[Episode Discussion] 1.02 Earth Skills

[tassosss]

How this works: for those that want to do a rewatch of the show, we have a weekly discussion post where you can put reactions, links to old reaction posts, questions, thoughts, squee, joy, headshaking and anything else that strikes you. I'll have a prompting question or two to get things going if you don't know what to say but want to join in.

BEWARE! This is a spoiler zone! Unless someone requests a spoiler-free post for each episode, assume spoilers for all aired episodes through the end of season 2.

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Earth Skills! We left the pilot on a cliff hanger and the episode opens on the fallout. Were you surprised by what happened to Jasper? What did you make of the evolving leadership dynamics between Bellamy, Clarke, Wells, and Finn? Up in space we have the first crisis of how to extend life support - how would you have voted on the council? And we get the introduction of Raven - first impressions? Finally, on a world building note what do you make of the fact that kids in space learned "Earth Skills" in school?

Comments

[tassosss]

1. I really like the scenes in Thelonius's quarters, when Abby comes to change his bandage and see where he stands on voting to kill 209 people to give themselves another month of oxygen. The scene is followed immediately by Kane coming in to talk afterwards. The justaposition of the two is interesting, because when it's Thelonius and Abby, he says, there's no proof the kids are alive, and hope is not enough, indicating that he thinks its a lost cause. But then afterward you have Kane coming in, and telling Thelonius that he's weak, doesn't have what it takes to make the hard choice to kill 209 of their own people to save the rest, while Kane does, and he's not the only one who knows it. It's Thelonius balanced in the middle, which is ultimately the position he takes, but it's such a contrast.

2. Bellamy is still solidifying his power base, he's got the girls, he's got the boys. He keeps poking at Wells. What I think I love about it is he does take control, and he's confident and the others are responding to that. (I still don't think it necessarily comes out of nowhere, either). But I also like how he's thrown off by Clarke when she demands he come with her. He spins it, sure, but I feel like there's still this moment of her putting him on his back foot when she accuses him of being scared.

3. Clarke!!! Okay, basically every scene where she's telling people what's what, she's going to rescue Jasper, Monty's going to keep his brain safe, Octavia's would slow them down, Bellamy come with me. I love it. I'm there for it.
When I first started watching this show, I really thought it was going to be Bellamy facing off against Wells with Clarke there, eventually getting over whatever her deal with Wells was, and allying with him, and being his second. But that the major conflict would be the two boys vying for power of the group. I was already kind of tired of it by this episode, mostly because Wells is so ineffective, and also because of his unrequited crush. I wasn't prepared for what happened in ep 3, but, yeah ultimately glad of the direction they went.

4. I like Finn in these early episodes, and I did on first watch too. I like that he didn't want to risk himself against people trying to kill them, but with the others, I was disappointed in him too, and releived when he arrives to break the tension and be back up.

5. RAVEN!!! Girl knows how to make an entrance. "Hell yes I can do it." I forgot how much I love her and Abby together. Raven pretty much bursts onto the scene and changes everything she touches, and that's one reason I love her. Her first impression for me was cemented when she clearly knew her self-worth when talking with Abby at the end, and wasn't afraid to say it.
6. With season 2, I forgot how close Octavia was to Jasper and Monty. I lover her bonding with Monty when they're stuck up on the second level.

7. I think what I like about Octavia and Atom, is that even though it's the cliche teen romance thing, is that there's so much possibility and hope in it for Octavia. This is what she can have now. Despite her big talk she's still naive about boys and romance and about whether dragging the nearest kissable boy upstairs with her is a good idea. I love how Atom is gentle with her in his own way about it.

8. Not gonna lie. The moment that Clarke falls in the pit and Bellamy catches her and they share this look like - is he going to drop her? And then he doesn't? Not saying that it's instant love or anything, but the spark of something is there.

9. Except ugh, I hate how Bellamy reduces Wells to just wanting Clarke's attention.

10. I love pretty much everything about the last scene at the fire where Bellamy is demanding wristbands in exchange for dinner. Finn and Clarke flaunt the "rules" and get away with it. The poor kid who tires to follow suit gets punched in the face by Bellamy. Like it or not, more than one status has been established for the group. Clarke and Finn have earned a measure of respect through force of personality and specialized skills. It feels like three factions have set themselves up. Clarke and Finn, with Monty and sometimes Octavia. Bellamy and his boys and sometimes Octavia, and poor Wells on his own, trying to be a voice of reason -- and he's not wrong about a lot of things -- but failing to win anyone over.

On a final note, the worst thing about this episode is the fact that Finn is a master tracker after taking course on a space station. I'm sorry, but I rolled my eyes so hard at that the first time and still do. I know they need magic skills, but how does someone who at best has seen pictures of trees be able to distinguish legitimate tracks from not. Also, wouldn't the grounders/reapers have been better about covering their tracks? I mean I can see them not caring, because they don't think the kids are a threat, but still. I find it much easier to believe that Bellamy can take control of the 100 than Finn is as good a tracker as he's made out to be.