The Expanse - S5 Episode 01-03: Exodus / Churn / Mother
SYFYThere’s a certain point in the middle section of the triple-episode fifth season premiere where Chrisjen Avasarala (Shohreh Aghdashloo) is having a videoconference with multiple authority figures of the U.N. Only this time, she isn’t in charge anymore. She’s currently residing in Luna, having assigned as the position of overseeing the colonization of the 1,300 planetary systems across the Ring gates – something that she ideologically opposed to ever since the election she has lost. However, the alien wormholes aren’t her only concerns. She (rightfully) believes that the Belter faction leader Marco Inaros (Keon Alexander) is up to something no-good, and the series of U.N science ships blowing up give rise to her suspicions. Although Avasarala voices out her worries in the discussion, the newly elected UN Secretary General Nancy Gao (Lily Gao) shuts her down because of the lack of evidence to support her claims and of her position not bearing the responsibility of such action.
This lengthy introduction encompasses the beginning of The Expanse’s fifth season. Adapting from the fifth installment of the book series of the same name by both Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck under the guise of James S.A. Corey, the season premiere revitalizes an otherwise long-running show with a new status quo that has most major players embarking on their own personal dilemmas, and a formidable human foe that seeks to wreak havoc in the entire galaxy. It’s not just jarring to watch Avasarala losing the power to bark orders with her sailor mouth, and the former captain of the OPA Behemoth, Drummer (Cara Gee) in a regular Belter salvage ship, grieving the loss of her confidant, Ashford (David Strathairn). The most striking change out of all is seeing the members of the Rocinante crew no longer united in their gunship.
It’s not necessarily terrible though as this format serves as a soft reboot that the series needs in order to retain the fanbase’s maximum interest. Besides, fans of the novels consider Nemesis Games as the “Empire Strikes Back” of the space opera. With different characters now in separate locations across the galaxy, the season provides an opportunity to explore sections of the series’ humongous world more thoroughly than what’s seen before. At best, we’re hardly gotten hints of not just concepts and cities in the course of the series, but most importantly, characters’ backstories.
This season offers to bring light on both, and its most specific example is Amos (Wes Chatham), who has returned to his childhood home in Baltimore. The second episode, Churn, explores his roots, lending the fan-favorite figure with depth and clarity of his ominous behavior. It showcases Amos’ survival in his early years, and how this affects his perspective of viewing everything, especially whenever he resorts to violence in times of conflict.
Meanwhile, Naomi (Dominique Tipper) goes on a course to find his estranged son, Filip (Jasai Chase Owens). The direction her storyline is going appears to be the novel’s most essential as her former life in the OPA concerns her past relationship with Marco and her detachment with their son. As usual, Tipper stands out amongst her peers when she switches to her “Belter” manners including a thicker accent when her character meets some of her old friends.
What’s also consistently interesting is the continuous expansion of the series’ scope. Whenever the series transitions back to the U.N, the narrative never leaves the futuristic New York as the setting. That’s not going to be the case in the fifth season. The Expanse’s Baltimore is a familiar and divergent change of scenery that combines the speculative future advancement of technology without changing too much that keeps the universe grounded in reality. The audience is also treated to seeing the Luna in its entirety where we’re given a tour of the location to the great extent including a distant and gorgeous bird’s eye view and fascinating elevator rides.
In addition, Mars is given the same treatment when Rocinante pilot Alex Kamal (Cas Anvar)’s homecoming has the first look of his reformed home planet when Alex roams around the increasingly unoccupied station. Although Bobbie Draper’s (Frankie Adams) arc last season explores these changes compellingly, we never see the more drastic repercussions until now, and it grows more upsetting when he, like Bobbie, witnesses the Martian dream fading, many of their peers abandoning the Red Planet for a life in the Ring.
While The Expanse continues to be a great testament to the importance of proper world building in large-scale narratives, the storytelling remains shockingly compelling and transformative in all fronts. With Holden (Steven Strait) uncovering a mystery involving a protomolecule heist and Avasarala doing everything she can to stop an attack on Earth, there’s real danger and tension of Marco’s malicious plan enveloping around the solar system. While Marco is rarely present in the first three episodes, his intimidating presence lingers in every major player.
Although there are short releases of tension throughout, nothing compares to the deep impact the third episode’s cliffhanger has left. An abrupt but terrifying conclusion has become the series’ staple, and with Amazon bringing back the weekly releases, the decision is frustratingly teasing as audiences will beg for more. But considering how long this review has been, the format clearly displays its importance, because there’s so much captivating material to unpack about this new season.
