The 100

A century after a nuclear catastrophe made Earth unlivable, the last humans cling to survival aboard a failing space habitat. With resources dwindling and leadership clinging to harsh rules, the Ark’s authorities send one hundred teenage prisoners down to the planet to test whether it can sustain life again. Those teens land on a wild, unfamiliar Earth and must build shelter, find food, and handle threats they never imagined. Ties form and break fast, authority is contested, and choices about morality, loyalty, and power come quickly. The show follows a core group as they wrestle with survival and the costs of decisions that affect an entire species, without giving away the shocks and turns that define later seasons.

Premiering in 2014, the series was created by Jason Rothenberg and Mallory Kass and stars Eliza Taylor, Bob Morley, Lindsey Morgan, Marie Avgeropoulos, and Richard Harmon, among others.

Over its run the show received a number of nominations and recognition from genre and fan-voted awards, reflecting strong viewer engagement even if it didn’t dominate mainstream trophy lists.

The 100 left a clear mark on TV fandom and genre storytelling, inspiring intense online discussion about its ethical dilemmas, frequent character shipping, and the darker direction it took compared with many teen-oriented sci-fi shows. Its blend of survival drama and political intrigue sparked essays, think pieces, and an active fanbase that kept conversations alive between seasons.

Critics and audiences generally responded positively, reflected in a vote average of 7.888/10 from 8,449 votes. Reviews often praised the show’s focus on leadership struggles, shifting allegiances, and moral ambiguity, while noting that later seasons pushed characters into increasingly harsh scenarios. Major themes include governance under pressure, the transition from adolescence to leadership, and the long-term consequences of urgent choices.