Humanity is on edge. A nuclear war ended the world as we knew it, and the survivors settle a colony in space. Now, they face the possibility of extinction. Again. Their only chance? 100 teenage criminals.
One hundred revolted teenagers have humanity fate in their hands. What could possibly go wrong?
Life on Earth
The kids are sent down to Earth without knowing if the air was breathable. If the planet was habitable at all. As soon as they put their feet on the ground, they realize that that wouldn’t be a problem. Everything else is.
How can a bunch of teenagers, locked in a space ship since the day they were born, manage to hunt, fish, build a shelter? How can they survive in an unknown world? Fighting deceases, wild animals… and people.
After all, people are living on earth—a lot of people in different clans and tribes. In the Ark, they lived in peace (did they?), but here, it seems that there is a permanent war. How far will they be willing to go for survival?
Surviving traumas
They fight for survival in many ways. They are in a new world, of which they know nothing about and have no one to help. Yet, our worst enemy is our mind, and theirs are filled with memories - dark memories.
We can’t forget that these kids were prisoners in the Ark. They face traumas and fears that can go to an extreme, as explored in Charlotte’s character. This little girl kills Wells, believing that that would put an end to her nightmares.
Obviously, this is a clever way to inform us. It gives us more details about the past, creating a richer story with deeper characters.
Clarke vs. Bellamy
The more you suffer, the less you care. You can reach a level where to live or die would be equal. What can save you? Relationships: love, friendship, a sense of belonging.
The way these kids organize themselves is unbelievable, and a good lesson for the adults in the Ark. Clarke is a true leader, and the group quickly realizes that. She is smart, resourceful, and, more importantly, she cares.
Yeah, she is almost too perfect, and that can be annoying. She is good, she worries about everyone, and she does everything she should. Then, she puts out a tantrum. Such a mature girl wouldn’t scream at her mother rather than refuse to talk to her? In my opinion, Bellamy is a much better and interesting character.
Where are the grown-ups?
While the kids fight for surviving on Earth in the best way they can, in the Ark, the fights are political. Nonetheless, they aren’t less dangerous.
During the whole season, we are following parallel storylines. The rest of the human population on Ark faces death threatens of many kinds, and the tension rises every day. It gives you a Battlestar Galactica kind of feeling. While some have to make harsh decisions to save the human race, others would do anything for power.
It is a story about people
Like many other successful stories in post-apocalyptic worlds, the center of the story is not what is happening, but how people face and react to it.
The 100 had a difficult path in understanding that the people on the other side aren’t simply enemies. They are people, with feelings, desires, fears, and limitations. People that would do anything to protect the ones they love.
It is a compelling story that I intend to follow. It is not, by all means, perfect, but as I read somewhere, it is a “well-executed futuristic sci-fi series”.
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