Lexa is a fictional character from the post-apocalyptic science fiction television series The 100, portrayed by Alycia Debnam-Carey. The recurring character does not appear in the books on which the series is loosely based. The commander of the allied Grounder clans, Lexa is portrayed as a reasonable leader and strong warrior. She considers love a weakness, a view significantly impacted by the murder of her former girlfriend. Although she starts to show romantic feelings for Clarke Griffin and takes her views into consideration, Lexa puts her people first, even at the expense of Clarke's trust. Lexa's progressive leadership places her in conflict with her people, especially after changes to her coalition.
Lexa has been acclaimed by critics, and is considered one of television's most interesting and complex female characters as well as a notable figure of LGBTQ representation in fiction. A fan-favorite, she has been a source of frequent debate, particularly for how she was written out of the series. Her relationship with Clarke, which was viewed as compelling and important, significantly impacted the LGBTQ community and many viewers embraced it as a positive and tempestuous depiction of friendship, love and adversity. The conclusion of the character and the relationship, however, was criticized by viewers and media for being unnecessarily tragic, leading to a national debate about the "bury your gays" trope and international fan-led initiatives.
Appearances
Season 2
The survivors from the Ark, a space habitat for descendants of humans who survived a nuclear apocalypse, crash landed on Earth and have been in conflict with the Grounders, descendants of humans on Earth who survived the nuclear apocalypse, who call them the Sky People.
After Ark survivor Finn's massacre of a Grounder village, Jaha and Kane, two former Ark leaders, are told that one must kill the other in order to speak with the commander of the Grounders. When Kane attempts to take his own life rather than kill Jaha, a Grounder witness reveals herself to be the commander, Lexa, who tells them she believes their wish for peace is sincere. She allows Jaha to leave with a message to their camp: leave within two days, or die. Clarke, an Ark survivor and leader of the Sky People's camp, cures Lincoln, a Grounder who was turned by Mount Weather, a former military facility, into a reaper (a mindless, cannibalistic killer). Clarke offers information about curing reapers to Commander Lexa and proposes that the two groups work together. Lexa grants Clarke the truce on the condition that Finn dies. Although the camp is divided on whether to turn him in, Finn eventually gives himself up to the Grounders. Lexa refuses to grant him mercy, but allows Clarke to say goodbye. After saying goodbye, Clarke stabs him, giving him a quick death. Several of the Grounders are angered by this mercy-kill, but Lexa declares the demands have been met and the truce will stand.
Lexa, Clarke and others from the camp travel to the Grounder village, where Finn and his victims are cremated. Lexa reveals to Clarke that her past love, Costia, was tortured and killed by Lexa's enemy, and tells Clarke that love is weakness. At a dinner, Lexa is the victim of an attempted poisoning. Clarke first believes it was Raven, Finn's former girlfriend, whom Lexa nearly kills as punishment; however, Clarke figures out that one of Lexa's people must have been responsible. The culprit is revealed to be Gustus, Lexa's right-hand man, who believes that an alliance with the Sky People would be destructive for Lexa. He is executed by Lexa, and Clarke resolves to infiltrate Mount Weather. After Clarke informs Lexa and Grounder councilors of the plan, one of them attempts to kill Clarke in the forest. Clarke is saved by Lexa, who is injured while they escape a giant mutated gorilla. Bellamy, Clarke's spy inside Mount Weather, learns of Mount Weather's plan to fire a missile to destroy any chance of peace between their people and the Grounders. Lexa persuades Clarke that warning anyone would compromise Bellamy's assignment and safety. The two secretly escape, but Clarke returns to rescue her mother, Abby, who arrives just before the missile strike. Clarke sets off with Lexa to kill Mount Weather's spotter who targeted the strike.