The Expanse is a sci-fi show based on a series of books.
It’s got drama, politics, mystery, space battles, space lasagne, and the later seasons
get really wild.
The Expanse is set in a future where humans have colonised the solar system . Earth is
the old superpower, overpopulated, and “in decline” . Mars is an independent world,
with strong science and military, working to terraform Mars – to transform the red
rock into a “garden” . The people of the asteroid belt are called Belters – they
live dangerous lives on the frontiers of space , and have their own culture and language.
At the start of the story, scientists find a mysterious alien virus called the protomolecule.
Earth Mars and the Belt get into conflict trying to control it – and in the first
three seasons, the heroes of the story manage to end this war.
But the protomolecule grows into the Ring, -- a kind of wormhole connecting to thousands
of new habitable worlds in distant systems.
So who are the main characters facing this “new frontier” in Season 4?
Holden is a brave heroic leader.
He was born on Earth, to a family of eight parents – five fathers and three mothers
who all contributed to Holden’s DNA . They ran a farm in Montana , and raised Holden
to stand up for truth and justice . He served in the Earth space navy, but quit when he
was ordered to fire on civilians.
So at the start of the story, Holden’s on a ship called the Canterbury – til it’s
suddenly destroyed as part of a protomolecule conspiracy.
Holden steps up as a leader, and fights to protect his crew , Alex Amos and Naomi.
The dangers they face bring them together as an unlikely family, on a ship called the
Rocinante.
Holden can be naïve and impulsive, so Naomi challenges him to make smarter decisions . They
start a relationship, bonding over their shared determination to do what’s right . The crew
investigate the protomolecule, and Holden meets Detective Miller.
Miller is cynical and brutal, which challenges Holden’s heroic ideals – Miller shows
that to get shit done, sometimes you’ve gotta be morally flexible.
So sometimes Holden does bad things for the greater good, even killing innocent people
to save others . But Naomi reminds Holden of his humanity, and helps him to stay grounded
. Holden struggles with being a leader, and being a hero , but when push comes to shove,
he’s always willing to risk his life to save others . In Season 2, Miller dies, crashing
into Venus with a moon full of protomolecule.
But in Season 3, Holden has visions of Miller.
The protomolecule uses Miller’s consciousness as a tool to communicate with Holden.
The alien intelligence behind the molecule guides Holden to open the Ring gates.
So now, Holden and his crew face the mystery and danger of alien worlds.
Naomi is a smart skilled engineer . She’s a Belter with a secret past – she was once
involved with a radical faction of the OPA, a group fighting for Belter rights . She had
a son with an OPA guy – but the father took the baby away from her . And Naomi was on
a mission where “innocent people died” . So Naomi is haunted with trauma and guilt
. But she found support on the Cant, with Amos . Amos is strange – he’s unemotional,
and violent.
But Naomi helps Amos to make moral decisions , and Amos reassures Naomi that she’s a
good person , no matter what happened in her past.
In the conflict over the protomolecule, it’s the Belters who suffer most, which reminds
Naomi of her loyalty to her people . So against the wishes of Holden and the crew, Naomi gives
a protomolecule sample to the OPA , and she leaves the Roci to join a Belter ship.
Holden and Amos feel betrayed , but Naomi believes in the Belt, and in their mission
to build an independent Belter nation . Naomi is close friends with OPA leader Drummer,
and helps her in Season 3.
But in the end, Naomi returns to the Rocinante, and to Holden Amos and Alex – cause while
the Belters are her people, the Roci crew are her “family” , and her “home”
. Amos is a mechanic born on Earth – he’s
tough, blunt, and emotionally detached . He’s secretive about his past, but it’s implied
that he was sexually exploited as a child , as part of organised crime in Baltimore
. He learned to suppress all emotion , and do whatever’s necessary to survive . He
uses brutal violence without hesitation or remorse . Sometimes he gets in fights with
his friends, like Alex . He knows he’s not good at making the right choices , so that’s
why he’s reliant on Naomi . She’s his “guide star”, “Lighting the way” “through
the dark” . So when Naomi leaves the Roci , Amos is forced to think for himself some
more.
He develops new friendships, with Anna and Prax . Despite all the darkness in Amos, he’s
a funny and loveable guy – fans call him “Murder Snuggles” , cause he’s affectionate
and honest and loyal and vulnerable, and he’s trying so hard to be a better man.
Alex is a cheerful Martian pilot, with a Texan accent, and a fondness for country music.
He flew with the Martian navy, and discovered his passion for spaceflight . He has a wife
and child on Mars, but he’s left them behind cause he believes his true purpose is flying
with the Rocinante, doing good, and saving lives . Holden Naomi and Amos are his family
now – but there is a sadness to Alex that he’s estranged from his wife and child.
He finds comfort in a friendship with Bobbie, a Martian marine.
Alex’s expertise as a pilot saves the Rocinante countless times.
So the main heroes of the story are the Roci crew – Holden Naomi Amos and Alex.
On Earth, there’s Avasarala, a powerful politician in the United Nations, which controls
Earth.
Avasarala is charming, and scheming, and sassy as all fuck.
In Season 1, she’s ruthless in defending Earth’s power – she tortures, and blackmails,
and she betrays a friend . Cause years ago, Avasarala’s son was killed by the OPA , and
she’s determined to protect her remaining family.
She believes Earth comes first , and she’ll do anything to defend her home.
But Avasarala uncovers corruption within her own government – her colleague Errinwright
conspires to weaponise the protomolecule.
So Avasarala works with the Roci crew, and with Belters, and Martians, and risks her
own life to stop Errinwright and prevent war.
Avasarala learns to see the humanity in all people – in Belters and Martians as well
as Earthers . In Season 3, she becomes Secretary-General, the most powerful person on Earth, and she
urges peace and unity as humanity faces new worlds beyond the Ring.
Bobbie is a Martian marine – a tough and confident warrior . She comes from a military
family, and was fiercely loyal to Mars – at the start of Season 2, she couldn’t wait
for a war to wipe out Earth . But on Ganymede, her squad is killed by a protomolecule creature.
And Bobbie discovers that her own Martian government unleashed this monster, to test
it as a weapon . So Bobbie rebels against Mars, and brings the truth to Avasarala.
She helps the Earth government that she once hoped to destroy – and fights for the greater
good . In Season 3, she rejoins the Martians , but then turns against them to help Holden.
Bobbie is a Martian and a soldier, and she wants to fight for good, but she says “the
hardest part of this game is figuring out who the enemy really is” .
Drummer is a leader of the OPA fighting for a future for Belters.
She’s proud, uncompromising, fiercely loyal to the Belt , and also pretty good at space
handball.
In Season 3, she becomes captain of the Behemoth, a massive OPA ship.
Drummer’s legs are crushed in an accident, so Naomi sets up a mech so she can walk.
Drummer and Naomi’s friendship runs deep, it’s tied to their identities as Belters.
So by the end of Season 3, Earth Mars and the Belt are at a delicate peace.
But the new worlds beyond the Ring gate promise more conflict, and more mystery.
What alien race made the gates, and what happened to them?
What new dangers will Holden, Naomi Alex and Amos face?
How will the Ring affect Avasarala, Bobbie, and Drummer?
Is peace and humanity possible in the cold vast expanse?
Season 4 streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 13th.
For more more Alt Shift X videos, please like subscribe and comment.
Thanks to Amazon for sponsoring this video, and thanks to the Patrons, including Amol
Borcar, Coral Carracedo, Colin Cannon, Jerome Froelich, Juravle Catalin, Manu Gupta, and
Grimace.
Cheers.