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Lincoln, The 100's Trikru warrior, was killed off in season 3 due to actor Ricky Whittle's refusal to work with showrunner Jason Rothenberg. Following Lexa's (Alycia Debnam-Carey) dramatic death, Lincoln's exit solidified The 100 season 3 as one of its most contentious and unpopular chapters. Lincoln began a relationship with The 100's Octavia Blake (Marie Avgeropoulos) in season one, which propelled him to a prominent role in season two. At least, such was the plan until personal difficulties arose.
Ricky Whittle left The 100 because he couldn't cooperate with showrunner Jason Rothenberg. In an interview, Whittle said that "Rothenberg abused his position to make [Whittle's] job untenable," and that he "chose to belittle [Whittle]," ignoring both the character and the performer (via AfterBuzz TV). Whittle never goes into detail about his conflicts with Rothenberg, but it's evident that there was a fundamental issue between the two of them that resulted in Lincoln's The 100 plot being cut short, eventually resulting to his departure from the show in season 3.
Despite his troubles with Rothenberg, Ricky Whittle appeared to get along well with everyone else on the show. He even asked viewers to continue watching after he finished portraying Lincoln to support the rest of The 100's cast and crew. The problem was solely with Rothenberg, and it was clear enough that other writers on the show corroborated their knowledge of Rothenberg's bullying of Whittle and the deliberate diminution of Lincoln's part. Whittle even attempted to leave the program during the second season, but never explained what transpired to keep him on board through season 3.
Ricky Whittle did not leave The 100 because he got the job in American Gods. Instead, he accepted the part after opting to leave Lincoln, The 100, and everything else behind. Lincoln's death in The 100 season 3 may not have been officially planned, but as is often the case with television series, actual life can end up dictating the plot. Notably, Ricky Whittle did not depart The 100 after landing the role in American Gods. Instead, he accepted the part after opting to leave Lincoln, The 100, and everything else behind. Lincoln's death in The 100 season 3 may not have been officially planned, but as is often the case with television series, actual life can end up dictating the plot.
Whittle's tenure on American Gods was likewise cut short when the show was cancelled by Starz in 2021, but his superb performance as Shadow Moon proved why quitting The 100 was the greatest option for the actor. For starters, Whittle received a Saturn Award for his portrayal on the program prior to the conclusion of American Gods season 3, demonstrating his ability to succeed in the role.
But, more crucially, Whittle was able to leave a hostile environment and still have a successful career on his own terms, setting an inspiring example for his large fan base. Although the actor hasn't taken on any new roles since American Gods' cancellation, the project appeared to have helped him move on in a manner that sticking on The 100 would never have.
The death of Lincoln in The 100 was painful for fans, and while the circumstances surrounding it were troubling, it did unintentionally benefit the program. Lincoln's death was terrible, but heroic. While he might have escaped with Octavia and Kane, he instead surrendered himself to Pike in exchange for saving the lives of the remaining inmates. Even without Ricky Whittle's behind-the-scenes treatment and subsequent exit from the show, it would have been an extremely fulfilling arc. Furthermore, it proved to be a turning point for Octavia.
Lincoln's parting remarks to Octavia, uttered in Trigedasleng, emphasized her kinship to the Grounders as the first Sky People to learn the language. Furthermore, witnessing Lincoln's self-sacrifice may have influenced Octavia to become the brave and selfless leader she became in season 4 (even if she later turned much more ruthless following Cooper's coup). Even Nevertheless, the trauma of seeing Lincoln's death may have contributed to Octavia becoming the Red Queen. It's an event that sparked a morally complicated arc for an equally morally complex protagonist. Had Lincoln remained on The 100, Octavia's tale would have been significantly more difficult to tell. She is a tragic character who has only known misery since she was born, and Lincoln's execution undoubtedly contributes to this. While the audience lamented Ricky Whittle's departure from the show at the time, it did, accidentally, help push subsequent seasons of The 100 to be even better.
The 100 is a sci-fi post-apocalyptic television series set ninety-seven years after a nuclear war decimated society. When a spaceship carrying humanity's last survivors sends one hundred juvenile delinquents back to Earth in the hopes of repopulating the planet, they discover that it is still populated. With warring clans, cannibals, and mountain dwellers continually vying for control, the kids must try to live while reestablishing communication with the Ark.
The 100 has received accolades for its diverse cast, exploration of challenging subjects, and exciting stories. However, the series has also been chastised for its occasionally violent and contentious themes. Despite its limitations, The 100 is nevertheless a popular and intriguing series that has grabbed viewers with its sophisticated world-building, compelling characters, and thought-provoking stories.