Series review: The 100

The 100 (2014–)
The 100 poster Rating: 7.8/10 (62,919 votes)
Director: N/A
Writer: Jason Rothenberg
Stars: Eliza Taylor, Bob Morley, Paige Turco, Marie Avgeropoulos
Runtime: 43 min
Rated: N/A
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Released: 19 Mar 2014
Plot: Set 97 years after a nuclear war has destroyed civilization, when a spaceship housing humanity's lone survivors sends 100 juvenile delinquents back to Earth in hopes of possibly re-populating the planet.

When I watched the pilot episode last year, I didn’t like it. It just struck me as yet another show in which impossibly good-looking “teenagers” (seriously, it’s ridiculous – not a single one looks to be under 20, most 25 and over) face challenges but are more interested in silly love triangles etc. However, in the past few months I kept stumbling across recommendations from sources I respect, mentioning how much the show improved and how good especially the portrayal of women is. So when I noticed season 1 on Netflix, I decided to give it another chance – and I’m glad I did.

It takes a few episodes, during which I got rather annoyed at the stupid shenanigans (yes, they’re teenagers, but they’re fighting for survival), but also got more and more invested in the different characters. The show enjoys subverting expectations, and characters I found immensely dislikable underwent interesting developments, leaving me completely hooked about half-way through season 1. Also, the women are awesome!

One of my favourite things is the wide variety of female characters, still something of a rarity on tv. Yes, they’re “strong”, but their strengths are as different as their skill sets, and the show gives us leaders, fighters, mechanics and doctors. There are also many different relationships that are explored aside from the unavoidable romantic ones (don’t get me started on the beginning of Octavia’s and Lincoln’s relationship, as much as I grew to like it later). And, appropriate for a show that focuses on survival, choices have to be made, and they’re never easy. They also have consequences and influence the characters’ arcs.

There are still weaknesses, of course, like the deaths and/or side-lining of characters of colour or the “savage” tropes in the depiction of the people on the ground. However, season 2 ended with a bang, and luckily season 3 started filming already – I’m sure we’re in for an interesting ride!

Give it a chance
  • The 100 (2014-)
3.5

Summary

The first episodes of this show aren’t good. Like, really not good. However, after a while things improve drastically, and over time what started out as a conventional sci-fi-themed teen drama develops into a pretty great show on hard choices and the things we do to survive and ensure the survival of those we love. It’s also a rather female-driven show, which is always a plus in my book, especially when it comes to sci-fi, and explores a range of relationships, not just romance. Season 3 started filming, and I’m definitely looking forward to it!