The Expanse

Simply put, this show has been kicking ass since its conception and release on the SYFY channel. Although, nowadays, the SYFY channel, in my opinion, has become rather childish, leaving what it intended to do, which was to show Science Fiction on the television screen. The scene begins roughly 300 years in the future, where humanity has spread across the solar system, divided into different factions and nations known as Earth, Mars, and the Belt. The Belt has been exploited by the other colonies for years, as it is used for extracting resources, but the tide is beginning to chance. Personally, it comes across as what Game of Thrones would be in space, but with a bit less savagery. It is also based off a series of books.

Well what does this show exactly do well? Oh let me think, literally everything: a plot, a theme with consistent tone, and of course brilliant character development. Season 1 follows a detective in the Belt who follows a case across the solar system, running into another pair of characters who recently experienced a tragedy at the hands of a mysterious enemy. The bigger issue in the system hasn’t been addressed and Season 1 offers keen insight into the thought processes of each character, addressing their past, present, and future. However, Season 2 and 3 get into deep battle between a multitude of adversaries, blaring with space action. Ultimately, what makes the show good is its constant character development and additions to the cast. Even through each new season, new characters are thoughtfully introduced and portrayed with realistic life stories. It makes space fiction feel real.

However, things took a turn with the shows production after Season 3. SYFY recognized the gaining popularity of “The Expanse” and came to a decision to drop the show based on their lack of accessibility and funds. Soon after, the show was picked up by Amazon, which can only mean good things to come, hopefully. In the new upcoming season, slated for release in late 2019, I hope Amazon only improves on the qualities of action within the show, rather than change the continuous character development throughout each episode.

When it came down to it, I gave this show a 10/10 because of my everlasting hope for the show to be even greater, if it is possible. I want this to continue to explore such themes as politics, crime, and law, but in what is a potentially dystopian future. I watched this show on TV since its first episode after it briefly caught my eye an ad, and I haven’t been disappointed in the slightest.

My Rating: 10/10

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

TV.com: 8.9/10