Thelonious Jaha

Thelonious Jaha is a major character in the first, second, and third seasons. He is portrayed by starring cast member Isaiah Washington and debuts in the series premiere. Jaha was the last Chancellor of the Council that governed the Ark.

Being Chancellor, Jaha had a major role on the Ark, that brought on many hard decisions and challenges, such as ending the lives of hundreds of people in order to save thousands, or choosing to stay behind on the Ark to ensure that some of humanity can return to their home planet.

At the end of the first season, Jaha was alone on the Ark in communication with survivors of the Ark's descent to Earth. In Season Two, Jaha was able to escape the Ark via an inactive nuclear missile. He ended up crash landing on Earth and survived the impact. He was captured by the Grounders and later returned to the Sky People with a message from the Commander to leave or die. Jaha took the threat seriously even though the new Chancellor on Earth, Abigail Griffin, refused to leave. He gathered a group of followers and leads them into The Dead Zone, in search of the City of Light. The group soon dwindles down until only Jaha and Murphy remain when they make it to an island where Jaha is introduced to A.L.I.E..

Early life
Thelonious Jaha was born on the Ark. He was the third generation of Arkers to live in space, a transitional generation, of the last surviving members of the human race. Jaha fathered Wells at the age of 30. He was best friends with Jake Griffin and his family, the all spent quality time together, and their kids became best friends. We seen them watching old soccer games and Jaha make records of their kids growing up.

Jaha was elected Chancellor of the Ark some time before 2148, with councilor Marcus Kane as his second in command on the council. He was a charismatic leader who he led the community with a steady, guiding hand, maintaining an overpopulated ramshackle station that is over a hundred years old with dwindling resources. Jaha spent a lifetime having to make impossible choices to ensure the Arks survival, enforcing the Arks regimented routine and zero tolerance policy dictated by the Exodus Charter.

In 2148, after a problem discovered with the Ark's life support system that would lead to a catastrophic failure, the council decide to keep on need to know basis to avoid riots and mass panic. However, Jake was adamant to defy the council and go public, his wife councilor Abby Griffin warned Jaha hoping he would be able to convince Jake not to go through with it.

After few month it became apparent that engineering would be unable to fix life support system in time, and they were faced with a choices to either reduce population or everyone on-board will be dead. Jaha comes up with a plan to send the delinquents to Earth to see if it's habitable, thus reducing the population and possibly paving the way for Project Exodus.

Just before the 100 delinquents were sent to Earth, his son having learned of the plan which including his childhood friend/love Clarke sets the Eden Tree on fire to be sent to Earth with her, while Jaha is get shot by an unknown assailant.

Throughout the Series

 * -| Season One =


 * -| Season Two =


 * -| Season Three =

Physical Appearance
He has black hair and brown eyes with a dark skin tone, similar to his late son, Wells Jaha.

Personality
Jaha is portrayed as a strict, trustworthy, organized and understanding person. He is tough to those that have a problem with him. However, he cares deeply for the citizens of the Ark and is willing to put himself in danger for their safety. He tries to avoid giving himself special treatment, even allowing his son to be part of the 100, and almost becoming part of the Section 17 volunteers.

Relationships

 * -|Wells Jaha =

Wells Jaha
Wells was Chancellor Jaha's only son. When it appears that Wells has died, due to Bellamy and his friends forcing him to take off his wristband, the Chancellor appears to be very distressed. In Contents Under Pressure, he learns his son has actually been killed and he hides his anguish. Later however, he snaps at one of the family members of the Section 17 volunteers when they tell him that he doesn't understand what they're going through.

After taking the Key to the City of Light, Thelonious no longer remembers that Wells ever existed, as the Key took away the pain of his son's death and by default took away any memory of Wells so he never knows Wells was ever alive, let alone dead.


 * -|Abigail Griffin =

Abigail Griffin
Chancellor Jaha cares about Abby. They generally tend to agree, but there are times where they disagree. For example, Abby is more optimistic about the 100's chances than he is. She saved his life after he was shot by Bellamy, risking her own in the process. In return, he stopped Kane from executing her. They both care deeply for their children who are on the ground.


 * -|Marcus Kane =

Marcus Kane
Councilman Marcus Kane is Chancellor Jaha's second-in-command. Despite this, the two often disagree. Jaha has expressed that he thinks that Kane may have been involved somehow in the plot to kill him. But, Kane has appeared to care about Jaha, advising him not to take his own life with the 320 whose lives will be taken.

Killed Victims

 * Numerous unnamed Ark Citizens (floated)
 * Jake Griffin (floated)
 * Aurora Blake (floated)
 * Alex Murphy (floated)
 * 320 Ark residents (The Culling)
 * Craig (pushed into water to be eaten by a sea creature)
 * Ontari (struck a sword to her head)

Notes and Trivia

 * He is shot in "Pilot" and is given extra blood by Dr. Abigail Griffin so he wouldn't die.
 * It is revealed that Bellamy Blake shot him on orders from Commander Shumway who, in turn, was being commanded by Diana Sydney.
 * Camp Jaha, the dropsite of Alpha Station, was named after him before it was renamed Arkadia
 * He was the last of the Sky People to come down to Earth.
 * He was the last Chancellor of The Ark.
 * During "Pilot," Abby asked for A Negative blood for Jaha's surgery. However, it was later announced by the writers that all Sky People have O Negative blood.
 * During "Pilot," Abby asked for A Negative blood for Jaha's surgery. However, it was later announced by the writers that all Sky People have O Negative blood.