I had had the feeling that "The 100" had started this fourth season a little bit insecure of where it was planning to go, the feeling that the story was starting to be stretched thin. The third episode, fun but slow, seemed to confirm the situation. The focus wasn't there and it was running in circles.
Well, here it comes the fourth episode. The pace is still a little bit shaky, and some of the dialogue could be improved. However, so many things happen that the viewer will not know with which twist the story will surprise them next. And all those developments help the story progress and focus.
Marcus and Roan have some relationship issues. Octavia is angry (surprise). Bellamy has problems. Clarke has her own problems, with Jasper and Monty. And Raven, Murphy and others go on a quest to Becca's lab. So many things happen from that moment on that it will not be a surprise if you lose track of all of them.
This episode shows the strengths "The 100" has. The dialogue is good (again, a couple of exchanges could have been improved), and it shows the ambivalence of the characters, the difficulty in taking decisions, the fear of violence and death. Decisions have consequences, but decisions also have reasons. Kane and Octavia's or Clarke and Jaha's scenes clearly show this strength. The atmosphere is great, and the feel of danger, threat, permeates every frame. It all hangs on the good shoulders of the actors, who again deliver and the direction that keeps all in place.
And if that is not enough, the show reminds us that it is not scared to getting rid of characters.