16 Reasons Why "The 100" Is Literally The Greatest TV Show Of All Time

    This is sci-fi done right.

    Lavinia Santos
    by Lavinia Santos

    BuzzFeed Staff

    The 100 was a perfect sci-fi series that kept me on the edge on my seat, and honestly, I'm still having a hard time accepting it's over.

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    So, because I need more people to yell about it with, here are 16 reasons why I think you should watch The 100.

    1. Firstly, the premise itself is just brilliant.

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    The story is set three generations after a thermonuclear apocalypse, with the only known human survivors living in a space colony. The colony sends 100 of its teenage prisoners back down to Earth, with the purpose of testing its habitability,  but things don't quite go to plan.

    2. The show reimagines what a post-apocalyptic earth would look like, and how society would function coming back from an extinction event.

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    The 100 really capitalises on the fact that reality can be unpleasant. They demonstrate the struggles of surviving, and the dystopian nature of the show highlights how mistakes from the past creep into the present. We even see how history repeats itself, after all those years.

    3. And what life on other planets could potentially look like too.

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    I'm obsessed with the creativity on this show. It really opened my mind up to the diverse perspectives, and endless possibilities of human existence.

    4. The show is never predictable.

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    I don't know how they did it, but they were able to plot all the storylines very well, for SEVEN straight seasons. Let's be honest, most shows usually fall off after the third season, but with The 100, every season was an unpredictable adventure – from the Grounders, to A.L.I.E, and then Sanctum. They delivered seven amazing seasons that were just *chef's kiss*. The storyline was always progressing, and there were plenty of action, and drama throughout to keep the viewers on edge! 

    5. The show also consistently celebrated LGBTQ+ people.

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    Inclusion was taken to the next level, by not only having LGBTQ+ characters in its main cast, but also by not killing them all off in the first season – unlike other shows, which I absolutely loved to see!

    6. And there were many women in positions of power and strength.

    Marie Avgeropoulos as Octavia, Alycia Debnam-Carey as Lexa, Eliza Taylor as Clarke in "The 100"
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    It’s pretty cool to see a lot of women in charge in this post-apocalyptic society. Eliza Taylor, for example, plays Clarke Griffin, who is the lead character; Marie Avgeropoulos plays Octavia Blake, who becomes leader of Wonkru; and Alycia Debnam-Carey plays Lexa, who is the Commander of the Grounders. There were also doctors, mechanics, and tribe warriors – they really outdid themselves in The 100, and I was here for it!

    7. There were always new characters that fit seamlessly into the story.

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    The show had an impressive way of introducing new characters in every season, each effectively adding to the story, and plot in amazing ways.

    8. And there were realistic character developments.

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    The characters on the show actually change because of their circumstances and were often forced to make decisions that the rest of the group and the viewers didn't necessarily agree with. Many mistakes were made by all characters, but that's what it made it authentic, because there are no "real" heroes – only people trying to figure out how to navigate the problems they encountered. 

    9. Behind the scenes, the series was developed by Jason Rothenberg, and it's based on the first book in the novel series written by Kass Morgan.

    10. It showed that love really had no boundaries, and the characters didn't have to be related to have the true sibling relationship.

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    It was refreshing to witness characters that were able to form deep connections with one another, despite big differences, and the conflicts between tribes. And the friendships were everything I needed!

    11. The characters were also super smart and I loved listening to them talk about science.

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    I loved the amount of technical detail in the script, especially through Raven and Monty's characters. I bet I can fly a spaceship myself now.

    12. The costuming is just amazing.

    Marie Avgeropoulos as Octavia, Alycia Debnam-Carey as Lexa, and Adina Porter as Indra posing in "The 100"
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    The hairstyles, the makeup, the clan symbols, and outfits – the attention to detail is immaculate! 

    Here's Marie getting into costume to play Octavia:

    13. There's A LOT of fighting, so if you're into that kind of thing, The 100 will definitely keep you locked in.

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    The characters were definitely not afraid to go all the way with the action. 

    The impressive fight scenes actually left some of the actors injured in real life:

    Dichen Lachman @Dichenlachman

    #The100 my nose was broken in this episode. I guess it works:) https://t.co/MXmg60N7E4

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    Twitter: @Dichenlachman

    14. The show frequently explored and portrayed sensitive topics like loss.

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    Loss and sacrifice were unfortunately common themes in this post-apocalyptic world, and the impact that death and grief had on the characters was realistically conveyed throughout all seasons. The way this was navigated in The 100 was very realistic and eye-opening.

    15. And it showed the importance of forgiveness – that change is possible, and that people can learn from their mistakes.

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    The characters are also forced to confront their previous decisions involving sacrifice and disloyalty. They were given opportunities for reconciliation, and to move forward.  After everything they'd gone through, it was refreshing to watch them change, grow, and evolve into better versions of themselves.

    16. And finally, it's pretty addictive!

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    The epic discoveries, the numerous battles, the constant travelling, and the intense power struggles that make up The 100 will certainly keep you on your toes the entire time. Once you start watching the show, you literally won't be able to stop!

    You can catch up on The 100 anytime on Prime Video.

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