I know what you’re thinking, and yes. The title is a VERY bold statement. You’re sitting there going “What is this guy thinking?? He really thinks that The 100, a CW show that not many people watch, is the best show on TV?” The short answer is yes, yes I do. My hope is to use this to convince you to watch the show. Since it’s already renewed for Season 3, I’m not begging you to watch in hopes of a ratings boost, but rather I’m asking you to watch to do yourself a favor. It’s THAT good.
Strong Female Characters Take the Lead
The 100, in my opinion, is the best show on television for several reasons. Number one: They have some of the strongest female characters on TV. Feminism on television is in a growth period. Everywhere we look we see strong, central female characters, such as Agent Carter’s Peggy Carter, The Americans’ Elizabeth Jennings, or Castle’s Kate Beckett, to name a few. So what’s different about The 100? What sets it apart from these other shows? What makes its feminism so much stronger? Well, not only is the central character (Clarke Griffin, played beautifully by Eliza Taylor) a strong female, but ALL the female characters are strong. Whether you’re looking at Octavia (Marie Avgeropoulos), who underwent a brilliant transformation from unwanted child to warrior, Raven (Lindsey Morgan) who reached Earth from space with little assistance from anyone, or even Abigail Griffin (Paige Turco), who has proven time and time again that she is a force to be reckoned with, both politically and personally.
Furthermore, every Grounder commander has been female, and Lexa (Alycia Debnam Carey) has giving the strongest performance yet. The beautiful thing about these characters is that they are NOT overtly feminist, nor does the show try to play them that way. Rather, they are simply strong characters who happen to be female, which I would think is the whole goal of feminism, yes? Each female actress is strong enough and able to carry any and every scene that they’re in, and it’s just wonderfully done.
Dynamic Character Pairings and Alliances
Another reason The 100 is the best show on TV: they’re not afraid to mix it up. What do I mean? The character pairings are different week in and week out. They’ve created especially unique relationships within the characters that make them infinitely interesting. I’m not just talking about a Grounder and Sky Person romance, either. Recently, for instance, Lincoln (Ricky Whittle) and Bellamy (Bob Morley) went on a mission together to infiltrate Mt. Weather. In Season 1, Lincoln was captured by Bellamy and endlessly tortured for information about the Grounder camp. By Season 2, the show has moved so quickly and the characters developed so far that they have become allies. The alliances, whether big (Grounders and Sky People), or small (Lincoln and Bellamy) are constantly shifting, and that makes for some seriously great television.
Unafraid to Kill Off Characters
Building on my previous point: The 100 writers are not afraid to kill off their characters. Most would agree that The Walking Dead is one of the most popular shows on television, if not the most popular. Some would argue that The Walking Dead’s weakness is the inability to kill off major characters, or kill minor ones inappropriately. Game of Thrones, another popular show, kills off characters (almost too) frequently and without remorse. The 100 showcases the perfect middle ground between these two shows.
The 100 shows no fear in executing a beloved character. In third episode of the whole series, a character who looks to be a major player is killed off in a shocking twist. Another fan favorite character was killed off in the mid-season finale of Season 2. The deaths are unrepentant and swift, but they also have major repercussions that resonate throughout the series. The 100 finds the perfect balance of giving a character an exit that resonates through the plot and characters of the show, while still being fearless to lose a major player. While the show is not riddled with death, I expect to more and more to come.
A Gripping and Engaging Experience
Finally, as if my previous reasons weren’t enough: The 100 is gripping. All of the elements I’ve listed in my previous points combine to create some of the most gripping television available right now. I have constantly tried to take notes for my weekly reviews, and I’m constantly having my gaze ripped from my page on to the screen. I can’t look away! Everything the characters do keeps me engaged, and the story is twisty and there are turns at every corner. I’m always afraid that I’ll miss something. I care about the characters, and I’m invested, so missing something that happens is no longer an option.
If you are interested in science-fi shows, like strong female characters, and want to be sucked in and blown away at the way a story is told, you should be watching The 100. Keep in mind that ratings aren’t always an indicator of quality, and give this show a watch. Season 1 is now available on Netflix!
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my thoughts on The 100? Let us know!
[Photos via The CW]
Related: The CW
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