The 100 Review: “Human Trials” (Season 2, Episode 5)

The 100 is one of those shows that just keeps getting better. Another episode in the books, and the writers haven’t slowed down at all. The characters are still evolving, the story is still unfolding, and, with or without adult interference, Clarke (Eliza Taylor) and her crew are still doing whatever needs to be done.

Most of the main characters made it through season one, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Finn (Thomas McDonell) became collateral damage in season two. His voracious appetite for revenge against anyone who he imagines up being involved in whatever happened to Clarke definitely seems to be undoing any sense of logic he may have possessed. Losing Clarke was the breaking point for his character. With the exception of his showboat behavior in the pilot, Finn has been relatively harmless (read: obsolete) over the course of the show. He fell into the role of peacekeeper as the Clarke and Bellamy (Bob Morley) leadership settled into place. And, even with the surprise arrival of Raven (Lindsey Morgan), he managed not to ruffle too many feathers. But, judging by his actions tonight, he’s past the point of no return.

Gunning down innocent grounders? Losing your mind with a semi-automatic weapon at your disposal is just about worst case scenario under any circumstances. The look on his face when he finally noticed Clarke was just painful, and “I found you” was the most misguided (and heart-wrenching) line in the entire episode. There’s no excuse that Finn is going to be able to concoct that will make up for what he just did. With witnesses, no less. Becoming a mass murderer barely registered for him as he came face to face with Clarke for the first time this season, manufacturing a lopsided grin instead of an appropriate look of horror at all the bodies he just dropped.

For the most part, I judge characters on The 100 on the sliding Murphy (Richard Harmon) scale. If Murphy starts to sound like the rational one in the conversation, then you know there’s a problem. If Murphy still sounds like the self-loathing scoundrel he is, then everything is right with the world. At this point, Murphy has a more of a chance of coming back from his epic betrayal than Finn ever has of redeeming himself – and, that’s saying a lot.