When The 100 debuted nearly seven years ago, few could have predicted what an intricate, unsparing piece of science fiction the show would become. What started out as kind of a Lord of the Flies set on post-apocalyptic Earth evolved much like the trajectory that mankind is hopefully set to follow. The earlier seasons followed the primitive notions of tribalism and warring camps, eventually giving way to a “stronger together” mentality that the crew struggle to maintain in the face of ever-tenacious adversaries. That is not even mentioning the way the show brought consciousness and technology together, along with the galaxy-traversing journeys that were taken to ensure the survival of the human race. The show has built up a dense mythology that has rewarded fans that have been along for the journey since the beginning. After reviewing multiple seasons of the series in the past several months (seasons four, five and six), we finally reach the final season of the show courtesy of the good people at Warner Archive. This season is the culmination of years of storytelling that aims to honor the characters we know and love while filling in the final puzzle pieces to the story.
While most shows going into their final season might be trying to make the board smaller and more manageable, The 100 only opens things up further to reveal more about the characters and the world at large. The seventh season picks up right where the last one left off. The fate of Octavia (Marie Avgeropoulos) is up in the air after being stabbed by Hope (Shelby Flannery), Diyoza’s adult daughter who emerged from the anomaly. Rather than rush to service the characters we already know, the show takes time to reveal Hope’s heartbreaking backstory and explain how this girl who was just an unborn baby a few days ago is now a full-grown woman. As one character so expertly puts it – “Time dilation is a bitch.” Every storyline feeds into one another like a carefully woven tapestry that feels so satisfying in the larger picture. The season also gives a glimpse of how Earth fell victim to an apocalyptic nightmare and how it ties into a mysterious group called the Disciples. Wonkru has faced many adversaries, but things feel a bit different when you get so close to the end.
The season is not all new faces, though, as character arcs start paying off in a most compelling manner. While many of the characters are busy dealing with the ins-and-outs of the anomaly, Murphy (Richard Harmon) shows evidence of his major growth as he mentally spars with the Dark Commander who now resides within the body of Russell (JR Bourne). His friends may be busy jumping to different planets, but this is one of the more fascinating stories as a classic foe refuses to give up trying to gain power. The season also allows Indra (Adina Porter) to be even more formidable and complex than we already know her to be, which is saying something. With such a sprawling cast, the show is not able to give everyone the deep-dive that you might want. The specific storylines they are trying to tackle understandably isolate some more than others, but the fact certain major characters barely make an impact in the last installment feels more than a bit strange. The show is at its strongest with its personal character moments, so to see a couple of storylines kind of fizzle out is minor qualm in the overall strong final season.
Throughout the series, our protagonists have often had to make insanely difficult decisions that brought about great pain. A major theme of the show is questioning whether or not the actions of our “heroes” actually make them the good guys or if they are just as bad as the most villainous among them. As our characters follow the trajectory of mankind, we are left wondering if all the fighting can bring about peace or if humanity is stuck in an endless cycle of violence. In the midst of tackling such weighty questions, we have to contend with some heart wrenching losses in conjunction with the moments of triumph. It can be extremely difficult to end a show on a high note, but when done right it can cement a show’s legacy as something substantial. It is with great relief to report that The 100 walks the delicate line of bringing the overall narrative together while servicing the most essential character storylines. The show has evolved into a sprawling sci-fi epic that spans the galaxy, but the familial bonds are what kept audiences coming back week after week. The show has not always received the respect it deserves, but it serves as a shining achievement of bold storytelling with complex characters that elevates it to one of the great sci-fi narratives of our time.
Video Quality
The 100: The Complete Seventh Season arrives on Blu-Ray courtesy of Warner Archive with an excellent AVC encoded 1080p transfer. As usual, this set is a step up from the streaming and broadcast versions of the show, which suffer from being overly compressed. The level of detail in this presentation remains as strong as ever, as all of the subtle aspects of the costumes and production design are easily distinguishable. This season especially finds the characters visiting new worlds that are rich for exploration in the minor details. 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. There are no egregious instances of aliasing or compression artifacts detectable here. The color palette runs natural with vibrant colors being showcased really well throughout each setting. There are some impressive instances of beautiful hues popping off the screen, especially in the foliage and the waves of light that come with portals being opened up. Skin tones appear very natural across the entire cast. This Blu-Ray is simply stunning as Warner Archive sticks the landing with the series.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with a powerful DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that showcases the detailed sound design of the series. This final season balances the all-out battle sequences well with less kinetic moments, but the track really shifts into gear when it counts. There are some standout moments throughout the season that present with a forceful showing in the low end, especially any time a portal opens up. Ambient sounds are also precisely placed in the rear channels so that individual details create a brilliant soundscape. 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 series finale features an iconic U2 song that you have to assume took up most of the season’s budget, but it works incredibly well thematically and sounds great within the mix. The audio presentation here is excellent.
Special Features
There are unfortunately no special features included on this final set.
Final Thoughts
The final season of The 100 delicately balances pushing the boundaries of its storytelling with servicing the character arcs that have been building over these one hundred episodes. There are a few missteps along the way, but overall the series maintains its high bar of excellence all the way to a very satisfying series finale. Warner Archive thankfully completes the series with a Blu-Ray set sporting a lovely A/V presentation. It would have been nice to get some supplemental features to honor the show’s legacy, but getting the entire run in high definition is considered a win. Fans of the show should buy with confidence. Recommended
The 100: The Complete Seventh 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.
