The Expanse

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Discussion

JonChalk

6,469 posts

109 months

Friday 5th February 2021
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parabolica said:
nebpor said:
It was the dullest season so far, unfortunately. All the earth-based stuff felt like filler - I don't see where it fits in the story except to give Amos something to do. Not saying I didn't enjoy it, but plodded along at times and just gets going in time for it to end!
I think the decision to make us wait week on week for new episodes is what has caused it to seem dull; every episode seemed to be 50% Naomi wallowing in pity, with 10% drummer, 10% Amos, 10% Bobbie and Alex etc. I'm planning to watch the entire series back to back over the weekend like I did with S1-4 and I expect it'll seem a lot more cohesive.

Edited by parabolica on Friday 5th February 16:04
The Amos and Naomi storylines make more sense in the context of the whole set of series - they're providing more character backstory. I have to admit to preferring the Amos S5 stuff to Naomi's, and that goes for the books as well. Some of the Amos stuff makes more sense/greater cohesion once you get to Book 8. If you get to Book 8 wink S4 & S5 really build to S6/Book 6.

Lucas Ayde

3,541 posts

167 months

Friday 5th February 2021
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nebpor said:
It was the dullest season so far, unfortunately. All the earth-based stuff felt like filler - I don't see where it fits in the story except to give Amos something to do. Not saying I didn't enjoy it, but plodded along at times and just gets going in time for it to end!
I felt it started very well but didn't quite keep the pace up.

The Naomi storyline just fell a little flat for me (too much of her grinding through misery, we get it - she's tough) and the Timmy and Peaches story could have been a lot more but seemed to have been minimised.

The conclusion of Alex's story left a bad taste in the mouth. Presumably done at a very late stage. They could have had the character leave the story on good terms even if they were determined to punish the actor for allegations.

Still overall good though, just could have been better.

Daniel1

2,931 posts

197 months

Friday 5th February 2021
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I don't think enough happened in s4 and s5

Its turned into a long, drawn out, boring series. It will be better to binge because you can skip most of it. Still great quality, just boring.

JonChalk

6,469 posts

109 months

Friday 5th February 2021
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Lucas Ayde said:
The conclusion of Alex's story left a bad taste in the mouth. Presumably done at a very late stage. They could have had the character leave the story on good terms even if they were determined to punish the actor for allegations.
I suspect that story line was added post-production, with CGI and another voice actor. S5 was fundamentally complete by the time they dumped Cas Anvar from S6. And I can't see him wanting to come back and film that...

parabolica

6,703 posts

183 months

Friday 5th February 2021
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Lucas Ayde said:
The conclusion of Alex's story left a bad taste in the mouth. Presumably done at a very late stage. They could have had the character leave the story on good terms even if they were determined to punish the actor for allegations.

Still overall good though, just could have been better.
Don’t know about that; gave his life to save a close friend seems like a honorable death.

HARTLEYHARE1

588 posts

128 months

Friday 5th February 2021
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Another absolute stellar season of writing and delivery

Best sci-fi since I can remember

chris watton

22,477 posts

259 months

Saturday 6th February 2021
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HARTLEYHARE1 said:
Another absolute stellar season of writing and delivery

Best sci-fi since I can remember
It is. Certainly head and shoulders above anything else these days.

But I am always cautious now. I was convinced Game of Thrones would be re-watched once or twice per year for the rest of my life. But the quality dropped so much that I never have watched the final episode, and probably never will, and in turn, never watch any of it again.

But for now, and despite my slight moans about the pacing (still think the first half of Season Three is the best slice of sci-fi I have seen), I still enjoyed it.

Sophisticated Sarah

15,077 posts

168 months

Saturday 6th February 2021
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chris watton said:
It is. Certainly head and shoulders above anything else these days.

But I am always cautious now. I was convinced Game of Thrones would be re-watched once or twice per year for the rest of my life. But the quality dropped so much that I never have watched the final episode, and probably never will, and in turn, never watch any of it again.

But for now, and despite my slight moans about the pacing (still think the first half of Season Three is the best slice of sci-fi I have seen), I still enjoyed it.
Sadly, GoT on a binge shows the decay even more obviously frown

We rewatched it in anticipation of the final season and ended up having to almost force ourselves to watch the finale. Still better than Walking Dead mind you.

DonBarracuda

394 posts

41 months

Saturday 6th February 2021
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Lucas Ayde said:
The conclusion of Alex's story left a bad taste in the mouth. Presumably done at a very late stage. They could have had the character leave the story on good terms even if they were determined to punish the actor for allegations.

Still overall good though, just could have been better.
Agreed especially with Amos' BFF conveniently being a pilot

I had no idea about these allegations.

Sway

26,070 posts

193 months

Saturday 6th February 2021
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DonBarracuda said:
Lucas Ayde said:
The conclusion of Alex's story left a bad taste in the mouth. Presumably done at a very late stage. They could have had the character leave the story on good terms even if they were determined to punish the actor for allegations.

Still overall good though, just could have been better.
Agreed especially with Amos' BFF conveniently being a pilot

I had no idea about these allegations.
Her sister was an ace racing pilot (owned the Razorback, and kicked arse), so it's not a stretch she can fly.

DonBarracuda

394 posts

41 months

Saturday 6th February 2021
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Sway said:
Her sister was an ace racing pilot (owned the Razorback, and kicked arse), so it's not a stretch she can fly.
Totally forgot about that, season 1 feels like a long long time ago. Her character seemed rather minor but now she'll be Alex's replacement. She's a badass so she'll make a great addition to the team. After reading up on the allegations I don't blame the writers for doing it this way.

Rumblestripe

2,915 posts

161 months

Saturday 6th February 2021
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DonBarracuda said:
Sway said:
Her sister was an ace racing pilot (owned the Razorback, and kicked arse), so it's not a stretch she can fly.
Totally forgot about that, season 1 feels like a long long time ago. Her character seemed rather minor but now she'll be Alex's replacement. She's a badass so she'll make a great addition to the team. After reading up on the allegations I don't blame the writers for doing it this way.
In the books she becomes quite an important character so if they use her as the new pilot it will work pretty well.

After book/series 6 there is a gap of thirty years so you could completely recast.

I'm going to watch the whole series 5 again now, brilliant stuff.

SlimJim16v

5,617 posts

142 months

Saturday 6th February 2021
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Great ending, overall enjoyable, but could've easily been 1 or 2 episodes shorter and better for it.

techguyone

3,137 posts

141 months

Sunday 7th February 2021
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Lucas Ayde said:
I felt it started very well but didn't quite keep the pace up.

The Naomi storyline just fell a little flat for me (too much of her grinding through misery, we get it - she's tough) and the Timmy and Peaches story could have been a lot more but seemed to have been minimised.

The conclusion of Alex's story left a bad taste in the mouth. Presumably done at a very late stage. They could have had the character leave the story on good terms even if they were determined to punish the actor for allegations.

Still overall good though, just could have been better.
The big problem with all this was the fact that S5 had been filmed and completed before the decision to Axe Cas Anver happened, with the pandemic and restrictions (plus cost) they were really limited with what could be done, I suspect that what was done was the easiest/most possible/cheapest way to do it.

AlexS

1,550 posts

231 months

Sunday 7th February 2021
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Sway said:
DonBarracuda said:
Lucas Ayde said:
The conclusion of Alex's story left a bad taste in the mouth. Presumably done at a very late stage. They could have had the character leave the story on good terms even if they were determined to punish the actor for allegations.

Still overall good though, just could have been better.
Agreed especially with Amos' BFF conveniently being a pilot

I had no idea about these allegations.
Her sister was an ace racing pilot (owned the Razorback, and kicked arse), so it's not a stretch she can fly.
I think Bull is being lined up to be the replacement pilot. He has already shown he can fly when taking on the Free Navy and there is a scene towards the end where he is drinking from Alex's cup whilst sitting in his seat.

Peaches is there to help Amos in the mechanic duties, something that is made clear in the book 3 as when the Roci escorts her back to the UN she helps Amos out before being arrested.

Be interesting to see if Bobbie joins the crew. They need a Martian to complete the roster and she has shown that she is an expert when manning the weapon systems.

DanL

6,177 posts

264 months

Sunday 7th February 2021
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AlexS said:
Be interesting to see if Bobbie joins the crew. They need a Martian to complete the roster and she has shown that she is an expert when manning the weapon systems.
I thought she was introduced as a liaison for Avasarala, so I can’t see her being on the ship...

kowalski655

14,599 posts

142 months

Sunday 7th February 2021
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She might get her own scenes doing liaison stuff , same as she was usually separate before. Maybe. I dunno!
I'm just glad Drummer turned out to be a goodie

glazbagun

14,257 posts

196 months

Monday 8th February 2021
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I love Drummers arc. she starts off spacing people for the smallest infringement, then grows to see the bigger picture, then sees her "mature" decision bacfire and kill just about everyone she ever cared about. I have no idea how she'll behave now. I guess Tycho is the closest thing she has to home, but she'll bring Marcos vengeance on whoever she touches.

Otispunkmeyer

12,554 posts

154 months

Wednesday 10th February 2021
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I’ve only just got on this. It’s brilliant. On S2 E4 now.

I do feel bad for the Mormons, having that massive ship snatched from them. Don’t know why they couldn’t just use those numerous positioning thruster bot things (the ones that reposition the Nauvoo) to push Eros into a new path???

DonBarracuda

394 posts

41 months

Wednesday 10th February 2021
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Don't feel bad for Mormons