'The 100' Ending Explained: What is transcendence really and how Clarke Griffin's story ends in series finale?
Spoilers for 'The 100' Series Finale 'The Last War'
After a glorious run of seven seasons, The CW's post-apocalyptic show and one of the best in the science-fiction genre on television, 'The 100' has come to an end. There was so much going on in the final few episodes of the seventh and final season that most fans were not sure whether one episode would be able to wrap up everything. Thankfully, showrunner Jason Rothenberg did what he could with what little he had left with a finale that may leave you satisfied or empty, depending on the way you looked at it.
After the penultimate episode, Clarke Griffin (Eliza Taylor) had gone into full Wanheda mode. Madi Griffin (Lola Flannery) was tortured by Bill Cadogan (John Pyper-Ferguson) to the point where she was left in a non-responsive state. Unfortunately, by the time Clarke gets to the stone room, Cadogan had already made it inside. While Cadogan sees the being responsible for transcendence as his daughter, Callie (Iola Evans), Clarke sees Lexa after she shoots Cadogan dead -- Cadogan has already set the test in motion and there is no going back. Yes, it seems Jordan Green (Shannon Kook) was right about the last war actually being a test.
Clarke herself fails the test, but we have Raven Reyes (Lindsey Morgan) and Octavia Blake (Marie Avgeropoulos) step in to save the day. While Raven retakes the test, Octavia convinces everyone to stop fighting. This was a cool sequence to witness. It made sense that Raven would be the one to convince the beings that humanity deserves another chance and we are so happy with who Octavia has become. Bloodreina is no longer a threat to her happiness.
So, transcendence is unlocked -- which means that John Murphy (Richard Harmon) and Emori (Luisa D'Oliveira) get another chance after the latter died at the beginning of the episode and her mind drive was put into Murphy's body. In transcendence, everyone will be at peace and there will be no pain.
We also learn that transcendence, unlike the City of Light, is a choice and people can choose to leave it. This meant that Clarke, who did not get to transcend, will not be alone after her friends sans Madi chose to come back to Earth and be with her. For all that Clarke bore for them, they chose to honor everything she has done in all the stories through the past seven seasons. Clarke was forced to lose so much and so many of her loved ones right from the beginning, so it was only right that we got to see Clarke being happy when she realizes that there are people who love her back.
And that is how 'The 100' ends. What began on the Ark as a mission to get on the ground to save humanity has ended. Clarke's dream of getting to the ground, even with everyone she has lost, is finally here, and hopefully, she gets to live out the rest of her life in peace.
'The 100' series finale aired on The CW on September 30.