Confession: I miss Battlestar Galactica. I’m not alone in this. So when I started seeing articles around the internets comparing Syfy’s new show The Expanse to my beloved Galatica, I jumped in on watching it with some friends. Others have written about the comparison, so I won’t belabor the point. I’ll just tell you why enjoyed this new show.
For those not in the know, The Expanse is based on the book series by James S.A. Corey. Stay tuned and I’m sure you’ll see the first book Leviathan Wakes reviewed here soon. I’m the only person in my show watching group who hasn’t read the books and that’s not a position I relish. Plus the first 10-episode season certainly left me wanting more.
The Expanse tells the story of a universe where space colonization has expanded out through the universe to cover the moon, Mars, and the asteroid belt. Through time, very different cultures have grown up on Mars and in the Belt, and tensions are riding high between Earthers, Belters, and Martians. In the midst of that tension appear two mysteries – one is the disappearance of a wealthy young woman whose father pays detective Joe Miller to find her. The other is the destruction of a ship called the Canterbury by stealth ships of unknown origin. The show follows Miller’s investigation and the surviving crew of the Cant as they both plunge deeper and deeper into the same plot that appears to involve someone trying to start an intergalactic war.
At the end of season one, I’m still not sure I have a complete grasp on what the nefarious plans at work are, but I know I want to find out. The political world of The Expanse is detailed and complex as you would expect from a series that has 5 long novels and counting as source material. It’s rich and exciting, and our guide through all the political machinations is my new favorite bad-ass: Chrisjen Avasarala. She’s strong, graceful, ruthless, takes no shit, and can wear those awesome dangly earrings that look like they’d rip my ears off. She’s basically a really good reason to watch the show all on her own.
And she’s not the only great character in the series. Miller gets more and more compelling and spooky as the show goes on. And the surviving crew of the Canterbury are pretty awesome. I’m fairly ambivalent to their reluctant leader Jim Holden but I think that’s by design. But Texan/Indian Martian pilot Alex is a joy to watch, and I also have a hero crush on mechanic Naomi Nagata. Her fascinating leader/follower relationship with the muscle Amos makes him my favorite enforcer character since Firefly’s Jayne proclaimed “This is my very favorite gun.”
Yes indeed folks, The Expanse is a detailed show full of compelling, diverse, characters you want to root for and yell at. It takes place in a gritty, well-worn, richly imagined science fiction universe, and it’s got a plot that despite all the twists and turns so far is just getting started. You’ve only missed the first season so, jump in now. So say we all.
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