Written by: Kevin Berge
Between seasons 2 and 3, Clarke went through a red head dreadlock phase. It passed, sadly. (Image Courtesy of: cwtv.com)
Quick Take: The 100 Season 3 pushes forward with almost unnerving speed as the threats consistently change as characters are forced to make dangerous decisions that often lead to more than a comfortable amount of death. While the series' speed hinders the development of story a bit, it also helps keep the story fresh and makes each episode exciting with acting that continues to grow.
Previous Season Reviews: Season 1 | Season 2
***With the recent end of season 3 of The 100, this review is spoiler heavy expecting the reader to have watched the show up through the finale of its latest season. If you plan to watch the series and have not seen up to its last episode, you should not read past this point until you have.***
There are few series that have ever surprised me as much as The 100. Carrying many of the CW Network stereotypes, the early episodes felt too focused on petty teenage drama while overdramaticizing the threats in place to make people pay attention to a cast of solid actors that seemed to be chosen mainly because they were impressively good looking.
However, it has developed significantly into a series often comparable to HBO's Game of Thrones with consistent death, high stakes, and heavy emotional highs and lows. The actors who have survived the ordeals have evolved significantly to make true impressions with their work. It has become The CW's strongest program and one of the most exciting and surprising shows on television.
This season showed much of the show's strengths and weaknesses. Moving at a lightning pace, the series went through multiple "big bads" in the course of a few episodes. Just as quickly as it introduced Queen Nia of the Ice Nation and the prospective commander Ontari, it killed them off for the main main villain.
The series also wasn't shy about showing off its death toll along the way. We actually are shown on screen the deaths of hundreds in the course of just sixteen episodes. While most were extras, many supporting cast characters bit the dust as well. The biggest deaths of the season were certainly Grounder commander Lexa (Alycia Debnam-Carey) and Lincoln (Ricky Whittle).
Lexa and Lincoln were both vital characters to the series, so their deaths were disappointing (and likely caused by the actors being signed to bigger roles on bigger shows recently). However, they also helped frame the rest of the death in the show by having main cast characters fall along with the extras.
The main threat of this series that helped the series get over killing off a few of its other lesser developed threats was the AI ALLIE (Erica Cerra) who was a truly frightening adversary for the series. By having her turn almost every character in the show to her side, her threat was massive and terrifying to behold. She easily was the series' most threatening villain to date.
It is tough to go through everything that happened in this season as so much did which is why it was such an effective season despite not being as consistent as the second. The settings changed wildly as did the stakes, and it was an exhilarating ride.
***With the recent end of season 3 of The 100, this review is spoiler heavy expecting the reader to have watched the show up through the finale of its latest season. If you plan to watch the series and have not seen up to its last episode, you should not read past this point until you have.***
There are few series that have ever surprised me as much as The 100. Carrying many of the CW Network stereotypes, the early episodes felt too focused on petty teenage drama while overdramaticizing the threats in place to make people pay attention to a cast of solid actors that seemed to be chosen mainly because they were impressively good looking.
However, it has developed significantly into a series often comparable to HBO's Game of Thrones with consistent death, high stakes, and heavy emotional highs and lows. The actors who have survived the ordeals have evolved significantly to make true impressions with their work. It has become The CW's strongest program and one of the most exciting and surprising shows on television.
This season showed much of the show's strengths and weaknesses. Moving at a lightning pace, the series went through multiple "big bads" in the course of a few episodes. Just as quickly as it introduced Queen Nia of the Ice Nation and the prospective commander Ontari, it killed them off for the main main villain.
The series also wasn't shy about showing off its death toll along the way. We actually are shown on screen the deaths of hundreds in the course of just sixteen episodes. While most were extras, many supporting cast characters bit the dust as well. The biggest deaths of the season were certainly Grounder commander Lexa (Alycia Debnam-Carey) and Lincoln (Ricky Whittle).
Lexa and Lincoln were both vital characters to the series, so their deaths were disappointing (and likely caused by the actors being signed to bigger roles on bigger shows recently). However, they also helped frame the rest of the death in the show by having main cast characters fall along with the extras.
The main threat of this series that helped the series get over killing off a few of its other lesser developed threats was the AI ALLIE (Erica Cerra) who was a truly frightening adversary for the series. By having her turn almost every character in the show to her side, her threat was massive and terrifying to behold. She easily was the series' most threatening villain to date.
It is tough to go through everything that happened in this season as so much did which is why it was such an effective season despite not being as consistent as the second. The settings changed wildly as did the stakes, and it was an exhilarating ride.
If Fear The Walking Dead has Alicia Denam-Carey destroying people in single combat, maybe I'd start watching. (Image Courtesy of: tvfanatic.com)
Eliza Taylor has come into her own as Clake Griffin, and she's become a truly believable action star now. She also dealt well with the drama of all the death she faced and caused particularly always carrying the guilt of last season's finale. Even with her character being a bit less central, she truly came off the show's star.
Taylor and Bob Morley were the rock of the series last season. With Bellamy's brief turn as a villain this season due to the massacre he was a part of, Morley was also less central this season, but he was even better in the dramatic moments this season. He had to carry some less than complete writing by carrying significant guilt on his face and in his body.
Paige Turco and Henry Ian Cusick became more central in the early stages on this season with Abby and Kane playing the heroes for Arcadia as politics developed in frightening ways. They fell into the background late in the season with their ALLIE integration, but they were solid throughout with the drama and their finally acknowledged romance.
The rest of the main cast each got their moments. Lindsey Morgan's portrayal of Raven's struggles with her own disability as well her brief takeover by ALLIE was the strongest performance of the season. Devon Bostick's work with an emotionally distraught Jasper almost made inconsistent writing work. Christopher Larkin has made Monty the series' most likable presence.
Before his death, Ricky Whittle was giving Larkin a run for his money for that label while also dealing with a ton of complex emotions subtly. Marie Avgeropoulos has always had to deal with poor writing involving Octavia and did struggle a bit here though impressed in the truly heartbreaking dramatic scenes.
Murphy has gone through many transformation over the course of three seasons with Richard Harmon handled it deftly. Isaiah Washington has never been more effective in the series than he was as a villain this season, working off Erica Cerra. Alycia Debnam-Carey's Lexa got some great scenes before her death and fit right back in in the finale which makes losing her even harder for the show.
The major villains this season were Michael Beach (Third Watch) who made sold Charles Pike as an extremely charismatic presence who was just barely likable by his ultimate death and Eric Cerra (Eureka) who was a frighteningly robotic presence as ALLIE and showed her range in flashbacks of her conflicted creator.
Taylor and Bob Morley were the rock of the series last season. With Bellamy's brief turn as a villain this season due to the massacre he was a part of, Morley was also less central this season, but he was even better in the dramatic moments this season. He had to carry some less than complete writing by carrying significant guilt on his face and in his body.
Paige Turco and Henry Ian Cusick became more central in the early stages on this season with Abby and Kane playing the heroes for Arcadia as politics developed in frightening ways. They fell into the background late in the season with their ALLIE integration, but they were solid throughout with the drama and their finally acknowledged romance.
The rest of the main cast each got their moments. Lindsey Morgan's portrayal of Raven's struggles with her own disability as well her brief takeover by ALLIE was the strongest performance of the season. Devon Bostick's work with an emotionally distraught Jasper almost made inconsistent writing work. Christopher Larkin has made Monty the series' most likable presence.
Before his death, Ricky Whittle was giving Larkin a run for his money for that label while also dealing with a ton of complex emotions subtly. Marie Avgeropoulos has always had to deal with poor writing involving Octavia and did struggle a bit here though impressed in the truly heartbreaking dramatic scenes.
Murphy has gone through many transformation over the course of three seasons with Richard Harmon handled it deftly. Isaiah Washington has never been more effective in the series than he was as a villain this season, working off Erica Cerra. Alycia Debnam-Carey's Lexa got some great scenes before her death and fit right back in in the finale which makes losing her even harder for the show.
The major villains this season were Michael Beach (Third Watch) who made sold Charles Pike as an extremely charismatic presence who was just barely likable by his ultimate death and Eric Cerra (Eureka) who was a frighteningly robotic presence as ALLIE and showed her range in flashbacks of her conflicted creator.
I would really appreciate this series not continuing to make me like the once most despicable of human beings. (Image Courtesy of: melty.com)
Jason Rothenberg has been the dominant force in guiding the direction of this series and deserved credit for that even though this season's writing was a bit more hit and miss than usual. If the series can keep its strong, effective thrills, some writing issues here and there can be forgiven.
That said, the show did wildly turn throughout the course of the season. Bellamy's quick turns from friend to foe to friend again were a noticeable mistake. The series also too heavily played the guilt card with its characters. Half the main cast spent the time blaming the other half of the cast for their actions at every turn. The reminder of past events was appreciated, but it was overdone.
The best episodes this season included "Ye Who Enter Here", "Thirteen", "Fallen", "Nevermore", and "Perverse Installation - Part Two". In fact, most of the episodes this season individually were excellent. They just suffered a bit as a complete arc. That's the fault and success that comes with high speed pacing.
The directing of the show was quite strong this season from the diverse group of directors this season. The action was always effective and intense with a real visceral edge that the directors never lose. It was impressive how often the action was heavy with characters but never lost focus.
Similarly, the writing got muddled, but the direction never lost focus of the characters. The acting brought out week to week for the series has been quite impressive, and the direction often kept focus on the acting more than anything.
This was another strong season of The 100. While the show showed the new faults with its fast paced, action heavy direction, it also never regressed to the mistakes of its early episodes. The series seemed to indicate it is extremely focused on keeping the successful direction of its second season rather than letting any of its early ideas prop up.
With the actors heavily invested in their roles and the show focused on only pushing forward, the series seems like it can only truly be derailed by losing its actors to other shows. As long as Emila Clarke and Bob Morley don't get signed to the next big show soon, this series should keep being one of the most surprising and impressive science fiction action shows on television.
That said, the show did wildly turn throughout the course of the season. Bellamy's quick turns from friend to foe to friend again were a noticeable mistake. The series also too heavily played the guilt card with its characters. Half the main cast spent the time blaming the other half of the cast for their actions at every turn. The reminder of past events was appreciated, but it was overdone.
The best episodes this season included "Ye Who Enter Here", "Thirteen", "Fallen", "Nevermore", and "Perverse Installation - Part Two". In fact, most of the episodes this season individually were excellent. They just suffered a bit as a complete arc. That's the fault and success that comes with high speed pacing.
The directing of the show was quite strong this season from the diverse group of directors this season. The action was always effective and intense with a real visceral edge that the directors never lose. It was impressive how often the action was heavy with characters but never lost focus.
Similarly, the writing got muddled, but the direction never lost focus of the characters. The acting brought out week to week for the series has been quite impressive, and the direction often kept focus on the acting more than anything.
This was another strong season of The 100. While the show showed the new faults with its fast paced, action heavy direction, it also never regressed to the mistakes of its early episodes. The series seemed to indicate it is extremely focused on keeping the successful direction of its second season rather than letting any of its early ideas prop up.
With the actors heavily invested in their roles and the show focused on only pushing forward, the series seems like it can only truly be derailed by losing its actors to other shows. As long as Emila Clarke and Bob Morley don't get signed to the next big show soon, this series should keep being one of the most surprising and impressive science fiction action shows on television.