Back in the third episode of The 100, ‘Earth Kills’, we encountered a “deadly” fog that magically carried the plot forward – and ultimately, I wasn’t impressed due to the random occurrence that only happened to push the script into new dimensions; while I suppose it helped re-imagine Earth as a place of danger now, the writers failed to develop the causation of the fog and how it links to Earth. Although, subtly developed with a quick one liner, the fog sadly returned in this episode, titled the very imaginative ‘Fog of War’.

Clarke returned back to Camp Jaha last week, broken, bruised and searching for Finn, only to find him changed into a psychotic murderer, slaying children and elders as he searched for vengeance. The road looked murky for the once-lovers; the awkward glances and frowns causing tension within the group, but things did go well between Raven and Clarke, as our tricky technician realized that Mount Weather is jamming their communications – I really didn’t think I could hate them more! But not to worry – Clarke, as usual, tinkered around her mother’s problems and decided to go searching for others near Mount Weather, but not without her mother, Abby. Personally, I’m sure any teenager wouldn’t be delighted with their mum going away with them, but it was nice to finally see some boundaries being broken with the pair, and hopefully they can rejuvenate their relationship as they come ever closer to war.

In ‘Human Trials’ we were further introduced to two new Mount Weather characters – Dr Tsing and Cage Wallace, both leads in their specialties. Those, with the seemingly vicious leader Dante Wallace, negotiated on plans to use The 47 (those stolen from The 100) to help people at Mount Weather to be able to live outside – but, eventually Dante powerfully said no. Some interesting lines fed this scene; possibly displaying some moral goodness in Dante, who, however, is still harvesting Grounders to save his people so I don’t fully forgive him. He did identify he does not want to harm The 47, personally but would rather ask for them to offer themselves to help others. This is an unusual turn in Dante’s character – could we actually have been mistaken that his intentions were to cause hurt, and it was actually his son, Cage, who implemented the negativity into Mount Weather?

After last week’s shock entrance, Jaha and Marcus began to grow impatient at their fate, wishing for peace and revival of the two forces. After a throw of punches and desperate screams, the Grounders threw a knife between them, proclaiming only one would walk away. I’ve noticed there’s been a constant theme of the battle of two forces in season 2 of The 100: we had Anya and Clarke battling between issues, and now we have Jaha and Marcus being forced to leave one dead, as well as the large battle that is Grounders versus Camp Jaha versus Mount Weather. The tones were more singular in Season 1, studying the characters and how the world has changed, so it’s interesting for Season 2 to branch out into a wider context, surveying the large quantities of groups on the planet.

Although originally planning to help the group in search of other guards, Octavia and Bellamy had their own mission, finding a way into Mount Weather. After being captured by Abby’s guards, the siblings seemed to have failed and would have had to find another time to pursue their plans to occupy Mount Weather – but oh no, the random fog appeared politely on time again, forcing them to hide in a eerie car park. Oh, how convenient. However specifically placed the fog was, it did lead to some superbly dark and brutal scenes for the group.

Clarke and Finn also had to hide, and their experience wasn’t at all happy either, as they awkwardly balanced their lives together and it seems things are just now they used to be (jump for joy!). Abby and Raven had some more suitable work to do, as they revealed that Mount Weather had one radio station they could hack into, and of course Raven was going to successfully complete the task.

Jasper, elected by Dante, decided to help Mount Weather by persuading the others to take the treatment, but it didn’t go to plan as many refused to risk their lives one more time. As Monty once again stepped in to reinforce the mission to help Clarke, Maya threw something unexpected at us, and I loved it. Using a notepad to stop communications being heard, she was about to risk everything as she showed Jasper and Monty what Clarke had already seen when finding Anya. Luckily, they were as shocked and disgusted as Clarke too. In a bewildering turn of events, Maya also announced the breach wasn’t an accident – is it too early to say there’s nothing more Mount Weather can do to make me hate them more? Possibly not, as something devastating was just around the corner. (Literally!)

Octavia and Bellamy continued to scavenge around the car park, but the two guards who accompanied them weren’t so lucky – as a horror-movie-like jingle filled the cars with echoes, the sharp fangs and incredible strength of the Reapers surrounded them. Every week I mention a scene that has beaten all others in The 100, but this one was seriously intense. The tone was insanely brutal and dark, very different to the tone of any other scene. It felt like something picked from an episode of American Horror Story and slammed into The 100, and personally, it worked perfectly as a not-so-nice Lincoln crept into sight – I told you there would be something that would make me hate Mount Weather more!

Jaha and Kane continued to argue over what the conclusion of their devastating situation would be. Jaha on one hand, wanted to find another way for peace, but Kane refused, choosing to take his own life as the bloodied knife sliced across his wrist. Of course it didn’t stop our powerful ex-Chancellor, and as Jaha bandaged a pitiful Kane, he took action as he held the young girl that watched in peace hostage with the knife. Personally, I didn’t like the way the writers chose to show Jaha here – it didn’t feel like someone who has gone through his life at both The Ark and The Earth trying to find peace – and then deciding to hold hostage a young girl. It didn’t feel natural, especially being a father himself. It also didn’t feel as tense when the girl was revealed to be the Commander of the Grounders – the intention of a shock wasn’t pull off.

Now knowing of the intentions of his leaders, Jasper used the information to trick those at Mount Weather, making his friends do the operation. Whatever Jasper’s plan is, I’m sure it’ll be epic. As the episode faded away, Jaha surprised Abby, Clarke and group to tell them a message, a simply delicious one that I’m sure will be discussed next episode: ‘Leave or die.’

Verdict: 8/10

‘Fog of War’ didn’t live up to its title, as the fog’s uses again became misdirected. Although insanely dark and manifested with juicy plot points, the episode felt very structured and almost used as a filler to push the plot into where the writers want it to be approaching the mid-season finale in two weeks. However ,the show is taking a leap with season two, and this episode didn’t stop the first half from being intensely structured and interestingly surprising.