The 100 Season 1 Episodes 1-6 Reviews: Space Kids Gone Wild (Season Premiere)

I'm a little late to the game on this one since "The 100" just entered into third season. I kept hearing such great things about it that I wanted to check it out. The show airs on the CW channel. Season 1 had 13 episodes (while seasons 2 and 3 have 16 each).

It's some 97 years after a nuclear war on Earth. The remaining citizens fled a heavily radioactive planet. Their descendants are currently orbiting the Earth in a space station known as "The Ark". Inhabitants of the Ark must follow a strict set of rules. Due to the scarcity of resources, any crime is punishable by death by "floating" (ie being shot into space). In order to concern the remaining oxygen and food, 100 juvenile prisoners are jettisoned to Earth. Their goal is Mount Weather in what used to be Virgina (where enough non-perishables are stored to keep them alive for some time). There are all sorts of dangers including strange mutated creatures, humans of some sort and possible radiation poisoning. Plus, all these people are teenagers...so we know what that means. I'm just hoping it doesnt turn into "Lord Of The Flies".

The cast of characters includes:

THE KIDS (CURRENTLY ON EARTH):

Clarke Griffin- she becomes one of the leaders of the group. She is level headed and caring. In flashbacks, we learn that Clarke as a child told Wells something that caused her father to executed by the Chancellor. She has felt guilty every since. It later turns out though that Clarke's mother is the one who actually revealed what her father said. There is definitely going to be friction between the two.
Wells Jaha- His father is the Chancellor. He is one of the most level headed of the kids. Other unexpected stuff happens but I wont spoil it for ya.
Finn Collins- After being marooned for a while, Finn and Clarke begin a relationship. Just then Raven (a mechanic working with Clarke's mom) arrives from the Ark and we have a love triangle. Finn is later badly injured by a "local".
Bellamy Black- He attempts to assassinate the Chancellor in order to get on the ship to protect his sister. We know his mother was eventually floated for having two children (in violation of the Ark's "one child rule").
Octavia Black- sister of Bellamy, she is a wild child (who hid under the floor of the ship for many years. On Earth, she captured by the "locals" which the 100 refer to as "Grounders".
Jasper Jordan- One of the first of the kids to be injured by the mysterious inhabitants.
Monty Green- a whiz kid is trying to use their monitoring bracelets to communicate with the ship via Morse code.

THE ADULTS (CURRENTLY ON THE ARK):

Thelonious Jaha- Played by Isaiah Washington, the Chancellor is a good guy tasked with making some terrible decisions. He was almost killed by Bellamy (at the urging of Commander Shumway).
Dr Abby Griffin- Clarke's mother. She is working to save as many people as possible and has almost been executed for treason on several occasions. If she looks familiar, Abby is played by Paige Turco of "All My Children" fame.
Marcus Kane- The second in command, he's the baddy on the ship and is at constant odds with Abby and Jaha. He doesnt believe in mercy.

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). "The 100" is surprisingly watchable. While I originally considered this a YA offering, there are some very powerful moments. One example is episode 5. Some three hundred people must die in order to save the others. The council wants to at first pick those who will be killed. Abby instead pushes them to let the people choose. And many do just that in order to save their loved ones. The kids on Earth learn what is about to happen and try to get their attention with some flares. But it happens too late for those who sacrificed their lives. Excellent scene. It got me right in the feels.

I'm looking forward to watching more of "The 100" (and learning more about the mystery of who or what is on the planet).