Delinquents
Punished children who became the saviors of humanity.
The Delinquents refer to the collective group of juvenile offenders from the Ark space station who were sentenced to exile on Earth during the early days of humanity's post-apocalyptic struggle. Originally categorized by their criminal records rather than a unified political agenda, they formed the core of the first hundred humans sent down to test the planet's habitability. Their role evolved rapidly from condemned prisoners to the primary architects of survival on the ground. While not a formal faction with rigid borders like the Grounders or Primes, their shared origin bonded them against external threats and internal conflicts, setting the stage for the complex alliances that defined the series.
- Origin
- The Ark Space Station
- First Appearance
- Season 1, Episode 1
- Key Members
- Bellamy Blake, Clarke Griffin
- Status
- Disbanded / Integrated into other factions
Lore & Background
On the Ark, resources were strictly rationed and laws were absolute. The Delinquents broke those rules for various reasons, ranging from stealing food to protect siblings to violent outbursts born of desperation. When the Council decided to send a group down to Earth, these young people were chosen as expendable test subjects, with the expectation that they would die. Upon landing, their criminal pasts became less relevant than their ability to adapt. They discovered Grounder territories and learned Trigedasleng, eventually forging identities beyond their prison numbers. Their journey from outcasts to leaders challenged the notion of guilt and redemption, proving that survival often requires defying authority.
In Their Own Story
The dropship engines hummed a final goodbye to the stars above. Inside, the recycled air smelled of sweat and fear. Bellamy looked at the faces around him—thieves, fighters, dreamers sentenced to die by the Council's decree. They weren't just passengers; they were the unwanted cargo of a dying station. As the hatch opened to reveal a green, breathing world below, no one cheered. The radiation suits felt heavy against their skin. They knew this wasn't salvation from the sky. It was a second chance earned through blood and silence.
Reader's Guide
The Delinquents originated as juvenile offenders sentenced by the Ark Council for crimes ranging from theft to assault against fellow citizens. Their initial hierarchy was informal, driven by survival instincts rather than elected leadership, with Bellamy Blake emerging as a de facto commander during the descent to Earth. They believed in their right to live on the planet despite the Council's judgment that it was uninhabitable due to radiation. As they integrated into Grounder society and later formed new communities like Sanctum or Polis, the group fractured based on ideology rather than origin. Conflicts arose with Mount Weather regarding resource usage and with the Grounders over territory disputes. Alliances were often temporary, forged through shared trauma against common enemies like the Primes or the rogue AI A.L.I.E. Their goals shifted from mere survival to protecting humanity's future across all factions. While no longer a unified military force by later seasons, their legacy defined the moral compass of the series. They proved that those cast aside could rebuild civilization, challenging the rigid laws of both the Ark and the Grounders through action rather than decree.
Did You Know?
- They were not the first humans to set foot on Earth after the nuclear war, as Grounders had been living on the planet since the catastrophe.
- Their crimes included theft of food rations and assault charges committed while imprisoned on the station.
- No adults accompanied them during the initial drop; the 100 were sent down alone.
- Many members eventually became leaders of major ground factions or key figures in the resistance.