Reviewed by Owen Bush.

‘Human Trials’ (as the title suggests) started on The 100 this week, as we delved into the deeper goings-on in Mount Weather, as well as the reunited team of Clarke, Bellamy, Raven and Octavia all joining together to find their friend (if you can call him that) Finn, who recently has turned towards death, destruction and arrogance. I’m not sure he’s turning back, after this episode effectively turned him into the ‘Anakin Skywalker’ of The 100.

Clarke returned home (but not for long!) after the events of last episode, with Anya left behind and Mount Weather now vulnerable to a spread of information, Clarke carried on as our heroic protagonist, not giving up on the people who she left behind – who, consequently, didn’t believe in her. The scenes between Clarke and her mother, Abby, felt very real as a parent-child relationship, but also hinted some faults between the pair as Abby struggled for comfort whereas Clarke pressured for movement.

After giving up the role of Chancellor to focus on peace, Kane found himself tackling lies as he tried to find an equal ground between Grounders and those at Camp Jaha. The opposition between the two groups is probably the biggest theme explored as The 100 progresses, possibly trying to metaphorically break barriers between ethnicities – or just people in general. The show uses the ideas well, drawing them in with new possibilities like Anya and Clarke’s blooming friendship, then pulling it back with Anya’s death – ultimately keeping the audience alive and interested.

We finally saw our favourite group reunited in ‘Human Trials’, as our awesome foursome: Clarke, Bellamy, Raven and Octavia (let’s not mention Finn) rejoined in a subtly beautiful scene. The connection between Clarke and Bellamy is a powerful one, and one that subsequently isn’t forced, and understands the love between the two. I can only hope the interactions don’t become rushed. Silent glances will make an audience scream with joy, not an unemotional sex scene (again, not pointing to anyone… Finn).

Unfortunately, after hinting to my dislike of the character, I will now talk about Finn and his ridiculous experiences in another episode (when will it ever stop?). After splitting from Bellamy and his team, Finn and Murphy continued to try and find Clarke (who funnily enough, is now safe) as the two went seeking vengeance on a local Grounder camp, filled with the elderly and children – but Finn refused to let their vulnerability effect him as he vowed to make sure they had no influence on Clarke.

‘Human Trials’ featured one of the most dark and intense scenes we’ve seen on The 100, as after Mount Weather seized Lincoln, they now approached his character with manipulating trials, only further developing our deep and bitter hatred for the one place we once trusted. We were also introduced to a new character; one that secures the testing and obviously helps create the trials. I must say that I’m not a fan.

As previously mentioned, after such a long time apart, Clarke and Abby weren’t immediately a happy family. The mother and daughter clashed with ideas; both such strong characters that presently are struggling to agree. Abby, as Chancellor, refused to let Clarke go to save Finn and Murphy, but as both have done many times before, she does anyway thanks to the help of Raven. These scenes were really crucial in showing how similar Abby and Clarke are, both disobey leadership endlessly but both are strong and independent leaders. This bond makes them struggle to co-operate and I can only plead that the writers don’t make their clashing personalities cause a disaster – regrettably, however, that does sound realistic.

Jasper and Monty finally got some development this week, although Jasper has been incredibly annoying and frustrating to watch recently. You do feel a sense of empathy for his feelings as I’m sure everyone would feel the same if they were in a luxurious home after facing monsters each day outside.  However, events this week took a surprising turn as a containment breach occurred, radiation pouring upon the area causing Maya to look strangely deformed and bloodied – thanks to some commendable CGI and makeup. The significance of this is that is eventually causes Jasper to risk his life as his circulatory systems are specifically born to filter the radiation out of the blood. Therefore because of his affection (which is another I don’t trust), this causes him to take upon the challenge of sharing his blood with Maya’s.

Are you shocked that Finn continued to possibly ruin an opportunity for peace? After his selfishness towards the weak Grounder group, he decided to take upon the challenge of sneaking underground, starting by burning the village’s food, causing a (rather pitiful) distraction. Although, it didn’t work out all too well, as their unknown faces were soon recognized, inducing them to take the villagers hostage.

Abby soon found out about Raven’s involvement with Clarke, and with a severe slap, she soon realized the terrifying possibility of losing her daughter and how the environment has changed her – but as quoted by our favourite technician Raven, she stopped being a kid the moment Abby sent her down to Earth to die (really, Raven continued to own everyone with this comment).

Kane continued to search for peace and freedom between the two distinctive groups, his hostage leading him to either a home or a trap. Miserably for both Kane, and us, it was the latter that played out. It’s a shame the events were told this way, but it leads us to continue the plot as successfully completing it before the end of the season may have been a waste – and it subsequently led us to another shock as Jaha was revealed to be sharing Kane’s cage with him. We love ex-Chancellor reunions, even if they are in sickening backgrounds!

In possibly my favourite scenes from the episode, Lincoln was further treated with the serum that he is insanely becoming addicted to, which doesn’t sound too nice. Trials continued as he was forced to fight with another Grounder to receive the serum, suggesting those at Mount Weather are turning Lincoln into some sort of highly violent machine, and as it is also revealed the man controlling him is Head of Security at Mount Weather, it seems things just got a little more foul.

This episode has focused on the reuniting of Finn and Clarke and as the episode concluded we did get that, but not especially how it was meant to work out. Finn went on a massacre in panic as children and elders fled from the area they were being kept in, and as bodies fell limp onto the ground, Clarke emerged from the bushes – but wasn’t as happy to see Finn as he was to see her. Awkward…

Verdict : 9/10

‘Human Trials’ wasn’t too flawed but could have moved away from Finn’s predictable annoying habits. Dark, fierce and extreme, the episode also introduced some of the strongest plots we’ve had, with Lincoln’s future not looking too bright. Kane and Jaha reunited can only bring badass sequences next episode, and Finn and Clarke’s not so blossoming relationship will move away from stiff structured love.