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.
Lexa and Clarke discuss the plan of attack on Mount Weather, and Lexa tells Clarke that Clarke was born for leadership. After Bellamy's sister Octavia realizes that Lexa and Clarke knew about the missile strike, Lexa attempts to have her killed, but Clarke stops it. Clarke confronts Lexa, and Lexa reveals she has feelings for her. Clarke asks Lexa to trust her, and says that if another attempt on Octavia's life is made she will inform everyone that they knew of the missile. Lexa later tells Clarke that she does trust her and will not harm Octavia, although the Grounder ways are focused on survival. She kisses Clarke, who reciprocates but says that she is not ready to be with anyone. When Mount Weather's acid fog is disabled, they march with the combined Arker-Grounder forces to war.
Soldiers from Mount Weather open fire on the army, who manage to destroy the lock of the facility's doors. However, when they pull the door open, Lexa reveals that she has made a deal with Mount Weather and commands her people to stand down. The Grounders retreat and the Sky People soon follow, leaving behind a betrayed Clarke, who later irradiates the bunker, killing all its inhabitants.
Season 3
Lexa's trusted warrior Indra warns her that the Ice Nation, a Grounder clan, is hunting Clarke, who has been a fugitive for three months because of her actions at Mount Weather. Lexa assigns the bounty hunter Roan, a banished Ice Nation prince, to capture Clarke before the Ice Nation does and bring her to Polis, the Grounder capital.
Having vowed revenge on Lexa for her betrayal, Clarke struggles with her desires for vengeance and forgiveness. Lexa is dealing with political turmoil and proposes to Clarke initiating the Sky People into her coalition as the thirteenth clan, which would protect them. Clarke believes Lexa wants this because Clarke's defeat of Mount Weather made Lexa look weak. Lexa is advised by her right-hand man and former mentor Titus to kill Clarke, whom he believes has weakened Lexa's rule. At the same time, Roan asks Clarke to kill Lexa, but she cannot do it. Lexa apologises for her betrayal, and Clarke agrees to the Sky People becoming the thirteenth clan, bowing to Lexa in the presence of other clan ambassadors. In private, Lexa vows that she will treat Clarke and the Sky People's needs as her own. Queen Nia of the Ice Nation attempts to stage a coup against Lexa's leadership and selects Roan to fight her in a duel. Lexa defeats him, but instead kills Nia and proclaims Roan the Ice Nation king. Clarke tends to her wounds and they bond.
Lexa, Clarke, other Grounders discover an army of dead Grounders, slain by Pike, the new and destructive leader of the Sky People, and his followers. Lexa is informed by a wounded Indra that the Sky People have rejected joining the coalition. Lexa allows Clarke to return to convince Bellamy to step down. Clarke fails but convinces Lexa to end the cycle of violence to gain eventual peace, although Lexa worries that by not retaliating she is betraying the actions of her predecessors. Lexa tells Clarke to decide the fate of Emerson, the last survivor of Mount Weather, whom Clarke decides to banish. As the Grounders celebrate their holy Ascension Day, a captured Octavia is brought in by a Grounder who says that the Sky People destroyed his village. Lexa ignores Titus' advice to start open warfare and instead orders that the Sky People be besieged and any trespasser on Grounder territory killed. The Grounder attempts to kill Lexa, and is killed by Titus. Titus tells Lexa that Clarke's presence endangers her and reminds Lexa of Costia. An angry Lexa reminds him that she can separate feelings from duty, having accepted the Ice Nation into her coalition after they beheaded Costia.
Lexa understands that Clarke must go back to her people. Clarke suggests that maybe someday they will owe nothing more to both their peoples, and kisses Lexa; they have sex. After hearing gunshots, Lexa runs to Clarke's room and is accidentally shot by Titus, who had intended to kill Clarke. As Clarke attempts to save her, Lexa realises she will die and tells Clarke to not be afraid. She orders Titus to never harm Clarke again and to serve the next commander as he served her. Lexa tells Clarke that her spirit will find a new commander, that her fight is over and that Clarke was right in that life should be about more than just surviving. When Lexa dies, Titus extracts a device called "the Flame" from her neck. It is revealed to be Lexa's "spirit", an AI, and how commanders are chosen.
Later, on a mission to stop a holographic AI named ALIE from world domination, Clarke is implanted with the Flame, the AI Lexa once carried. ALIE controls its subjects by forcing them to swallow a chip that removes all pain and connecting them to a virtual reality called "the City of Light", where the minds of those who have died live on. In distress after entering the city, Clarke subconsciously calls upon Lexa. Lexa's consciousness, saved in the Flame, appears in the City of Light and saves Clarke. Before Lexa sacrifices herself to get Clarke to safety, Clarke tells Lexa that she loves her. Lexa says that her spirit will always be with Clarke.
Later seasons In the fifth season, it is revealed that Lexa's consciousness is still in the Flame. The new Commander, a young girl named Madi, tells Clarke that Lexa abandoning her at Mount Weather was her greatest regret. In season seven, The Flame is permanently destroyed by a geneticist, taking with it the consciousnesses of the Commanders stored within, Lexa included. In the series finale "The Last War", a being known as the Judge, who judges a species on whether they are worthy of Transcendence or extermination, takes on the form of several humans in the final test for humanity. Appearing to an individual as their greatest teacher, greatest failure, or greatest love, the Judge appears as Lexa before Clarke and discusses Clarke's actions and the decisions of her friends. The Judge in Lexa's form has the last words in the series, stating: "A curious species, indeed".
Development
Casting and creation Show creator Jason Rothenberg said he and others involved with the series were aware of Debnam-Carey while casting Clarke in 2014; although the chance for her to portray Clarke did not materialize, her name was brought up for the casting of Lexa. Debnam-Carey was offered the role, which Rothenberg called a "no-brainer". At the time, she was also being considered for the role of Alicia Clark on AMC's Fear the Walking Dead, with her casting announced on December 1, 2014. "That's always a concern when you have an actor in your show that is popping—that someone else is going to grab them and make them a series regular if you don't", stated Rothenberg. Debnam-Carey was able to continue work on both shows. With "such an iconic look and distinct wardrobe", Lexa was an unusual role for Debnam-Carey. She said that the character allowed for a multifaceted dynamic, and called Lexa her favorite character she had portrayed thus far. "Thankfully, Jason [Rothenberg], the creative team, the writers, and the hair and make-up are very collaborative", she said. "We've been able to embrace it and really make it our own, and that's been wonderful".