(Spoiler Alert: Do not read on if you have not seen the Season 1 finale of “The 100,” entitled “We Are Grounders, Part 2”)
The CW is known for young, beautiful casts, but don’t let that sheen of youthful beauty fool you. “The 100” is a sophisticated show, and one of the smartest science fiction shows on television. It’s also a show that’s not afraid to go dark. This is a bleak future, and many people have died thus far to give humanity a chance at survival.
See video: ‘The 100’ Star Lindsey Morgan Spills the Latest on Season 1 Finale
Fans of “The 100” aren’t going anywhere after an exciting and unpredictable finale. The final moments alone will leave people talking all summer. The question is whether or not any potential new viewers will listen, and consider sampling this ambitious new show.
See video: The CW’s First Look Trailers: New Shows ‘Jane the Virgin,’ ‘The Flash’
Here are six reasons they absolutely should:
1. The premise speaks to multiple generations. 97 years after a nuclear war, humanity lives on space stations, collectively known as the Ark. With air running out, a decision is made to send teen prisoners to the surface of the Earth to see if it’s inhabitable. The easy route would have been to just follow the kids to the surface, but “The 100” also stayed with their parents on the Ark, worrying about the safety of their children on Earth while fretting about their own bleak future if a solution isn’t found soon for their dwindling air supply.
See photos: ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ Premiere: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, John Green Hit the Red Carpet
2. The reunion of the kids and the adults will be worth the wait. With the air on board the Ark almost out in the season finale, Thelonius (Isaiah Washington) sacrificed himself by staying aboard the Ark so that Abigail (Paige Turco), Marcus (Henry Ian Cusick) and the others would have a chance to live by heading down to the surface. They landed in a mountainous region, but Abigail is now on the same world as her daughter, and nothing will stop her from finding Clarke (Eliza Taylor) and reuniting her family.
Also read: Ratings: The CW’s ‘100’ Debuts to Biggest Time Period Audience Since 2010
3. “The 100” has not one, but two strong female leaders. Clarke has risen to lead the Hundred on the surface of the Earth, while her mother Abigail was the true voice of leadership on board the Ark, and now that its final survivors have made it to Earth.
4. The Earth is not nearly so barren as everyone was led to believe. The Hundred first met the Grounders, who are apparent survivors of the nuclear war 97 years ago, shortly after landing. Since then, it’s been a constant battle between the two groups.
See video: What’s the Deal? With the Disappointing Summer Movie Season – So Far
5. It’s time to expand this world. In show time, it’s been about a month since the kids first landed. Now that their parents are on the Earth’s surface, it’s time to explore more in depth this strange, old world they’ve landed on, along with all the mysterious inhabitants who apparently have survived all this time.
6. The loss of the Ark doesn’t mean the loss of technology. As the final moments of the finale teased, there is plenty of it in Mount Weather. After getting knocked out by a gas post-battle, the Hundred – or at least Clarke and Monty (Christopher Larkin) – wind up in white, sterile rooms in what is labeled the “Mount Weather Quarantine Ward.” In other words, like blowing open the Hatch changed everything for “Lost,” “The 100” is about to head in a whole new direction for Season 2.
Making it even easier for potential new viewers, there are only 13 episodes in the first season. Not only does it make for a tight and cohesive story, it makes it perfectly reasonable for anyone to catch up before the Season 2 premiere in October. Episodes are currently available for purchase via Amazon, iTunes or Vudu.