Ep 12. Damocles - Part One

As the final stretch of the show approaches, the season 5 finale starts to set up plenty of new developments for the cast of The 100. Called Damocles - Part One, the episode kicks off with a spaceship crash-landing on the surface of a radioactive planet. Fearing the worst as to the aftermath, the crew from Earth rushes to the scene in order to offer assistance. Meanwhile, Clarke (Eliza Taylor) and her group of survivors try to make do with the little resources that they have after being forced to leave the bunker which was their shelter for over 6 years. It quickly becomes clear that the situation is not just a standard rescue mission, however, and that the mysterious newcomers bring a whole set of problems with them as well.

Amidst this situation of uncertainty, Octavia (Marie Avgeropoulos) desperately tries to hang on to her power as the leader of Wonkru, the fanatical group of warriors. Even as her grasp on control starts to slip, Octavia is determined to make the tough choices. Meanwhile, Abby (Paige Turco) grapples with her own demons after having to make a harrowing decision in the previous season finale.

As the 100 characters face more challenges, the show is also setting up for the looming conflicts and stakes of season six. All the while, Damocles - Part One cleverly uses flashbacks to further fill out the story of those stranded on the spaceship, giving viewers a sense of the larger world at play. By the end of the episode, it's clear that things are about to go from bad to worse as various factions become more desperate and more savage, pitting characters against each other and forcing them to fight for what they believe is right.

Overall, Damocles - Part One sets up a lot of swerves and surprises that will impact both the current status quo and the future of the show as it continues to move forward. The episode manages to balance action, drama, and character development in a satisfying way. The 100 is a show that never shies away from taking risks with its characters or its narrative, and the tumultuous events of Damocles - Part One prove that anything can happen in this bleak and brutal world. Fans will no doubt be eager to see how all the new twists and turns will play out over the next season.