It has been a little more than a decade since we were pulled into the emotionally gripping world of The 100 and introduced to some of the greatest characters in TV history. One character in particular was Clarke Griffin, portrayed by the incomparable Eliza Taylor. She made history by becoming the first bisexual lead. Clarke was the teenage leader of humanity, which was thrust upon her before she stepped into the Dropship.
It's a lot of responsibility for a young woman to absorb, but Clarke led with what she thought was in her best intentions, and although she made mistakes, she was built for the role. Clarke's not perfect, but she's perfectly flawed, making her a truly relatable character to most of the audience. To find heart, mind, and soul capsulated into a series is rare, but The 100 wasn't shy of pushing the boundaries in their intense storylines, which made it groundbreaking. Naturally, we're not going to be agreeable to some of the show's directions, and it's okay because The 100 is an emotionally complex post-apocalyptic drama where no one is absolutely safe. It's meant to release our thoughts and feelings.
I caught one of the first promos on the CW during one of my mild OCD episodes in October 2013 and even followed the SDCC 2013 content in July of that year. Needless to say, I was intrigued. It's not every day that you get a show with solid female representation that doesn't have to fit the box with overused perfectionism and stereotypes.
As for Clarke, her bisexuality wasn't central to the story, but it was a substantial move to make and one that was needed as TV and media were getting more diversified.
The 100's Clarke Griffin bravely changes the shift of network TV with her bisexuality
Clarke's orientation wasn't confirmed until midway through season two when she shared a kiss with Commander Lexa, played by Alycia Debnam-Carey. However, there have been subtle signs that raised curiosity before that infamous plot twist. In the pilot, when Octavia stands in the pond, Clarke is mesmerized by the whole thing. Whether some of her wonders are geared toward Octavia Blake (Marie Avgeropoulos) or the fact that she sees natural water for the first time, it is a crucial point of The 100's narrative as these two strong women will be front together as they dismantle what's best for their people.
Lexa was a center point during the second and third seasons and was Clarke's second romantic partner. Through Lexa, Clarke discovered that life can be much more than surviving; it could be filled with gentle and loving moments. She additionally learned that life was filled with harsh and unfair realities, even when dropped on Earth. The Exodus Project was initially designed to see if the planet was survivable after a nuclear disaster, and using youth was the "easy answer' as their lives were "expendable." The characters became so much more, and some defined the odds of life itself.
Following Lexa's death in season 3, Clarke's orientation remained highlighted. She even pursued a beneficial relationship with Niylah (Jessica Harmon) in the remaining seasons and a one-night stand with Cillian (Carlo Marks) during the sixth season. It's no surprise that Clarke tried to recover from Lexa's death and move on, but at the same time, she still had to look after everyone, an idea that has been implanted since the pilot. In essence, nearly everything is sub-consciously linked together, and each second builds to the climax. Of course, the psychiatry in me naturally drew to the conclusion.
Clarke's bisexuality allowed fans to be comfortable in their own skin regarding who they love and their personal reflections, but the dynamic also pushed for more LGBTQA-positive representation in media. It's challenging as you want the stories to possess realism but with deep connections between the couples. That said, each couple on The 100 had a significant back story, so the pairings were not of the blue or a one-time thing.
Even Bellamy Blake (Bob Morley) and his 1.5-episode girlfriend, Gina Martin (Leah Gibson) (she was real), had a background, seeing how the two had met previously on the ARK at the bar and shared a drink. In season three, after Gina passed on, Bellamy dedicated his Greek Mythology text, the Iliad, in her remembrance to let others know that although Gina's life was short, she still made an impact.
Now, I'm very well aware of The 100 fandom, as we don't have to agree on everything necessarily because maybe the storylines weren't in our favor, or our favorite characters died too soon (looking at you, Bellamy and Sinclair), our dream ships never sailed, or we'll always be emotionally conflicted on the series finale. Honestly, it was bittersweet for me, as I didn't think it was a bad ending as there was forgiveness and willingness to comfort Clarke, and it taught how humanity could implode in our own hands if we make that one fatal flaw or error. The 100's ending wasn't designed to be happy or devastating but intended to leave a permanent perspective on how humanity could impact the future.
Could the ending be crafted better? Absolutely, but at the end of the night, it's the writers' decision of how to create their story, but our choice to listen and watch. For me, it was the loss of Bellamy, but seeing how The 100 continuously played the game of life and death, there was a risk for everyone. The bottom line is that every character was at risk, and acidic as it is, I was looking at the life-and-death situation through a realistic lens, although I also remained positive.
With a show like The 100, you do have to remain positive.
With that said, LBGTQ and bisexuality representation in media will always be in the creative rotation, as there will be ongoing stories to unfold. Each life is authentic, with the embolization of leading enlightening and fulfilling lives.
But how does Eliza feel about the ending and becoming the first bisexual lead on network television? Lucky for you, we have The 100's alum personal views!
Eliza Taylor opens up about how she felt about Clarke Griffin's on The 100's ending and becoming a Bi legend on TV
The ending of The 100 was a take on religious lore and the Big Question of where we all go after we live on Earth. At least, that's how I saw it, having been raised in the German Catholic faith.
When asked "Was Clarke happy at The 100's ending?" Eliza gave her profound insight on the matter!
Watch our exclusive clip below, with a cameo by Bob Morley!
Eliza additionally shared what it was like to be the first bisexual lead across broadcast television, which revolutionized the media landscape.
"It's freakin' awesome," she revealed in the second exclusive clip, that can be accessed below.
While The 100 may be over in terms of airing new air episodes, it'll live on, thanks to its streaming on Netflix and its social media culture. With new fans discovering it, The 100 will always have a legacy.
Speaking of which, there's even a convention solely dedicated to The 100, Conageddon. The event will be in its fifth initiation this year in the heart of Boston, and guess what? Tickets are still available, and it's always a great time!
Stay tuned for a more clairvoyant piece on the con soon!