It’s been five years since the backdoor pilot for one of my favoritesci-fishows aired, and I’m still disappointed that nothing ever came of it. Backdoor pilots are a good means of testing the water to see if a spinoff has potential, but they can also prove disappointing if their series aren’t greenlit. After all, that leaves viewers to grapple with storylines that will never be complete.
And when the characters and setup of a backdoor pilot are good — and difficult to return to in the main series — that can be especially disappointing.This was the case forThe 100’s potential spinoff,Second Dawn, which would have brought viewers back in time and elaborated on events before the original show.
Unfortunately,The CW never went forward withSecond Dawn, dashing anyhopes ofThe 100turning into a franchise. To this day, I’m still disappointed about it, as the episode that set up the prequel showcased great potential.
The 100 Spinoff’s Backdoor Pilot Aired 5 Years Ago & Was Actually Really Good
“Anaconda” Is One Of Season 7’s Stronger Episodes
The 100season 7, episode 8, “Anaconda,” served as the backdoor pilot forSecond Dawn, the prequel that was meant to show how the apocalypse initially unfolded. Set almost a century before the events of the original series,“Anaconda” revealed how part humanity survived the nuclear apocalypse by escaping into space.
It also gave a more detailed backstory to season 7 villain Bill Cadogan, introducing his daughter, who would have been one of the prequel’s prominent players. Although Bill wasn’t a likable character inThe 100’s final season, his daughter had a lot of potential to lead the spinoff. Iola Evans played her well, giving viewers yet another heroine to root for.
In a divisive season ofThe 100, ‘Anaconda’ proved to be one of the stronger installments.
And in a divisive season of The100, “Anaconda” proved to be one of the stronger installments. It was easy to envision the backstory spinning out into a full-blown TV series, with compelling characters and connections to the original series' premise.That’s why it’s so disappointing thatSecond Dawnnever moved forward, even years later.
I’m Still Disappointed Nothing Ever Came Of The Plans For Second Dawn
The CW Passed Up On Good Opportunities By Axing The Potential Spinoff
It’s been five years sinceThe 100took its final bow, andit’s still disappointing that nothing ever came of the plans forSecond Dawn— especially given the uptick in sci-fi series recently.The 100was a strong addition to the genre for years before it truly fell off, and its prequel could have been as well, particularly if it heeded the original’s mistakes.
Given the real-world concerns surrounding climate change and nuclear warfare,Second Dawnhad the opportunity to touch on timely topics and offer interesting commentary, making its fate doubly disappointing in hindsight. It could have added layers toThe 100’s story while also setting itself apart with its concept. Sadly, The CW passed up the opportunity to do both.
And the lore behindThe 100’s story would likely be just as gutting, as hard decisions needed to be made when forming the space stations that kept humanity alive for decades. This offered the perfect means to expand on the show’s themes without fully repeating its story; the setting and circumstances would bring something fresh to the table.
Second Dawn Could Have Helped Repair The 100’s Legacy After Season 7
The Spinoff Could Have Learned From Its Predecessor’s Mistakes
In addition to offering a great concept,Second Dawncould have helped repairThe 100’s legacy after season 7. Conversations surrounding the original show have begun to fade, and that’s unsurprising given Bellamy Blake’s season 7 death is one of the manymoments fromThe 100that made viewers quit the show.
Those who hadn’t lost faith in the series after its mishandling of Lexa likely did after watching seasons 6 and 7. The narrative went on for too long, and the series made questionable choices that harmed its reputation going forward. This could have contributed to The CW’s decision to ax its spinoff plans, but those could have repaired some of the damage.
Second Dawncould have kept the discussions ofThe 100alive following its series finale, and it could have made the effort to endear viewers to the franchise again. Sure, this might not have been an easy feat, but better treatment of certain characters and subjects would have gone a long way.
It also could have ensured that The CW’s sci-fi lineup remained promising, giving the network a leg up in the category.The 100was easily one of its most impressive series, so there’s a good chance thatSecond Dawncould have built on its strengths and been even better.
