she wants to see him locked up. She doesn’t want to see how much he hates her now.

So she runs away and says she’ll come back later. She runs off seeking comfort. Justification for doing this to her best friend. For leaving 1100 people who are supposed to have spots in this bunker out in the radiation to die. And while this is happening, Bellamy is overreacting, because he noticed that Abby was the only other one in that room who might be willing to open the doors. In spite of everything, Bellamy is still equally invested in Clarke’s safety. Sure, he’s mad, but that doesn’t mean he is willing to see her hurt in any way. Abby, I promise you, Octavia won’t let anything happen to Clarke and neither will I.

I make a lot of jokes about parental approval, but dang. Abby knows that opening the doors could put Clarke at risk, but she trusts Bellamy with Clarke’s life. She’s seen them in action together multiple times. She knows that he would do anything to protect her daughter. This is huge.

And this is the moment I’ve been waiting for. Before I start gushing about this, I’m going to say that I remember how much controversy this moment created after this episode aired. And you know what? I live for moments like this in ships, okay? I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna put the picture up.

No taking that back, I say, in a completely editable document.

Okay, enough rambling about not the actual moment.

Clarke pulls a gun on Bellamy.

Bellamy, stop. We don’t have time for this. The radiation is getting worse and people are dying up there.

She ACTUALLY TAKES A SHOT. Not at Bellamy, but at the door to stop him.

Clarke, what are you doing? What I have to, like always. Now, get away from the door.

Clarke is throwing what he said to her earlier back at him. I didn’t talk about it earlier, but when he told her that he understands that she’s doing what she thinks she has to do, like always, I think it really hurt. Let’s just keep going through this conversation and I’ll elaborate in a second.

No. This isn’t like shutting the dropship door or pulling the lever in Mount Weather or the City of Light. We knew what we were stopping then. Now we know nothing. We know that if that door stays shut, the human race survives. Please. You’re gonna have to make it a kill shot. It’s the only way you’re gonna stop me.

Okay. Now I’ll get into it for real. Bellamy spends his time here appealing to Clarke’s heart (we knew what we were stopping then) while she spends her time appealing to his head (we know that if the door stays shut). I think he understands her logic and she understands his emotions. Neither of them is more right or wrong than the other. (Yeah, I said it, I’ll fight that point) Bellamy makes it very clear that she can stop him. He isn’t even begging for his life. He lays it out as simple fact and then he waits.

Remember how I’ve talked a lot about Bellamy can read people but Clarke can read Bellamy? I’m not sure if I’ve ever clarified this, but I think Bellamy can read everyone except for Clarke. We, as obviously impartial viewers, can see Clarke shaking while she holds the gun. We can see the tears that she can’t hold back as the encounter progresses. We know that she’s struggling with this decision. I really think that Bellamy thinks she’s going to shoot him here. He’s seen her sacrifice everything else int he sake of their people, so why wouldn’t she shoot him? When he tells her that she’s going to have to make it a kill shot, he isn’t just saying ‘you have to kill me to stop me from opening the door’. He’s also confirming her fear that she would have to keep him locked up for five years. He’s confirming her worst fear that he would never forgive her if he was still alive in this bunker and she didn’t open that door. And listen, I don’t think he is meaning to say that, but those are things that Clarke is afraid of and that’s all she can see in this moment. Right now, she loses Bellamy whatever she chooses.

Up until now, what has Clarke been willing to give up to save her people? To save humanity?

Clarke killed Finn, the boy she loved, to secure a truce with the Grounders

Clarke was willing to leave Lexa in Polis to maintain the strength of that alliance

Clarke was willing to let her own mother die instead of give Alie the passphrase to the flame

Clarke gave Roan the flame to help gain his confidence and the protection of her people

But when it comes down to Bellamy or humanity what does she do? She lets him open the door. She decides that 364 of the people left from her home can die if it means Bellamy will stay alive. There isn’t even a guarantee at this point that Skaikru will be allowed to remain in the bunker at all. That she will be allowed to remain in the bunker. As the scripts so eloquently put it: Clarke shakes her head, tears rolling, as she wills herself to kill another person who SHE LOVES. Until, SHE DOESN’T. She can’t.

I don’t know what else to say about it. I know there was a ton of controversy over this scene, but I loved it. Also, this is fiction. Angst is fun. Bellamy is literally more important to Clarke than the survival of humanity. LET THAT SINK IN. I think about it all the time. It makes my life better.

Let’s just keep going!

4x12:

So, we end 4x11 with Bellamy and Clarke possible standing the furthest apart that they’ve been since possibly the pilot.

But twenty minutes (just go with me) later, they’re together again.

Clarke seems more concerned with how this decision will affect Bellamy than the situation itself. Maybe that isn’t gracious enough toward her, but honestly? They both know what it’s like to carry the weight of a decision like this. Clarke knows what it cost him to sacrifice the many for the one.

They’re still together in the office, but the space between them is visible.

I don’t think that every camera shot of them together is meant to be symbolic, but these two usually have very little physical space between them. Or the angles make it look like there’s less than there is. And their body language is super closed off through this scene. One or both of them usually has their arms crossed. We know Bellamy is mad at her and she’s afraid she’s ruined their friendship.

In spite of all of that, Clarke would still rather be with Bellamy while the end of the world is approaching.

Someone still needs to get Raven. I’d like to volunteer. And I’ll join you.

I like the slight distress you can see on Clarke’s face when Bellamy says he’ll go. And the general annoyed/resigned attitude he has when she says she’ll go, too. He’s mad at her and he’d probably rather have some breathing room, but… the end of the world is approaching. There’s a not-so-small part of him that would rather be with her right now even if he is angry right now. I’m not saying that she isn’t going out of love for Raven. That’s absolutely part of it. But he’s right to have that half-annoyed half-suspicious look on his face, because that is definitely not the only reason she’s going.

This isn’t goodbye. Mom, I know what you saw in that vision, but I’m a nightblood now, right? Maybe it worked. Clarke, listen to me. I told you there were no good guys, but that’s not true. There are. You are. Even though I didn’t want to open the door? Yes. There was no good choice. There never is.

We get even more insight into Clarke and Bellamy’s state of mind here. As soon as Abby tells Clarke that she’s a ‘good guy’, Clarke hesitates and looks over to Bellamy. Bellamy, who is clearly listening to this entire conversation (that neither of them are trying to hide, but still) and doing a very bad job of hiding that he is listening to every word.

Clarke looks to Bellamy, because she believes that he is the good guy. She’s never had a doubt about that. And his opinion is the one that matters to her. Regardless of how morally questionable his decisions have been, they have always been to protect his sister and yes I will circle back around to this in five short minutes.

Another notable moment is that we finally see the culmination of all the parental approval. Abby telling Bellamy: Take care of each other. She’s seen the way they care for each other since she came to the ground. She saw the way he watched her write the message to Clarke on the dropship. The way they constantly stood together against everything (even her) when they were first in Arkadia. The way Bellamy moved to protect Clarke multiple times on their way to TonDC. The effects that his mission to Mount Weather had on Clarke. The way Clarke openly defied her in order to keep Bellamy safe in Mount Weather. The way Bellamy fought his way up a tower full of people to get to Clarke. TWICE. The way they take comfort in the mere presence of the other. The way her daughter couldn’t choose her people over him. The way her daughter is choosing to possibly spend her last hours with this person who is angry at her instead of in safety.

I mean, even Paige Turco agrees. She preferred Bellamy over Finn for Clarke. She’s said, “No one is good enough for my Clarke, but Bellamy is pretty close.” And she agrees that Bellamy loves Clarke. She’s not Abby, but if she’s really informing her acting choices off these beliefs? Then? We win?

And these two dumbasses. Oh my gosh. The whole car scene.

Why did you come on this mission, Clarke? Raven’s my friend. Yesterday, you were fine leaving your friend out to die. My sister, too. Kane…. I wasn’t fine with it and you know that.

They’re quiet here for a second, so I’m going to interject some thoughts and feelings and wishes. Bellamy could choose to give her the silent treatment. She had to be in the front seat with him, because she knows the way to the island the best, but he didn’t have to make conversation. He didn’t have to open the door for reconciliation, but he genuinely does not know how to be at odds with Clarke. And Clarke just has the nerve to point out that he knows her so well? That’s not what he wants to think about right now. He wants to be mad.

Bellamy, I never meant to hurt you. Aiming a gun at me is a strange way of showing it. I didn’t pull the trigger. Is that supposed to make it okay? Nothing is okay. Whatever choice I make, somebody always dies.

I love this exchange so much. Bellamy’s looking for an explanation. He wants to argue a little bit. He wants her to explain herself. And as soon as she starts, he can’t help it. He softens. How in the heck is he already not mad at her? He was mad at her for maybe three hours. Vulnerable Clarke will always be Bellamy’s biggest weakness. And then he has the AUDACITY to FLIRT with her WHILE HE’S DRIVING?!

Well, not shooting me? That was the right choice.

Not only is this hilarious, because the way they flirt is so morbid, but he’s letting her know in a sneaky way that he was listening to her conversation with her mother. Abby says there are no good choices? Bellamy says that not shooting him was the right choice. And then he SMILES AT HER and she can tell that he’s already forgiven her and she can’t quite believe it and he looks at her for such a long time that HE CRASHES THE ROVER?!

They can’t live in a happy state like that for too long, though, or we wouldn’t have a show. Clarke is “being Clarke” again, choosing to save both Echo and Emori in one fell swoop and all Bellamy can do is watch from the sidelines.

He tries to argue a bit, but there’s honestly no stopping Clarke once she’s in motion. It’s inertia, you know? Bellamy doesn’t want to lose her the way Murphy doesn’t want to lose Emori. All he can do is stare at her for the rest of the scene. Drive fast.

I can’t even being to try to interpret the way they look at each other while they’re discussing. I’m honestly losing steam. And I get a little distracted by the way they look at each other. He’s watching her, waiting to see if the Nightblood solution is going to be enough to keep her safe. He’s hoping that it will, even though it hasn’t been tested yet.

And the way they stare longingly into each other’s eyes until the headlights from the rover interrupt them.

Bellamy and Clarke are at their strongest again. Already. They work well together in crisis. Clarke is good at coming up with a logical conclusion and Bellamy is good at inspiring people to follow through with that. And in true Power Rangers style, they decide to rescue Raven and go off to space together. (I have actual screenshots of their talk after the Nightblood solution is seen “failing”, but I don’t have anything new to add other than Bellamy doesn’t want Clarke to die, so… we’re pushing ahead.)

4x13:

This episode is literally all about Bellamy and Clarke. I mean, sure, the end of the world is coming in the form of a radiation hurricane wall, but… this episode is about Bellamy and Clarke. That’s it. I’m not even joking or being extra. Fine. I’m being a little extra. But I’m not joking around. They literally don’t leave each other’s sides for one-third of the episode and they spend so much of that time touching each other. Okay… that sounds inappropriate. I’m just… okay. I’m just going to stop typing this paragraph now.

We start with Bellamy saying goodbye to his sister. And the radio goes out before Clarke has a chance to say goodbye to her mom.

Clarke starts to fall apart and Bellamy is there to provide comfort.

Fun Fact One: This is the first time Bellamy has initiated one of their hugs!

Fun Fact Two: This hug lasts 15 seconds and no end was in sight before they were interrupted by Murphy calling for them.

So, there’s a ton of stuff to LOVE about this scene. Like the way Bellamy crosses the entire room to initiate the hug as soon as he sees Clarke start to cry. And the way that Clarke’s locks her hands together behind his back and Bellamy clings to her braid. The way Clarke does that thing she does where she buries her face in his shoulder. This is about both of them needing comfort. They’re scared and they don’t know what is going to happen to their families. They stand there gently rocking back and forth with their eyes closed. And when Murphy calls their name, their hands kind of slide off each other while they’re also somehow jumping apart like someone caught them in the middle of something super intimate. It’s almost… like their hugs are… private, emotional, intimate moments between the two of them.

My favorite thing though? It’s how in that last screenshot Bellamy’s hand doesn’t leave Clarke’s back until she walks away. His fingers just sort of rest there until she leaves his space and then he follows her out. IT’S SO GOOD.

The job they’re doing to get ready to go up to space seems to be something that could probably be done by one person. Of course, since Bellamy and Clarke share a brain and a heart, it makes sense that they would be assigned to a one-person job. But I’m not here to make fun of them. Not that much. I’m here to point out that Clarke is working and Bellamy is watching his friends do their job and Clarke looks up, notices that he’s distracted, and goes to join him at the railing.

All Bellamy really wanted was an excuse to flirt like a nerd again, right? That’s why he posed up there for so long. He knew she’d get the hint eventually.

Grounders in space. It’s an oxymoron. Survival’s a team sport, especially up there. It was the only choice. Only choice. Also an oxymoron, by the way. So is cold sweat.

Look at that face. Look at it. Bellamy likes her so much. He likes talking to her about things like oxymorons and Oppenheimer. He likes making decisions with her and I think he’s honestly looking forward to things being quiet on the ring. The chance for both of them to heal from the things they’ve had to do to survive on the ground.

Still holding out hope for that Nightblood solution. There was never any solution. Alie was right about that. Our fight is not over. My mom had a vision of me dying, just like the one Raven had that told her there was a rocket here. It is not the same thing. Yeah. They were both EMPed. And Abby will be fine, too. Raven told her how to stop it. That’s not what I’m talking about.

It surprises me that Clarke has taken her mother’s vision so seriously. And Bellamy’s face falls the more she talks about it.

Clarke’s death is not an idea he’s willing to entertain.

If anything happens to me— Nothing is happening to you.

He says that nothing is happening to her so forcefully. He holds her by the shoulders so that she knows nothing is happening to her. And then he doesn’t want to talk about it anymore. He’s even willing to go back to running those numbers again to stop her from talking about her potential death. Get ready for lots of screenshots and the entire dialogue from this speech typed out, because it’s beautiful.

Please, Bellamy, I need you to hear this.

He doesn’t want to entertain the possibility, but he’ll let her say what she needs to, because she pushed in a way he didn’t back at the beach.

We’ve been through a lot together, you and I.

I didn’t like you at first. That’s no secret.

I like that the fact that they didn’t like each other at first has become a little inside joke. And that Clarke probably knew it would make him smile, just a little bit, for a second.

But even then, every stupid thing you did, it was to protect your sister.

I also like the way Bellamy’s face falls and he looks off to the side when she says that everything he did was to protect Octavia. Yes, Bellamy is worried about Octavia in this moment, but… there’s got to be more to this, right? Because we know that some of the very stupid things he’s done have also been to protect Clarke. I’m not sure if Clarke is avoiding that fact or if she is just genuinely blind to his feelings for her, but either way, it is sad. And when she tells him that she could always see that?

She didn’t always see that, but I did.

So much of this takes me back to their beach conversation, when Bellamy was leaving Clarke to go back to Octavia and how Clarke accepted that, because she sees how special he is. Is this what Bellamy’s thinking about, too? I don’t think it’s too far out of the realm of possibility, especially since he tried to stop her from a heartfelt moment the way she did back on the beach, because they’re both unwilling to deal with the fact that something could happen to the other. And she’s always seen that. Since day one. That’s a huge revelation. She could see what kind of person he was way before they were friends.

You’ve got such a big heart, Bellamy. Clarke— People follow you. You inspire them, because of this. But the only way to make sure we survive is if you use this, too.

I got you for that.

Clarke telling him to make sure he uses his head as well as his heart to take care of their people… and Bellamy’s just like, nah. You’re the reasonable one here. I’m going to take your decisions and make sure everyone listens to them.

Okay, but that’s a really goofy way of interpreting it. Clarke wants to make sure Bellamy is going to take care of not only everyone else, but himself if she’s gone. And Bellamy wants to make sure that she knows how much she means to him. I got you for that. This is the closest he’s come to telling her that he needs her at this point of the show. Can you believe he hasn’t told her that yet? For someone whose heart rules most of his decisions, he’s kind of good at keeping his personal feelings tucked away until the timing is appropriate. But here, it’s sort of a polite way of rejecting what she just said. Of rejecting the possibility that he’d have to lead without her. It’s a very subtle way of telling her that she’s his other half.

Raven’s premonition came true.

They’ve both got tears in their eyes by the time Clarke mentions Raven’s premonition. Bellamy shakes his head like he’s about to say something, she’s nodding like he needs to accept this, but they get interrupted by a malfunction in the rocket before the conversation can go any further.

One of these days, I’ll accept that I don’t know how to write transitions. Or maybe I’m just distraught, because I don’t know how to talk about the last thing Bellamy and Clarke say to each other for 6 years.

No, I was just gonna say… hurry. You, too.

They weren’t supposed to separate here. They were supposed to go to the satellite tower together. I think that might make this the worst of all. Especially when we see the hope on Clarke’s face when she first plugs in the tablet. For just a few seconds, she thinks she’s going to make it back, because she’s made it there with enough time. That, of course, was before she realized she has to climb up a huge tower to help her friends get safely out of here. Raven. Bellamy. If you can hear me, don’t wait.

The first thing Bellamy asks back in Becca’s lab is where she is. Clarke’s not back yet? Raven says she should be on her way by now and there are other things to worry about, so the fear hasn’t entirely set in yet. But once he’s got everything settled with Echo and Raven gets up there…

Clarke? We’ll wait as long as we can.

Everyone else gets settled in the rocket, but Bellamy waits. The timer goes off. He stares at the door, waiting for the second Clarke runs through it to help her get into the rocket, too.

Come on, Clarke. Bellamy.

I know, Raven. The radiation’s already affecting the avionics. It’s now or never.

Raven knows what she’s asking Bellamy to do. And Clarke told him to use his head in addition to his heart, so he walks to the rocket. But he’s still waiting. Still hoping as he watches those doors close.

Harper: She isn’t coming? Emori: Can’t we give her another minute? Bellamy: This is what Clarke would want us to do. If we wait, then we die.

No one can believe that they’re leaving Clarke behind. We see Monty focus on the seat Clarke was supposed to sit in. Echo and Emori look shocked. Murphy stares at Emori….

Raven: You sure about this? Bellamy: It’s the only choice.

We know they can hear each other. Murphy, still staring at Emori with something like relief, takes her hand as they take off.

Bellamy stares out the window. Per the scripts: Tears threaten Bellamy’s eyes as he looks to the cockpit window, hoping beyond hope that Clarke will appear in it.

He already had to leave Octavia behind and now he’s leaving Clarke, because that’s what Clarke would want. She would want them to survive. And we see the mix of sadness and determination on her face as they take off.

Up in space, Murphy says that Clarke wasn’t able to fix communications. Bellamy doesn’t hesitate before saying she will. And when Raven questions whether or not Clarke will be able to get the power on, he doesn’t even have to say anything.

There’s no question in his mind that Clarke will get it done. Save them like she always does. There’s no room for anyone to dare to doubt it. But as time passes, as they continue to wait on power, it starts to weigh on him. Murphy and Emori talk about how much air they have left. At least I don’t have to watch you die. Murphy’s morbid remark is immediately followed up by Bellamy.

I left her behind. I left her behind and we all die, anyway.

Murphy/Emori and Monty/Harper both take comfort in each other on the rocket. The focus is either on a canon couple looking at each other or staring at Bellamy. They don’t have to feel what he’s feeling. At least they’re together. None of them have to die knowing that they left the other behind. It’s a small comfort for them in the moment. They don’t have to worry about it long, because of course Clarke gets it done. Like Bellamy knew she would.

The shot of Bellamy grabbing “the baton” is symbolic for two reasons. The first, and possibly the saddest, is that it’s symbolic of the drink that Bellamy and Clarke still haven’t been able to get for one reason or another. The second is him taking her leadership role as his own. Him taking responsibility as “The Head” in her absence.

They make a point to focus on Bellamy alone in the window for a short time. He’s only taking up half the frame. This could be to show off fiery Earth in the background. I feel like it’s more likely to symbolize the empty place Clarke should be standing.

She saved us again.

Think we can do this without her?

If we don’t, she died in vain and I’m not gonna let that happen.

Bellamy is preparing himself to live a life without Clarke. He’s preparing himself to live the kind of life Clarke would have wanted him to live. To be the kind of person Clarke would have wanted him to be.

The final shot of him and Raven looking over Earth on fire is also an interesting parallel to the season five finale that I didn’t think of until I was writing the previous sentence and I’m a little shook. I’ll talk about it briefly now, but go into more detail next essay. He asks Raven if she’s with him and she responds always, but they don’t have the same kind of relationship he does with Clarke. The physical reminder that the other is there isn’t a comfort they take. She promises to be there and it pans out, showing Bellamy holding the baton (of leadership) and a hole between them. This hole is probably also symbolic of the place Clarke is supposed to be. I’ll remember to come back to this at the end of the next essay, I promise. It’s just an interesting comparison between the way he and Clarke are together and the way he is with literally everyone else.

Ugh, you remember what it felt like when we were expecting a five year separation and that screen flashed up telling us it was SIX YEARS AND SEVEN DAYS LATER?! Yeah. Every time I see that I lose my mind a little.

We have no idea what Bellamy and the others have been up to on the Ark yet, but Clarke looks at peace. She hops down off the rover and grabs her radio setup, going to sit down and perform what we now know was a daily routine.

Here we go again. Bellamy, if you can hear me, if you’re alive, it’s been 2199 days since Praimfaya. I don’t know why I still do this every day. Maybe it’s my way of staying sane. Not forgetting who I am… who I was. It’s been safe for you to come down for over a year now. Why haven’t you?

Clarke. Has been calling Bellamy. SPECIFICALLY. On the radio. FOR SIX YEARS.

Anyway, I still have hope. Tell Raven to aim for the one spot of green and you’ll find me.

I just…. There’s so much to unpack here. She’s been trying to call him every day since Praimfaya. She’s been using these radio calls as a way to stay sane. Of not forgetting who she was. And she misses him. She misses all of them, obviously, but these radio calls are directed at Bellamy.

Never mind. I see you.

The absolute beauty. The pure joy and relief and amazement on her face when she thinks she sees them coming down from the ring. She’s ready for them to meet Madi. She’s… happy. She’s ready to see her family again.

Final Thoughts

Wow, I did not expect to write this much. I’m both sorry and also not. I don’t think next season’s will be nearly this long. Thank goodness. Hopefully you forgive me for all the screenshots from the finale, but it’s a huge one for them. This whole season is huge for them. We got to see how seamlessly they work together as leaders. We learn that Clarke is willing to let anything else go, but Bellamy? She’d pick him over the survival of the human race. We get to learn that Bellamy thinks of Clarke as his other half. It’s huge, huge progress for them. Such huge progress that they had to be separated for six years, because there’s no way they could come down from space and not be with each other. And it’s relationship development they want us to see on screen, because it’s important to the show. It is the show.

#bellarke #the 100 #the 100 meta #bellarke meta #minor meta and wild emotional speculation #i didn't realize how many times i could sarcastically use the word platonic #i did very little editing #season 4 bellarke sends me to a new plane of existence i swear #bellarke_essays

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