The 100: Humanity comes at a price during “What You Take With You”

This week’s episode of The 100 explores what it will take for Skaikru to regain their humanity. As it turns out, the road to redemption isn’t easy one to walk.

The sixth season of The 100 revolves around the theme of the characters facing their demons, so naturally, there are quite a few redemption arcs in play. In particular, those who spent the years after Praimfaya in the underground bunker are eager to atone for their sins. And this week’s episode proves that regaining their humanity will cost them.

The episode opens with Octavia, who has miraculously walked out of the Anomaly unscathed — in fact, the thing actually healed her, and Gabriel has no idea why. He injects her with a serum meant to make her remember, but all it does is throw her into her memories.

Pike is waiting for her when she arrives, meaning fans get another stellar performance from Michael Beach. His appearance takes her back to the moment that defines her character arc, when she changes from the girl under the floor to something else entirely: Lincoln’s death. And when Pike gets her to admit that she’s seeking redemption, he points out that she ended his redemption arc — making her no better than him in some ways.

And while most fans weren’t sorry to see Pike go, the comparison hits home. It also forces present-day Octavia to face the piece of herself that’s still in the dark: Blodreina. The two battle it out for dominance, and Octavia wins, marking a major step in her journey to change. When she resurfaces, it’s as someone with a purpose: to make up for what she’s done.

The other focal point of “What You Take With You” is the storyline between Abby and Kane. As expected, Kane is completely appalled by the Primes’ methods of resurrection, and he can’t cope with the new body he’s been given. With the help of Raven and Indra, Kane steals the remaining Nightblood from the Primes, floating it so that they won’t be able to carry on with their body-snatching.

The episode gets truly emotional, though, when Kane makes the decision to float himself along with the vials of Nightblood. He refuses to live in this new body that he’s stolen, and when Abby begs him to stay, he tells her that he’s making sure they deserve to survive. It’s a throwback to their previous conversations about morality, and it switches their roles in keeping their people alive. It’s a rough scene to watch, especially since it mirrors the death of Abby’s husband back in season one.

With Kane’s character arc at an end and Octavia’s redemption fully underway, that just leaves Clarke and Bellamy. Their storyline takes a backseat this episode for sure, but “What You Take With You” sets us up to focus on them next week — an interesting prospect now that Clarke has regained control of her body and is headed to Gabriel. Hopefully she can reach him before the barrier between her mind and Josephine’s crumbles.

The 100 airs on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on The CW.