The Expanse - Season 4 discussion

[Brian G Turner]

Really enjoyed this series - sometimes The Expanse veers awkwardly between brilliance and stupidity, but I thought this season was pretty even and kept up a good standard throughout.

Sometimes it felt as thought conflict was being added for the sake of ramping up the tension, but it managed to remain coherent and work really well. I think having a generally smaller focus this time (New Terra) probably helped with that.

Anyway, so far I'd say that although flawed, it's the best science fiction TV series of the 21st century.

A couple of observations about the end of season 4:

Spoiler

- I didn't quite understand what the detective was achieving when he animated a section of the alien machine to push through the ring of fire. Anyone who's read the books able to explain?

- the death of the old Irish sailor looked obvious the moment Drummer refused to accompany him. However, why didn't he leave someone on his ship to cover things in case it went wrong?

- Nagata has finally decided to look for her son!

 

[Susan Boulton]

Some information.....

Spoiler

In the books the proto molecule keeps re-making Miller, and sending him out as a device to test if its creators are still about. He keeps switching things one and off. (which causes the trouble) The ring of fire was a device/bullet left by the race that had destroyed the ring makers. He wanted it to kill him and all the others that were still linked into the the alien device, stop the, "reaching out" To switch him off for good.

The bit with the old Irish sailor is not in the book at all. He and Drummer tend to have large bits of other characters' story lines. Same for a number of the characters on New Terra, they have been compressed and swapped round quite a lot. Book 4 is all about New Terra. Certain elements from book 5 had been pulled forward into this series, but in the book do not happen until the Rossi is back through the ring, and in repair The crew split up to do some personal business. Then it really hits the fan.

And in the book it is not Nagata that decides to look for her son, it is her son that calls her saying he is in trouble, but it is a trap for her and Holden and part of a larger plan.

I find it best to watch and enjoy the series and not try and compare it to the book, as I will get annoyed. I also know that they will compress the time line if they manage to get to the end of the books, which will be even more annoying lol.

 

[Al Jackson]

Really enjoyed this series - sometimes The Expanse veers awkwardly between brilliance and stupidity, but I thought this season was pretty even and kept up a good standard throughout.

Sometimes it felt as thought conflict was being added for the sake of ramping up the tension, but it managed to remain coherent and work really well. I think having a generally smaller focus this time (New Terra) probably helped with that.

Anyway, so far I'd say that although flawed, it's the best science fiction TV series of the 21st century.

A couple of observations about the end of season 4:

Spoiler

- I didn't quite understand what the detective was achieving when he animated a section of the alien machine to push through the ring of fire. Anyone who's read the books able to explain?

- the death of the old Irish sailor looked obvious the moment Drummer refused to accompany him. However, why didn't he leave someone on his ship to cover things in case it went wrong?

- Nagata has finally decided to look for her son!

The fourth season seemed to be mostly about New Terra … I liked it … but if it advanced the mystery of the ProtoMolecule I could not figure that out … the rest was an intriguing set up for season 5 for the Martian and Belter Stories … those look as if they could converge with the Earth ..... I still wish they would do 60 min. episodes instead of 50 min. ones.
I thought it was interesting to see the kick up of The Expanse in the ratings … Amazon greenlighted season 5 in like a jiffy … I am thinking this is also going to get more than 5 seasons , my guess , at a minimum , ten.

I still puzzle over the buzz in the fan community it is there and bigger … but expected to see more.