The 100 is a show that has quietly delivered some of the most compelling science fiction on television over the course of its seven season arc. The show just recently aired its series finale, and I am revisiting the previous seasons thanks to the excellent Blu-Ray sets courtesy of Warner Archive. Season four was a major turning point for our characters as senseless power struggles among the various tribes were deemed inconsequential in the face of Praimfaya, an apocalyptic nuclear wave that cleansed the land of all known life. As is typical for the show, tough decisions were made in the face of limited options for shelter, resulting in many lost lives and disparate shelters for those who did survive. Perhaps the biggest change was the six year time jump in the final moments of the season that dramatically set up a new season that was destined to provide a shakeup to the narrative. Creator and showrunner Jason Rothenberg embraces the creative opportunities available to deliver one of the most compelling seasons that show has seen yet.
As Praimfaya reached our heroes, the characters were scattered among three particular locations. Octavia (Marie Avgeropoulos) and the majority of the survivors secured shelter in the Second Dawn bunker, Bellamy (Bob Morley) and a few select others made it to The Ark and into space, and Clarke (Eliza Taylor) barely made it to the lab. In the intervening six years between then and when the season starts, these three groups have gone through some major changes in one way or another. Some information we get right away, while other information is doled out throughout the season when it will be most effective. Clarke was left completely alone to survive in the nuclear wasteland, and nearly lost her mind before finding a young Nightblood girl named Madi (Lola Flanery), to whom she eventually becomes a mother figure. Bellamy and crew have had arguably the easiest time up in space, as new unexpected relationship dynamics have blossomed. As for Octavia and the bunker, let’s just say things went medieval in the face of food scarcity and uneasy power dynamics.
This season picks up where the last season ended with a heretofore unknown Eligius prisoner transport carrier landing in the valley, the lone patch of green Earth that Praimfaya did not touch. This is the home to Clarke and Madi, and it will become something of a battleground this season as factions struggle to take control of this slice of paradise. We soon learn that the carrier is led by former prisoner Diyoza (Ivana Milicevic) and her second in command McCreary (William Miller), and they are not looking to make nice. Although, you do get some intriguing details about them throughout the season that show a greater depth than it might appear upon first glance. The season soon starts to fall into place as Bellamy and crew make it back to Earth and Octavia and her crew get freed from their bunker. The time in the bunker really changed all of those who survived the grueling six years. Most notably, Octavia has united all of the individual nations through sheer force of will to be one crew (Wonkru). This dynamic display of power provides for a thrilling clash with the unyielding struggle for supremacy by these newfound interlopers.
For longtime fans of the show, this season may be tough to watch as you watch these characters you love start to fracture somewhat in their relationships due to their harsh reality. It can be heartbreaking to watch, but immensely compelling from a narrative perspective. The lines between good and bad are razor thin, and you never stop questioning who is actually on the right side of the fight. Octavia continues to be one of the most complex characters on the show, and even she is not immune to the rush that being in power provides to you. Clarke’s new role as a mother figure to Madi can be frustrating as you see her make shortsighted decisions to protect her “child” that jeopardizes her old friends. I’m not one who typically enjoys storylines of drug addiction, but Abby’s (Paige Turco) struggle feels somewhat justified once you learn all that she went through in the bunker. This season is a fascinating look at base human instinct and the cyclical nature of power struggles. This constant fighting might soon wear out its welcome, but the series takes a huge leap in the finale that sets up some thrilling possibilities. The ending sequence of the season is among the most poignant that has ever been featured on the show. Overall, this is a top notch season for the show that evolves the characters in really compelling ways while paving a path towards an ending point.
Video Quality
The 100: The Complete Fifth Season arrives on Blu-Ray courtesy of Warner Archive with a lovely AVC encoded 1080p transfer. The level of detail in this presentation remains as strong as ever, as all of the subtle details in the costumes and production design are easily distinguishable. 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. This set is a step up from the streaming and broadcast versions of the show, which suffer from being overly compressed. The color palette shifts more towards earth tones in the aftermath of Praimfaya and the devastation that it wrought. There are some impressive instances of beautiful colors popping off the screen, especially in the foliage of the valley. 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 showcases this ambitious series in a wondrous manner.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with an pleasingly active DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that brings this world to life. Battle sequences and more kinetic moments are given the appropriate power in the mix with a forceful showing in the low end. Check out scenes in the two-part finale with the energy cannons if you want a real workout. Ambient sounds are also precisely placed in the rear channels. Dialogue always comes through crisp and clear without being stepped on by the powerful score or any sound effects. The series music from Tree Adams continues to perfectly set the tone for the story. The score creates a nicely enveloping sound that draws you further into the show. The audio presentation here is fantastic on all levels.
Special Features
- The 100 – Redemption and Rebirth: A ten-minute featurette in which the cast and crew discuss the developments from the season and how it impacted them from a character standpoint and as actors. It is fascinating to get insights from the creative team on how they chose to go with certain plot points, such as Abby’s addiction. The cast offers up some thoughts on what they hope to experience in season six.
- Gag Reel: A nearly five-minute collection of flubbed and forgotten lines, horsing around, hiccups, dropped food and more. I hope they never stop including these because it’s always a highlight.
- The 100 – 2018 WonderCon Panel: A nearly 27-minute panel moderated by Zach McGowan (Rowan) featuring creator Jason Rothenberg, Bob Morley, Lindsey Morgan, Tasya Teles, Jarod Joseph, Sachin Sahel, Christopher Larkin and Richard Harmon. The participants talk where the characters are at after the six year time jump at the end of season 4 while teasing the fifth season. There are a lot of fun tidbits here revealed through some interesting audience questions. I am glad that this was included for fans.
Final Thoughts
The fifth season of The 100 serves as a pivotal turning point for our characters that serves up healthy doses of thrilling action and intense character developments. The series is one that continues to be an unassuming shining star among the CW lineup. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray set with an excellent A/V presentation and some special features that fans will love digging into. If you made the mistake of writing this show off as a Hunger Games rip off, now is your time to rectify your mistake. Highly Recommended
The 100: The Complete Fifth 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 disc 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.
