This years event will, as the previous two, will take place at The Boston Logan Hilton Hotel August 19th-21st, 2022.

Attendees can expect panels, autographs, selfies, parties, and more with an extensive cast list including:

Eliza Taylor (Clarke Griffin)

Bob Morley (Bellamy Blake)

Zach McGowan (Prince Roan)

Tasya Teles (Echo)

Christopher Larkin (Monty Green)

Chelsey Reist (Harper McIntyre)

Thomas McDonell (Finn Collins)

Luisa D’Oliveira (Emori)

Jarod Joseph (Miller)

And below you can find their full schedule of events! Grab your notebooks, folders, and snacks because this weekend is going to be a hell of a ride!

See you soon, fellow attendees. Get your party shoes on!

The post EXCLUSIVE: #Conag3ddon Schedule appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

The Righteous Gemstones returns to HBO for season two January 9. The series stars Danny McBride, John Goodman, Edi Patterson and Adam Devine. In the new season, the Gemstone family is threatened by outsiders from both the past and present who wish to destroy their empire.

NBC has set a new holiday special from Kelly Clarkson. Kelly Clarkson Presents: When Christmas Comes Around will see appearances and duets from Brett Eldredge, Ariana Grande, Jay Leno, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Odom Jr., Amy Poehler and the one-and-only Santa Claus. Some special everyday heroes will also appear and get life-changing surprises. The special premieres December 1. 

Dolly Parton is set to guest star alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in the final season of Netflix’s Grace and Frankie. No further character or plot details are available at this time. The first four episodes of the season were surprise released in the summer with the final twelve set to premiere in 2022. 

Kim Cattrall has joined the cast of hulu’s upcoming How I Met Your Mother spinoff series How I Met Your Father. She will be playing the role of the narrator and future version of Hilary Duff’s character Sophie. It will be similar to the role Bob Sagat played in the original show. 

Season four of The CW’s Roswell, New Mexico will see Shiri Appleby appear again following her surprise appearance in the season three finale. She is currently set to appear in two episodes. Appleby starred in The WB’s Roswell. 

Emilio Estevez will not be returning for season two of Disney+’s The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. Disney’s COVID vaccination policy requirement is allegedly the reason for his departure. 

Hulu has renewed Wu-Tang: An American Saga for a third and final season. The 1990s set series is an origin story into the formation of the Wu-Tang Clan. 

SNL is back with a new episode November 5 hosted by Kieran Culkin. Ed Sheeran will be the musical guest. He recently contracted COVID-19 but was cleared in time for the episode. 

Season two of HBO Max’s 12 Dates of Christmas is set to release November 25. All nine episodes will be available. The series follows three singles as they escape to a stunning winter wonderland, each searching for someone special to bring home for the holidays. Season two will spice up the festive season with even more dating drama, romance, and surprises inside the fantasy lodge. 

People is set to unveil their new “Sexiest Man Alive” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert November 9. 

The Toys That Built America is set to premiere on History Channel November 28. The four part docuseries chronicles the toy titans whose imaginations soared to build billion-dollar empires, the rivalries that gave rise to the modern toy industry and the history of the visionaries behind iconic products like Monopoly and G.I. Joe. 

Showtime has released the premiere episode of its new drama series Yellowjackets for free on Sho.com, Showtime.com and YouTube, as well as across multiple Showtime partner platforms. The series is a  survival epic, psychological horror story and coming-of-age drama that follows a team of wildly talented high school girls soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness. The series premieres on Showtime November 14. 

The post Your TV Source Roundup: The CW Passes on ‘The 100’ Prequel Series, ‘The Righteous Gemstones’ Return Date, Kelly Clarkson Christmas Special, Dolly Parton on ‘Grace and Frankie’, Kim Cattrall on ‘How I Met Your Father’, Shiri Appleby on ‘Roswell, New Mexico’, and More! appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

If you hear high pitched wailing coming from the west coast, that would be me.

I’m not the only one though. Let’s see what fans had to say:

And one from me <3

You can watch The 100 on The CW Wednesdays at 8/7c. I mean…don’t. But you can.

The post Bellamy Blake: It Just Hurts appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

I mean….it’s nothing we didn’t already know, right? That’s the smallest amount of comfort I can offer to the baited and bruised Bellarke fans of the world. The writing has been on the wall for quite awhile now. But anybody saying we weren’t baited and led on are lying to themselves. Because we were. So, the question remains: what was the point?

Bait.

Bait.

Bait.

The ride was, in fact, not good. It started out great. But in the end, we were just screaming to get off while still kinda hoping that the sick feeling in our gut would prove to be wrong.

Bait. And no, no it does not count.

We been knew. I mean….what is that?

So….even looking away from all of that. What was the point to all of this?

Or this extraness?

Was I just supposed to not make the connections here?

And before any dude-bros or “plot watchers” come at me with “This show is about more than ships!” Well, no shit. You don’t say. You know what marks a good show? It’s not subverting expectations and making your audience feel like idiots for the sake of shock-value. It’s about allowing the story to go where it wants to, about following its natural path. And the natural path was clear.

So, which is it? Are you the writer who decided to spite the audience for the sake of being ~original? Or are you the writer that can’t follow the story in a cohesive way? Because those are the options.

Also. Do not ever tell me they were always meant to be platonic. Because there are platonic male/female relationships that are portrayed as such from beginning to end and this. was. not. that.

Example:

Me too, Bob. Me too. And I have the shirt to prove it.

The post The Bellarke Of It All: What Was the Point?! appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

That being said, as talented as Bob is and as much as I have missed Bellamy, the story still wasn’t really about him as much as it was about the plot point of getting him to turn into a Disciple. Frankly, the last five minutes is what truly saves the episode (and the aforementioned talent of one Bob Morley as Bellamy Bradbury Blake). Maybe it’s because we’re eleven episodes into the season and this is the first time that we’re actually seeing the main three together again, all in one place, everybody alive, at least for the time being. It feels like the season can finally start. Which is incredibly disappointing given the fact that there’s only five episodes left.

I can’t believe this is the final season of a show I once loved and now all I can think is, “God, I can’t wait for this to be over.” The amount of apathy or downright dread I’ve felt this season is truly astounding. I just want it over with so the chips will fall where they may and I can move on, hopefully with the good memories, leaving the bitter ones. But man, are there some bitter ones (for example, doing an Inside The 100 on a character centric episode while not mentioning the character or the actor even once. But hey! Congrats on your trip to Arizona, dude. Super interesting. Exactly what everyone watching wants to hear insights about). I’m not exactly the poster child for professionalism, but hey! I also don’t get paid to do this! Jason Rothenberg on the other hand…dude. Are you serious? You couldn’t even say the name Bellamy Blake? Just when I think that there is nothing that can surprise me, I’m proven wrong, yet again. And not in the good way. I literally don’t care what beef you guys have, I just don’t. When it effects the people actually watching your show, you know–the people you’re at least supposed to pretend to care about–, you fake it. It’s literally what everyone who has ever worked customer service can tell you. At least pretend for the sake of your audience. Not even saying the characters name….I just cannot get over that….

Ugh. Anyway, on to the episode!

[This review contains spoilers for the ‘Etherea’ episode of The 100.] 

The 100 Review: ‘Etherea’
Season 7, Episode 11 | Airdate: August 12th, 2020
Directed by:Aprill Winney | Written by: Jeff Vlaming

Things I Loved:

Bellamy Bradbury Blake: My sonnnnnnn! I’ve missed you! The snark, the genius, the ‘Bellamy Blake has never done anything wrong in his entire life’-ness of it all! Welcome back, love.

The episode starts off with Levitt throwing some serious attitude around MCAP before looking at the memories of this rando Disciple that was showing signs of PTSD after the explosion in the stone room that “killed” Bellamy. And the thing about this particular dude is that he had a different angle of the explosion than Octavia did so he was able to see (even though he didn’t process it) that Bellamy jumped through the anomaly. Remember how at the end of 7×05 we all rewound and zoomed in on the stone and the explosion to see if he jumped through? Well, that’s what Levitt did, just like the fanboy we all know him to be.

Then we are all thrust on to Etherea, with Bellamy alive and well, if a little disoriented. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the only one that came through. The Disciple that he was holding at knife-point at the end of ‘Welcome To Bardo’ , Duccett (I think?), has come through too. And wow, can that man fight. Bellamy does eventually break the dudes leg and knock him out and almost kills him but doesn’t.

And Echo thinks she knows that Bellamy would want? I think not, ma’am.

Bellamy leaves the unconsciousness man who may or may not be named Duccett and goes exploring a little bit and finds an obstacle he can not overcome. While Bob Morley may be a rock-climber, Bellamy Blake definitely isn’t, but man, did he try his best. Realizing that he can’t escape this planet unless he works with Duccett, he goes back for him but lo-and behold he’s gone! He finds him passed out in a cave and goes to check on him but alas, he was just faking and attacks Bellamy again. As he’s being choked out, Bellamy slams his hand down on the dudes leg getting him to release him. Duccett starts reciting the Disciple’s prayer which Bellamy finds pretty annoying and tells him that the only way they’re going to make it off this planet is together.

Interesting word choice that I have a theory about in honorable mentions.

Bellamy fixes ol dudes leg, it was gross, and next thing we know, Bellamy is talking to himself and playing doctor while Duccett is passed out. As time passes and he’s talking to himself, we learn that he learned how to sanitize wounds using tree sap as an antiseptic from Pike, that he loves Octavia, Echo, and Clarke, he refers to himself in the third person (which was ADORABLE by the way), and he still likes to read just like nerd Bellamy in all of the fanfics I have ever read. He also sews! We love a self-sufficient man.

When Duccett wakes up he and Bellamy have a little chat about religion and beliefs since Bellamy read Duccett’s book of “pocket propaganda of another false God.” Bellamy says the logic doesn’t add up for the Disciples because if transcendence and peace is the next level/ultimate goal, a war makes no sense, that war only leads to death, pain, and more war.

Poor baby has been through so much. Lemme give you a cuddle. Wait, Duccett does that later.

Duccett tells Bell that he knows who he is and what he’s done and his selfish believes makes him sick. Which, rude. He claims that Bellamy only cares about his people, his sister, and that the Shepherd teaches that they’re all smaller in the grand scheme of the universe. Which….as an aside, if they were all smaller than the universe, why save humanity from apocalypse one? Why go into cryo just so he doesn’t die? Seems pretty damn selfish to me, but what do I know?

Bellamy tells Duccett that the only reason he is alive is because of him, which Duccett replies, “You, you! It’s all about you!”….

As it should be, sir.

….then turns his back to pray. Bellamy very gently smacks him on the back of the head and tells him to do that later because they need to focus on getting his leg stronger. Flash forward a week and the two set off to climb the mountain. Duccett tells Bellamy to boost him up first and he’ll drag him up. Skeptically, Bellamy does it and then waits for him to throw down the rope. And then, the most manipulative thing, Duccett takes his sweet as time and makes Bellamy think that he’s abandoned him and then throws down the rope telling him to have some faith.

THE MANIPULATION, I CANNOT.

We learn that when Cadogan took his journey on Etherea he had climbing equipment. Duccett says that it’s true that he had prepared for his pilgrimage but to explore the universe he had to and that they two of them are on a pilgrimage of their own. Bell says that he’s heading for the exit. They reach a clearing and see the glow of the anomaly at the top of a really large mountain and Bell wonders if his Shepherd isn’t laughing at them.

The two continue on and as their climb gets steeper the snow is getting worse. Duccett wants to stop, find shelter, and wait it out while Bellamy insists that they can make it if they get pass the clouds. Duccett tells Bellamy that if he continues on he’s going to die to which Bellamy quips, “Well, at least I won’t have to hear about the Shepherd anymore.”

Bellamy continues on alone, chanting, “I’m not afraid.” (my heart) and fights so hard against the snow that’s just coming down heavier and he’s getting colder and finally, he collapses. Luckily, Duccett went after Bellamy and dragged my poor frost-bitten, practically dead baby to the safety of a cave, and cuddled up behind him. When the two awaken in the light of morning, Bellamy learns that Duccett found the cave their currently in and then went back for Bellamy. He throws Bellamy’s own sarcasm back at him with “What? They don’t say thank you where you’re from?” but Bell is Bell and says they’ll just call it even.

As Bellamy explores the cave a bit, Duccett decides to try and build a fire. Bellamy looks around and sees all of these items including a picture of Cadogan and his family. A glowing light illuminates the cave but….Duccett hasn’t started the fire yet. They track the ethereal light and see some yellow glowing lights that kinda look like people who are raising their hands to the sky or maybe they kinda look like trees. Either way, the realize they’re the in the Cave of Ascent. Duccett says these are the lights of those that have transcended, of who knew that the Shepherd’s way was the right way.

It’s pretty obvious that despite what Bellamy’s mouth is saying (No, this doesn’t make sense, etc) he’s starting to doubt his belief that the Shepherd is a lying pile of garbage who started a cult. He has a slight reprieve from this doubt when Duccett says, “From the ashes we will rise.” and he realizes that the Shepherd is actually Cadogan, a cult leader. Duccett retorts that he predicted the apocalypse and got his followers across the stars, that he spoke of the beings in the cave, that he saw them himself! Bellamy maintains that he doesn’t know what he saw but that whatever those things are, they didn’t ascend; that the book says that civilization has to have the tech know how to work the stone and that the beings of light lived in a cave. Duccett replies that all they know is that transcendence is born from civilizations core/soul. Are they pure enough, are they worthy enough.

The way I know Bellamy Blake is pure and worthy and is going to transcend after he dies in a brutal, horrifying, gut-wrenching fashion in the next 1-3 episodes. Let me stock up on wine and kleenex now, actually.

Bellamy says he believes in what he can prove and Duccett tells him to prove it.

Sir, what do you think he’s been doing for the last seven seasons? Everything he has ever done has been because of the love he has for his family and friends and I will fight you.

Duccett then tells him that he has a shroud of death and dispair around him, a consequence of his selfish love and that while love is not the problem, it’s how he loves that is. He prioritizes the love he has for his people rather than for every human like the Shepherd teaches. Bell digs his heels in a little bit more but then…

Another flash-forward and again, the guys are looking….rough. For sure at least two months have passed, leading me to believe that time on Etherea goes at a similar or identical rate as Bardo. Bellamy questions how Duccett can be so happy when they’re going to die in this cave and Duccett again tells him that the obsession (love) he has for his sister and his friends is what drives the darkness inside of him and that his love for all man-kind is what makes him lighter than ever.

How him croaking is beneficial to all man-kind is a mystery to me, but whatever.

Duccett invites Bellamy to pray with him and Bellamy is like, “Sure, what the hell ever. What else do I have to do?” and recites the prayer with him. He reaches a deep meditative state and while he doesn’t think it’s working we see that it actually is. He first sees Cadogan who tries to lead him to the beings of light but Bellamy refuses. Cadogan motions around them where they’re surrounded by weapons and tells him that he thinks these things can save him but faith is the true weapon’ he’s come far, his eyes are opening, but there’s still so much more to see.What’s interesting here is that Bellamy is seeing Cadogan as Duccett views him: a man all in white, who believes that everything in the universe connects them together. Then we see the woman who started it all…Aurora.

It’s no secret that Bellamy feels responsible for his mothers death since she was floated at the discovery of Octavia, who Bellamy brought to a party on the Ark. But what isn’t more deeply explored within the context of the show is the impact Aurora and her choices negatively affected Bellamy. She chose to have another child and forced her six year old son to not only keep this secret, but to actively sacrifice himself to protect it. He had to give up food, it kept him from creating significant relationships lest he reveal Octavia to anyone, had to do a specific career to protect her, took away his choice in anything he would ever have to do for the remainder of his life at the age of six, because of her choice. So, to me, it’s an interesting decision to once again have Aurora being the one to put Bellamy on yet another new path for his life, to be the one to “guide him to the light.” when it’s arguable that she’s the one who made him the way he is to begin with.

With the ghost of his mother whispering in his ear Bellamy reaches for the light even though he looks scared to do so. And then he awakens from his trance to see that the snow has finally stopped. Duccett theorizes that they both must be worthy since the storm broke the first time Bellamy chose to pray.

Manipulative, but okay.

The two are super close to the top now but Duccett is worried about trying to make it then because if the sun is down while they’re on the top, they’ll freeze to death. Bell tells him that this is their best chance and to “have some faith.”

Uh-oh.

Further proof that he has maybe sipped the tea is when Duccett loses his footing climbing the mountain. He tells Bellamy that he wrote the stone codes in the book and the book is in Bellamy’s bag and to cut him loose. Bell refuses saying that they’re going to do this together.

There’s that word again.

He looks to the heavens, looks like he’s losing one last piece of himself and what he believes, and starts reciting the Shepherd’s prayer while dragging Duccett to safety. And finally. Finally, they make it to the top. Duccett taps in the anomaly stone code and the anomaly comes down (and down and down and down to the bottom from which they just climbed) and…Bellamy takes a leap of faith. Literally.

He jumps into the anomaly and comes out in Bardo where is greeted by Cadogan….and he kneels to him. He calls him his Shepherd. My baby has officially drank the tea and has been converted. As a huge supporter of void!Bellamy, I’m not mad at it. But is it legit? Well…

Reunions: Eleven episodes later and there is finally a Bellamy and Clarke scene to be seen. Eleven. Episodes. Eleven. 11. Eleven episodes for the female and male lead to share the screen at the same time. That’s fine. This is fine.

Anyway, Clarke, Octavia, Echo, and Gabriel are chilling in the Shepherd’s quarters and Clarke has decided she’ll make a deal with Cadogan. She’ll use “the key” in her head, which she doesn’t actually have, for him if he agrees to send the others back to Sanctum. The others aren’t exactly cool with this plan but before they can argue the point, Cadogan comes strolling in. Before Clarke can even get a full sentence in Bellamy enters and the words die on her lips. We’re treated to extreme close-ups of the three women most important to Bellamy and their reactions to seeing him again after thinking he was dead. Clarke chokes out a, “Bellamy?” as Echo asks how, since they saw him die, and Octavia, in all her fierce pride, says that it’s tough to keep the Blake’s down.

That was cute, not going to lie. It’ll hurt when he dies soon though.

When the three make moves to get closer to him, the Disciple’s all raise their guns stopping them in their tracks but Clarke said, “Fuck your guns, it’s time for my annual Bellarke hug.” and hugged him anyway. She knew they wouldn’t shoot at her because she ~has the key. She whispers at a still silent Bellamy who has just been looking at everyone that they think she has the key and to not say anything. When she pulls back from him, she looks so happy, guys. She looks just so so so so so so happy. Then…Bell speaks his first words of the reunion to Cadogan. He calls him, “My Shepherd!” which is enough for the others to all look at each other in surprise and trepidation, and then tells on them. Not cool, dude. But I also maintain that you’ve never done anything wrong in your entire life.

But, yeah. My babe is definitely a Disciple now.

Honorable Mentions:

Together: We all know what the word means in relation to Bellamy and his relationship with Clarke. They basically built their entire relationship around the word. But now, it’s being used from Bellamy to Duccett and….it makes sense.

Bellamy needs someone on his side, someone to have a partnership with, to have an established bond with. Maybe he didn’t mean it when he first said it to Duccett but the second time, he definitely did. His relationship with Duccett took on a very similar journey as his partnership with Clarke did though in a much more condensed time frame: adversaries, reluctant allies, friends/partner. Clarke wasn’t around to be the other half to Bellamy, he was isolated, in constant near-death conditions, starving, freezing, could fall to his death at anytime and he needed someone on his side that believed in him. Basically, given the extreme conditions he was constantly slapped in the face with while on Etherea, he experiences transference. He imprinted the relationship he had with Clarke on to the only person around who was available to fill that role for him, something he has also done in the past. I get it.

void!Bellamy: For all the reasons listed above it’s not surprising that Bellamy has been more or less brainwashed into believing in Cadogan/The Shepherd/The Disciples. Even if he didn’t have his vision he was went through a lot on Etherea and sometimes when there is no hope, you grasp on to the one thing that might give you some. That’s what faith is and what it provides. Just like Bellamy needed someone to be on his side, he needed to have something to believe in again. Factor in all of the things he couldn’t explain and then his (manipulative, even if it was his own subconscious) vision and it’s easy to see how he got there. What he feels is real to him because of the circumstances he just escaped from. He doesn’t see this as a betrayal to his friends but rather as a way to save “all man-kind” which he’s been hearing about for months and months while doing his best to just survive. The man is beautiful and brainwashed and doesn’t know up from down anymore, even if he thinks he does. Mostly, I just feel sorry for him and want to give him a snuggle…after he’s had a bath though.

I will say that if this was a way to make the audience turn on Bellamy, make him the villain and we’ll all hate him, then I don’t think that plan is going to work. He’s never done anything wrong in his entire life. He’s right and everyone else is wrong, I said what I said.

Again though, I am looking forward to next weeks episode and the fallout from all of this. Again, it feels like the show is finally beginning, (so sad), and I’m ready to see how this particular plot line plays out.

DNRs:

DO NOT REVEAL – “Etherea”

• Anything about Bellamy conversion
• Anything about the light imprints or Bellamy’s vision
• Bellamy’s betrayal and allegiances in the end

What did you think? Comment below or hit us up on Twitter @TVSource

The 100 airs on The CW Wednesday’s at 8/7c.

The post ‘The 100’ Review: “Etherea” appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

Highlights are as follows:

• Madi takes one of Sheidheda’s eyeballs
• Indra and Sheidheda fight where, in an effort to protect Madi, she kneels to him
• Echo was, in fact, pretending to be converted
• Clarke and Co reunite (officially) with their people in Bardo
• Diyoza crystallizes saving everyone else
• Anders is dead via Hope/Crystallization
• Jordan ponders that this might not be a war but a test
• Murphy and Emori hide some of the Faithful in the reactor room

Annnnnd, that’s where my review ends because frankly, I’m just anticipating the next episode more, I’m not even going to lie.

Based on the episode eleven (‘Etherea’) description, Bellamy Blake should theoretically be back.

For some reason, fans thought that he might show up tonight and be the teaser ending, alas, that’s not the case. The ending was all about Diyoza (which was admittedly, super cool to look at while also incredibly disappointing because I love her?) with no Bellamy to be seen.

A little birdie (me) said publicly, on twitter in response to someone who asked, on August 3rd, that it wasn’t a DNR for me to say that he wasn’t in the episode. Because it’s not. I have receipts. That information made it’s way through the Twitterverse and people had feelings about it. (And for those saying it was “unprofessional” or “you don’t deserve screeners if you’re just going to spoil things!”…It was quite literally not a spoiler -as evidence below in the DNRs that I put in to every single review-, and saying someone isn’t there, especially someone who hasn’t been there for quite awhile now, is in no way unprofessional. And while I apologize if the news upset you, focus on why you’re upset as opposed to lashing out at me, mkay? Also, I work my ass off on coverage for this show and you’re not in a position to comment on what I do or do not deserve.)

So basically, me and the internet are on the same page. We want Bellamy back, we’re super sad he’s not here right now, and for the love of everything that is Holy, he better be in the next episode. I might actually riot if he’s not?

Anyway, I have hope that I’ll see him for at least five minutes before he actually dies (because, I’m still convinced that that’s happening) and I look forward to seeing him next week. I hope he’s staying hydrated, wherever he is.

DNRs:

DO NOT REVEAL – “A Little Sacrifice”

• Anything about Sheidheda’s fight with Indra, including how it ends
• Echo using Disciple training as a cover and any choices she makes
• Any character deaths, including who is responsible and any consequences

I’ll see you guys next week with a normal (full) review.

The 100 airs Wednesday at 8/7c on The CW

The post ‘The 100’ Review: “A Little Sacrifice” appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

I cannot believe that we are now more than halfway through the season and the male lead has been in one episode that pertains to the current story-line. We’re not going to count that literal twenty two seconds in the premiere which was obviously reused footage from the season six finale and a body double or the flashback in episode seven which was for what point, exactly?

And people can gripe and bitch at me all they want about how this isn’t the Bellamy and Clarke show and that I’m biased and frankly, I don’t care. I just don’t. Bellamy and Clarke are the leads of the show, the literal canon head and heart that keeps the show going and beating. Clarke has been shoved to the side of her own damn story, used to propel other characters stories forward while not having one of her own while Bellamy has just ceased to exist on the canvas at all. Oh, don’t get me wrong, they’ll name drop him every once in awhile just to rub salt in the wound and add to my complete and total disbelief that this is something that is actually happening right now but what good does that do?

To say that I am furious is an understatement. I’ve been furious. I’ve been annoyed. I have been giving this season the benefit of the doubt over and over again telling myself that it was going to lead somewhere but without the leads and main characters why should I even care? Character over plot is the way it is supposed to be done and while the plot can be somewhat vaguely interesting at times, I can’t even focus on it because I’m too busy waiting for the characters I’ve known and loved for seven seasons to come back.

Maybe this wouldn’t be quite as irksome if we weren’t about to head into a two week hiatus and the only thing I got to see of Clarke and Bellamy was Eliza Taylor and Bob Morley’s names flashing by in the title sequence. And before you come at me with “Oh, but Bob asked for time off!” miss me with it. Until Bob himself comes out and says, “Yeah, I asked to be out of three months of filming of the last season because of reasons.” then I’m not buying he wanted this much time off. That’s three more weeks without even the possibility of knowing how this is going to turn out and not knowing when we’re going to get them back. I want them back, I miss them, and I’m not going to pretend that I don’t for the sake of “professionalism.” If you’re looking for something less biased there are several lovely reviewers that I’m sure are much better than I am at keeping their real feelings out of it.

But I’m not about keeping my feelings out of it. I feel what I feel and I’m going to shout it in to the void that is the internet because I can. I highly debated even reviewing this episode given the complete and utter frustration that has been building over the last nine weeks but I made a commitment. I made a commitment to TVSource, to my editor, to the people who bother to read my work, and to myself to see this all the way through. So, if you’ve made it through this long intro, let’s discuss ‘The Flock’, shall we? This is not going to be as thorough (or long) as my other reviews because one) time crunch and two) I only watched it once instead of three times like I usually do.

[This review contains spoilers for the ‘The Flock’ episode of The 100.] 

The 100 Review: ‘The Flock’
Season 7, Episode 9 | Airdate: July 15th, 2020
Directed by: Amyn Kaderali| Written by: Alyssa Clark

The Meh Things (It’s All Meh)

Sanctum: I’ve said it once, twice, and a million other times but the cast is the only thing that saves the Sanctum story. Adina Porter continues to shine as Indra returns from looking for the others and realizing that Sanctum has gone to crap in her absence. She’s snarky and sarcastic and it’s wonderful.

When Nikki Bang Bang makes it known that she has Emori held captive Murphy is determined to trade her life for his and he’s going to make Russheda help him. Indra agrees to give RussHeda twenty minutes of garden time as well as a partner to play chess with (a task that both she and Murphy refuse to do) in exchange for him going into where Nikki, Nelson, and the Children of Gabriel have taken the others hostage and acting as a distraction.

Nikki demands to see Raven who she doesn’t realize isn’t even on Sanctum even more and sets a time limit for when Raven can show up before she starts killing people. Murphy and Russell make it in and seeing that Raven isn’t with them she decides to have them out themselves as not being the Primes starting with Murphy. He fesses up, followed by Emori, and RussHeda decided that it looked like fun and outed himself too much to the others confusion. Despite that confusion, the time for Raven to show up had come and gone and Nikki grabbed Emori. Before she could kill her Murphy took the credit for killing Nikki’s husband and not Raven so really she wanted to kill him. Nikki was didn’t believe him but was still flustered enough to lower her guard a bit.

Once Indra and some of Wonkru peeps came in and disarmed the Children of Gabriel and Nikki Bang Bang and put them in some cells, she made the executive decision to leave RussHeda with the Believers/Faithful and let them deal with him. She instructed the guards at the door to not let anyone in despite what the might hear. Murphy hesitated even though Emori was gung-ho to let RussHeda meet his maker. Murphy, however, quickly realized that the disturbing things they were hearing wasn’t one man being slaughtered but instead several. He slipped up and told the guards that Russell was Sheidheda and he was killing everyone in the room. They threw open the door and RussHeda is revealed surrounded by dead (or near dead) bodies, absolutely drenched in blood, holding a large candelabra.

Chilling.

As Indra feared and Russheda knew would happen, the Wonkru members who were guarding the door took a knee in reverence to their returned Heda.

Disgusting. No big deal that he’s a mass murderer and a disgusting excuse for a human, I guess.

Bardo: Over on Bardo we’re taken back three months in to the past to see why Echo, Octavia, and Diyoza have apparently taken the tea. Long story short, I’m not 100% certain they all have or if they’re better at masking their feelings and motivations than poor Hope and they’re working some long game plan. It was hard to get a read on the situation.

It starts with Anders taking them all up to the surface so that they could see what they were getting themselves into. Octavia clarifies that the last war is to fight whatever people forced the Bardoian Giants (who are ten feet tall, by the way) to the surface and caused their genocide which Anders confirms.

Next, we have the four women in a training room where they show off their fighting skills to Anders and Levitt. Levitt comments that they need to make them loyal to the cause, to teach them what it’s all about and Anders agrees that they need to break their bonds, to make them loyal to Bardo instead of each other.

Hope is the definitely the one who is the least predictable and hates Anders and the Disciples and basically everything Bardo is all about. She resents everything they’ve done to her and her family. Echo, Diyoza, and Octavia all try to to talk her into calming her tits and learning to bury her thoughts and feelings down or she’ll get them all killed. She snarks at Echo that she’s (Echo) just happy to have someone give her orders to follow again.

Lulz.

In an attempt to indoctrinate their way of thinking to the ladies, Anders hooked Diyoza up to a simulation where we finally learn that the baby from the trailer was in fact fake Baby Hope as there’s a “threat” that Diyoza can’t protect her from and Anders and the Disciples come in and assist. In the simulation he explains that Baby Hope is for everyone to raise, not just Diyoza. She fights it and is terrified but once out of the simulation, Anders tells her to get with the program or he’ll send them one by one back to Penance to die alone.

What a dick.

While in the classroom filled with babies that has now become infamous we see the brainwashing that the children go though. We also see a lot of drawings of the anomaly stones, including the one we all originally thought was the poster. We also hear about Etherea being where a tall and scary mountain is and how the Shepherd was so brave or whatever. Yeah, yeah. If Bellamy isn’t in that biohazard medical waste closet that they zoomed in on at some point in this episode then that’s where he is. Or he really did die in 7×05 and I’ve been kidding myself which is seeming more and more likely with every single episode that passes and he doesn’t show up.

Anyway.

Echo is all, “These kids have it better than I ever did and I believe in what they’re teaching them and Hope is fed up with her to be honest. Next, they have a shooting contest where they’re blindfolded and Echo asks Anders if the weapons are lethal. When he confirms they’re not she takes out the other three women and hits the target.

Anders is delighted. The other three women (and Levitt) are not. Levitt helps Octavia up and makes sure she’s okay under Anders suspicious eye. Later he goes to her room to make sure again that she’s alright and he warns her that it’s important that she and the others pass the final test and to not get emotional and feel feelings. She mocks him a bit and the two have the sex.

Who saw that coming?

Everyone. Everyone saw that coming.

And not to be that person because I actually think they’re cute but the Bellamy/Levitt parallels are there and I see them and it’s weird. It’s just weird. Why make him a janitor to force me to that parallel in the first place if he’s never going to be one again outside of that plot service scene? Why?

So, the one jaw drop moment of the episode comes when Hope tries talking Echo into burning down the oxygen farm (sounds familiar) even though it would kill everyone inside Bardo and Echo kills her. It’s shocking for about ten seconds before we realize that it was just another simulation, the final test, and she passed. As did Octavia and Diyoza. Poor Hope, not only is everyone murdering her in their simulations but she also fails hers because she just can’t seem to let go of that bitterness in her heart. Worth noting that Hope being the problematic one in all of the simulations except her own makes sense she was definitely the one to make her unease and displeasure known the most.

Anders lines them all up and praises everyone who passed (and it’s okay that Hope didn’t even though she still needs to be taught a lesson) and since Echo is the star pupil, allows her to decide what Hope’s punishment should be. Echo decides that Hope needs her spirit broken to destroy her bonds and thinks five years on Penance alone will do it. After Hope is dragged off screaming by the guards Diyoza and Octavia shoot Echo some indecipherable looks. It’s really difficult to tell if the four of them have a plan or if the other three have a plan and Hope’s behavior was fucking it up or if Diyoza and Octavia have a plan and Echo is just off on her own plan. I truly can’t tell. And given my current level of complete and total disenchantment, I can’t even begin to muster the energy to speculate.

Honorable Mentions

Baby Making: I get the premise, it’s just very odd to look at. That’s really all I have to say about it. It’s mildly frightening.

DNRs:

DO NOT REVEAL – “The Flock”

• Sheidheda’s betrayal and subsequent massacre
• Octavia and Levitt romance
• Anything about the final Disciple test, including who passes or fails

That’s it for the next two weeks. Let’s hope this time away will give me the time to meditate and pray that the next seven episodes find a way to make me not want to rip my fake blonde hair out by the roots. By the time the finale ends airing, I want it to not have wasted my time for the last four years and been a complete and utter dumpster fire like the rest of 2020. I don’t feel like that’s a lot to ask. Just make it make sense and show me the people I care about. That’s literally all I need.

A special thank you to TVSource newbie (kinda) DeeDee for covering last weeks episode, Anaconda. Should it get picked up she will be covering it for us. If you haven’t had a chance to read it (which, if you like snark, you should), you can check it out here.

The 100 returns August 5th at 8/7c on The CW

The post ‘The 100’ Review: “The Flock” appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

[This review contains spoilers for the  ‘Anaconda’ episode of the 100.]

The 100 Review: ‘Anaconda’
Season 7, Episode 8| Airdate: July 8th, 2020
Directed by: Ed Fraiman  | Written by: Jason Rothenberg

Clarke’s face. Raven’s face. Miller’s face. The shock. The disbelief. The despair. Bellamy’s death was especially impactful for our delinquents. I love that most of the raw emotion came from them, especially since, over the course of seven seasons, 50 bajillion new characters, and one catastrophe after another, the heart of the show–these misguided, yet lovable juvenile delinquents, seems to have been pushed to the background. We’ve seen them grow up (time jump withstanding) mentally and emotionally, but in that moment, the magnitude of loss was something that only our rebels from The Ark could truly convey.

“We do this for him. We do this for our family” Like it or not, Bellamy Blake is one half of the driving force of this show and this season–which is wild when you consider he’s barely been on it. One of the best parts of this season? Raven and Clarke’s friendship. The writers got this part right. They mended the relationship between the Princess and the Mechanic.  Furthermore, the friendship has been cemented with the burden of leadership and grief. Kane. Abby. Now Bellamy.

We’ve been postulating theories and demanding answers from the writers and they’re finally handing over the goods. True, it’s just confirmation of what we’ve been thinking since we first heard the words “Second Dawn” but it’s nice to be validated. Even Stevie Wonder could see  the Shepherd would be Bill Cadogan.

We knew Second Dawn had some resonance within Sanctum when Russell wanted to burn our heroes at the stake in shades of Becca Praimheda meeting her fiery end Joan of Arc style.

We find out that Second Dawn isn’t a Doomsday Cult. According to Bill Cadogan it was “a collective of great minds dedicated to the continuation of their species.” (A cult. I said what I said) It was surprising to find out Cadogan understands Trig. When Bill postulated “If her language survived…” and then his eyes lit up with hope before he asked “Is my daughter in The Key?” my first thought was “Becca had better not be his daughter because Sheidheida’s kill code nuked the Flame.” High five to Clarke for letting everyone know that Second Dawn burnt Becca at the stake. Bastard.

The post ‘The 100’ Review: “Anaconda” appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews