Okay, let's talk about The 100 television show. Seriously, have you ever started watching a show thinking it's just another teen drama, only to get sucker-punched by moral dilemmas that would keep a philosopher up at night? That was me with The 100 TV series. I stumbled upon it years ago, expecting maybe some cheesy CW romance and survival stuff. What I got instead was this brutal, relentless plunge into a world where every choice feels like picking the least worst option. "May we meet again"? More like "May we survive tonight without committing war crimes." But hey, that's why we can't stop watching, right?
Finding a good rundown of The 100 television series that isn't just fluff or riddled with spoilers can be tricky. You want the essentials: where to stream it now, who lives, who dies (no spoilers here!), is it worth your time, what the heck is Becca Franko, and why does everyone argue about the ending? That's what this is for. Think of it like your personal Dropship manual for navigating the wild ride that is The 100 show.
The 100 TV Show: The Absolute Essentials
Before we dive into the deep end of Trigedasleng and flamekeepers, let's get the basics locked down. What even is The 100 television program about at its core?
Imagine Earth got nuked. Like, *really* nuked. Survivors? They lived up in a giant space station called the Ark for 97 years. Resources thin, crime gets you "floated" out an airlock – ejected into space. Not great. Fast forward, life support is failing. Desperate times? They send 100 juvenile delinquents down to Earth to see if it's survivable. Human guinea pigs, basically. That's Season 1. Sounds simple? Ha. It doesn't stay simple for long.
These kids, the "100," led by Clarke Griffin (Eliza Taylor), Bellamy Blake (Bob Morley), and Octavia Blake (Marie Avgeropoulos), quickly realize Earth *is* survivable. Beautiful, even. But they also realize they are *not* alone. Enter the Grounders – descendants of survivors who toughed it out on the irradiated surface. Tribal, fierce, speaking Trigedasleng. Conflict sparks immediately. Throw in Mountain Men living in a sealed bunker with a dark secret, a sentient AI threatening all humanity, another habitable planet, and aliens... yeah, The 100 television series goes places.
| Essential Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Original Network | The CW |
| Original Run | March 19, 2014 – September 30, 2020 |
| Number of Seasons | 7 Seasons |
| Total Episodes | 100 Episodes (Fitting, right?) |
| Based On | The book series by Kass Morgan (But the show diverges significantly early on) |
| Main Showrunner | Jason Rothenberg |
| Where to Stream Now (US) | Netflix (All Seasons) |
| Where to Stream Now (UK) | BBC iPlayer (Check availability) |
| Genre | Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction, Drama, Adventure |
| Target Age Group | Young Adult / Adult (Rated TV-14 for Violence, Language, Mature Themes) |
So yeah, seven seasons, a hundred episodes. That's a commitment. Is it worth it? Honestly, most fans agree the journey is wild, even if opinions on the final destination vary wildly (more on that later). Finding The 100 television show is easy now – it's pretty much a Netflix staple globally. Just search for it.
Diving Deeper: Characters, Factions, and the Messy Morality of Survival
Alright, so you know the setup. But what makes people stick with The 100 TV program for seven seasons? Two words: characters and consequences. This show isn't afraid to put its darlings through the wringer, kill them off, or turn them into morally grey figures you both love and hate. Remember that time Clarke pulled the lever in Mount Weather? Yeah.
The Core Survivors (Skaikru)
These are mostly the kids from the Ark, plus some adults who came down later.
- Clarke Griffin (Eliza Taylor): "Wanheda" (Commander of Death). The reluctant leader, burdened with impossible choices. Doctor's kid, tries to save everyone, ends up making brutal calls for survival. You root for her, yell at her, cry with her.
- Bellamy Blake (Bob Morley): Starts as "whatever the hell we want" rebellious protector of his sister. Evolves into a strategic leader haunted by his actions. The heart, often at war with Clarke's head. Their dynamic? Complex doesn't cover it.
- Octavia Blake (Marie Avgeropoulos): Girl lived under the floorboards on the Ark. Becomes "Skairipa" (Red Blood Reaper) and later "Blodreina" (Blood Queen) leading Wonkru. Her journey is arguably the most transformative and traumatic. Is she a victim, a monster, or both? Discuss.
- Raven Reyes (Lindsey Morgan): Genius mechanic/engineer. Absolute badass surviving debilitating injury and chronic pain. Often the voice of reason and tech solution. Fan favorite for good reason.
- John Murphy (Richard Harmon): The cockroach. Started as a selfish jerk, evolves into... well, still a sarcastic survivor, but with surprising loyalty and depth. You hate him, then love him, then just accept he's Murphy. His snark is legendary.
- Monty Green (Christopher Larkin) & Jasper Jordan (Devon Bostick): The brainy tech guys initially. Monty becomes the moral compass, Jasper... Jasper's arc is one of the show's most heartbreaking portrayals of PTSD and survivor's guilt. Grab tissues.
| Major Faction | Description | Key Characters/Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Skaikru ("Sky People") | The descendants of the Ark survivors. Tech-savvy, initially see the Grounders as savages. | Clarke, Bellamy, Abby Griffin, Marcus Kane, Jaha, Raven, Arkadia camp. |
| Grounders (Various Clans) | Tribal societies that survived on Earth. Strong warrior culture. Governed by the Commander (Heda), chosen by the Flame (AI mind drive). Speak Trigedasleng. | Lexa (Trikru), Indra (Trikru), Anya (Trikru), Roan (Azgeda/Ice Nation), Lincoln (Trikru), Ontari (Azgeda). Polis. |
| Mountain Men (Mount Weather) | Descendants of government/military in Mount Weather bunker. Cannot survive Earth's radiation without harvesting Grounders' blood. Seemingly civilized, secretly monstrous. | President Dante Wallace, Dr. Tsing, Cage Wallace, Maya Vie. |
| Eligius Corporation | Introduced later. Mining ship crew awakened from cryo after the first apocalypse. Prisoners and guards. Bring more advanced tech and different conflicts. | Charmaine Diyoza, McCreary, Zeke Shaw. |
| Sanctumites (Seasons 6-7) | Inhabitants of the planet Sanctum. Seemingly peaceful, ruled by the Primes (immortal consciousnesses in new host bodies). Highly religious society hiding dark secrets. | Russell Lightbourne, Simone Lightbourne, Josephine Lightbourne, Gabriel Santiago. |
| Bardoans & Disciples (Season 7) | Advanced human faction living on the planet Bardo. Driven by a mysterious "Last War" prophecy. Highly disciplined society with advanced tech. | Anders, Levitt, Cadogan (The Shepherd). |
Let's be real here. Lexa's death in Season 3? Still stings. That whole "bury your gays" trope felt like a gut punch right when her relationship with Clarke was getting interesting. It sparked massive backlash online – #LGBT fans felt betrayed, and honestly, it cast a shadow over the excellent character Lexa was. The show did get better with representation later (hello, Miller and Jackson!), but that moment is a legit criticism of The 100 television show.
The Big Bad? It's Complicated...
Forget straightforward villains. The 100 television program loves its morally grey antagonists who genuinely believe they're the heroes.
- Season 1: Immediate survival, Grounder hostility, internal conflict among the 100.
- Season 2: Mount Weather emerges as the primary threat. Psychological torture, harvesting bone marrow. Pure nightmare fuel.
- Season 3: Enter ALIE (A.L.I.E.), the rogue AI. Mind control chips offering "City of Light" perfection? Scary relevant. Also, Polis politics and Commander Lexa's assassination.
- Season 4: Praimfaya (Death Wave) – the second nuclear apocalypse. Race against time to find shelter (The Bunker, Becca's Lab, Eligius Ship).
- Season 5: Six years later. Wonkru emerges from the bunker, meets Eligius prisoners. Survival becomes war for the last habitable valley.
- Season 6: New planet, Sanctum! New threats: the Primes and their body-snatching immortality tech. Clarke gets possessed? Yep.
- Season 7: Anomaly stones, time dilation, planets, the mysterious "Last War," and the ultimate test for humanity.
Okay, time for some honesty. Season 7 lost me a bit. Alien transcendence? The whole "test" by glowing beings? It felt... rushed, maybe? Like the writers painted themselves into a corner trying to top previous apocalypses. Some character arcs felt cut short. That finale? Divisive doesn't even begin to cover fan reactions. Personally, I missed the grounded (pun intended) survival struggles of early seasons. Sanctum was cool, but Bardo got too convoluted with pseudo-science for my taste. Still watched every episode though!
Why Should You Watch The 100 Television Series? The Good, The Brutal, and The Unforgettable
So, with all the complexities and that controversial ending, why bother? Because The 100 television show does things few other shows dare:
- No One is Safe: Seriously. Main characters die. Often brutally. It raises the stakes constantly. You get attached, then devastated. It keeps you on edge.
- Moral Ambiguity is King: There are no easy answers. Is killing 300 people to save 400 okay? What lines will you cross to protect those you love? The show forces you to grapple with these questions alongside the characters. There are no pure heroes.
- Strong Female Leads (and Lots of Them): Clarke, Octavia, Raven, Lexa, Indra, Diyoza... the show is packed with complex, capable, and deeply flawed women driving the action. They lead, fight, make terrible mistakes, and carry the weight of the world.
- World-Building Evolution: From the forests of post-apocalyptic DC to the high-tech bunkers and alien planets, the scope constantly expands. Grounder culture, Trigedasleng language – it feels lived-in.
- Character Arcs Galore: Watching characters like Octavia, Murphy, or Bellamy transform over the seasons is phenomenal. They are shaped by trauma, loss, and impossible choices in ways that feel real (if extreme).
- Pacing (Mostly): Once it gets going (around mid-Season 1), it rarely slows down. Plot twists, betrayals, alliances – it's a rollercoaster.
Remember that feeling when Bellamy told Clarke "We bear it so they don't have to"? That sums up the show's core burden. It's heavy.
My personal favorite relationship? Bellamy and Octavia's sibling bond. That "My sister, my responsibility" line? Chills. Watching it fracture and strain under the weight of leadership and trauma in the bunker years was heartbreaking television. Bob Morley and Marie Avgeropoulos killed those scenes.
Where to Jump Off (Or Power Through)? Season-by-Season Honesty
Not sure you want seven seasons? Here's a brutally honest take:
| Season | High Points | Low Points / Critiques | Verdict: Worth Watching? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | Premise setup, survival rawness, Bellamy's "Whatever the hell we want" arc, Grounder reveal finale. | Starts slow, feels very "teen drama" initially, some cringe dialogue early on. | Yes, stick it out. Gets much better mid-season. Essential setup. |
| Season 2 | Mount Weather is peak tension, Clarke/Bellamy partnership shines, moral dilemmas intense, Lexa intro. | Some plot armor noticeable, Maya's fate is gutting. | Absolutely. Widely considered the best season. Edge-of-your-seat stuff. |
| Season 3 | ALIE plot is conceptually brilliant (scary AI), Polis politics fascinating, Pike's extremism sparks debate, Roan is awesome. | Lexa's controversial death, Clarke isolated/rash decisions frustrating, Bellamy's dark turn divisive. | Yes, but brace for impact. Important developments, but Lexa's death mars it. |
| Season 4 | Praimfaya threat unifying, Clarke's leadership sacrifice, Bellamy/Clarke reconciliation, "Die All, Die Merrily" episode. | Feels a bit like retread of "impending doom" after S2/S3, some pacing issues. | Yes. Strong character moments, high stakes finale. |
| Season 5 | Time jump works surprisingly well, Octavia's Blodreina descent chilling, Diyoza is a great antagonist, Madi introduced. | Wonkru vs. Eligius war gets brutal/repetitive, some character motivations feel forced towards conflict. | Mostly Yes. Strong character studies (Octavia!), though plot feels stretched thin. |
| Season 6 | Fresh setting (Sanctum!), Josephine Lightbourne is a delightfully wicked villain, body-snatching premise fun, Clarke vs. Clarke. | Tone shift noticeable (more sci-fi horror), the Prime mythology feels a bit detached from early seasons. | Yes. Enjoyable reset with a great villain performance. |
| Season 7 | Explores time dilation/anomaly stones creatively, Gabriel is a highlight, Levitt/Octavia moments, some epic space scenes. | Plot becomes overly convoluted, Bellamy's controversial arc/end, transcendance ending divisive, pacing issues. | For Completionists. Answers questions but divisive execution. Watch if invested. |
A lot of fans feel the show peaked in Seasons 2 and 4. Seasons 6 and 7 are definitely a departure in tone – leaning harder into sci-fi concepts over grounded survival. Whether that works for you is personal taste!
Burning Questions About The 100 Television Show (FAQ)
Okay, let's tackle some stuff people constantly search about:
Is The 100 television series finished?
Yes. It concluded after seven seasons and 100 episodes on September 30, 2020. That's it. Done. Finished. No Season 8.
Is The 100 TV show based on a book? How different is it?
Loosely, yes. It's based on the young adult book series by Kass Morgan. But here's the kicker: the show diverges *significantly* very early in Season 1. Characters have different roles or fates, major plot points (like the Mountain Men) are show-only, and the tone is much darker. Think of the books as inspiration rather than a blueprint.
Does The 100 have romance?
Yes, but don't expect fluffy CW romance to be the main driver. Relationships form (Clarke/Lexa, Bellamy/Echo, Raven/Finn then Raven/Shaw-ish, Monty/Harper, Miller/Jackson), but they are often forged in trauma, cut short by death, or strained by impossible choices. Romance is usually secondary to survival and politics. And yeah, ships sink. Hard.
Why is The 100 television show rated TV-14?
For very good reason! It features:
- Intense Violence: Battles, executions, torture (physical and psychological), graphic deaths. People get speared, shot, irradiated, burned alive.
- Disturbing Themes: Genocide, war crimes, human experimentation, cannibalism (Wonkru kru), PTSD, suicide.
- Strong Language: Frequent use of words like "s**t," "b***h," "a**hole," etc.
- Sexual Content: Some scenes (nothing overly graphic by HBO standards, but present), discussions of sexuality.
What is the Flame in The 100 TV series?
A key piece of tech! It's an AI neural mesh (the "Flame" or "Commanders' Spirit") created by Becca Franko (the scientist who created ALIE). It stores the consciousnesses of past Commanders (Heda) of the Grounders. Implanted in the back of the neck, it grants enhanced knowledge and fighting ability to the chosen Commander. Clarke, Lexa, Madi, and Sheidheda all interact with it significantly. It's basically Grounder religion meets rogue AI.
Did they really kill Lincoln? Why?
Yes. Ricky Whittle (who played Lincoln) left the show due to reported clashes with the showrunner over the character's direction and lack of screen time. His death in Season 3 was sudden and brutal, shocking fans and Octavia. It fueled Octavia's dark path and remains a sore point for many viewers.
What happened to Bellamy Blake?
*Spoiler Warning (Seriously, skip if avoiding S7 spoilers!)* In Season 7, after disappearing during an Anomaly trip, Bellamy returns months later (though only days for him) as a devout follower of "The Shepherd" (Cadogan). He believes humanity must take a "test" for transcendence. In the penultimate episode, while trying to secure Madi's sketchbook (which contains the test code) for Cadogan, Clarke shoots and kills him to protect Madi. His death is incredibly controversial among fans. *(End Spoiler)*
Is The 100 television program worth watching despite the ending?
This is the million-dollar question. My take? Absolutely **yes**, but manage your expectations. The journey – particularly Seasons 2 through 4 and parts of 5 – contains some truly phenomenal, thought-provoking, and emotionally charged television. The character development is fantastic. The ending (Seasons 6 & 7) is definitely a step down in execution for many, and the finale is divisive. But the overall experience, the characters you grow to love (and hate), the dilemmas explored... it's unique. Don't let the finale scare you off the incredible ride that comes before it. Just maybe brace yourself.
Here's a weirdly specific thing I loved: the use of Radiohead's "Exit Music (For a Film)" in Season 2. That scene where Clarke walks away from Mount Weather after pulling the lever? Haunting. Perfect song choice that elevated the moment massively. Shows how the show used music effectively.
Beyond the Screen: Lingering Thoughts on The 100 Television Show
Years after finishing The 100 television series, certain moments still stick with me. The sheer brutality of Finn's execution. Lexa's quiet strength. Raven's defiance in the face of constant pain. Monty's final message, sacrificing himself to give everyone a chance at a new life on a new planet – "May we meet again, my friends." That felt like the true heart of the show.
It wasn't perfect. The pacing wobbled. Plot holes appeared. Some arcs fizzled while others ended controversially. The sci-fi got *way* out there in the end. But the core question it asked relentlessly – "What does it take to survive, and what does survival cost our humanity?" – resonated deeply.
If you're looking for a show that explores the darkest and most resilient parts of human nature, wrapped in a high-stakes sci-fi survival package, The 100 television show is worth your time. Dive in. Expect to be frustrated, devastated, and surprised. Just try not to get too attached... nobody's safe down here. Your journey begins on the Ark. Good luck.
Final Pieces of Intel:
- Want to Learn Trigedasleng? David J. Peterson (who created Dothraki for Game of Thrones) developed the Grounder language. There are online guides and even a YouTube channel dedicated to it. "Jus drein jus daun!" (Blood must have blood!).
- Soundtrack Deep Cuts: Beyond Radiohead, the show featured great music choices from artists like Raign, Oh Land, and Vancouver Sleep Clinic. Worth digging into playlists.
- Fandom Lives On: Despite ending, the fandom remains active. Fan fiction, art, and discussions are still going strong on platforms like Tumblr, Reddit (r/The100), and Twitter.