The Expanse may be saved by Amazon, and we may yet see another season. If we don’t, at least we have the remainder of Season Three, which plays like the start of a new season. Months have passed since the events depicted in “Immolation,” humans are trying to work together, our ragtag band of heroes have been, to some degree, separated, multiple new characters appear, and the protomolecule’s machinations have fabricated a vast and bewildering mystery object.
Title: “Delta V”
Cast and Crew
Director: Kenneth Fink
Writer: Naren Shankar
Adapted from the novels by Ty Franck and Daniel Abraham (as James S.A. Corey)
Steven Strait as James R. Holden
Cas Anvar as Alex Kamal
Dominique Tipper as Naomi Nagata
Wes Chatham as Amos Burton
Frankie Adams as Bobbie Draper
Shohreh Aghdashloo as Chrisjen Avasarala
David Strathairn as Commander Klaes Ashford
Cara Gee as Drummer
Nadine Nicole as Melba Koh
Raven Dauda as Namono “Nono” Volovodov
Anna Hopkins as Monica Stuart
Zach Villa as Maneo
Brandon McGibbon as Monica’s Cameraman
John Kapelos as Ren
Ari Millen as Stanni
Paulino Nunes as Reverend Doctor Hector Cortez
Elizabeth Mitchell as Reverend Doctor Anna Volovodov
Thomas Jane as Joe Miller
Premise
Chrisjen Avasarala re-establishes herself as the head of the UN, a stunt pilot flies crazily towards The Ring, now in stable orbit beyond Uranus, the repurposed Nauvoo (The Behemoth) heads more cautiously in that direction, with a crew that includes Naomi Nagata, other Belters, and some former pirates. A documentary crew chronicles the exploits of the Roci; a terrorist takes action of an uncertain nature.
We meet many new characters—and an old face unexpectedly returns.
High Points
The show will continue to deal with power and technology, but its new direction seems more intriguing, dynamic, and thought-provoking than the recent space-war and diplomatic shenanigans. An uncomfortable alliance of human societies confront something we do not—and perhaps cannot—comprehend.
Low Point
We’re finally getting to know the show’s original principals, and another army of characters turns up. The Expanse gives us some opportunities to know these characters, but not enough time gets devoted to revealing who these people are and why we should care about them.
To my mind, Amos Burton seems too young to have the past this episode indicates. Does anyone else feel this way?
The Scores:
Originality: 2/6 Humans confront a Big Dumb (?) Object in space, one that has been constructed by an ancient alien intelligence.
Effects: 5/6
Acting: 5/6
Emotional Response: 5/6 I’m hoping this season is not the last.
Story: 5/6
Production: 6/6
Overall: 5/6 This episode gives the series a fresh start, and asks two key questions: What is the Ring, and how long before they get the band back together again?
In total, “Delta V” receives a score of 33/42
It seems to be official, with the announcement being made my Jeff Bezos himself. Amazon (or Netflix) seem like a much better fit for the target demographic, and since he’s apparently a massive fan of the books hopefully that bodes well for at least Season 5 and maybe beyond as well.
Thank you so much, Bosmang! :D
Re. Amos’s past. There’s an origin story novella that was released in conjunction with the novel this section of the show was based on. Without giving anything away, that *really* helps you understand who Amos is, why is acts like he does, and that – yes – perhaps he could have got where he is in the timescales indicated. It’s also a massive reveal for what’s the book only really infers for most of the story, not to mention with Amos as a character, so coming up with a recommended reading order is… interesting.
Given that the show has covered some of the series’ novellas before we might get to see that via flashbacks – especially given it sets up a few other things. That could work really well given a TV show can handle multiple timelines much better than two books can, so here’s hoping they can pull it off.
I’m hoping for flashbacks. The show has much to recommend it, but I have always felt it shortchanged its characters.