Missing 'The 100'? Here are 3 sci-fi dramas to watch if you loved the show but found the final season average
It has been seven long years, but by now, many fans would have seen 'The 100' come to an end. Please note, at the time of writing, the series finale has not aired yet, so we will not be taking into account the events of this week's episode in our account of 'The 100'. That said, however, the seventh and final season of 'The 100' has been disappointing for most fans with many events (including deaths) being shown in previous episodes simply for the shock factor of it all.
Fans who have dedicated themselves to 'The 100' -- which is not easy given the heavy material of The CW post-apocalyptic show -- potentially felt that they were strung along for seven seasons to see a final season that has had choppy pacing, repetitive plots, and sometimes, character arcs that just made no sense, especially since Season 6 was pretty much the opposite of that.
Nevertheless, we stuck through till the end and now while many of you may have a rewatch of all seven seasons of 'The 100' planned -- because, yes, a mediocre final season does not take away from what was and will always be regarded as a great show (just ask 'Game of Thrones' fans) --, some of you may want to take some time before you watch all the episodes that made you fall in love with the show. Even so, there is a 'The 100'-shaped void in your lives.
So, MEA Worldwide (MEAWW) has compiled a list of three remarkable sci-fi shows that you must watch if you feel like you want to watch 'The 100' all over again, but also feel like you don't want to. Read on to know more about these shows and where you can watch them.
'Haven'
Some fans of 'The 100' may have already watched Syfy's 'Haven', but this is a good time as any other to add it to your watchlist again. The American-Canadian sci-fi/fantasy show centers on Aubrey Parker (Emily Rose) who arrives in the fictional town of Haven in Maine. The series is loosely based on Stephen King's novel, 'The Colorado Kid', and is peppered with references of King's other works. However, 'Haven' is a much lighter watch compared to other Stephen King television adaptations.
Why it is like 'The 100'
Simply put, Aubrey is very similar to Clarke Griffin (Eliza Taylor) in that she plays savior a lot of the times on the show, often putting herself at risk. She does so with the help of Haven PD's Nathan Wuornos (Lucas Bryant), who is the Bellamy Blake (Bob Morley) to Aubrey's Clarke. Yes, there's a romance brewing between the two characters, but we shall get to that in the next section.
Why it is not like 'The 100'
While 'The 100' fans may have felt baited over the last few seasons, 'Haven' will give you what you want. The teased romance between Aubrey and Nathan plays out, even though it takes time. There is also a "last war"-like situation in 'Haven' by the final season and without giving anything away, we can tell you that even if characters are killed, it never feels like it came out of the blue. In fact, 'Haven' takes great care in its organic storytelling so viewers can be sure to feel comfortable watching it.
Where to watch 'Haven'
All five seasons of 'Haven' can be streamed on Netflix in the United States.
'Black Hole High'
'Black Hole High' aka 'Strange Days at Blake Holsey High' is the oldest show on this list, having premiered in October 2002 and running till January 2006. It is also a sci-fi/fantasy show that is primarily made for young adults, but that does not mean that you won't find it enjoyable. 'Black Hole High' begins when Josie Trent (Emma Taylor-Isherwood) is enrolled at the titular boarding school where strange events occur, even wormholes. Josie, along with her fellow science club pals, and their science teacher, get caught up in these events as they try to figure out what is really going on. The show also stars 'Schitt's Creek's' Noah Reid as a nerdy but cool student, and 'Life With Derek's' Michael Seater.
Why it is like 'The 100'
The simple answer is wormholes! While 'The 100' just had wormholes and space-time travel in the final two seasons (mostly concentrated in Season 7), 'Black Hole High' is entirely about them. The core five characters including Josie, Corrine Baxter (Shadia Simmons), Lucas Randall (Michael Seater), Marshall Wheeler (Noah Reid), and Vaughn Pearson (Robert Clark), don't seem to be like the kind to be friends with each other, but through their Blake Holsey High survival stories, they bond.
Why it is not like 'The 100'
Again, because this is a show that is targeted towards a younger audience, you will not see the deaths, gore, and shock factor plots that are characteristic of 'The 100'. That said, while this show is just three and a half seasons long (the fourth season just features three episodes to conclude the story), it will still rope viewers in on the strength of the weird episodic plotlines and the relationships between the characters. It also ends quite satisfyingly.
Where to watch 'Black Hole High'
The show is currently not available to rent or stream in the United States, but the episodes are up on YouTube.
'The King: Eternal Monarch'
Much like 'The 100', the popular Korean drama 'The King: Eternal Monarch' features a portal as well. The portals in the Korean drama show go between parallel worlds and, of course, time. 'The King: Eternal Monarch' stars Lee Min-ho as the titular king, Lee Gon. When Lee Gon discovers he can travel between two worlds, he does so frequently, falling in love with Jeong Tae-eul (Kim Go-eun) who is from a parallel world and has a mysterious connection to his past, specifically, the night when his father was killed by his half-uncle. Korean dramas are always fun to watch, but they always take it to another level when there is science-fiction or fantasy involved.
Why it is like 'The 100'
Much like 'Black Hole High', the themes of portals, interdimensional travel, and time travel are what makes 'The King: Eternal Monarch' similar to 'The 100'. Like Clarke, Lee Gon takes up the responsibility of saving the world from a man obsessed with power, and like Clarke, Lee Gon was born into a powerful family. There are also instances of actors playing two different characters, like Woo Do-hwan playing both Jo Yeong and his counterpart in the parallel world, Jo Eun-sup, both of whom are entirely different in demeanor.
Why it is not like 'The 100'
It is rare that Korean dramas end sadly, though there are those who do (like 'Black' for instance). However, 'The King: Eternal Monarch' gave fans the happy ending they wanted, leaving them satisfied.
Another thing to point out is the theme of sacrifice. On 'The 100', sacrifice keeps happening, especially Clarke who has had to sacrifice so much and so many of her loved ones (even Bellamy in the end). 'The 100' makes it so that sacrifice isn't just inevitable but necessary to keep moving forward. However, in 'The King: Eternal Monarch', that is not the case. Neither Lee Gon nor Jeong Tae-eul sacrifice their respective worlds for each other, but they still manage to find their way to each other.
Where to watch 'The King: Eternal Monarch'
The show can be streamed on Netflix in the United States.
'The 100' series finale aired on The CW on September 30, at 8/7c.