The Expanse - 2.13: Caliban's War

[Gnrevolution]

The Expanse S2 E13 Caliban's War

Spoiler

So that's the end of Season 2. It's been quite a ride, although the ending of this season (and the season as a whole) felt a little uneven. From the high's of Home, the season for me kind of meandered a bit before the finale finally started pulling some threads together and resolving what had been building over the last few episodes.

I liked the way that the stand-off between Avasarala and Mao's henchmen played out, but one thing bugs me. Why didn't they just leave Bobby on the ship with the suit as back-up rather than dragging her along and then forcing her to fight her way back. Would have felt far better if they had been under siege only from her to emerge from the ship 'fully armed and operational' and kick a bit more ass. Still, if they'd done that we wouldn't have had that scene with the cucumber sandwiches, so there's that.

The scenes on the Roci were well done, and I loved that Prax came up with a smart way to deal with the Proto-monster. And damn Amos, you are ripped! I'm still not sold on Holden though, he still doesn't quite fit right for me, and I'm guessing by the end his relationship with Naomi has taken something of a backward turn. I was wondering why they didn't shut down the ship straight away based on previous experience with the PM, but then they did, and that didn't quite pan out. Still, does cooking the proto-monster kill it? They better hope so or that's gonna be one pissed off creature coming after them next season!

Lastly the mission above Venus came to a head, although I'm not sure what made them think going in was a good idea. Did they realise it would be certain suicide? Cos I sure as hell did. It did at least give us the chance to see what the vessel looks like when you take it to pieces, damn that was cool. Was the PM analysing the ship by doing this?

All in all a great series, but maybe peaked too early, left us with lots of questions which Season 3 should answer, but I hope they can make it a bit smoother in terms of the storyline.

Warning: Major book spoiler below!

Spoiler

I was seriously waiting for everyone to give Holden some peace and quite in the med bay, only for Miller to finally make a reappearance! I'm hoping they are bringing him back, although it could be tricky now keeping this under wraps until Season 3 airs!

 

[ctg]

Spoiler

Why didn't they just leave Bobby on the ship with the suit as back-up rather than dragging her along and then forcing her to fight her way back. Would have felt far better if they had been under siege only from her to emerge from the ship 'fully armed and operational' and kick a bit more ass. Still, if they'd done that we wouldn't have had that scene with the cucumber sandwiches, so there's that.

I don't think Mao's people ever really knew what Bobby were capable or what she's been trained to do in the ship clearing operations, but thing is they were outgunned from the moment she got access to the power armour. They had a chance before by storming that cabin rather than trying to negotiate. But I guess Mao's captain just wasn't a man to commit cold blooded murder.

So I wish they would have given in and surrendered on show of power rather than take a beating from a woman, who isn't going to stop from following her orders. And that is what you'll get from determined Martian Navy operator on a rescue mission.

I wonder how bad the turncoat looked after Bobby had got dressed in her suit, but I do wish he would take a role as her man-at-arms servant. Ms Draper would look good with him on his side.

Still, does cooking the proto-monster kill it?

Yeah, the monster disintegrated. Definitely.

 

[Gnrevolution]

Spoiler

I don't think Mao's people ever really knew what Bobby were capable or what she's been trained to do in the ship clearing operations, but thing is they were outgunned from the moment she got access to the power armour. They had a chance before by storming that cabin rather than trying to negotiate. But I guess Mao's captain just wasn't a man to commit cold blooded murder.

So I wish they would have given in and surrendered on show of power rather than take a beating from a woman, who isn't going to stop from following her orders. And that is what you'll get from determined Martian Navy operator on a rescue mission.

I wonder how bad the turncoat looked after Bobby had got dressed in her suit, but I do wish he would take a role as her man-at-arms servant. Ms Draper would look good with him on his side.



Yeah, the monster disintegrated. Definitely.

Spoiler

What, like the PM on Eros was destroyed when it hit Venus?

 

[ctg]

Spoiler

What, like the PM on Eros was destroyed when it hit Venus?

You saw it regenerating damage after it had been hit multiple times, including a headshot. But that rocket blume, it was disintegrating just like it was described in the book. And instead of having that conversation we got the images of face burned to ashes. That nuclear device certainly wasn't going to survive dark, cold space. Not without a food source.

 

[svalbard]

A good finale with plenty of action and emotional moments. Some really striking scenes too. The image of the breaking of the Earther ship over Venus was brilliant. Bobby doing some kick ass was great to watch.

But the standout image was of the proto-molecule creature in the foetal position holding the bomb. It struck a chord with me, not sure what chord but it was almost beautiful in it's execution.

 

[REBerg]

A masterful job of revolving storylines -- at a pace which even an action junkie like me found acceptable. As the finale entered its final five minutes or so, I had begun to fear that I might be looking at a triple cliffhanger to make me sweat until season 3.

Spoiler

I think that the UN science ship and crew were assimilated (Borg-style) rather than destroyed by the Venus Protomolecule.
The super soldier (did anyone else see a resemblance to Gollum?) which had hitched a ride on the Rocinante had not advanced sufficiently in its Promolecular development to avoid being incinerated by ship's engine blast. I did wonder if the nuclear core the creature was cradling should have been detonated, taking the ship with it.
I also wonder what Fred Johnson plans to do with his share of the Protomolecule pie.

 

[ctg]

Spoiler

I think that the UN science ship and crew were assimilated (Borg-style) rather than destroyed by the Venus Protomolecule.

Books use term "disassembled to individual items" which definitely was the case, except in the case of human bodies, which remained as one. What it really means? I don't know.

 

[REBerg]

Spoiler

Books use term "disassembled to individual items" which definitely was the case, except in the case of human bodies, which remained as one. What it really means? I don't know.

A hopeful sign, I think.

Spoiler

Maybe it means that the highly evolved Venusian version of the Protomolecule realizes that disassembled human bodies don't provide any repurposable parts for its building blueprints. I remain convinced that Miller has been incorporated as an upper-level manager on Venus and will return as some sort of Potomolecule-Human interface.

 

[ctg]

Scott Manley explains how fast the Expanse ships are really going in scientific terms.

Spoiler

 

[clovis-man]

A hopeful sign, I think.

Spoiler

Maybe it means that the highly evolved Venusian version of the Protomolecule realizes that disassembled human bodies don't provide any repurposable parts for its building blueprints. I remain convinced that Miller has been incorporated as an upper-level manager on Venus and will return as some sort of Potomolecule-Human interface.

Spoiler

Maybe not really a spoiler, but just a conflict between the protomolecule versions in both the books and the SyFy series: We seem to have on the one hand the bastardized PM version as likely promulgated by Mao and his henchmen. On the other is the "free range" PM that is growing on Venus. Will one prevail over the other? I guess I gotta keep reading for now. Volume 3 coming up.