#starting with 1x12 cause i already rewatched the others but !!

[bartletslesbians]

A little shift I noticed between "Lord John Marbury" and "He Shall From Time to Time" in TWW season 1 is that in the first episode, Jed loves how annoyed Leo is about Marbury's presence. Marbury is being ridiculous and Leo is rolling his eyes and making comments and clearly doesn't like this dude one bit, and that just makes it so much more fun for Jed.

But then at the end of the second episode, which is also the one where Leo's addiction breaks in the media and he has to stand up and talk about it in front of the press, there's a scene in the residence with the three of them (Marbury, Leo, Jed). And Leo is as annoyed with Marbury as he was in the first episode, there's not really any difference there, but this time Jed's patience with Marbury the second he notices Leo is annoyed is SO much less? He doesn't enjoy Leo being frustrated with the guy half as much as he did before after Leo's already had such a tough day.

And I just love that little detail so much. Jed loves seeing Leo a little annoyed and frustrated, but that's still his dearest friend and when he knows Leo's been through hell already, it's just not fun anymore at all to see him that annoyed anymore.

[blyedeeks]

Why the heck hasn’t Bellarke gotten together yet, a Meta.

So here’s a meta I never thought I would write, cause everyone is always so caught up on the “behind the scenes” (aka jason, eliza, etc interviews)that they miss what the show is saying (screaming)

And to prove I’m not crazy, here is the reason why i’m writing this in the first place:

So there you go, @ivthegreatest​, as promised this meta is for you (i LOVE YOU for questioning this).

So without further ado, let’s discuss Bellarke’s development and their obstacles.

I love Season 1, it’s no secret. One of the (many) reasons why is because I think its arcs are very well organized and built. That being said, on season 1 we can divide bellarke’s arcs in groups of 3-4 episodes.

1x01-1x03: The Clichés

(1x01)

(1x02)

(1x03)

It starts like this: Belamy and Clarke antagonize each other from their very first scene. 

As their initial roles had them, Clarke was the hero/princess and Bellamy was the villain/rebel. As much as there’s always been some intense level of attraction between them (also ever since the first scene?!), their ideals alone set them miles apart.

Clarke thought Bellamy was a first class douche and Bellamy saw her as a representation of all the priviledged people on the ark. Each one of them had their own agendas: Clarke just wanted everyone to survive while Bellamy wanted to make sure the arkers wouldn’t make it down to Earth (+ he wanted to protect O).

The show sets Bellamy as “the bad guy”, the one who starts rebelions, the one who tries to create anarchy while making sure he’s in power. And Clarke was “the good guy”, seaching for food, protecting the moste fragile ones etc. They would never get together as they were ,in fact, enemies.

It all escalated on 1x02, where Bellamy (on the most “Bellamy you played yourself” moment in history) threatened to cut off her hand because she was getting in the way of his plans. But, on the same episode, when Bellamy – the supposed bad guy- had a chance to get rid of his problem– he doesn’t. That’s when the audience realizes there’s something there (with bellamy, with bellarke). Clarke doesn’t make the same realization necessarily (she must see something, but this is for another meta).

On 1x03 we end this arc as Bellamy and Clarke see they MIGHT be wrong about each other - as Bellamy sees Clarke killing atom.

Clear as heck, Bellamy changes the way he sees Clarke, he realizes the “princess” is very capable of making tough choices. Less obvious, but even more canon, Clarke sees Bellamy differently too, she knows now he’s not a murderer (” I saw you in the woods with Atom. I know you're not a killer “ 1x04 ).They weren’t friends at all, but they saw something in each other that other characters didn’t see.

And,... there was a catch already. While Bellamy and Clarke were on this antagonistic cycle, Clarke was already getting involved “prince charming”. Someone who (supposedly) shared her views on keeping peace, someone who was against that anarchy mess, someone with hero hair and a flashing smile. Yeah, Finn.

But well, as 1x03 prelude-ed it, all roles were about to change drastically and everyone would find out they were wrong about...everything. Which bring us to the next arc:

1x04-1x07: The Switch

(1x04)

1x04 pinpoints the moment Bellamy and Clarke begin to lead together. After getting to know each other better (1x01-1x03) – but not enough for them to even be friends, they find something in common: Charlotte.

And because of the whole mess she created by killing Wells (RIP bb) and accidentally framing Murphy for it, throughout the whole episode, Bellamy’s and Clarke’s leading styles clash and it was a mess.

That is until they realize they are both wrong, they lose Charlotte, they don’t know what to do with Murphy and then Bellamy finally accepts that they can’t leave in anarchy anymore. Clarke accepts that she can’t lead of her own, “We make the rules” and all that shiz. And bellarke become co leaders, what a beautiful thing.

BUT, on the same episode- Clarke and Finn finally get together. So, whatever it was that MIGHT have happened between Bellarke now that they’ve reached a middle ground (?))............. well, there’s a Finn in the way now. Sorry, folks.

(the writers know what they are doing im telling you).

But... but 1x04 is also the episode Raven comes down to earth.....hum. (more on that later).

(1x05)

(1x06)

1x05-1x06 follow 1x04’s lead. Bellamy and Clarke aren’t exactly friends, but they compromise. Bellamy is still somewhat of a “bad guy” (bad boy?), Clarke is the moral compass, and they fight a lot. Bellamy still has his agenda, Clarke still calls him on it  (“That's why you took the wristbands. Needed everyone to think we're dead” -1x05 / “Yeah, he knows. Now has to live with it.”  1x06– Clarke after the deaths of the Culling). But they are understanding each other better step by step.

And what is interesting here is that  the writers created this movement of Bellamy and Clarke getting closer and closer while Finn and Clarke got further away from each other.

On the first arc, episodes 1x02-1x03, when Bellamy and Clarke were the most apart, Clarke and Finn got closer and the writers were selling him as her obvious romantic interest with all the flirting and the smiles and the presents.

But on 1x04, as Bellamy and Clarke become leaders, Finn and Clarke get together for the first time only so the writers can show it was a farse (Raven). When 1x05 starts, Bellamy and Clarke just agreed to... agree, they are on their way of becoming closer- and Flarke is about to do the opposite. 

That’s why 1x04-1x06 was an uncertain period for Bellarke as it was for Flarke.

For Bellarke, Bellamy and Clarke had this partnership where they would have a real conversation in one moment (“you’re not a murderer” 1x05/” Can you wish on this kind of shooting star?” 1x06) and fight on the next (see the quotes up there). For Flarke, Finn and Clarke were just dancing around each other, but Raven was his girlfriend and she loved him. Clarke was pissed at Finn, she wanted to stay away from him, but she had feelings for him, and they just wouldn’t have a definite conversation about the matter.

Which bring us to 1x07:

1x07 changed everything.

I know everyone loves 1x08 (so do I), but man, 1x07 is the reason everything happened the way it did.

Thing is, on 1x07 the writers threw grey all over the place. Sure, they were already playing with the ideal of people being morally grey since forever, but 1x07 was the real deal. Bellamy and Clarke connected like HECK….. and over torturing a person. (Only my otp would.)

And this is not something they can go back from. Clarke stained herself, and she didn’t know what to do with it. But there came Bellamy to tell her something he’d been telling himself for awhile: “Who we are and who we need to be to survive are very different things.”.

(something that rang so freaking deeply in her, she’d repeat it again: “ The things that we've done to survive, they don't define us.” 2x08)

Now, they have more in common than they had before. More than that, it’s like they are accepting that, crazy as it might be, they understand each other.

So, to me, it’s no coincidence that right before that Bellarke scene Clarke lets Finn go for good. Rewatch if any of you might, on 1x07 Clarke just tells him to be with Raven, and she walks away from him (and even though Clarke would still have feelings for Finn - that was the end of their romantic relationship for good.).

....... she walks away....from Finn....... and then that scene with Bellamy happens outside the dropship.

Smart writers.

 Now Iv is probably reading this and saying “see?!?!? You’re just proving my point, THEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER AT LEAST ONCE AFTER THAT”

Okay, okay, I know what you mean because here is the MOST FLIRTY ARC OF THIS ENTIRE SHOW i’m not gonna even describe me i’ll just leave the pics here:

1x08-1x10: The Bellamy and Clarke FEEL THINGS

(1x08)

(1x09)

(1x10)

Do I need to talk about it?

1x08-1x10 was epic, it was feels all over the place, it was Clarke and Bellamy bonding and pouring their hearts for each other, forgiving each other, accepting each other; It was flirting at inappropriate times, having deep conversations, trusting each other and making Finn annoyed and jealous. It was a freaking magical time.

I personally believe that only after this arc Bellamy and Clarke were close enough for their characters to “hook up” in some way and for it not to be OOC.

But, we only had 2 problems: 1- They were just getting closer. 1x07-1x10 happened in the span of days, they were beginning to truly be friends or something, so I think they would need more time.Plus, Clarke was hurting over Finn.

2- If there was anything to happen, before it could, they were separated.

The writers must have realized what Iv has (why wouldn’t bellamy and clarke hook up now??) because those two were separated all the time after this arc. They had the total amout of (*SPOILER NUMBER FOR IV*) separations, it’s ridiculous.

So here we go:

1x11-1x13: The Kidnapping Fest

(1x11)

Clarke and Bellamy were on their awesome co-leader, bickering mode. But Clarke and Finn are taken in the middle of 1x11, try to run away and failed.

(1x12)

Clarke and Finn manage to come back only at the end of 1x12, but then chaos had already started as they knew the grounders were coming (so yeah no time for anything else- only for dramatic co-speeches because Bellamy and Clarke will always have time to be Drama King and Queen).

(1x13)

On 1x13, they did their co-leadership thing, heart eyes and all, but they had a war to prepare to. And then, they were separated. Again.

Which actually bring us to Season 2.

( Season 2 isn’t as well structured as season 1. So I’m not gonna talk about season 2 arcs, but episodes)

As everyone well know, Bellarke was freaking separated up until episode 2x05.

(Sigh)

But right at the very moment they reunited, they found an obstacle already. (these writers are out to get us)

“Where’s Finn?” , Clarke asks Bellamy right away.

Well, Finn, Finn was killing people because he loved Clarke

(bc i’m extra and the writers are sneaky:

)

Make no mistake, this shiz is heavy. Clarke doesn’t deal well with blood on her hands, she hates it. Now she sees Finn, Spacewalker, supposedly the guy who loves peace and sunshine, killing 18 people in cold blood because of her.

( Is anyone really surprised the next theme of the season was “love is weakness” or-? )

So, from the moment Bellamy and Clarke reunited until they were separated again (2x09), all this was over Clarke’s head.

And things just kept piling up: Bellamy and Clarke reunited, they found Finn killed 18 grounders, the grounders now want Finn to die a very painful death to pay for his crime, huge tension fly between Arkers and Grounders -who were supposed to be allies as their people were stuck in Mt Weather. Finn surrenders himself, Clarke KILLS Finn, it haunts her like heck, L.exa s gets in her head that they are both leaders that need to “do what needs to be done” for their people – and that love is weakness.  

But this was not only a huge emotional ride that happened in a short period. This shaped the way Clarke allowed herself to feel for Bellamy.

How? Let’s re- analyze things.

It sure seems that ~something~ changed about her feelings for Bellamy on the time they were away from each other. They went from walking side by side on 1x13:

or even this

To this:

It’s a freaking huge leap.

Not to mention all the times between 2x01-2x05 when it was pretty obvious she had been missing Bellamy, worrying about him AND equating him with Finn:

(”Finn and Bellamy?”)

(”Not all of us”)

(” Finn and Bellamy?”)

When we get to 2x05, we can’t even tell for sure what Clarke’s feeling (I don’t think Clarke knew) , but ,my friends, it’s deep. But then when she finally finds Bellamy again – Finn is in trouble, and he killed for her, and he created tension between grounders/skypeople and he died at her own hands.

Finn, the guy she had feelings for. ( also had feelings for). The first member of the “ Finn and Bellamy???” duo.

And that’s when we realize this “duo” is no coincidence at all.

Her feelings for Bellamy are SO (VERY FREAKING MUCH) related to this season 2 plot that one of the first things she said to him on 2x09 was “I can’t lose you too” (remembering Finn). Right after we saw L.xa convincing Clarke that “love is weakness” and that leaders had to forget about the matters of the heart to take care of their people. Then Clarke let go of Finn (“Love is weakness”), then she let go of Bellamy too (“I was being weak”).

.

Which lead them to be separated, again.

And this time, it was not only the physical separation that set them apart and didn’t allow their relationship to reach a new level.

Now Clarke got this new belief that would only be over by the end of season 3 probably (that is, if it is over). Now Clarke puts her people first, forget about liabilities and love if they are an inconvenience.

(which is an interesting way to watch s03 if any of you might. )

Of course, that her love for Bellamy is a freaking bastard and it doesn’t exactly allow her to do that-

(oh Clarke, you try, I’ll give you that) 

-But truth be told, this plot is also one of the huge reasons why they aren’t together (yet).

Clarke would later be haunted by other decisions she made on season 2B, which also separated her from Bellamy, and other separations (literal and metaphorical) came between them, but this is one arc is one of their most important obstacles.

 Phew, since Iv hasn’t watched past 2x12 and this is long already, consider this meta a “part 1” of why the heck Bellarke didn’t get together yet.

However, for anyone (including you, Iv) that watches past 2x16 I’m pretty sure there are so many obstacles there we don’t even need to discuss it. 

But we’ll see about that later.