A Writers View

BELLARKE VS. BECHO

“Remember, show don’t tell.”

I feel like that is the first, last and only bit of writing advice that anyone ever really gives.

Show don’t tell.

“You’re writing a book? Remember, show don’t tell.”

“Oh, you’re working on a screenplay? Remember, show don’t tell.”

“Yeah, what you’ve got here is great and all but, remember, show don’t tell.”

Which is awesome, except, I often found myself scratching my head feeling like – how? What even IS showing? What’s the difference between telling and giving the audience vital information? And, after that HOW do I find the perfect balance of Show & Tell?

Well, I’ve found the perfect example of what SHOW is and what TELL is.

Bellarke vs. Becho.

In CW’s The 100, Bellarke is, was and always will be the main superior ship of Bellamy Blake and Clarke Griffin from episode 1. If you’re like me, then you know that there was no going back from the moment that Clarke fell into that pit in episode 2 and Bellamy caught her hand. You know the one I’m talking about ;). No going back. None.

And yet, we all know how things ended… don’t mind me, I’m just going to go and scream into a pillow for a few minutes.

Ok, I’m back.

So, Bellarke. Yeah, pretty amazing ship. A true OTP if there ever was one. But, they were never quote un-quote CANON.

A couple that WAS canon was Becho, who, as you might recall, became a couple between seasons 4 and 5 during the space hiatus. Bellamy was in space, Clarke was on the ground, he thought she was dead, Echo was there – end of story.

So, here’s where the SHOW vs. TELL comes in.

In the show, they constantly had to tell us BECHO IS A THING. Until the final season (which I think we can all agree is not part of the real show) we did not get a single flashback to Spacekru’s time on the Arc. Then in season 7 we got a single scene where Echo and Bellamy shared their first kiss. It was almost like the writers realized “oh, maybe people don’t like this ship, because we haven’t SHOWN them any of their romantical development!” and so they forced it in there at the last moment.

Before that scene, however, all we ever got was BECHO IS A THING, OK, DEAL WITH IT! Lines like, “we met in a cage.” “who knows more about forgiveness then us, right?” “It took you 2 (or was it 3? Honestly, I can’t remember because I died of an eyeroll when I heard it) years to even talk to me.” or something like that, were all that we ever got to validate their relationship.

Now, more honesty, I originally, back in season 2 when Bellamy and Echo first met, didn’t hate the idea of the two of them becoming a couple. But then, they went and really (in my opinion) ruined their relationship over the course of the next two seasons (showing us that Echo was waaaaay more into Roan btw!), only to come back in season 5 with the two of them dating.

OK, fine. Then show it!

Show us the scenes of Bellamy being sad about Clarke and his sister, Octavia, and show us Echo comforting him. Show us scenes of them fighting, arguing and struggling to live together up there on the Arc and then show them softening towards one another. Give us a scene where Bellamy rages at Echo for causing the deaths of Gina, Clarke and trying to kill Octavia (multiple times, I’m pretty sure) and then she breaks down in tears apologizing for what she’s done and confessing that she loves him and would do anything to earn his forgiveness. Show me something, ANYTHING.

But, no.

All we got was – BECHO IS A THING. DEAL WITH IT.

What they did show us was Bellarke.

Bellarke being a team. Bellarke needing each other, saving each other, caring for each other, writing each other’s names down on the bunker list, forgiving each other over and over and over again. Bellarke fighting, breaking down, crying, willing to let the entire human race die for the other – and then, being reunited, the hugs (aaaaalll of the hugs!!!), eye-banging each other all the time, the looks of regret, the almost disgust on Clarkes face when she sees Becho for the first time – the list of all of the Bellarke romantic relationship that they SHOW us is ENDLESS. There are too many moments to list, too many glances, touches, remarks from other characters, hidden expressions, half-said truths, etc…

In summation, in “Show Don’t Tell” the writers of the 100 TOLD us that BECHO IS A THING but they SHOWED us that BELLARKE IS A THING. DEAL WITH THAT.

So, the next time that you’re confused and you’re not sure if you are showing or telling in your writing just ask yourself, are you giving the reader Becho, or Bellarke? And if you’re giving Bellarke – can you please give us a better ending?? Please??!! I seriously, don’t think I’ll ever get over them and how robbed we all were.

At least they’re married in real life.

Writer OUT.