The Expanse

Book Holden was pretty much lawful stupid. He's like derp-de-derp SPAAAACE PAAALADIN. I will follow my narrow code of personal ethics and impose them on not one, not two, but THREE whole societies! And my way is, demonstrably, not really any better! It's just mine! SPAAAAACE PAAALADIN!!!

Amos is a fucking Space MARINE. Fuck yeah, Amos.

Holden was ok in the books though. He might have been stupid, but you get an internal monologue explaining his stupidity. And it is well intentioned. Just.. you know. He's first mate on a space garbage ship.

There might be some really really meta abstract commentary in that about imperalisism, rigidity, and the ultimate endproduct of homogeneous expansion. I tend to think there is, but it's never even alluded to. It's like an assumption of the author. All of the pieces are there at whichever scale you care to examine, but it's never observed. Directly or indirectly. It's just kinda there. It's not a place he was going. It's a place he started.

Which is nice in a way and refreshing. Not a lot of sci-fi authors start with that assumption. Not really. A lot of sci-fi distopia's that I've read skim the surface of that. These guys went balls deep on it. It's why the world feels so real in the first few books.

Well given how the books go

I love sci fi, and near future colonization of the solar system sci fi is especially high on the list. e.g. I've already reread Seveneves three times despite several mediocre aspects to that book.

This thread makes Expanse sound awesome. Every time I try to watch it I fall asleep. Its like the thread is about a different show than the one I'm watching. Maybe its just a slow build.

Can anyone recommend a good starting point to get hooked? I dont mind missing some background, and I've tried watching the first few episodes several times unsuccessfully. Wheres a good place to jump in?

It's a slow build. The first episode got me interested enough to read the books. After I finished the books I went back and watched the show.

You probably kinda have to be in the mood. But when you do get in the mood, don't forget about The Expanse.

God damn book Miller is even better. But show Amos I think is better. Amos doesn't get a whole lot of direct attention in the books. He's above a prop, but he's for sure in that "best supporting character" role.

And book two book miller is EVEN BETTER. LOL.

That might be why I resented Holden in the books. I wanted more Miller.

Aldarion said:

I love sci fi, and near future colonization of the solar system sci fi is especially high on the list. e.g. I've already reread Seveneves three times despite several mediocre aspects to that book.

This thread makes Expanse sound awesome. Every time I try to watch it I fall asleep. Its like the thread is about a different show than the one I'm watching. Maybe its just a slow build.

Can anyone recommend a good starting point to get hooked? I dont mind missing some background, and I've tried watching the first few episodes several times unsuccessfully. Wheres a good place to jump in?

Click to expand...

i guess you could just start with season 2, you are gonna be a bit lost but it paces itself extremely fast.

season 1 is the mystery, the setup, and every episode introduces new players and new questions.
season 2 is character driven - characters now take control, they try to solve mysteries, they take action. Its no longer expanding the universe, but drilling down and action occurs.
season 3 (next year) is going to be a mix of season 1 & 2, mysteries will once again start popping up but also lots of action

If you do start with season 2, once you get into it I'd really jump back and just watch season 1 in one binge watch, episode 5 especially will be a lot more poignant and meaningful if you have entirely watched season 1 and not just the "previously on the expanse" 30 second bits.

spronk said:

Click to expand...

Now that was well done.

Aldarion said:

Can anyone recommend a good starting point to get hooked? I dont mind missing some background, and I've tried watching the first few episodes several times unsuccessfully. Wheres a good place to jump in?

Click to expand...

Jesus H Christ, it's not like we're 7 seasons in or something. Just sit down and watch it.

I suspect its a combination of not wanting to use GFX on that plus a general lack of lanky actors. There aren't many roles for someone who has a 'belter' physique.

My impression from the books is that Belters were on average taller and thinner (with larger heads) than earthers, but not weird giant people. I think that Belter in the premier was kind of an exaggeration

yeah the real reason is they had a real tough time finding people who looked the part, the podcasts mentioned how the casting agents would walk around Toronto (where the show is filmed) and ask random tall people if they wanna be on TV and it just got kinda creepy and they didn't find good actors. Just one of those things that has to sort of get lost when moving from book to TV, barring massive special effects that would probably mar the acting as well its just not a thing that can easily happen.

Belters should be tall and skinny (zero G workers) or short and compact (heavy gravity folks) but it just isn't gonna be realistic. I mean, the actress who played Drummer just NAILS that vibe of bad ass bitch and I doubt you'd get a WBNA star to emote the same.

I remember listening to one of those science podcasts and it said if you are over 7 feet tall and male in your 20s-40s there is like a 25% chance you actually are an NBA player, there are just so few super tall people in the world.