The Expanse Season 3

[eschaton]

The Expanse has a different problem, it has a believable future, but the scientist/doctor characters are evil, I suppose Alex Kamal (pilot) and Naomi Nagata (engineer) are somewhat inspirational characters.

One of the things that the show has improved upon from the books actually is the representation of the antagonists. For some reason the book writers cannot do a complicated, intelligent antagonist. The main heavy in each of the books is either a mustache-twirling villain who is very straightforward, or else a total idiot. This might be in part because relatively few of the antagonists have POV chapters.

 

[Q2UnME]

For some stupid reason, SYFY changed last night's broadcast from 10:00PM Eastern to 11:00PM Eastern. No reason 'why' given, just bumped it back to past my bedtime (getting up for work at 5:30AM sucks...). I set the DVR, will be watching tonight when I get home from work.

 

[Mr Awe]

It's great to see that things are ramping back up very quickly after the change in direction. I'm enjoying the new scenario. The documentary crew is a bit tiresome. I'll be glad when that is done.

I liked how Miller helped Holden but being careful to not go outside of his configured boundaries (or something like that).

In my book, The Expanse is by far the smartest SF currently being produced.

 

[Hyperspace05]

One of the things that the show has improved upon from the books actually is the representation of the antagonists. For some reason the book writers cannot do a complicated, intelligent antagonist. The main heavy in each of the books is either a mustache-twirling villain who is very straightforward, or else a total idiot. This might be in part because relatively few of the antagonists have POV chapters.

I think it is primarily a function of the POV format, which makes it hard to understand the motivation of an antagonist/villain. Later books have some POVs that are non-protagonists, so that helps.

But the first two books did have bit of a villain problem. Evil corporation A in book 1, then a connected evil corporation B in book 2. The authors have much improved since then, and I think the opportunity to do the show allowed them to polish some of the early things that don't hold up so well.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I thought the "villain" in Persepolis Rising was handled well and was a POV character.

 

[Hyperspace05]

I thought the "villain" in Persepolis Rising was handled well and was a POV character.

Yes. Which is why I meant the later books handled it better.

 

[Q2UnME]

That was a very good episode. Still waiting for Amos to figure out cyborg tech guy messed wit the Rosi. Probably will rip his arms off. Having Miller speak in vague metaphors and stories was a nice touch, added to the alien feel and created a layer of suspense.

Thank you Amazon for saving this amazing show.

Q2

 

[Marc]

Still waiting for Amos to figure out cyborg tech guy messed wit the Rosi.

Amos will tolerate the attempts to pick him, but mess with the Roci and it's spacing time....

 

[Kane2026]

Amos will tolerate the attempts to pick him, but mess with the Roci and it's spacing time....

Yeah, I think that will take an episode or 2 before he figures it out. Well, we all need a story arc...

 

[David cgc]

Yeah, I think that will take an episode or 2 before he figures it out. Well, we all need a story arc...

As they pointed out in the episode, the Roci was sabotaged, and the fake manifesto from Holden came from them, so it's most likely the saboteur is still on board. Assuming Holden can convince Amos and Alex that he's not crazy (and it looks like he's already got Amos), that leaves a pretty narrow list of suspects; the earnest talkative producer who can't seem to have a thought without saying it out loud or the weird loner cameraman who keeps going places he was specifically told not to be in. Granted, he wasn't expecting them to live long enough for there to be an investigation (hm, and they do know a detective...), but this isn't exactly Clue.

 

[Q2UnME]

Of coarse DirectTV Now has to go stupid for the first 20 minutes of tonight’s episode. I’ll be back after I’ve gotten a chance to see the whole thing. What I did see was confusing without context.

Q2

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Don’t tug on Superman’s cape, dont piss in the wind and don’t get on Amos’ bad side.

And we see why Miller speaks in riddles.

So until next time, “Forget you!” Beltalowdas...

 

[Forbin]

So until next time, “Forget you!” Beltalowdas...

Is that what they were saying? What the heck does it mean? Belterwhat??

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Is that what they were saying? What the heck does it mean? Belterwhat??

It means you're not an Inyaloada... obviously!

Seriously though, it's basically means belters or we belters. (Inyaloda being inners) I started turning the captioning on which helps when they're doing belter speak.

EDIT: Just my speculation but I wondered if it is maybe related to loader since the first belters were probably miners/workers so they identifed as loaders which drifted to loadas and beltaloadas.

 

[Mr Awe]

Wow, that was awesome! They ratcheting things back up very quickly following the war arc!

Don't fuck with anything that Amos cares about. Well, at least he was being gentle!

So, they've got a generation ship inside the ring now. That seems a bit contrived and, therefore, will undoubtedly be meaningful going forward. I haven't read the books--just speculating. But, the writers went to great lengths to cook up a scenario where that ship is in the ring.

 

[O'Dib]

EDIT: Just my speculation but I wondered if it is maybe related to loader since the first belters were probably miners/workers so they identifed as loaders which drifted to loadas and beltaloadas.

Almost, apparently it's a plural making suffix from the English "loads of." My first sense was that it was from Slavic for people (lyudi), cause I noticed some other words were ours. Like the rock hopper saying something like "pochuy", meaning listen.

 

[EmoBorg]

I like how the antagonist in this current story arc, is being protrayed with much of her motivations and emotions being seen by the viewers.

 

[Q2UnME]

OK, finally was able to watch the episode in it's entirety. I honestly thought Amos was going to space the two journalists without space suits. I guess he was being 'gentle'. I liked the Holden/Miller stuff at the end, but on the whole, this episode felt like setup for next week without much substance really happening. (IMHO)

Q2

 

[bigdaddy]

OK, finally was able to watch the episode in it's entirety. I honestly thought Amos was going to space the two journalists without space suits. I guess he was being 'gentle'. I liked the Holden/Miller stuff at the end, but on the whole, this episode felt like setup for next week without much substance really happening. (IMHO)

Q2

I agree, this episodes was rather just filler and nothing important. It's a good thing it's going to Amazon because it's really a binge watch show.

 

[Christopher]

I agree, this episodes was rather just filler and nothing important. It's a good thing it's going to Amazon because it's really a binge watch show.

Nothing important?? It explained who Melba is and what motivated her to commit the actions that are driving this whole story arc. That's vitally important. It makes sense of the whole thing. There's also Naomi ditching the Behemoth and going back to the Roci, which is a pretty pivotal event.