The 100‘s JR Bourne Breaks Down Sheidheda’s Epic Fight With Indra, Why That Final Twist Was ‘More of a Victory’
JR Bourne has a lot to say about his experience working on The 100, but these two words pretty much sum everything up: “Holy crap.”
Introduced in the CW drama’s sixth season as Russell Lightbourne, a god-like member of the ancient “Prime” family, Bourne’s character is now possessed by Sheidheda (aka “Dark Commander”), a man whose evil reputation precedes him. Until recently, however, only a handful of people knew that Russell’s physical form was a deception, adding yet another layer for Bourne to explore as a performer.
“I’ve never done anything like this,” Bourne tells TVLine. “And what a gift, just an unbelievable experience. “Sheidheda never really got an idea of who Russell was as a person, so to mimic that perfectly didn’t make sense in my mind. But it felt right to play who he thought, or what he thought, Russell was. It felt like an interesting choice to play him as how Sheidheda judged Russell, which was a bit of a hand-wringing fool.”
Read on for more of our Q&A with Bourne, including his thoughts on Sheidheda’s “love” for Indra. (Yes, you read that right.)
TVLINE | When “Russell” finally slaughtered his followers in Episode 9, it was almost… satisfying? Is that bad to say? It just felt like the big coming-out moment that Sheidheda deserved.
I completely agree. When I read that, I got goosebumps. And when I got to do it, that’s exactly how I felt. That felt like his first stage of coming out, and what a way to set the tone from here on out.
TVLINE | I knew from Teen Wolf that you can handle a crossbow, but that sword fight between you and Indra was really impressive.
[Laughs] I’ve never worked with a stunt team like this. They really shape everything, and not just for me. They’ve been doing it with the cast for years. They found my strengths and weaknesses as an actor and a fighter, and they made it seem like I’ve been doing that forever… and I have not. [Adina Porter] and I had an incredible time prepping and rehearsing for that. That whole thing, what an incredible dance. … And I get goosebumps in my scenes with [Adina]. The looks she gives, the way she delivers lines. The whole cast is wonderful to work off of, but she’s just incredible.
TVLINE | I have to admit that part of me thought Sheidheda was really going to kill Indra, before Madi swooped in to save her.
The idea of Sheidheda killing Indra… there’s too almost much there for him. He has a degree of respect for her, and as warped and twisted as his idea of love is, he also has that for her. He sees her, the pain that she has carried with her since she was a child because of him. The idea of having her at his side is more of a victory [than killing her].
TVLINE | Speaking of journeys, what do you think of your character’s new look?
I love it, I love it. The hair and makeup team, holy crap. They did an incredible job.
TVLINE | Generally speaking, what can we expect from Sheidheda as we approach the series finale?
He’s going to continue having fun gaining power and support, especially because they took the chip out of his head. His need and desire to gain that support and gain that power to become Commander again is back, and he’s going to have a lot more fun this time. He gains more freedom in his choices, and he just doesn’t see himself losing. Even when our heroes present a wall or an obstacle that might throw him off his game a little bit, he revels in it. Bring it on, bring it on, bring it on. He wants to die honorably.
TVLINE | And he’ll do it all with one eye!
[Laughs] Yes! When they said that, I was like “Goddamn it! All right.”
TVLINE | Which leads me to my final — and most important — question: Are you getting an eye patch?
Oh, there’s going to be a cool eye patch.
Your thoughts on The 100‘s final season? (Only six episodes left!) Whatever’s on your mind, drop it in a comment below.
I didn’t like Indra getting bested and having to bow to save Maddie, but it had to be done. Indra, I hope, gets satisfaction before the close of the series. She really is one of the show’s strongest performers, a personal favorite. I want her alive and kicking when the show ends.
Great episode!! I appreciate JR’s passion and just 110% commitment to his character! This show likes to show the fight and turmoil these people are experiencing, both physically and mentally. Lotsa fun to watch =) Only 6 more eps left, I’m sad but hopefully the prequel gets picked up! I hope we see Finn again…hey a girl can dream!
What a class act he is, the way he emphasises all the team members‘ contributions and doesn‘t glorify himself as an actor. I like that. 😍
Does anyone know why Adina Porter was never made a regular cast member? Bourne comes in at the last minute of the series and is one, but Porter, who has been with the show since the second season, never was. She may have had more appearances and be just as important, if not more so, than other regulars as well.
Probably because she’s worked on a TON of other shows over those same years, in substantial roles, and couldn’t have if the 100 had a contractual option on her time. Indra has disappeared at times and it’s clearly been because Porter was doing other things, though the writers wrote around it cleverly. And she clearly loves playing the character too, because she comes back to play her as much as she can, despite the fact that she isn’t hurting for work and Vancouver is far from where most of her other projects have shot. If there’s anyone who got snubbed for not being upgraded to regular, it’s the actress who plays Emori, Luisa D’Oliveira. Her importance, prominence in storylines, and tenure should have got her the bump.
I suppose you are right about d’Oliviera. She, apparently, has been around since late season 2, but she does play more like a supporting character, at best, whereas Porter seems more integral to the series as a whole than her.
JR recently commented on this, explaining that he tried to make her a regular cast member several times over the years, but she preferred it this way.
Jason Rothenberg? If true, it’s nice to know she was given the opportunity. If it was her choice, and based on her other work, that’s fine. I know her from True Blood and an appearance here or there, but have not seen her in the other shows she does, so it is more understandable why she is not a regular.
The problem is, his character is like Regina on Once Upon a Time.
The actor is fantastic and makes you love the character so much… but you still can’t help and feel how stupid the situation is.
But he’s so awesome to watch – but it makes no sense that he’s still alive – but he’s so great!
And it makes no sense that he uses Russel’s body – who barely had any training what so ever – but still manages to beat Indra who is a trained fighter since the day she born?
So stupid but the fight was still great – but so stupid!
You know what I mean? Literally no reason what so ever why they never killed him.
Heck, no reason why he even took over Russel – whose mind is supposed to be stronger than Maddi.
But still… He is one of the better highlights of the season.
Sorry, he is the ONLY highlight of the season
Yeah, a lot of shows/movies do that where a person gains an ability from an outside source, but their body had no training ijn it at all. Like Chuck with the interesect, or The Matrix. Although, The Matrix might be a bad example as they’re computerized versions of themselves.
My husband and I love watching this show. Gonna be really sad if there is no more season’s.