“The Queen’s Gambit” is episode seven of season seven of The 100.
In the previous episode, “Nakara”, Gabriel stunned everyone rather than fight and was in turn stunned by the Disciples. He wakes up in a cell and is taken by Disciples to the stone room where Anders and a woman are waiting. Anders talks about the stone, a gift from those who transcended, or so they believe. The Shepherd teaches that winning the last war will bring on the final evolution of a species. Anders thought Orlando would have taught Gabriel that.
Gabriel hanged himself in the cabin. Anders thinks they might need to rethink their penal system. They’ve lost 25 Disciples thanks to Gabriel and his. The others have been sent to Nakara; he thought Gabriel would like to say goodbye to Orlando. Gabriel is sure that Hope and Echo would too. Anders has different plans for them. The stone is activated and Orlando’s body is gone.
Anders explains they don’t believe in heaven; they believe in transcending. From what Anders learned from Octavia, he believes Gabriel can help them transcend. Gabriel asks why he would help. Anders believes he doesn’t want to be executed. What about Gabriel’s friends? Well, that’s up to them.
Anders says that Gabriel has studied the stone for 150 years. They have studied it for nearly one thousand. Yet its true power remains locked away. Anders thinks Gabriel can help unlock it. Join, and they will share the knowledge. And Gabriel will tell them everything he knows about Clarke. She’s the key. Join, and Gabriel will understand why.
Emori wakes Murphy; he needs to feed Sheidheda. Indra left them in both in charge because they will both be followed by the Faithful. But the key to real peace will be the reunification ceremony and Emori needs Murphy to attend it as Daniel Prime.
Jackson is talking to Madi, about the panic attack she had when Indra asked her to be the Commander. He talks about the Flame, and her taking it, and how Indra asking her to be the Commander brought it back up. He would like to keep her sketchbook. She would like to play football. Emori arrives after Madi leaves and Jackson starts shrinking her as well.
Murphy takes Sheidheda’s breakfast to him. He doesn’t see that there was a note in the cookie about the reunification ceremony being today. Sheidheda talks to Murphy about trust. Murphy says no-one trusts him. Sheidheda disagrees. Because Indra told Murphy who Sheidheda is and that scares him. Being feared is better. Sheidheda offers to teach Murphy how to play chess. If Murphy wins, Sheidheda will give him what he wants most of all; the chance to be a hero. Murphy asks how. Not that he cares, but he assumes something bad is about to happen. Yes. If Murphy wins, Sheidheda will make him a hero. Lose, and people will die.
Echo is with Octavia in a cell, remembering Bellamy from their time on the Ark. Octavia tells Echo she knows she’s in pain. And hugs her and won’t let go. Octavia has been there. It’s not Echo’s fault.
Hope is hammering on the door. Diyoza asks who taught her to fight. Dev, a Disciple. Hope says when the Disciples enter, they attack from each side. Diyoza says they will come in hot with numbers. Hope asks her mother how she escaped last time. By ripping out a man’s jugular with her teeth, scooping out his eye and using it for the retinal scanner. It won’t work again. Diyoza says Hope’s heart was in the right place, coming to save her, but it isn’t her job. Hope is Diyoza’s child and Diyoza was coming for her. Hope thinks her mother is mad because she’s a killer like her.
Emori is pinning a lot on the reunification ceremony. But Sheidheda has been advising Nelson to join with Nikki and her people. Sheidheda is also planning something regarding Murphy. It’s a given that the reunification ceremony will not go the way Emori hopes. And there’s a surprise at the end.