A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
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Positive Messages
some
The series raises many weighty issues such as the delicate balance between individual freedom and community well-being, the authority of government, and postapocalyptic life. Theirs is a reality in which they sacrifice their kids to test theories and kill for the slightest wrongdoing, but they have valid reasons for doing so. As such, it's not always easy to distinguish right from wrong in their actions or in the characters themselves.
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Positive Role Models
some
A mixed bag. Some characters are selfish, arrogant, and resistant to authority, even when conforming is in the best interests of everyone involved. Others, such as Clark, are willing to risk everything to save the group for the sake of the human race as a whole. Those in power are similarly divided, and one character in particular acts on self-preserving instincts, even when it means killing others.
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Violence & Scariness
a lot
Realistic violence, often with weapons such as guns or knives. In one scene, a teen is impaled on a spear and dies slowly. Teens threaten each other with weapons and engage in fistfights to settle differences. Peril exists at every turn, and enemies are often unseen. Mutated animals can be gruesome to look at, and some attack the teens. Capital punishment is the norm on the spacecraft, but the manner in which it's done isn't gory.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
a little
Teens flirt with each other and hint at sexuality, but little beyond kissing is shown. Occasionally they do undress to their underwear for various reasons such as swimming.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Language
a little
"Damn," "hell," "screw him," "sucks," and the like are frequent fliers.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
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Products & Purchases
very little
The show is based on a book of the same name and features popular musical selections in its soundtrack.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The 100 has a lot of graphic violence and death, often at the hands of a group of teens who hash out power through beatings, torture, and weapon use. Graphic images of characters impaled by spears, strung up in trees, and subjected to other abuse are common, as is the threat of capital punishment and selective murder by a powerful governing body. In other words, this drama -- based on a dystopian novel of the same name -- is heavy-handed and not for the faint of heart. That said, the violence isn't mindless, either, and is necessary to illustrate the show's messages about personal freedom and community rights, as well as the appropriate role of government influence in this particular society. Expect some strong language ("hell," "damn," and the like) and hints at romance, plus some partial nudity (a teen strips to her bra and panties to swim, for instance) in this thriller.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
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The 100Official trailer -
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The 100
- Parents say (86)
- Kids say (281)
age 14+
Based on 86 parent reviews
adamcrippledjenny Adult
October 10, 2021
age 16+
Teenagers below 14 and especially children shouldn’t watch this
The story and lore are very engaging but the show doesn’t miss shocking scenes like torture, prolonged executions, being burnt alive and surgeries without anesthesia. The actors are also delivering the emotions of going through all these convincingly enough. Furthermore, drug abuse isn’t absent and SPOILER ALERT, there are scenes where people are being tortured or manipulated by close relatives (parents). Sex scenes are sensored - most of them consist of just people kissing with subtle signs that intercourse is taking place.If you still wanna give it a go, have your children watch it with you but for particularly young individuals be prepared to give lengthy explanations/comfort.
alinaspv18 Adult
January 30, 2022
age 15+
Violent, Gory, Teen Dystopian Show
It all boils down to how mature your child is and how well you believe they can handle content such as raunchy sex scenes, gore, self-harm, and death. Very enjoyable show with mature themes present. There is also drug abuse and eventual suicide of a character, so be warned.
What's the Story?
In THE 100, 97 years after a nuclear apocalypse wiped out life on Earth, leaving only the 400 people aboard a scattering of space stations alive, humans are returning to the planet for the first time. The emissaries are 100 juvenile prisoners who have spent their whole lives aboard the Ark, a colossal spacecraft formed by joining the 12 international space stations, which has served as the home for three generations of survivors and their offspring. Not yet 18 and thus not subject to the Ark's stringent capital-punishment law, the 100 juvies are sent to Earth as test subjects to gauge the safety of its elements for the entire population's eventual return. But once there, chaos ensues as various factions vie for dominance and many cut off communication with the Ark entirely. Standing strong is Clark Griffin (Eliza Taylor), a natural leader determined to survive and to reunite with her mom once the planet is deemed safe. But with time running out for the residents of the dying Ark and dangers lurking around every corner on Earth, is survival possible for any of them?
Is It Any Good?
Based on a book of the same name, this series is a tantalizing dystopian drama laced with suspense, teen romance, and plenty of bad guys you'll love to hate. Equally visible are some quality role models, particularly pragmatic Clark, whose only offense is spreading the truth about the Ark's dwindling supplies; and her fearless mom, Abby (Paige Turco), who sticks to her own ethical code in spite of outside pressure.
This action-packed show is heated and violent, yes, but it's not without good reason, given the urgency of the story line. Unquestioned capital punishment and the totalitarian power of the Ark's governing body would hardly be viable plot points for viewers if the story didn't present them in the right context of an oppressive, Draconian society. But even with such justification, the violence in The 100 is very graphic and often erupts between teens, so take care in sussing out your teen's readiness for this weighty story and its messages.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about government's role in people's lives. How are the challenges of keeping order different in this society from what it is in ours? Are the government's rules in The 100 appropriate for keeping people safe? In general, are ours?
The teens on Earth face the possibility of life without rules. What rules do your teens take issue with? From your perspective, what purpose do the rules serve in keeping them safe?
Is some violent content better than other kinds in entertainment? Does it ever serve a valuable purpose? If so, what? In what other forms of media do you often witness violence?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 19, 2014
- Cast: Paige Turco, Thomas McDonell, Eliza Taylor
- Network: CW
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Book Characters, Great Girl Role Models, Science and Nature, Space and Aliens
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: June 20, 2023
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The 100
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
