The 100 is a loosely based adaptation of the book of the same name by Kass Morgan. Here’s the synopsis:
“After the earth was destroyed by a nuclear war, the remaining people on earth set a giant space station called the “Ark” into space to survive. Then after 97 years of living in space the counsel sends the 100 juvenile prisoners down to earth. Once they arrive, they are quick to set a “no law” system of government. The 100 realize they are not the only ones on earth and they quickly adapt to their new home.”
Pretty run of the mill teenage dystopia stuff, but the TV show is so much more. Here’s why:
Machine Gun Style Storytelling
This show waits for no man, folks. Every season — really every episode — moves at breakneck speed. The show’s creators rebelled against the typical fall to spring scattered run, breaking for holidays and major sporting events, and settled in a 13-episode season, much like our favorite aforementioned cable series. This leaves no time for dilly-dallying around … I’m talking to you, Supernatural. Literally, whole story arcs are wrapped up in a couple of episodes. Each season has been an entirely new experience with entirely new circumstances, storylines and groups of side characters. It’s so refreshing. Also, Ricky Whittle abs are often featured…
The Highest Stakes I’ve Ever Seen
Over the course of just two and a half seasons, thousands — Yes, THOUSANDS — of people have died, including several major characters. While the show started off clichéd enough, the turning point came during Season 1, Episode 4. Charlotte, a teeny-tiny wasp of a child, stabbed one of the major characters in the neck. In the very next episode, the Ark is running out of resources and a Population Reduction Plan, a.k.a. the culling, is approved. Basically, they’re going to murder 320 people. You think the main characters will find another way, but they don’t.
It was at that point in the series I was like, “Holy shit. This just got real.” It basically snowballs from there on out. They never find another way. They never defuse the metaphorical bomb in time. This show kills people, tortures people and just freaking hurts.
The Characters Make Me Cry All The Tears
Somehow, amidst the mayhem and chaos, the show’s writers make everything seem very personal. An effect that The Walking Dead also does exceptionally well and Game of Thrones usually misses. In the episode just described above, we were introduced to a loving, single father whose daughter is going blind from oxygen deprivation. He actually volunteers for the culling and dies holding his daughter’s hair barrette. This was a one-off character and he. made. me. cry. #NeverForgetGingerDad
Don’t even get me started on the relationship between major characters like Bellamy and his sister Octavia, who was an illegally born second child forced to hide her entire life on the Ark. Octavia also has the only true love story on the show with TN sweetheart and soon to be Shadow Moon Ricky Whittle, in the form of Lincoln.
Or Bellamy and Clarke, the de facto teenage leaders on the ground who are forced to rely on each other at first and then need each other. I can’t give any spoilers as to why, but this is probably the best non-romantic, super complicated relationship between a man and woman I’ve ever seen. It’s right up there with Daryl Dixon and Carol.
Or Raven who is absolutely gorgeous, intelligent and tortured when her best friend, Finn, gets caught in the middle of everything, goes total FUBAR and massacres a village.
Strong Women
The women characters are the most amazing part of this show, especially for a network like CW that tends to relegate female roles to overly complicated love triangles and damsels in distress. On The 100, almost every position of power is held by a woman. Other than Clarke and Octavia, the supreme commander on the ground is Lexa, a truly badass female warrior who was preordained from birth to be the “Heda.” Her boots on the ground General is Indra. Later, we meet the Queen of the Ice Nation and let’s not forget that Clarke’s mom, Abby, is also a behind-the-scenes leader on the Ark.
All of these characters are complicated and nuanced, faced with a million different situations that don’t involve freaking love triangles … you know, like real women in real life.
Combine all of this with a story that constantly keeps us guessing and you have a show that is groundbreaking. The cast is diverse and every relationship plays an integral role towards the greater plot. It’s making us think about tough moral choices, politics and religion without being overt. This show also looks expensive. The costumes and sets are gorgeous; the special effects are worthy of a big budget film.
Basically what I’m saying is, “It’s the best damn show on TV right now.”
