Henry Ian Cusick in The 100Image via The CW
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Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recapThe 100 is set to leave Netflix on December 18, 2025, which gives fans and newcomers a limited window to stream one of the most ambitious sci-fi series of the past decade. Some might write The 100 off for being a typical CW show that revolves around teen drama and romance. However, the dystopian sci-fi drama is the exact opposite because of its unpredictable premise. The show is set in a distant future where the Earth has become completely uninhabitable, and whatever remains of humanity inhabits a space station called the Ark.
The story follows a group of one hundred juvenile prisoners who are sent back to Earth nearly a century after the nuclear apocalypse that destroyed everything. These detainees have to determine whether the planet their ancestors once walked is livable again before the Ark runs out of oxygen. The 100 aired its series finale in 2020, but even then, the questions it raises about power and the fragile fabric of society remain as relevant as ever.
How ‘The 100’ Humanized the Sci-Fi Genre
The initial setup of The 100 is what one might expect from a standard dystopian series. However, when the teens land, they realize that the Earth never really died. Instead, the planet houses entire human societies known as the Grounders with their own cultures, rivalries, and customs. This is just the first twist The 100 throws at its audience, though. The show expands in scope and lore with each season in a way that feels both shocking and inevitable. The stakes rise when the Ark’s adult population descends to the Earth, and the story explodes into a clash between the Sky People and the Grounder clans. From power struggles to environmental threats and evolving technology, the show evolves from a simple survival story to a larger commentary on human nature through the lens of the apocalypse.
‘The 100’ Stands Out for Its Complex Characters
The 100 Season 2 imageImage via The CW
The character development, in particular, is what really sets The 100 apart from other shows on The CW. The show is brilliant in its portrayal of morally ambiguous characters, shaped by trauma and a strong sense of responsibility. Eliza Taylor is brilliant as Clarke Griffin, the central protagonist who is forced into a leadership role before she is emotionally ready for it. Her father is executed for treason when he tries to expose the Ark’s failing support systems, and Clarke is imprisoned for knowing too much. By the time she is sent to Earth, she is carrying guilt, fear, and confusion, which ultimately shape the leader she becomes. Bellamy Blake (Bob Morley) is her perfect counterpart, who also grows into a nuanced adult driven by grief, loyalty, and a strong need to do what’s right.
Not only that, but The 100 is full of compelling characters who shape the larger narrative in their own small ways. Whether it’s Octavia Blake’s (Marie Avgeropoulos) drastic transformation, Raven Reyes’ (Lindsey Morgan) journey with disability, or even the Grounder Commander Lexa’s (Alycia Debnam-Carey) political position, the show is committed to depicting growth across generations and cultures to show that humans can never be one-dimensional. Most notably, though, The 100 features some of the strongest female characters on television. The show populates its world with female mechanics, doctors, warriors, strategists, and engineers, without reducing them to stereotypical portrayals. This makes the apocalyptic drama a welcome addition to the sci-fi genre, which has traditionally centered on male heroes. Not to mention the show’s consistent celebration of its LGBTQ+ characters, including Clarke as an openly bisexual lead.
Why You Should Watch 'The 100' Before It Leaves Netflix
Alycia Debnam-Carey as Lexa holding a long weapon with face paint in The 100.Image via The CW
There’s no denying that The 100 is surprisingly dark and way more hard-hitting than one might expect from a CW series. Sure, the series features plenty of corny dialogue and melodrama. However, as the narrative progresses, it feels increasingly grounded and willing to challenge the ethics of survival. In fact, the show has actually inspired a philosophy class at Carnegie Mellon University, which examines its take on moral theory and political structures. The early writing on The 100 is reminiscent of the first few seasons of The Walking Dead and carries that raw tension of people learning to adjust to a world they have never known. What’s even more impressive is that The 100 never stretches storylines or relies on mid-season filler to get by. In fact, the show drives its plot in a way that consistently raises the stakes and maintains momentum.
The show experiments with its tone every season, but retains the powerful storytelling and worldbuilding that made it so addictive in the first place. The fact that the writers gave the Grounders their own language, Trigedasleng, gives the post-apocalyptic society a level of authenticity that strengthens the show’s worldbuilding. The world of The 100 feels deeply lived-in, with every little detail contributing to the realism of the apocalypse and future state of the Earth. Not just that, but every season reveals new layers of history and the consequences of human actions, and the way these developments intersect is a testament to the show’s impactful storytelling.
The 100 is available to stream on Netflix until December 18, 2025.
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The 100
TV-14
Sci-Fi
Mystery
Drama
Release Date
2014 - 2020-00-00
Network
The CW
Showrunner
Jason Rothenberg
Writers
Jason Rothenberg, Mallory Kass
Cast
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Devon Bostick
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Christopher Larkin
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The 100
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