‘The 100’ Dodges Controversy Even As It Mourns Lexa At San Diego Comic-Con
The CW’s “The 100” has more than earned its reputation for being one of the most brutal shows on television, but nothing hit its audience harder than the moment in Season 3 when Lexa (Alycia Debnam-Carey), just after sleeping with Clarke (Eliza Taylor) for the first time, was killed by accident. The outrage over the show falling prey to the “lesbian death trope” was epic — in a season full of death, Lexa became an icon for how LGTBQ characters and characters of color seem to die an awful lot more than others.
Hence, Comic-Con opened up a potential opportunity for the show’s creators and cast to speak directly to the issue. Except it didn’t happen. Discussion of the ultra-heavy post-apocalyptic drama stayed relatively light during the panel, with moderator Eric Goldman keeping the discussion focused on plot developments for Season 4. The Season 3 highlight reel below teased some of these upcoming obstacles.
While the controversy over Lexa’s death went unmentioned, the character herself was mourned. Taylor said filming that death scene tied (with the death of her Season 2 love interest Finn) as the hardest-ever moment of filming for her, while also remembering fondly the day that she and Debnam-Carey shot Clarke and Lexa’s big love scene: “We could not stop laughing, because it was absolutely hilarious… it’s amazing they got a shot of us looking passionate.”
Other actors singled out Lexa as a favorite, including Lindsey Morgan and Richard Harmon, who both picked her as the character they’d want to play if they could play anyone else. “Alycia was untouchable — she was fantastic.”
Executive producer Jason Rothenberg said that while there are plot elements which could mean a return for Lexa, she will not appear in the upcoming Season 4, which begins production soon.
As audience questions are screened by convention attendees prior to being asked, it’s not surprising that the controversy over Lexa’s death did not get addressed during the fan portion of the panel… With one exception. The first fan in line to ask a question was actually cosplaying as Lexa, accompanied by Clarke and a bodyguard: “to protect me from stray bullets.”
First audience Q from girl dressed as Lexa who brought extra bodyguards: “To protect me from stray bullets.” #The100 pic.twitter.com/2Zd0HuYNWi
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) July 22, 2016
Ballroom 20’s reaction was a room-wide “OOOOOOH,” the kind you hear when someone goes there — followed by some uncomfortable laughs.
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