With its hardened characters doing whatever it takes to survive in their post-apocalyptic setting, The 100 has featured much darker, more violent content than most of its counterparts on The CW's original programming line-up.
Series creator and showrunner Jason Rothenberg is grateful for the amount of creative freedom the network has allowed the show, pushing the boundaries of acceptable content for the network.
"We definitely pride ourselves on pushing the envelope on what’s acceptable on The CW [chuckles]; I’m often surprised we get away with some of the things that we get away with, frankly," said Rothenberg in an upcoming exclusive interview with CBR. "To their credit -- with [CW President] Mark Pedowitz, in particular -- they’re aware we’re competing in a world where people have cable and streaming. That kind of content is kind of expected -- that’s the stuff I love -- and it’s [what] we try to kind of emulate and live up to with this show."
With The 100 testing the boundaries of content restrictions, Rothenberg credits the series for helping other shows on the network feature content they wouldn't normally have explored without The 100 leading the charge.
"I use the metaphor sometimes that we’re the blocking back who bursts through the line of scrimmage and leaves roles for the running backs to follow and the running backs are like The Flash and other shows on the network that can do things that maybe they thought they couldn’t do [until] we’ve broken through in certain areas, mainly when it comes to violence and things like that," continued Rothenberg.
The 100 stars Eliza Taylor, Marie Avgeropoulos, Bob Morley, Lindsey Morgan, Richard Harmon, Tasya Teles and Shannon Kook. The series will return for its seventh and final season Wednesday, May 20, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.