Ten Awe-Inspiring Women From ‘The 100’ (2014-2020)

Seven seasons of wickedly clever characters on The CW’s television series The 100 (2014-2020; Jason Rothenberg) produced a number of formidable women, each representing strength, loyalty, perseverance, and more. Based on the young adult dystopian series by Kass Morgan, The 100 takes place after nuclear bombs have wiped out all life on Earth. After 100 years, a space station called “The Ark” sends down about 100 convicted teenagers to determine if Earth is survivable. Though the land is sustainable, the group struggles with leadership, relationships, provisions, power, and more.

The 100: “Grounders”

One of the first obstacles the 100 encounter as they land on earth is what they call “Grounders,” who survived the radiation with a specific blood alteration, essentially re-inventing humanity and its customs. Though at first, they are enemies, the line between the 100 teenagers and the Grounders blurs as they continue to face enemies together. Despite the characters withstanding heaps of suffering, loss, and calamity throughout each season, they also grow and mature into adept individuals. With that growth emerges ten women who are as clever and cunning as foxes, as dangerous and deadly as lions. They make armies cower and face battles of mind and body. They bow to no one.

Clarke Griffin

In the first few seconds of episode one of The 100, the audience is introduced to their first strong female protagonist. Even in the very beginning, Clarke takes charge and leads their group in an organized fashion. Then, transitioning into the next few seasons, Clarke acquires the title of “Wanheda,” or the commander of death. Though the name seems gruesome, Clarke’s decisions have always been in the best interest of their group. She speaks for her people to other groups on Earth and continuously tries to negotiate for peace, protecting her friends and people. Though sometimes her actions seem immoral and malicious, her care for each of her friends is prominent in each of the seasons, evident through her frequent martyrdom. In addition, she explores her sexuality and maintains the image of bisexual representation in television.

One of Clarke’s most infamous decisions occurs at a location called “Mount Weather.” Here, hundreds of humans are contained because they are not able to be exposed to the radiation in the atmosphere. Seemingly, they have lived in peace where they are fed, clothed, and cared for; they have been capturing Grounders and members of the 100 in order to run experiments, finding a way to live in the outside world. This prison is disguised as a picture-perfect resort, but Clarke quickly realizes something is amiss. When everything unravels, and she is faced with the decision of letting all her friends die or murdering hundreds of the fortress’ residents, she begrudgingly chooses the latter. Opening the vents, the hundreds of inhabitants die in seconds: families, children, innocents. Though this price was a lofty one, Clarke stands by her decision. She saved her friends, even if they don’t always appreciate it.

Octavia Blake

As part of the initial 100 kids, along with Clarke, Octavia Blake’s personality was flat; she was spontaneous and frivolous. However, she very quickly grows into a strong warrior. By befriending a member of their first enemy, the Grounders, Octavia learns and assimilates to their culture, always attempting to reach peace between the both of them. Then, once she trains to be a fighter, she becomes strong-willed and fearless. During the fifth season, she gains the title “Bloodreina” and the “Red Queen” when she rules over her people as a tyrant, which was objectively necessary for their survival.

However, by the last season, her character arcs into a fearless and skilled fighter, yet with care and compassion, when she learns the meaning of forgiveness and redemption. Octavia has murdered her fair share of people and fought plenty of wars, but one of her shining moments in the show is actually when she stops a war. In the very last episode, the audience sees an entirely different side of her than the blood-thirsty queen of previous seasons, killing anyone who gets in her way. This time, she saves them. This time, the bloodshed finally comes to a halt, and the weapons are put to rest.

Echo

The viewers meet Echo when she is trapped and imprisoned inside Mount Weather. In the following seasons, Echo, with the skills of a spy, becomes a friendly yet formidable character. She is loyal, which can sometimes put her in tricky situations. Despite a few betrayals on her part, she is still able to bloom into an independent and cunning yet good-natured spirit. The way she was raised taught her only violence and power, but when she meets and spends years with the other characters, some of which will be mentioned later, Echo learns other priorities of life. 

Finally, fans unveil her past in the last season and discover that “Echo” is not her given name. Instead, it was stolen. With the name “Ash,” she was a timid, inexperienced girl. When the queen of her home nation challenges her friend, Echo, to murder Ash in a test of loyalty, Ash proves to be much more resilient than the initial impression. This event seemed to shape the rest of her life as she takes on a new name and a fierce persona.

Emori

Emori emerges from the desert, beginning a romantic relationship with a member of the original 100. Onward, she demonstrates her skill for survival, keeping herself alive when she is disregarded as a “Freikdrena,” or an outcast, because of her mutation. However, she overcomes any harassment she encounters and learns to respect her differences. Especially in the later seasons, Emori is able to showcase her generosity by keeping the peace between two opposing civilizations. As she befriends other characters, she learns that it is okay to rely on others, and her loyalties expand past her own interests.

This mutation she was born with is a hand deformity, which she covers with a glove. This difference has decided her entire life since some consider it undesirable, causing her to be constantly paranoid that someone may mean harm. Portraying an unfortunately realistic struggle, creators of The 100 display a positive relationship with one’s differences as viewers watch Emori grow to love every part of herself. This confidence doesn’t happen instantly, but gradually, she meets more and more people who love her exactly how she is, allowing her to see past her previous treatment.

Raven

Raven is perhaps one of the most intelligent characters on the show. She can fly a spaceship, code, and is essentially filled to the brim with knowledge — most of which may as well have been nonsense as far as the audience knew. When she lost part of her leg to an infected gunshot wound, she struggled. Tremendously. But allowing herself to accept help from others prompted her to grow confident and comfortable with the loss. Despite this mental and physical hindrance, Raven consistently proves that she is capable of defying all odds.

Raven is essential to the team in the following seasons, making it apparent that the power of knowledge surpasses all else. By implementing this in the TV show in such a respectable manner to conquering her hindrances, The 100 enforces positive and sensible representation for such disabilities. Though Raven has saved the day too many times to count, virtue sets her apart from all the others. As one character calls her “Ms. Morality,” Raven repeatedly demonstrates that innocent lives are always worth it, and rash decisions have consequences.

In one instance, she dismisses this morality to fix a nuclear leak that would end up wiping out an entire village, which leads to the loss of several lives to fix it. But no matter how cruel it may seem, Raven ends up saving hundreds. Her conscience catches up with her in the end, anyhow, further conveying her regret and sense of decency.

Lexa

One of the most liked characters, Lexa, is one of Clarke’s partners and an ally in their wars on Earth. She claims the position as Commander of the 13 clans, which she upholds because of her skill in battle and strategy in war. Her endeavors to upkeep peace between both the 12 clans and Clarke’s people emphasize her ability to think rationally to protect the lives of the majority. She not only upholds the traditions of her people, but she accepts criticism and changes from outside commentary.

One of the worst betrayals is when Lexa makes a deal with the enemy, Mount Weather, before Clarke is able to get all of her people out. No matter how guilty she felt afterward, Lexa’s actions cost many lives. However, she does so in order to save the group of her people, Grounders, who had been imprisoned, basically trading Clarke’s people for their lives. Though unforgivable, Lexa redeems herself by agreeing to annex Clarke’s people with the Grounders.

Indra

A warrior, a mother, a guardian. Indra is yet another fearless fighter who was a war chief and brilliant strategist. As a Grounder, she eventually trains Octavia, teaching her the culture and traditions of her clan and molding her into the perfect apprentice. Her relationship with Octavia only grows from then on as Indra becomes an adviser, and they form a type of mother-daughter dynamic. And when she displays her occasional loving side, it’s all the more heartwarming.

As Octavia’s adviser, when she acquires the title “Bloodreina,” she helps her make decisions, which mostly include war and resources. However, with Octavia’s safety and sanity in mind, Indra disobeys orders and plans. Because Octavia had ruled with tyranny, Indra is able to discern if a choice is more beneficial for her people or Octavia’s objectives. In the process, Indra essentially saves Octavia from herself, attempting to stop her before she decided she couldn’t take back and cost more lives than needed. Thus, Indra illustrates her love for Octavia and her ability to separate what she wants from what she needs. 

Becca

Becca, the very first commander of those on Earth before the 100, was a genius. By inserting a program into her mind, she enhanced her intelligence and saved many humans before the bombs with blood alteration. Following her death — she was burned because her goals did not align with another leader — the AI in her mind was passed down through generations of humans who civilized Earth again, thus creating the commander lineage that Lexa took part in. A journal she kept also survives all those years, helping the 100 from beyond the ashes.

When the nuclear bombs were first released, she is in space. Though she mistakenly creates the program that wipes out all life on the surface, she also invents a serum that gives immunity to radiation, which later becomes hereditary. Though she is already safe in space, along with hundreds of others, she journeys back to Earth to help those who did not make it to a space station. Risking her own life, Becca saves generations of others. 

Madi

Madi, thanks to Clarke, survived another event that destroyed Earth’s surface. As the only two beings on land, they forged a mother-daughter relationship as Clarke taught her to use a weapon and numerous other survival tactics. In return, as Clarke is later reunited with her friends, the audience gets to watch Madi’s unwavering loyalty toward her. Additionally, Madi continuously puts herself before Clarke to protect her and the people they care about.

Because Madi carries the blood that was immunized by the first commander — Becca — she also inherits the role and responsibility. Though she does not wish to have this position, she still accepts it to save Clarke and others she loves. By taking command, as a girl, no less, Madi implants the AI into her head. Thus, she is overwhelmed with memories of the past commanders, especially one named Sheidheda, the “Dark Commander.” In her dreams, and eventually, in reality, he constantly attacks her, wishing to coup her position and rule over the Grounders. Bravely, Madi had to face Sheidheda time and time again.

Gaia

Last but not least, Gaia is Indra’s daughter. But more importantly, she maintains the title of the “Flamekeeper,” who guards the AI that is inserted into the commanders, as well as performs the ceremony of said device, or what they call the “flame.” Along with this duty, she is also trained with weapons. Her devotion toward this responsibility makes her inherently devoted to those who wield the AI. However, whenever she happens to violate this faith, it is in the interest of those she loves.

In fact, when Octavia becomes Bloodreina, Gaia is a standing guard who protects her; she also influences because of her former role as the Flamekeeper, even though Octavia is not a rightful commander. For years, she stands by Bloodreina because she believes it is best for her people, temporarily. After they are safe, though, she strives to put another commander, Madi, in her place so that the dangers of Octavia’s greed for power and influence are pacified. 

The Women Of The 100 (2014-2020)

This long list of names is only a few of the prominent female characters on The 100. Each and every one of them has admirable qualities — several of them being power, skill, leadership, and loyalty. And with that, they make some of the best and level-headed decisions in the entire show, proving themselves capable of defending themselves and others. Not just good and not just evil, these characters emphasize the humanity and depth of each persona.