March 19, 2014 (2014-03-19) – September 30, 2020 (2020-09-30)
The 100 (pronouncedThe Hundred[2]) is an Americanpost-apocalypticscience fictiondrama television series that premiered on March 19, 2014, onthe CW, and ended on September 30, 2020. Developed byJason Rothenberg, the series is loosely based on theyoung adultnovel seriesThe 100 byKass Morgan.[3]The 100 follows post-apocalyptic survivors from aspace habitat, theArk, who return to Earth nearly a century after a devastatingnuclear apocalypse. The first people sent to Earth are a group of juvenile delinquents who encounter descendants of survivors of the nuclear disaster on the ground.
Ninety-seven years after a devastatingnuclear apocalypse wipes out most human life on Earth, thousands of people now live in aspace station orbiting Earth, which they call the Ark. Three generations have been born in space, but when life-support systems on the Ark begin to fail, one hundred juveniledetainees are sent to Earth in a last attempt to determine whether it is habitable, or at least save resources for the remaining residents of the Ark. They discover that some humans survived the apocalypse: the Grounders, who live in clans locked in a power struggle; the Reapers, another group of grounders who have been turned into cannibals by the Mountain Men; and the Mountain Men, who live inMount Weather, descended from those who locked themselves away before the apocalypse. Under the leadership ofClarke andBellamy, the juveniles attempt to survive the harsh surface conditions, battle hostile grounders and establish communication with the Ark.
In the second season, the survivors face a new threat from the Mountain Men, who harvest their bone marrow to survive the radiation. Clarke and the others form a fragile alliance with the grounders to rescue their people. The season ends with Clarke making a devastating choice to save them all. In season three, power struggles erupt between the Arkadians and the grounders after a controversial new leader takes charge. Meanwhile, an AI named A.L.I.E., responsible for the original apocalypse, begins taking control of people’s minds. Clarke destroys A.L.I.E. but learns another disaster is imminent. In the fourth season, nuclear reactors are melting down, threatening to wipe out life again. Clarke and her friends search for ways to survive, including experimenting with radiation-resistant blood and finding an underground bunker. As time runs out, only a select few are able to take shelter.
The fifth season picks up six years later, when Earth is left largely uninhabitable except for one green valley, where new enemies arrive. Clarke protects her adopted daughter Madi while former survivors return from space and underground, triggering another war. The battle ends with the valley destroyed and the group entering cryosleep to find a new home. In season six, the group awakens 125 years later on a new planet called Sanctum, ruled by powerful families known as the Primes. Clarke fights to stop body-snatching rituals and protect her people from new threats, including a rebel group and a dangerous AI influence. The season ends with major losses and the destruction of the Primes' rule. In the seventh and final season, the survivors face unrest on Sanctum and clash with a mysterious group called the Disciples, who believe Clarke is key to saving humanity. A wormhole network reveals multiple planets and a final "test" that determines the fate of the species. Most transcend into a higher consciousness, but Clarke and a few others choose to live out their lives on a reborn Earth.
^Bostick was credited as main cast for the first 11 episodes of season 4; however, he only appeared in 7 of them.
^Washington was credited as main cast for the first 2 episodes of season 5; however, he only appeared in episode 2 of that season.
^Cusick was credited as main cast in the first 9 episodes of season 6; however, he only appeared in 3 of them.
^Whittle was credited as main cast in the first 9 episodes and episode 12 in season 3.
^McGowan was credited as main cast in the first 10 episodes of season four.
^Bourne also portrayed Russell Lightbourne VII in seasons six and in a recurring capacity, whileSheidheda was originally portrayed by co-starDakota Daulby.
The 100 premiered on March 19, 2014.[8] On May 8, 2014, the CW renewedThe 100 for a second season, which premiered on October 22, 2014.[9][10] On January 11, 2015, the CW renewed the series for a third season, which premiered on January 21, 2016.[11][12] On March 12, 2016,The 100 was renewed for a fourth season of 13 episodes, which premiered on February 1, 2017.[13][14][15] On March 10, 2017, the CW renewed the series for a fifth season, which premiered on April 24, 2018.[16][17] On May 9, 2018, the series was renewed for a sixth season, which premiered on April 30, 2019.[1][18] On April 24, 2019, the CW renewed the series for a seventh season, that would consist of 16 episodes and premiered on May 20, 2020.[19][20][21][22] In August 2019, it was announced the seventh season would be the final season, finishing the show with a total of 100 episodes across all seven seasons.[23]
Filming for the series took place in and aroundVancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Production on the pilot occurred during the second quarter of 2013. After the show received a series order,[30] filming for the first season occurred between August 2013 and January 2014. Filming for the second season began on July 7, 2014, and concluded on January 23, 2015. The third season was filmed between July 15, 2015, and February 2, 2016.[31] Filming for the fourth season began on August 2, 2016, and concluded on January 18, 2017.[32][33] Filming for the fifth season began on August 14, 2017, and finished on January 27, 2018.[34][35][36] Filming for the sixth season began on August 27, 2018, and concluded on February 8, 2019.[37] Filming for the seventh season began on August 26, 2019, and concluded on March 14, 2020.[38]
Post-production work, includingADR recording for the series, was done at theCherry Beach Sound recording studio.[39]David J. Peterson, who createdDothraki andValyrian forGame of Thrones, developed the Trigedasleng language for The Grounders. Jason Rothenberg said it was similar toCreole English.[40] The language is called "Trig" on the show.[41] After his constructed language work onStar-Crossed, Peterson was contacted by the producers ofThe 100 to create a language for the Grounders, an evolution of English.[42] In the setting, 97 years have passed since the apocalypse,[43] which is a very short time for significant language change.[42] Because of this, Peterson posited an accelerated evolution in which the early Grounders used acant specifically to obfuscate their speech and to differentiate between friend or foe. Trigedasleng derives from that cant and evolved over several short generations of survivors of the apocalypse.[42]
On March 12, 2020, Warner Bros. Television shut down production on all of their shows due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, however, writer Kim Shumway confirmed they were able to complete filming for their seventh season.[44][45]
In Canada, Season 1 ofThe 100 was licensed exclusively toNetflix. The series premiered on March 20, 2014, the day after the mid-season premiere of Season 1 on the CW.[56]
In New Zealand, the series premiered onTVNZ's on-demand video streaming service on March 21, 2014.[57]
In the UK and Ireland,The 100 premiered onE4 on July 7, 2014.[58] The first episode was viewed by an average audience of 1.39million, making it the channel's biggest ever program launch. Season 2 premiered on January 6, 2015, and averaged 1,118,000 viewers.[59] Season 3 premiered on February 17, 2016.[60][61]
In Australia,The 100 was originally scheduled to premiere onGo![62] but instead premiered onFox8 on September 4, 2014.[63] Season 2 premiered on January 8, 2015.[64]
Warner Home Entertainment released the first five seasons' DVDs, and the first season's Blu-ray while the remaining five seasons' Blu-rays were released throughWarner Archive Collection who also released a manufacture-on-demand DVD for the sixth and seventh seasons.[65]
OnRotten Tomatoes, the show holds a 93 percent average approval rating across its seven seasons.[98]
Its first season has a 76 percent approval rating based on 37 reviews, with anaverage score of 6.98/10. The site's consensus reads: "Although flooded with stereotypes, the suspenseful atmosphere helps makeThe 100 a rare high-concept guilty pleasure."[99] OnMetacritic, the first season scores 63 out of 100 points, based on 26 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[97] In an early negative review of the first season, Brian Lowry ofThe Boston Globe said: "Our attraction to Apocalypse TV runs deep, as our culture plays out different futuristic possibilities. That's still no reason to clone material, nor is it a reason to deliver characters who are little more than stereotypes."[100] At the start of the series, Allison Keene ofThe Hollywood Reporter said the show "has a lot of interesting things to play with in terms of its narrative and world-building, but it chooses to gloss over them", presenting "The CW's ultimate vision for humanity: an Earth populated only by attractive teenagers, whose parents are left out in space."[101] Kelly West ofCinema Blend gave it a more favorable review, noting: "It takes a little while for the series to warm up, but whenThe 100 begins to hit its stride, a unique and compelling drama begins to emerge."[102]IGN's editor Eric Goldman also gave the show a positive review, writing: "Overcoming most of its early growing pains pretty quickly,The 100 was a very strong show by the end of its first season."[103]
The second season was met with mostly positive reviews and holds a rating of 100 percent onRotten Tomatoes based on 11 reviews, with an average score of 8.77/10. The site's consensus reads: "The 100 hones all of the things that make it tick for a dynamic second season complete with fast-paced storylines, vivid visuals, and interesting characters to root for – or against."[104] In a review of the second-season finale, Kyle Fowle ofThe A.V. Club said, "Very few shows manage to really push the boundaries of moral compromise in a way that feels legitimately difficult. [...]The 100 has done the same, presenting a finale that doesn't shy away from the morally complex stakes it's spent a whole season building up."[105]Maureen Ryan ofThe Huffington Post, wrote: "I've rarely seen a program demonstrate the kind of consistency and thematic dedication thatThe 100 has shown in its first two seasons. This is a show about moral choices and the consequences of those choices, and it's been laudably committed to those ideas from Day 1."[106]IGN's Eric Goldman said the second season "elevated the series into the upper echelon, as the show become one of the coolest and most daring series on TV these days".[103] InVariety, Ryan namedThe 100 one of the best shows of 2015.[107]
The third season received an overall rating of 83 percent based on 12 reviews, with an average rating of 7.29/10. The critical consensus is, "The 100 goes macro in season 3, skillfully expanding the literal scope of the setting and figurative moral landscape."[108]Variety's Maureen Ryan stated in an early review of the season: "The show is more politically complicated than ever, and the world-building that accompanies the depiction of various factions, alliances and conflicts is generally admirable."[109] In a review of the third-season finale, Mariya Karimjee ofVulture wrote: "Every moment of this finale is pitch-perfect: the choreography of the fight scenes, the plotting and pacing, and the stunning way in which the episode finally reaches it apex. [The episode] elevates the season's themes and pulls together its disparate story lines, setting us up nicely for season four."[110] In his review of the finale and the season overall, Fowle ofThe A.V. Club stated: "This has been a rocky season. The first half of it was defined by shoddy character motivations and oversized villains. The second half has done some work to bring the show back from the brink, [...] paying off with "a thrilling, forward-thinking finale that provides some necessary closure to this season."[111]
The fourth season received a 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 8.22/10 based on 14 reviews. The site's consensus reads, "Season 4 ofThe 100 rewards longtime viewers with a deeper look at their favorite characters, as well as adding exceptional nuance and depth to their thrilling circumstances."[112] The latter half of the fourth season received better reception than the first, with the episodes "Die All, Die Merrily" and "Praimfaya" often cited as the best episodes of the season. "Die All, Die Merrily" has a 9.5/10 rating fromIGN, a 5/5 rating fromVulture, and an A rating fromThe AV Club.[113][114][115] "Praimfaya" has a 9.0/10 fromIGN and an A rating fromThe AV Club.[116][117]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the fifth season has a 100 percent with an average of 8.31/10, based on 13 reviews. The site's consensus is, "Five years in,The 100 manages to top itself once again with a audacious, addicting season."[118] In a 4.5/5 review fromDen of Geek, the third episode "Sleeping Giants" is described as a "good ol' fashioned episode ofThe 100", praising its balance of action, humour, and rich relationships.[119]
The sixth season also has a 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, averaging a score of 7.20/10 based on 10 reviews. The site's consensus is, "The 100 successfully resets its game, proving that conflict lies within these characters rather than their environment, and sows the seeds for a killer final season."[120] In particular, the sixth season's change of scenery was the subject of a range of reactions. Nicolene Putter ofCultured Vultures praised the new storylines, stating "the cutthroat plotlines will always have you sitting on the edge of your seat",[121] and Selina Wilken ofHypable praised the season premiere for, despite introducing a lot of new information, overall being "a solid opening hour of a semi-reset version ofThe 100".[122] On the other hand, Yana Grebenyuk ofTV Fanatic criticized the various subplots, referring to the season finale "The Blood of Sanctum" as "a collective statement on what happens when there's too much plot and not enough time found to pace it".[123]
The seventh season has a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 7.50/10 based on 8 reviews.[124] While the earlier episodes of season seven, such as thebackdoor pilot to thecancelled prequel series "Anaconda", were generally met with praise, the later episodes and in particular the season and series finale received backlash. The 13th episode, "Blood Giant", was panned by critics and fans alike for its killing of Bellamy, one of the show's leads since the first season. Grebenyuk called the episode out for "undermin[ing] the two leads, their love for one another, and the show's entire message";[125]Den of Geek reviewer Delia Harrington viewed his re-characterization and subsequent death as "baffling".[126] The season's final episode and series finale, "The Last War", was also widely criticized as an ineffective end to the series.[127][128] Zack Giaimo ofFanSided writes "despite some good scenes, the series finale ofThe 100 wastes a lot of the character development of the last seven seasons".[129] In a more positive review, aSpoilerTV reviewer said that while the finale was not without mistakes, it was enough to satisfy long-time viewers and gave the leads a happy ending.[130]
In 2016,Rolling Stone ranked the show #36 on its list of the "40 Best Science Fiction TV Shows of All Time".[131]
In 2016, the series and showrunner Jason Rothenberg faced widespread controversy whenLexa, the leader of the Grounders and a lesbian character, was killed off in the third-season episode "Thirteen". Some critics and fans considered the death and the way it was written a continuation of thebury your gays trope in television, in which LGBT characters, especially queer women, are killed off far more often than others, implicitly portraying them as disposable and existing primarily to serve the stories of straight characters or to attract viewers. Lexa's death occurring immediately after having sex with Clarke received particular criticism. WithThe 100, along with shows likeThe Walking Dead andSupernatural all containing examples of the "bury your gays" trope around the same time, many were left upset. Fans of the show rallied behind the phrase "Lexa Deserved Better" as a way to show their disapproval of the character's death.[132][133] A debate about the trope among media, writers and viewers ensued, with Lexa's death cited by some as a prime example of the trope and why it should end.[134] Rothenberg eventually wrote in response, "I [...] write and produce television for the real world where negative and hurtful tropes exist. And I am very sorry for not recognizing this as fully as I should have."[135] Additionally, Debnam-Carey's concurrent role in the seriesFear the Walking Dead was presented as an off-screen reason for Lexa's death.[136]
An estimated 2.7million American viewers watched the series premiere, which received an 18–49 rating of 0.9, making it the most-watched show in its time slot on the CW since 2010, with the seriesLife Unexpected.[156]
In October 2019, Rothenberg began developing a prequel series toThe 100 for the CW. Abackdoor pilot episode was ordered; "Anaconda" aired July 8, 2020, as an episode of the seventh and final season ofThe 100. The prequel series was to show the events 97 years before the original series, beginning with the nuclear apocalypse that wiped out almost all life on Earth.[176]
In February 2020, it was reported thatIola Evans, Adain Bradley, andLeo Howard had been cast as Callie, Reese, and August, respectively.[177] Jason Rothenberg was to serve as an executive producer withThe 100 executive producers Leslie Morgenstein and Gina Girolamo of Alloy to serve as producers.[176]
In January 2021, Deadline reported that the prequel series was still being considered.[178] In May 2021, according toMark Pedowitz of the CW, the spinoff was still under consideration by the network.[179] In November 2021, it was reported that the CW had decided not to move forward with the prequel series.[180]
Venable, Malcolm; Gennis, Sadie; Mathews, Liam; Surette, Tim; Vick, Megan; Zalben, Alexander; Raftery, Liz; Eng, Joyce (July 7, 2016)."The Most Important TV Moments of 2016 (So Far)".TV Guide.Archived from the original on July 8, 2016. RetrievedMarch 3, 2016.
Quotations related toThe 100 (TV series) at Wikiquote
