In a galaxy not so far, far away …

I was late to the party when it came to The Expanse. I only began my journey into the show as season six was about to premiere. It took me a little while to get through it, but in the end, I fell in love with these characters and I’m glad I made the commitment. 

It all began when I discovered a mutual love for Star Wars with a friend at work. His parting advice to me was to watch The Expanse; I promised him I would. Now here we are, 56 episodes and countless hours later, at the end of a ride that’s endured everything from an interplanetary war to an alien invasion. I’m here to let you know that it’s worth the ride. This review provides an overview of the entire series in a spoiler-free way.

The Expanse paints an impressive world that literally expands our own reality. It’s this realness that sets it apart from something like Star Wars; there are no furry aliens or force-wielding entities here. Instead, the show is set in our existing solar system, albeit in the distant future, with three main factions of humans all striving for superiority. This is the underlying premise of the show.

Earth is our original home and remains the only place to breathe pure air and visit natural resources like the beach or the forest. There’s contempt for those who live on this planet, since its occupants take their prime position for granted and use others for personal gain.

Take Mars for instance. The red planet is striving to be the next Earth, terraforming so that martians may have naturally occurring air and water, and can grow their own plants. In the process, the planet has developed a major chip on its shoulder, breeding generations of solemn, determined warriors who fight for the supremacy of Earth’s nearest neighbor. There’s a powder keg on Mars just waiting to explode. 

Not to be overlooked are those who call themselves Belters. This third faction of humans dominates the outer belt of rocks that orbits the sun from between Mars and Jupiter. The belt is a key resource for mining, however without a planet to call home, the people who dwell here must rely on Earth for supplies, keeping them firmly under Earth’s thumb. There’s a strong sense of resentment from the Belters; another powder keg, if you will. This time, it’s a less organized and potentially more dangerous one.

My initial reaction to The Expanse wasn’t strongly positive. I floundered my way through the first season, losing track of the many characters and subplots who exist in this complicated universe. I’m glad I persevered, though, because I was soon engrossed with the adventures of the four primary protagonists: James, Naomi, Alex, and Amos. 

This crew of main characters is brought together by circumstance to form a strong bond, becoming a family of sorts. Their strength lies both in their differences and their similarities, a strong theme of the show. After all, despite where we’re from, we’re all human. 

James Holden is the captain of the Rocinante, a warship that serves as the primary vessel for the crew. He’s from Earth and possesses a desire for peace. His role as leader is important since he can make those difficult decisions and still own the responsibility. He’s not infallible, but he’s honorable, and a very likable character. 

Amos Burton is from Earth, too. This tough mechanic is also a determined fighter, and became one of my favorite characters after initially appearing to be little more than a thug and a bully. He may come across as a brute at times, but his fierce loyalty is formidable, and he’s an important asset to the team.

Alex Kamal hails from Mars. He’s the main pilot and strongly connects with the Rocinante, helping us feel like part of the crew while bringing us on their otherworldly journeys. He sports a Texan drawl and sings cowboy-infused songs, creating a relatable character despite the setting and his Martian heritage. During his arc, we learn more about his family, which was previously abandoned on Mars. He’s loyal to a fault and demonstrates the humanity of those outside of Earth’s realm. 

Naomi Nagata rounds out the crew. As a top engineer, Naomi’s skills are paramount to keeping the team alive during the many dire circumstances that require her technical prowess. She’s a Belter, which makes the crew a true melting pot of the solar system’s main territories. These individuals may come from completely different walks of life, but they not only overcome their differences, they bond in a strong way. This mirrors the show’s ongoing theme of striving for peace across all tribes of humanity. 

The show’s six seasons are well paced. I haven’t read the books on which this series is based, however each season ends with a satisfying conclusion that also leaves you wanting more. The script is well-written, even if there is a high reliance on swear words to accentuate a point. 

Season one introduces us to the main characters, as well as a cast of thousands (or so it seems). It may seem convoluted at first, but the setup is important to the entire series. It all begins with a detective’s investigation into a missing girl through Ceres – part of the Belt – which leads to unraveling alien artifacts that cascade into a potentially deadly threat for humanity.

In season two, everything escalates. The detective joins forces with the crew of the Rocinante and – in short – the team must work together to stop the deadly threat uncovered in season one. It’s a fast-paced season that has a particularly strong ending, and kept this viewer guessing at the ending.

Season three involves the discovery of a mysterious new ring, a giant circle formed in space on the outer edge of the solar system. Is it friendly or deadly? What’s on the other side? And who – Earth, Mars or the Belt – will be the first to discover its true meaning? This gripping season is spent mostly in space, with a look at how the physics we know to be certain in our own galaxy may not always hold true. It also paves the way for potential peace between the three human factions – if they can share the ring. 

By the time we get to season four, well, it’s hard to avoid spoilers. Let’s just say that the show itself expands into new territory, figuratively and literally, with the discovery of completely new planets outside of our own solar system. This discovery takes us further down the pathway for peace, if humans from all territories can put aside their differences. The Belters may finally have a planet to call home; but will Earth and Mars let them? And what about the ancient civilizations who were here long before humans arrived? 

This season is more grounded and less space-driven, spending much of the time on one of the new planets. There are alien lifeforms to encounter, old rivalries to unpack, and much more. It has a very Alien-esque feel to some of the episodes in this season, and it’s one of the best of the series.

Season five was an interesting departure from the formula of the previous seasons. We find our four main characters divided, each with their own mini-mission. 

Amos returns to Earth to visit his childhood home, revealing details of his past that may still haunt him. James and Naomi are on Eros, a Belter base, when Naomi discovers the whereabouts of her long-lost son. She ventures out to find him, but needs to do so alone. This is a deeply personal issue that has dire consequences for Naomi and the entire season, leading into season six. Meanwhile, Alex returns to his home planet of Mars, where he gets caught up in a conspiracy to provide Belters with war machines. Who’s behind it? And why? 

One of the best aspects of this season is the way these four seemingly disparate stories come together, much like the characters by the end of the season, culminating in a climactic yet bittersweet reunion that leads perfectly into the final season.

The final season was shorter than the previous ones, with only six episodes to round off the series. It wrapped up most of the threads nicely, with a few left behind in case the series continues at some point. In this way, it felt a little rushed, with one side story in particular feeling not only incomplete, but irrelevant. The main threat of this season, however, was resolved, and there was some form of peace achieved between some of the minor characters that I’ve grown fond of during the series.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with The Expanse, especially seasons two through five. I came to truly care about these characters – particularly the main four – and appreciate the world that was built for them to inhabit. If you’re a sci-fi fan who’s thinking of watching, I’d highly recommend that you do. It may be more science than fiction – think of it as a more realistic version of Star Wars – but this character-driven journey into the unknown provides solid entertainment, with thrills, laughs, and tears along the way. Persist through season one and you’ll discover a world – and beyond – of intrigue, politics, violence, love, honor, and friendship.