Warning spoilers for season 3 as some will be uncovered to avoid an all white page and these characters' history being tied to the events of the season.
Historical Figures
The individuals whose actions proved instrumental in triggering the nuclear holocaust that destroyed the Earth 97 years prior and shaped the course of human history ever since, both on the ground and on the Ark. They appear in the episode Thirteen in the flashbacks.
Becca Franko
Becca Franko was a scientist and owner of Polaris, responsible for creating A.L.I.E. in the year 2051. Later she became the sole survivor of Polaris and descended to Earth to become the first Commander of the Grounders. After coming into conflict with the surviving members of the Second Dawn, she was burned at the stake by their leader, Bill Cadogen. Subsequent commanders are referred to as "Heirs of Bekka Pramheda". Part of her consciousness is preserved within "The Flame", an artificial intelligence that she originally designed to combat A.L.I.E.
- Alien Blood: She injected herself with a black fluid so that she can bond with the A.L.I.E. 2.0 and became the first official nightblood.
- Artificial Intelligence: Becomes an artificial intelligence when she eventually dies with her mind becoming apart of the A.L.I.E. chip along with the future commanders.
- The Atoner: She became obsessed with making up for the nuclear holocaust that her creation A.L.I.E. unleashed upon the world, which lead to the creation of the A.L.I.E 2.0.
- Back for the Finale: In the season finale, as part of The Flame, she is in the room where the kill switch is and gives Clarke directions to how to use it.
- Big Good: In the A.L.I.E. arc, due to the Flame chip being modeled after her psyche, allowing there to be something that can rival A.L.I.E. and the City of Light.
- Cyborg: Becomes a cyborg when she turns her blood black and connects to the A.L.I.E 2.0.
- Founder of the Kingdom: She was the First Commander of the Grounders and the architect of their civilization.
- Kill It with Fire: After being implanted with the Flame, Madi learns that Becca was burnt at the stake by the original inhabitants of the Second Dawn bunker. Later revealed to have been a successful attempt to get the Flame, since the chip would automatically eject itself if the user dies.
- Non-Idle Rich: She was wealthy enough to own her own space station.
- Posthumous Character: She has been dead for decades at the time of the show. Her story is told through video recordings and flashbacks.
- Sole Survivor: As stated, she was the only survivor of the Polaris space station destruction as she fled to Earth.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Her part in the creation of A.L.I.E lead to the destruction of Earth and her working on A.L.I.E 2.0 unintentionally lead to the destruction of the space station Polaris when the other stations found out about it.
- She's also the creator of the mind drives. They were intended to merely record someone's memories, to be viewed in case of death, but the Primes modified them to full-on Body Surf capacities, leading to Sanctum's culture being built around the worship of body snatchers.
- She visited the Second Dawn bunker and was able to figure out how to activate the Anomaly Stone, thanks to the Flame enhancing her senses. This allowed the cultists to come to Bardo and build up their forces for centuries, unbeknownst to any other survivors.
Chris
A scientist and Becca’s colleague, he helped with the creation of A.L.I.E.
- Apocalyptic Log: When the nuclear holocaust begins, he records a video explaining the situation so that anyone who finds it will understand how the apocalypse happened.
- Driven to Suicide: His guilt over the nuclear holocaust leads him to shoot himself in the chest with a revolver.
- Early-Bird Cameo: The recordings of himself are seen by Murphy while he is trapped in the bunker at the end of Season 2 and the beginning of 3.
- My God, What Have I Done?: He clearly considers the nuclear holocaust his fault, as it was his creation that unleashed it.
- Only One Name: His last name is never revealed.
- Posthumous Character: He killed himself shortly after the nuclear holocaust, but left video recordings of himself.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: The creation of A.L.I.E leading to the nuclear holocaust.
Commander Cole Mcadams
The Commander of the Polaris space station.
- The Captain: After the nuclear holocaust he prioritizes the safety of the Ark over any loyalty to Becca, because the risk is too great.
- When You Coming Home, Dad?: He was unable to be with his wife and daughter as they died because he was on board Polaris during the nuclear holocaust.
- One-Shot Character: He is featured only in the flashbacks in the episode "Thirteen" as he has been dead for many years.
- Posthumous Character: He died 2 years after the end of the world when Alpha Station blew up Polaris as an example to solidify the other stations’ commitment to the Ark.
Peri Gordon
Peri Gordon was Becca's lab assistant on the Polaris. She assisted Becca with the work on A.L.I.E. 2.0. Two years later, just before Polaris was to join The Ark, she informs Cole McAdams of their research. Gordon begs Becca to destroy her research, but Becca refuses, leading to the destruction of Polaris.
- Character Death: Dies in the destruction of Polaris.
- One-Shot Character: In the episode "Thirteen".
- Posthumous Character: Like the others has been dead since the start of the series.
- Small Role, Big Impact: As stated she insisted in the creation of the A.L.I.E. 2.0.
