When The 100 debuted on The CW back in 2014, the conventional wisdom was that the network was looking for its answer to The Hunger Games phenomenon. While adapted from a book series of the same name, The 100 was not a property that was well known to the average person. I was hesitant about what might be in store for me when I first watched the pilot, but I was greeted with a substantial, immensely compelling look at how a group of young people would adapt to returning to a post-nuclear apocalypse Earth after growing up on a space station. The first season unfolded in a measured, engaging way that kept you wanting to know more after each seismic revelation. Over the seasons, the show has developed quite a deep mythology that has only rewarded its dedicated fan base. As we near the series finale at the end of this month, I am taking a look back at the Blu-Ray releases of select seasons thanks to Warner Archive.
It should go without saying, but those who have not seen the previous three seasons may not want to read further as certain aspects will be discussed in this review. Over these first few seasons, the “Sky Crew” have gone from naive delinquents with little in the way of natural skills to a powerful force that have developed an uneasy alliance with various “Grounder” tribes. The world building that this show has accomplished is pretty staggering when you think of the number of adversaries they have faced over 45 episodes. From contending with environmental obstacles to power-hungry leaders, these young people have had to grow up incredibly fast. The third season saw alliances tested as coups were implemented while artificial intelligence maliciously spread throughout the lands in a way that ended the lives of many. Some of the storylines in season three were a bit uneven, but the finale brought everything together in a way that was intensely satisfying while setting up a next chapter that seemed quite thrilling.
The fourth season picks up right where the previous season left off as Clarke (Eliza Taylor) reckons with the information that there is an impending apocalyptic disaster as hundreds of nuclear reactors are melting down around the world due to neglect. They have only just started to celebrate the defeat of A.L.I.E., but they must waste no time coming up with a plan to survive their impending demise. One tribe that will not exactly be helping matters is the belligerent Ice Nation, who believe the Sky Crew have only brought destruction with them. The new King Roan (Zach McGowan) is mostly friendly with Clarke, but it is unclear if that will be enough to stave off the unrest. When you have hundreds of people, most with their own self-preservation in mind, tensions naturally rise to unbelievable levels. The journey of Clarke to the leader of her people has been an exciting tackling of responsibility filled with many devastating moments. She has to make a lot of tough choices that have extremely dire consequences, and the show does an excellent job of letting you feel the weight of each decision.
With this season being slightly shorter at 13 episodes, things develop at a rapid pace for all of the supporting cast members. If there is someone who has had a more radical journey than Clarke, it would be Octavia (Marie Avgeropoulos), who went from a timid young lady to bloodthirsty warrior. Octavia is reeling from a devastating loss in the third season that puts her at odds with the person closest to her, her brother Bellamy (Bob Morley). Watching them work through their issues can be heartbreaking, but ultimately very satisfying. Octavia is not the only one reeling from a loss; Jasper (Devon Bostick) goes from being heartbroken to eerily carefree in an unhinged way that makes for a tension-filled arc. The young people are not alone in the drama. The few remaining adults slowly realize that their time in power is pretty much at an end. That will not stop familiar foes from showing their true nature at the most inconvenient times, though. This show has an excellent bench of characters that offer up surprising revelations and nuanced arcs throughout the season.
One of the most surprising things about The 100 is the ruthless way in which they treat their characters. Game of Thrones always gets cited as a show that is unafraid to kill off popular characters, but The 100 is walking lockstep beside it as it often dispatches beloved characters with no mercy. This can be a very painful experience as a viewer, but it also makes the stakes feel that much more high. The strength of the show is the way in which it develops the characters and gets you invested in their journey. Season four sees some big changes for all of our characters, from a devastating loss to the community at large to more specific arcs that come full circle. By the time you reach the end of the season, you will be left with your head spinning and racing to start the next episode to see what is to become of the show. The fourth season is an exceptional season that delivers in all of the ways that you wish for it to. The show certainly has its fans, but most would probably be surprised to hear what a feat of storytelling it has become.
Video Quality
The 100: The Complete Fourth Season arrives on Blu-Ray courtesy of Warner Archive with a gorgeous AVC encoded 1080p transfer. The levels of detail this presentation is able to eek out is quite striking, as all of the subtle details in the production design are easily identifiable. This is a notable step up from the streaming and broadcast versions of the show. The color palette runs on the cooler side with a focus on blues and greys, but there are some magical instances of beautiful colors popping off the screen, especially in fiery explosions. Black levels are appropriately deep and give way to a nice amount of detail in shadows. The bright whites do not fall victim to any blooming in this presentation. Skin tones appear very natural across the entire cast. There are no egregious instances of aliasing or compression artifacts detectable here. The Blu-Ray is quite stunning as it brings a meticulously crafted series to life in a gorgeous manner.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with an incredibly active DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that creates a truly enveloping world. Dialogue always comes through crisp and clear without being stepped on by the powerful score or any sound effects. Action sequences and more kinetic moments are given the appropriate power in the mix with a forceful showing in the low end. Take a look at scenes with the Praimfayah if you want a real workout. Ambient sounds are also precisely placed in the rear channels. Special consideration should be paid to the series music from Tree Adams. His work perfectly sets the tone for the story, and it creates a nicely enveloping sound that draws you further into the show. The audio presentation here is fantastic on all levels.
Special Features
Disc One
- Deleted Scenes: Six minutes of deleted scenes from three episodes are included here which features Ilian discussing what he did under the influence of the chip, Jaha (Isaiah Washington) and the grounders working together to solve a problem and more. Some of the scenes feature unfinished CGI and temporary off-screen dialogue, but they are interesting to see.
Disc Two
- Deleted Scenes: A single 30-second scene from episode eight is included here which features Indra (Adina Porter) and Marcus (Henry Ian Cusick) walking through a tunnel.
Disc Three
- The 100 – 2016 Comic-Con Panel: A nearly 32-minute panel featuring creator Jason Rothenberg, Eliza Taylor, Henry Ian Cusick, Marie Avgeropoulos, Lindsey Morgan, Christopher Larkin and Richard Harmon. The participants talk where the characters are at the end of season 3 while teasing what is in store for season 4. There are a lot of fun tidbits here and interesting insights into the arc of the show. It is great that this was included for fans.
- From Outcasts to Leaders: A six-minute look at the journey from the first episode to the present. This offers a really engaging look at what happens when you send kids “off to war” and how the characters have evolved.
- Creating a Post Apocalyptic World: A seven-minute look at how the creative team expanded upon real-world history to develop a unique reality. Production Designer James Philpott gives insight into how they go about creating sets that bring these environments to life.
- The 100 – Jasper’s Journey: A seven-minute look at how Jasper evolved from an intended one episode appearance to fan favorite that brought life to the series. Actor Devon Bostick and his fellow cast and crew members give insights into why the character is so special.
- Battle Tested – The 100 Season 4 Stunts: A ten-minute featurette with Stunt Coordinator Marshall Virtue in which he takes you through some pre-visualizations from important sequences throughout the season. It is very interesting to see how they mapped everything out so meticulously.
- The 100 Season 4 Blooper Reel: A nearly four-minute collection of flubbed and forgotten lines, horsing around, wasp attacks and more. I always derive great joy from these types of features, and this is no exception.
- Deleted Scenes: Six minutes of deleted scenes from episode eleven are included here which features individuals acting recklessly during a dangerous situation and more.
Final Thoughts
The fourth season of The 100 sees the series upping the ante even more with many exciting and devastating developments that go to highlight the boundary-pushing nature of the show. If you have yet to watch the show, you are missing out on one of the most satisfying journeys on network television. Warner Archive has provided a stellar Blu-Ray with a noteworthy A/V presentation and some fun special features. Fans of the series should buy with confidence. Highly Recommended
The 100: The Complete Fourth Season can be purchased directly through Warner Archive or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
