The 100 — “Exit Wounds” — Image Number: HU506b_0692.jpg — Pictured (L-R): Eliza Taylor as Clarke and Lola Flanery as Madi — Photo: Michael Courtney/The CW — © 2018 The CW Network, LLC All Rights Reserved.
Last season, as always, was an emotional roller coaster for many of your favorite families on The CW. Here’s a look back the highs and lows.
For many people, romantic shipping is a major part of watching shows on The CW, or any network, really. It makes sense. Such relationships, canonical or otherwise, are usually among the most engaging and endearing aspects of a show. They give viewers something to root for, swoon over, and cry about.
But here’s the thing: platonic relationships between family members can be just as complex and compelling. Unfortunately, they are often underrated and overlooked compared to romantic pairings. So, here’s to righting that wrong. (Although, full disclosure, there is one couple on this list.)
The following is a look the highs and lows for various families on The 100, Arrow, The Flash, Riverdale, and Supergirl. The happiest moment from each show is listed first and the most heartbreaking second. Let’s go on that emotional roller coaster all over again!
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The 100: “I loved her so much, but it is nothing compared to how much I love you.” (5×12)
The relationship between Clarke Griffin (Eliza Taylor) and her adoptive daughter Madi (Lola Flanery) was the highlight of season five, so it’s difficult to choose just one moment to discuss. However, the scene in which Madi, with help from Lexa (Alycia Debnam-Carey), gets Clarke to see the error in her ways and in which Clarke gives Madi the support she needs to lead Wonkru as its commander was a standout.
In addition to bringing back all the Clexa feels and demonstrating how strong and compassionate Madi is as commander, the scene also deftly reminded viewers that Madi is also a kid who still needs her mom.
Fortunately, Clarke came in clutch with an epic and poignant pep talk for her daughter. Clarke is not exactly the kind of person to wear her heart on her sleeve, but she has always made sure that Madi knows how loved she is. How many parents can say that?
“My sister, my responsibility.” (5×08)
Season five was certainly rough on the Blake siblings. From the day Octavia (Marie Avgeropoulos) was born, Bellamy (Bob Morley) had been dedicated to doing everything in his power to keep her safe. Octavia is the reason he became part of The 100.
But six years can change a person, and suddenly, Bellamy found himself having to protect everyone else from Octavia.
It remains unclear if Bellamy was truly trying to kill Octavia or just put her out of commission long enough for Madi to become the commander. Either way, it was something viewers never could have imagined Bellamy doing. Even Bellamy was hesitant to do it until he saw no possible alternative.
The scene, which series developer Jason Rothenberg said “may be [his] favorite scene in the history of the show,” becomes even more heartbreaking in the context of “The Dark Year” (5×11). Bellamy knew how dangerous Octavia had become, but he didn’t (and still doesn’t) know how or why she became Blodreina.
Bellamy had to make one impossible choice in poisoning Octavia. Octavia had to make impossible choices for six years. Hopefully, Bellamy will come to understand that and forgive Octavia.
Arrow: “I am going to do everything in my power forever to make sure that you never end up alone in this world.” (6×02)
While Oliver’s (Stephen Amell) son William (Jack Moore) was introduced back in season four and first mentioned in season two, it was season six that found Ollie finally establishing a substantive relationship with William.
Tragically, that change was prompted by the death of William’s mother Samantha (Anna Hopkins) at the hands of one of Oliver’s most despicable adversaries, Adrian Chase, aka Prometheus (Josh Segarra). Her death wasn’t Oliver’s fault, but William became his responsibility. At first, Oliver tried to fit William into his life, but then he realized that he owed William more than that.
William, still traumatized and numb, wasn’t the one who needed to adjust. Oliver was, so he gave up the hood. Of course, he eventually took the mantle back from Diggle (David Ramsey), but it was refreshing to see Oliver devote himself entirely to William when William needed him the most.
“Stay with me, Daddy.” (6×23)
In a way, Quentin Lance (Paul Blackthorne) got the ending he deserved, even though his death was devastating. He wasn’t able to save Sara (Caity Lotz) from being killed in Arrow’s third season. Despite his best efforts to protect her, he wasn’t able to save Laurel (Katie Cassidy) from being killed in season four.
In season six, Lance was able to save Earth Two Laurel (Cassidy), who he had come to consider an adoptive daughter, by taking a bullet for her. As for his death itself, it was absolutely brutal that he wasn’t able to say goodbye to anyone, especially Sara.
However, dying as a result of finally being able to save someone you love is a relatively good send-off. Plus, Lance is not alone. He’s with Laurel again.
The Flash: “I’m your daughter, Nora, from the future.” (4×23)
The Flash is known for its last-minute finale cliffhangers, but season four’s ending may have been the series’ best cliffhanger yet. Barry (Grant Gustin) and Iris (Candice Patton) meeting their daughter (Jessica Parker Kennedy), who is their age and a speedster, opens up so many possibilities.
Additionally, it was the perfect way to cap a season that was particularly hard on the West-Allen ship. After watching Barry enter the speed force at the end of season three, Iris had assumed she’d never see her fiancé again and was still mourning him at the beginning of season four. Then, their wedding was interrupted by literal Nazis.
Soon after they finally got exchange vows, Barry was sentenced to life in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. He was later released, but let’s just say, Barry and Iris deserved a win last season. Getting to meet their grown-up daughter a couple decades early was an incredible opportunity that will definitely make for a fun and interesting season five.
Unfortunately, as has been teased by The CW, Nora and Iris won’t start off the season on the best foot for reasons that remain unclear. Hopefully, though, their conflict will be resolved quickly enough.
Photo Credit: The CW
“He’s lying to you. He’s drugging you. He’s a monster.” (4×17)
Without a doubt, Clifford DeVoe’s (Neil Sandilands) relationship with his wife Marlize (Kim Engelbrecht) was the most toxic relationship ever depicted in the Arrowverse. In that sense, the reveal that DeVoe had been drugging and manipulating Marlize so that she wouldn’t stand in his way was far more infuriating for viewers, on Marlize’s behalf, than heartbreaking. After all, no one besides Marlize had ever been rooting for him.
But that’s exactly why it was also heartbreaking. Marlize sacrificed so much to save the life of her ailing husband. Even after he became “The Thinker,” she assumed that some part of him still loved her. It was her agonized realization that she had, at least for many years, only been a pawn to him that was devastating to watch.
Even seconds before he erased her memory once again, Marlize was still holding out hope that he would stop himself on account of her being his wife. Fortunately, she was ultimately able to help Team Flash defeat DeVoe and make a new life for herself.
Riverdale: “The next blood to be spilled will be yours.” (2×18)
It’s no secret that Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) has experienced more trauma than anyone else on Riverdale by a wide margin. While it’s certainly frustrating to see her character be forced to endure so much pain, it is admittedly thrilling to see her come through it all and own her power.
First, she burned down Thornhill. Next, she momentarily cut off her domineering and hateful mother Penelope’s (Nathalie Boltt) oxygen to send a message. Then, in the ultimate Carrie-inspired power move, Cheryl, while drenched in blood, confronted Penelope — who had verbally and emotionally abused Cheryl for years and had most recently sent her to conversion therapy.
Cheryl demanded that Penelope stay away from Nana Rose (Barbara Wallace), move out of Thistlehouse and sign emancipation papers. It was the best scene from Riverdale‘s musical episode, which is a bit ironic given how little singing was involved, and one of Petsch’s best performances in the series as a whole.
FP cradling Jughead (2×21)
Riverdale has had its fair share of over-the-top and sensational moments, but this scene was genuinely gut-wrenching. Even though viewers were holding out hope that Jughead (Cole Sprouse) would survive, it was very clear that FP was fearing the worst. The fact that he wasn’t even able to say anything spoke volumes about how completely broken FP was in that moment.
Jughead was the sole reason FP had finally turned his life around, but suddenly that transformation seemed to be too little, too late. Of course, Jug made his own choice and FP couldn’t have known what that he was going to sacrifice himself. But from FP’s perspective as a parent, that didn’t matter. A parent is supposed to protect their child, no matter what.
Fortunately, Jughead survived. Unfortunately, FP and the Serpents’ retaliatory battle against the Ghoulies decimated the Serpents’ ranks.
Photo Credit: The CW
Supergirl: “Mom.” (3×20)
The Arrowverse sure loves bringing people back from the dead, huh? Of course, Alura (Erica Durance) was, in fact, never really gone. But to Kara, she was, which is why their reunion was so emotional. As much as Alex (Chyler Leigh) and Eliza (Helen Slater) love Kara, they obviously could never completely fill the void left by Alura.
The fact that Alura thought she had lost Kara as well, which is why she never went looking for her, made their reunion even more poignant. Alura was overjoyed to see Kara, but she must have also felt incredibly guilty for missing out on more than twelve years of her daughter’s life.
As the finale made clear, Kara’s place is in National City and Alura’s is in Argo City, but hopefully the two will meet again — and fight side by side again! — in season four.
Photo Credit: The CW
“Be happy, my son”. (3×23)
Supergirl‘s other family reunion in season three was equal parts heartwarming and devastating. Similarly to Kara and Alura, J’onn (David Harewood) and M’yrnn (Carl Lumbly) had long assumed they had lost one another.
They were finally reunited several centuries (yes, centuries) later; even then, quite understandably, it took M’yrnn a while to believe that he was really seeing his son and not one of his shape-shifting White Martian captors.
Soon after J’onn took M’yrnn home to Earth tragedy struck again when J’onn realized that M’yrnn was in the late stages of dementia. M’yrnn began transferring his memories to J’onn as was a traditional practice for Green Martians, and on a positive note, the process brought the two closer than ever before.
Sadly, even that experience was cut short, when M’yrnn realized he was the only one who would be able to save Earth from destruction and gave his life to save his son’s home.
However, while J’onn’s reunion with his father was far shorter than he had hoped it would be, M’yrnn had a far greater impact on J’onn’s life than J’onn had initially expected. Having grown used to just surviving and looking our for others, J’onn was finally able to discover his passion for life outside of the DEO because of M’yrnn’s guidance.