The 100: The Complete Fourth Season - DVD Review

[Michael Scott]

The 100: The Complete Fourth Season

Movie:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:
Final Score: ​

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Movie

The 100 is a show that I never thought I would end up liking. The first season was so anger inducing that I pretty much wrote off the rest of the show, but was pleasantly surprised when season 2 turned out to pick up a little bit. Once the show runners decided to deviate from the plot points of the novels written by Kass Morgan and adopt a more sci-fi centric tone, it picked up even more. Season 3 was had some weak points with the whole “city of light” religious fervor, but it actually turned many characters around and had you rooting for them instead of loathing EVERY…SINGLE…ONE as I did in the first season. Season 4 picks up right after the events of season 3 and propels the show forward with a new threat. A threat that looks like it could be an end to all humanity as we know it.

I do apologize, but SOME spoilers for season three and its ending have to be said to describe anything in season 4. I WILL try to keep them brief.

After the season 3 finale where A.L.I.E.2 has been finally defeated and the city of light destroyed, we have a new threat. The threat of complete extermination when A.L.I.E.2. informs Clarke (Eliza Taylor) that if she shuts down the city of light then all humanity is destroyed as the last remaining nuclear power plants on Earth being a scheduled meltdown resulting in a wave of nuclear disaster that will encapsulate the rest of the earth. Now the grounders and the humans of Arkadia have to somehow overcome SOME of their differences and find a way to survive the coming apocalypse, and the devastation it brings in its wake.

Season four is really a “panic” season, and by panic, I mean that it’s one where they’re fighting against the clock of impending doom. This time it’s not against other grounders, and not against fightable forces. It’s against a natural force that has no way to be STOPPED, only someone survived. To make matters worse there is only one place on Earth that can survive the upcoming terror. An ecapsulated underground bunker that has been hidden for centuries. The only problem is that it can only hold about 1200 people, meaning that only one clan of humans can survive.

The show tries to balance the differing clans and the differing people quite well, culminating with some of the nightbloods from last season, including Luna. The whole nightblood phenomenon was a bit funky and mystical last year, but it’s a boon this seasons as Clarke’s mother, Abigail, finds out that the nightblood genetics actually create a certain immunity to the radiation. A fact that spurs Abigail, Raven and a few others to desperately seek for a way to replicate the serum and inoculate the rest of humanity. At the same time, the rest of the clans are fighting for dominance in a battle to the death in hopes of winning the right to go in the underground bunker and survive the calamity. While Clarke and Bellamy search for a way for Arkadia (and all of humanity) to survive.

What makes the last couple seasons so interesting is the fact that the show isn’t afraid to kill people off, and isn’t afraid for characters to change over time. The first one or two seasons had Clarke as the optimistic do gooder, but she has slowly changed to a much more Machiavellian role, aligning herself with ex Chancelor Jaha more than once. Even Bellamy has changed from the brutal leader to a more compassionate warrior, effectively switching places with Clarke from early on. Fan favorite Octavia (Bellamay’s sister) has turned into one of my favorite characters on the show, especially after her allegiance swap after the death of her love, the grounder Lincoln.

The show isn’t perfect though, and the main flaws tend to be overly convoluted interpersonal relationships. What I like to call “The CW curse”. There are so many times where you’re just sitting there yelling at the screen to just “stop all the drama and DO something!” that you have to dial it back with a chill pill more than once. However, that still doesn’t take away from the fact that show is gutsy and certainly takes no prisoner with its commitment to keeping you guessing on who will live, and who will die.





Rating:

Rated TV-14




Video:

Much like the previous season, the encode for season 4 of The 100 is near immaculate. Presented in its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio, the encode looks phenomenal with rich colors, deep blacks and some fantastic looking detail. The color palette is very balanced and natural with excellent saturation levels, although there is still the heavily stylized dark teal grading that has been prevalent since the beginning, giving the show a little bit of a drab look. The innards of the Sky Clan look teal and blue, but the shiny veneer of technology is slowly dissipating as they make do as veritable grounders, making way for the grungier browns and greys of grounder gear and clothing. The Earth forest is alive with different shades of blue, green and reds, and every color in between and those forest shots are filled with tons and tons of minute visual detail, from the coloring and texture of different leaves, to the dirt and grime embedded in the human clothes and faces to the shiny stone walls of the crypt. Black levels are very deep and only show a few instances of banding, with great shadow detail. contrast is a bit dark but nothing too wild and besides the color banding in some dark shots. Again, there’s some minor macroblocking here and there, but only if you really look hard, leaving it one of the best looking TV shows on DVD right now.







Audio:

as with all the DVD seasons of The 100, the 5.1 Dolby Digital track is also really great for a DVD, but does suffer from the limited bitrate and compression of the format. Vocals are crisp and clear, with strong balance between the effects and the dialog. The battles raging between the sky clan (our resident heroes) and the rest of the grounders ring with authority, and the surrounds are constantly awash with the clanking of swords, armor and crunching footsteps in the desolate world. The score has a nice deep and throaty feel, ominous and pulsing with power. LFE is powerful and full of energy with the mano e mano death math. The track is quite a hefty one, and its only fault is that it just isn’t as spacious or as deep as the Blu-ray version (which IS available from Warner Archive). Just as solid as all the previous seasons on DVD.
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Extras:

• The 100: 2016 Comic-Con Panel
• From Outcasts to Leaders
• Creating A Post-Apocalyptic World
• Jasper’s Journey
• The Stunts of the 100
• Deleted Scenes
• Gag Reel

Final Score: ​

The 100 is a bit of strange show in its progression from the first season. Based off of a set of novels by Kass Morgan, the show started out with a fizzle, filled with unlikeable characters and a first season that left me VERY sour (I rated it 2/5 without a qualm). As the seasons progressed the show has adapted and changed, leaving Kass Morgan’s plot lines far behind and embracing a decidedly more sci-fi element than the post-apocalyptic roots it initially started with. The show has never really gotten GREAT, but it is a solid CW show with some very entertaining stories. The CW style drama and interpersonal relationships is its biggest weakness, but the show has maintained a healthy upward trend (even if that trend is slight) with the last two seasons easily being the best of the show. Audio and video are great, leaving me to recommend the show as a solid watch.



Technical Specifications:

Starring: Eliza Taylor, Bob Morley, Marie Avgeropoulos
Created by: Jason Rothenberg
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 MPEG 2
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Studio: Warner Brothers
Rated: TV-14
Runtime: 548 Minutes
DVD Release Date: July 18th, 2017

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• Michael Scott
• May 11, 2017

Recommendation: Solid Watch

 

[tripplej]

Thanks for the review. I may have to revisit this series. I saw the first season and I just wasn't happy with it and couldn't see any more. Maybe I gave up too soon.. Will check it out later..

 

[Michael Scott]

it gets a good bit better. The first season was REALLY bad.. season 2 is pretty solid, but season 3 is where it gets better.

 

[tripplej]

Yeah, I was not at all impressed with the first season. . I may have to revisit it thou to let me get into season 2..

 

[Sonnie]

I have been hit and miss... haven't even seen all of season 3 yet. I've had a hard time keeping up interest in it. Maybe season 4 will be better.

 

[Michael Scott]

It's about on par with season 3... if that didn't tickle you the right way then season 4 won't be wildly different

 

[Sonnie]

I might watch when nothing else interest me. In the middle of season 2 with The Strain right now.

 

[tripplej]

Sonnie, How is "The Strain"? I am assuming it must be good if you are on season 2? I haven't seen any of it.

 

[Michael Scott]

I reviewed season 3 over here the other day and season 2 over at the "other place" last year (review is still up there). it's a solid show. CREEPY as all getout in regards to the vampire/monsters... not 100% perfect, but I really enjoy it.

 

[Sonnie]

Sonnie, How is "The Strain"? I am assuming it must be good if you are on season 2? I haven't seen any of it.

https://www.avnirvana.com/threads/the-strain-the-complete-third-season-dvd-review.801/#post-9003

 

[tripplej]

Thanks for the link. Didn't realize at the time, there was another thread on it. Sorry for the repeat..Will check it out.

 

[Sonnie]

No problem at all... that is why I linked it.