This review of the Warner Archive S2 Blu-ray release of the CW action-adventure drama "The 100" brings Unreal TV 2/3 of the way toward the goal of reviewing S1-3 of the series ahead of the Archive July 18, 2107 S4 BFD release. An awesome aspect of the S2 BD set is that comparing it with the S1 DVD set shows that the lush greenery of most scenes and the details in the film-quality cinematography look extraordinarily better in BD.
The Unreal TV S1 review provides a brief summary of the lore of this series that develops from sending the titular young offenders from a space station named The Ark to what is believed to be a decimated earth almost 100 years after a global nuclear war. As that review states, this series has numerous common elements with the ABC series "Lost." Two similarities that that review does not mention are the (initially) mysterious toxic mist and the regular reappearance of dead characters.
Being based on the novel of the same name, it is very apt that "100" S2 starts a new chapter (which remains very true to the spirit of "Lost") in the series. We quickly learn that the place where teen leader Clarke and roughly one-half of her fellow felons are taken at the end of S1 is the Mount Weather complex that represents the establishment in the new order of things. Throughout the season, we learn the extent to which this fresh blood is important to "The Man."
The season-long Mount Weather plot puts goofy pals stoner/electronics whiz Monty and geeky brave Jasper in the spotlight. These boys discovering that their new home is not the paradise with a good supply of chocolate cake as represented leads them on adventures that includes Jasper going full Monty in an effort to locate his friend. Turning back to the cake, a scene in which these boys discover the joys of quality desserts is thoroughly adorkable.
Clarke remains busy forging and maintaining an alliance and a related truce with the savage grounders who already are none to pleased with the "Star People" after coming under fire by that group in S1. Dreamy good-boy Finn wiping out a grounder village in S2 for what he considers to be a good reason does not help matters.
The proverbially uneasy peace that is achieved is threatened every time that someone from either side ends someone from the other camp. Unresolved resentments, related sabotage efforts, and general discord further affect diplomatic relations.
The 'rents dropping in to live with the kids transfers the more civilized (but not much less heated) politic battles from The Ark down to earth. The leadership seems to shift more frequently that of the Italian government, and the justice system becomes one of ends justifying means.
The ends further play a role regarding inter and intra-group portrayals, sacrificing lambs and lions alike, and even allowing those near and dear to you to become collateral damage in the form of missile fodder.
The aforementioned Mount Weather comes in to play in all this; its importance regarding the Sky People/Grounder alliance is that this enemy of both groups provides common shaky ground. The shared desire for a raid for different reasons requires that the group figuratively get into bed together.
The final episodes center around the preparation and the execution of the multi-front assault that Clarke and her army hope will be their Alamo. Everything that this entails makes for excellent television.
The BD extra features include the always awesome season-relevant Comic-Con panel that Archive and Warner Prime always delivers, a similar typical (and always extraordinary) documentary about the Mount Weather element of S2, and the equally always provided unaired scenes and gag reel.
Anyone with questions or comments regarding "100" is encouraged to email me; you alternatively can connect on Twitter via @tvdvdguy.
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