Best New Show of Spring 2014? The 100 on CW

This is a show I was expecting to hate. So many CW shows are just not meant for me. This one was not either per se. Definitely a teen audience geared series.

However, no matter who the intended audience, when a show is well conceived top to bottom, it can be enjoyed by all.

Intense LIFE OR DEATH plot puts the remainder of Earth's Survivors - 97 years after Nuclear Disaster made living on the planet impossible - in dire straights. The world's space stations came together to create the ARC. A futuristic last resort for humanity, where ever crime is punishable by death, just to spare resources. Under 18 year old criminals are spared till their 18th birthday.

But now there is only 4 months of living to do aboard the arc. So in hope the earth might be ready for human life, they send 100 teenage prisoners to test out the planet. But of course numerous factors make things less than simple. Most make it to the surface.

Politics are at play on the base and Earth.

On the station, the Chancellor (Isaiah Washington as Chancellor Jaha) is shot by an earth bound refugee of sorts (Bobby Morley as Bellamy Blake). Second in commend grabs control and immediately consolidates power. Acting Chancellor Kane (Henry Ian Cusick from Lost) has survival as his first priority, willing to sacrifice just about the rest of humanity to do so (Paraphrasing) "I will legislate us down to a new Adam & Eve if I have to"

Councilwoman Dr. Abigail Griffin (Paige Turco) is arrested after using too much blood and power to save Chancellor Jaha.

KAne "I am trying to make sure the human race survives"
Griffin "I am trying to make sure we deserve it" (Might be paraphrasing but that is the gist)

About to be executed for the offense, Chancellor Jaha intervenes just in time with a pardon.

On the planet, Clarke Griffin (Eliza Taylor, and Daughter of Dr Griffin) is focused on survival 101. We learn she and her father found about the short supply issue aboard the arc. In order to spare the population mass hysteria, he is executed when he refuses to keeps secrets. Clarke, being under 18 is sentenced to prison isolation to keep the secret.

But she is up against LORD OF THE FLIES future teens style. AS former prison residents that do not trust their former captors, this is a chance for true freedom. Most choose anarchy.

Clarke leads a small group - including Roderick Rules from Dairy of a Wimpy Kid (Devon Bostick as Jasper ) and a Neve Cambell type (Marie Avgeropoulos as Octavia Blake) with the misunderstood Bad Boy and computer geek (Christopher Larkin as Monty Green)- to go find Weather Mountain, where there is supposedly a stash of emergency food and other supplies. Their trip leads to beauty (Glow in the dark moss) and horror (Giant killer snake)

Back at the Camp. Wells Jaha - Chancellor's son - is hurt (missing a leg) and refusing to comply with the anarchy. Bellamy Blake (Bob Morley) is sort of in charge of the anarchy. Bellamy gets all to remove tracker bracelets. Hoping the folks on the Arc will think the mission successful, the others will not follow and the 100 will have free reign.

Richard Harmon (John Murphy) is known most recently for playing young Julian Randall on Continuum (SCYFY - another great show) clearly has a dark past and murderous intent. This guy will be a problem... Bellamy seems more like a misguided leader - a teen that just wants to get away form parental guidance. John Murphy is more pure chaos.


All seems great until a mysterious creature in the woods threatens the very existence of the 100.

So with 100, you can kill of one teen per episode and still have 5 seasons before sending another 100 to earth. SPOILER ALERT - Roderick will be freed up for next Dairy of a Wimpy Kid movie way too soon. This kid is a great actor.

WATCH THIS SHOW!!!


MINI EXPEDITION
Eliza Taylor as Clarke Griffin
Marie Avgeropoulos as Octavia Blake
Devon Bostick as Jasper
Christopher Larkin as Monty Green
Thomas McDonell as Finn Collins

BASE CAMP
Bobby Morley as Bellamy Blake
Richard Harmon as John Murphy
Eli Goree as Wells Jaha

MORE TO COME...

ADULTS ON THE ARC
Paige Turco as Councilwoman Dr. Abigail Griffin
Isaiah Washington as Chancellor JahaHenry Ian Cusick as Councilman Kane
Kelly Hu as Callie "Cece" Cartwig
Fred Cruz as Louis Montgomery