After seven seasons and an appropriate 100 episodes, the CW's pulled off some shocking acts that aren't expected of the good guys.
However, the final season proved to be a mixed bag with audience , especially the loyal ones. One look at the ratings on IMDb shows that three of the last four episodes feature some of the series' lowest scores. It's clear that The 100 made some mistakes but its' final batch of episodes also did some good.
Didn't Work: Some Of The Deaths
The 100 is a show that has never been shy about killing off major characters. Some of the biggest deaths on television in the last decade have come from this series. Given its track record, everyone knew that important characters would perish in this final season.
That's okay but many of these were handled poorly. Bellamy Blake's death came at the end of a storyline that not many enjoyed. Russell and later Sheidheda both were taken out in lackluster ways. Even though the deaths of Madi and Gabriel were rectified, they also missed the mark a bit. At least Diyoza got go die on a high note.
Worked: Backdoor Pilot
When a show is popular, spinoffs are usually considered and that was the case with The 100. A lot of these shows will try to get the series off the ground with a backdoor pilot, where an episode of the flagship program acts as an introduction. The 100 did that with "Anaconda."
The eighth episode of the season, it took viewers back to the early days of the Grounders and the things Cadogan had done to his family. The installment was well-received (it has the highest rating on IMDb of the season) and made fans interested in the prequel spinoff, though there's no word on if it was picked up.
Didn't Work: Too Many Unanswered Questions
For the most part, fans will want a series finale to answer whatever questions that may still be lingering. That being said, some shows like to leave a handful of things open-ended and focus on other aspects. Look at the series finale of Lost for an example of that.
The 100 went a similar route and there were still too many things left untouched. Questions about how Emori and others survived or why the Transcendence sounded too much like the City of Light were never really touched upon and that's just scratching the surface.
Worked: Upping The Sci-Fi Ante
This is a series that has always been rooted in the world of science fiction. When a show is about a group of post-apocalyptic survivors from space, that's bound to be the case. However, it also has managed to go deeper down that route as the seasons progressed.
The six-year time jump was one thing but a 125-year jump at the end of season five was another. That led them to another planet and season seven added to the sci-fi lore. From multiple planets to black holes to time dilation, the show really took it to the next level.
Didn't Work: A Bit Too Confusing
There's often one issue with doing more in the sci-fi department and that's the fact that things can get too confusing. For the most part, The 100 was a pretty straightforward show even with all of the wild things that happened. You could follow what was going on.
This season may have gone too far. The time dilation made it so some viewers weren't sure what was happening. Characters went through massive changes over what seemed like no time at all. The flashbacks, body possession by Sheidheda, and more were a lot to take in.
Worked: Connecting To The Past
For a final season to work for a long-running series, it's important to recall the things that happened in the past. It's a way to reward those viewers who have stuck it out since the beginning. Thankfully, The 100 had plenty of callbacks that connected things to the past.
From the fact that they recounted aspects from season one to the return to the bunker to the appearance of Becca, the show made sure to respect what came before. Throw in the finale appearances of both Lexa and Abby and it wrapped things up nicely.
Didn't Work: Splitting Up The Characters
A lot of series continue to do this even though fans don't like it. When you've watched these characters for so long, you grow to love them and you want to see them together. The 100 was at its best when the core group of characters got to work together as a unit.
The final season decided to split everyone up into different groups. It always seemed like Clarke and Raven were doing one thing while Emori and Murphy did another. Bellamy disappeared for a while and then Octavia and Echo were in an entirely different place. It needed to be more connected.
Worked: Great Villain
There are cases where some shows don't save their best villains for the end. The Vampire Diaries is a great example of this. While the best baddie in The 100 history could be debated, Sheidheda certainly proved to be a formidable foe fitting of the last few episodes.
He wasn't alone but there was something about him that stood out above the rest. He had been built up over time and when he took control of Russell, it felt like a true threat. He came across as cunning and as someone who was willing to kill anyone in his path.
Didn't Work: Bellamy's Entire Storyline
As previously stated, viewers wanted to see their favorite characters together. That immediately became a problem when Bellamy was taken away early on in the season. He barely appeared and was then seemingly killed off in an explosion. However, fans were relieved that he was alive.
That quickly changed when he ended up pledging himself to Cadogan and became a disciple. That put him against his sister and friends, totally turning on them. Ultimately, Clarke killed him to protect Madi. The whole arc felt untrue to the Bellamy character and fans were displeased.
Worked: Octavia's Redemption
Octavia Blake might be the show's most interesting character. She begins as a naive girl who develops into one of the toughest people around. Her work in The Conclave was a series highlight. However, when she became the leader of Wonkru, she had to do some truly awful things.
It transformed her into a vicious person who believed in war over peace. She realized the error of her ways as season five ended and paid for it in season six. The last season saw her become a maternal figure for Hope and find peace. The fact that she's eventually the one to convince people to stop fighting was a perfect end for Octavia.