“Acceptable Losses” is episode seven of season five of The 100.
In the previous episode, “Exit Wounds”, Octavia was convinced to allow some of Wonkru to accept Diyoza’s offer to leave, so that Echo could infiltrate and use something Monty provided, so that the connection to the mothership could be hacked. Octavia decided to make it more realistic by having most of those leaving killed; Echo hid the drive Monty gave her in a bullet wound in another person; Diyoza’s people collared all those who survived. Madi had gone to Octavia to tell her she’s a true Nightbleeder, against Clarke’s wishes. Madi had been told stories about Octavia for years – the Red Queen is not that Octavia though. Emori managed to remove Murphy’s collar and the pair laid a trap. Which resulted in McCreary being captured by them. Whether he’s truly leverage is a different question.
The episode opens in Shadow Valley and Diyoza is walking with Kane and the newcomers, asking them what skills they have, how they can be helpful and whether they can be trusted. Kane finds Abby with the deserter who was shot, and the latter is dead. Abby, despite her promises, is still taking drugs. Kane says that she’s getting worse. Abby says that she needs the pills to function, but Kane doesn’t agree that she’s functional on them.
Bellamy has been waiting to see if Echo has succeeded. It’s been 8 hours, but nothing. Harper offers to relieve him and then Octavia enters. She says that killing the traitors is not what it looks like. The hydrofarm is on its last legs, but once they get to Shadow Valley, things will be better. Bellamy says that that is what they said about getting to the ground.
Madi is entering training and Clarke wants her not to appear special, to hold back. Otherwise Octavia might consider her a threat. Given Madi’s age, this has the potential to go badly.
Monty is in the hydrofarm when Clarke finds him. He says it’s got about three weeks before it fails. Clarke gives him the note from jasper that she found in the wreckage of Arkadia in “Eden”. When Cooper enters with a body, they hide. Cooper takes the body into a locked place off the farm and, when she leaves, Monty gets past the lock. Into what appears to be a bio containment lab. Cooper is breeding the sand worms encountered in “Shifting Sands” – and is also doing so using a live subject. Monty says that letting the worms loose in the only habitable land on the planet could be a really bad idea.
Echo finds Raven, but they can’t get to the bridge of the dropship to use Monty’s program, because of the collars. Echo asks if Kane could, but Raven says he’s changed. Echo says that everyone has. Raven says that Shaw will help, but he isn’t willing – and explains why he sided with Diyoza – so Echo takes matters into her own hands.
Once again, things are rapidly spiralling out of control. So something needs to be done. And Diyoza reveals something that comes as a bit of a surprise.