The 100 is at its best when the stakes are high and the characters are the central portion of the story being told.
The introduction for each is always a make or break moment, usually because it sets a tone for the rest of the episode and what the audience can expect.
Over the past five seasons of The 100, it has managed to find a good stride in the way that it delivers those openings.
The 100: Bob Morley on Emotional Payoff and Bellamy’s Next Journey
There is a healthy mix throughout each season of humor as well as action-packed introductions to the upcoming storyline.
Usually build on suspense, shock factor, or character heavy interactions that build on the conflict, the show knows what how to hook us from the start.
Here is a slideshow of some of the strongest examples of successful cold opens on the show, those that we still remember to this day.
“We Are Grounders – Part II”
The cold open for The 100 Season 1 Episode 13 stood out because it built on the worry that came with going to war for the first time. It also leaned on its strongest well-developed relationship between Bellamy and Clarke, letting their conversation give us more hope for the future.
“Praimfaya”
The tension was at an all-time high during The 100 Season 4 Episode 13, with the end of the world threatening any trust that we had in everything turning out okay. There is also something ironic about the way that Bellamy and Clarke’s growing romantic feelings in the finale were presented alongside their attempt to find hope for the end of the world.
“The Warriors Will”
The best part about the intro to The 100 Season 5 Episode 10 was the way that everyone fixated on the worms. There were discussions happening about how this would play a role at the end of the season, only for them to never be addressed again. It is kind of funny, right?
“Demons”
This may be biased but setting up The 100 Season 3 Episode 12 as the beginning of a horror movie was absolutely genius. It had a really wonderful balance of spooky and intriguing without coming off as too much.
“Coup de Grace”
Knowing that Bellamy was in danger meant approaching The 100 Season 2 Episode 11 with a lot of hesitation. And while it was really difficult having to watch that torture sequence that Bellamy went through, the way that it was filmed and Bob Morley’s acting throughout it deserves its own slide.
“The 48”
The 100 Season 2 Episode 1 starting with Clarke freaking out everyone in that dining hall while she destroys everything in her path to get to her people was amazing. It jumped right back into the swing of things and it was so entertaining as a Clarke Griffin fan.
“Perverse Instantiation – Part One”
For a season that was focused on the possible end of the world, The 100 Season 3 Episode 15 found time for some comedic relief as well. The cold open allowed the naturally funny chemistry between Clarke, Bellamy, and Roan to truly shine before they had to focus on the doom again,
“Gimme Shelter”
Following our favorites as they try to find shelter from the black rain was chilling. The 100 Season 4 Episode 7 gave us a cold open that actually made our blood run cold while we breathlessly watched everyone trying to make it out alive.
“His Sister’s Keeper”
The 100 Season 1 Episode 6 was a great example of why flashbacks worked so well when the show itself was starting out. Bellamy was growing as the male lead and his relationship with Octavia shed a light on what kind of person he really was. Getting a glimpse at the responsibility that was placed on a six-year-old Bellamy successfully made sure the episode started with all of our hearts hurting for him.
“Damocles – Part One”
The 100 Season 5 Episode 12 was difficult, it is hard to get behind it even months later. What did work for it though was the action and how it set the scene for a complicated episode.
“Die All, Die Merrily”
Looking back at The 100 Season 4 Episode 10 makes you wonder if Luna was right all along. Back then it felt like her appearing and promising to take the bunker away from everyone because they didn’t deserve was a sign of her falling into a villainous role. But after The 100 Season 5, you can’t say she didn’t have a point about humanity and the never-ending destruction that comes with it. The fact that Octavia led one side of that war is also an important fact to reflect on.
“How We Get to Peace”
The main characters playing off each other is always promising, especially for an episode like The 100 Season 5 Episode 8. It is shocking to see the way that Bellamy and Octavia start out, only for Bellamy to have to face the facts about the real danger to their safety. These opening credits structure an establishing place for him to be and it is even more intense to reflect back on it after he poisons Octavia.
“Resurrection”
There is nothing quite like Clarke looking at the destruction of her decision with Lexa during The 100 Season 2 Episode 13. The image doesn’t leave her mind, or ours, easily because it is a haunting shift in her decisions as a leader.
“Terms and Conditions”
It was an understatement to say that Bellamy’s (and by extension Pike’s) storyline was put on the back burner. Fans had to rely on their own heavy interpretations and reasoning, as well as the actors conveying as much as they could in their limited scenes, to piece together what we can assume was meant to be a plot that could be reasoned better. The 100 Season 3 Episode 8 plays up the parallel of Bellamy realizing that his pain was used in support of things he isn’t actually onboard with, but the cold open allows for us to spend more time with him in this middle ground first.
“Earth Kills”
Like the title of The 100 Season 1 Episode 3 says, the earth is fighting back against the people that now live there again. The 100 was introducing plenty of storylines, and it was the Earth as its own conflicting character that built even more fascination for the show itself.
“God Complex”
Are you still wondering how far your favorites on The 100 would go to survive? Look no further than The 100 Season 4 Episode 8, where the cold open shows a radiation test that ends in the brutal death of an innocent person. It was startling and it guaranteed that the episode would not limit itself in any way,
“Long Into an Abyss”
The cold open of The 100 Season 2 Episode 7 was a sneak peek into how horrible Mount Weather, specifically Cage, continues to be. It was a sacrifice set in a beautiful field and it was a different kind of disturbing for the show.
“Remember Me”
Picking up right after Finn’s death, The 100 Season 2 Episode 9 is all about Clarke’s emotional state and the way other people are coping with her decision. Raven and Clarke facing off after both losing someone they cared about was where the show always excelled, allowing the characters to drive their story.
“Blood Must Have Blood, Part Two”
This isn’t as much of a high impact introduction to an episode, but it is startling as the audience and Murphy see that Jaha is losing it. That moment really kicks in during The 100 Season 2 Episode 16 where all possible trust in Jaha as the leader gets swapped for general concern.
“Reapercussions”
The 100 Season 2 Episode 3 had Clarke and Anya trying to escape Mount Weather, using the reaper tunnel to do it. The opening sequence was just the right amount of nerve-wracking combined with disturbing because of the reaper aspect of the escape. There is no way someone would be able to take their attention away from the screen.
“Wanheda: Part Two”
Revealing that Monty’s mother was still alive set the scene for The 100 Season 3 Episode 2, and it was a shocking reveal at that. But it was perfectly executed because of the timing, not letting the build-up linger for too long.
“Unity Day”
I remember starting The 100 Season 1 Episode 9 and settling in for the Unity Days celebration only for there to be an explosion and the credits starting. That served as a reminder about how well The 100 was able to execute high-intensity twists when you least expect it.
“Heavy Lies the Crown”
Ilian was a vital character in during The 100 Season 4. So allowing The 100 Season 4 Episode 2 to dedicate their cold open to his introduction was a smart way to provide some visual background information before he gets officially introduced to the other characters.
