Bellamy Blake was introduced in season 1 of The 100 and went on a long and treacherous journey over seven seasons until he died right before the series finale. Bob Morley played Bellamy from the pilot until season 7, episode 13, and where he started as a character and where he ended up were two very different people. In season 1, he was selfish and arrogant, while his season 7 self was being brainwashed by a religious military group. But the final season also threw Bellamy's character development out the window, leading to some viewers disagreeing with his ending.

Taking into consideration that The 100 was a post-apocalyptic science fiction television series, characters were more likely to die in this universe than on any other show. They faced danger in every episode as they navigated environmental and human threats while also being controversial and questionable people themselves. As a result, plenty of characters died throughout The 100's seven seasons. However, Bellamy's death was undoubtedly one of the most unnecessary and unjustified endings for anyone in the CW show, even though there was a reason behind his demise.

Bellamy Blake Died Due To The 100 Being About Survival & Sacrifice

Clarke Had To Sacrifice Her Friend To Save Madi

Although Bellamy Blake and Clarke Griffin, played by Eliza Taylor, got off on the wrong foot during the series premiere of The 100, the two characters slowly but surely formed a deep connection that translated into a partnership, which led to a friendship. They were best friends (and some thought they should be more), so given that Bellamy and Clarke shared one of the strongest bonds in the show, it was highly upsetting and surprising when Clarke killed Bellamy in The 100 season 7, episode 13.

However, at the end of the day, the series had always been about survival and sacrifice, and Clarke thought she was sacrificing Bellamy to save her adoptive daughter, Madi. After the episode aired where Clarke shot and murdered her best friend, creator Jason Rothenberg took to Twitter to explain his decision to kill off the fan-favorite character. Rothenberg wrote:

"For seven seasons, The 100 has been a show about the dark things that humanity will do to survive and the toll those deeds take on our heroes' souls. We knew Bellamy's death had to go to the heart of what the show was all about: Survival. Who you're willing to protect. And who you're willing to sacrifice. His loss is devastating, but his life and his endless love for his people will loom large and affect everything that comes after, to the very end of the series finale itself."

So, for Rothenberg and the writers and producers of The 100, Bellamy's death in season 7 was necessary because it was true to the heart of the show. They wanted to continue to demonstrate the lengths humans would go to survive and protect the people they cared about the most. However, many believed that Bellamy was one of those people to Clarke, which was proven not to be the case since she shockingly murdered him a few episodes before the series finale.

Why Bellamy Blake's Death In The 100 Was So Shocking

Fans Expected Him To Make It To The Finale At Least

As mentioned above, Bellamy's demise in The 100 season 7 was so startling because it was at the hands of Clarke. Of course, their relationship was not perfect in the beginning. But slowly, over time, they developed a deep respect and iration for one another, and it was unlike any other dynamic in the post-apocalyptic series. So, when Clarke decided to kill Bellamy, some viewers believed her actions were severely out of character.

Yes, she did technically do it because, in her mind, it was the only way to protect Madi. But, in hindsight, there were plenty of other paths for Clarke to take that did not end in Bellamy's death. Unfortunately, what was done was done, and nothing in the world could change what happened in The 100 season 7, episode 13. It is canon that Clarke pulled the trigger and ended Bellamy's life, which is a heartbreaking truth but a truth nonetheless.

Such a pivotal moment coming at the end of an episode in the middle of the season felt needlessly random...

Another major aspect of Bellamy's death that shocked viewers was that such a key character was killed off so close to the finale. While death was always around the corner on The 100, Bellamy seemed like a character who was destined to make it all the way to the end, along with Clarke and Octavia. Such a pivotal moment coming at the end of an episode in the middle of the season felt needlessly random, as if Clarke had to kill Bellamy, that felt like a moment that could've been saved for the finale.

Why Bellamy Blake Couldn't Return In The 100's Series Finale

It Didn't Fit The Needs Of The Show's Ending

Unfortunately, Bob Morley was cut from the series finale of The 100. The actor did not reprise his role as Bellamy Blake a few episodes after his character died even if the installment saw the return of some familiar faces, like the popular Lexa. Bellamy was not around when the other characters got their happy endings and it actually makes sense for what happened in the finale.

For context, Clarke and her friends took a test that would determine if they could achieve Transcendence. However, since Bellamy was already dead, he could not reach Transcendence with the rest of his friends. The main characters decided to live out the rest of their lives on Earth whether they ed the test or not, leaving no real chance for the show to give Bellamy an appearance. His death, however controversial, marked the official end of his character.

Why Bellamy Blake's Death Was Heavily Criticized

Fans Did Not Like His Season 7 Arc

The characters on The 100 were known to make difficult choices and do questionable things. Clarke and Bellamy pulled a lever in season 2 to save their friends but it resulted in the deaths of many innocent people while Bellamy also was part of a group that slaughtered people in their sleep. By the time season 7 rolled around though, the characters had grown and learned, so when Bellamy ended up getting brainwashed, fans weren't pleased.

It felt like a complete turn for the character that came across as rather rushed.

It's understandable that his experience in Etherea was the kind of thing that could change a man but many criticized just how far Bellamy went. It felt like a complete turn for the character that came across as rather rushed. To make matters worse, the fact that not even Clarke could get through to him led many longtime fans to feel like their friendship didn't matter. His death ultimately felt like the kind of thing the show could've avoided and kept audiences happy.

Instead, the death of this key character came across as something the show was seemingly doing purely for shock value. His devotion to the Disciple ultimately didn't lead anywhere given his immediate death at the hands of Clarke, rendering his arc throughout season 7 moot. After spending so many seasons with Bellamy and Clarke as the two main cogs of The 100, not having Bellamy around for the end was a major missed opportunity.