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Reviews
Succession: With Open Eyes (2023)
The perfect tragedy.
The ending was polarizing since I wanted Ken to win, but the decision Shiv made being the ruthless and selfish character that she is makes perfect sense.
Shiv has always been cut off whenever her ideas don't fit her brothers' vision and couldn't maneuver her way through them. With Tom however, she always had a safe place- one she was too proud to acknowledge until now that it's actually convenient for her and their baby heir. In the end, she found more power by siding with the one who always heard her, rather than with Ken who she'll never win against which has always been shown throughout the series.
The Expanse: Force Projection (2021)
A clean wrap up. Felt like an episode of a season finale.
Climactic yet there's so much plot build up going on. From forwarding the conflict of Earth & Mars vs. Free Navy, to building up Drummer's alliances, even developing Marco as a full-fledged antagonist...we've come full circle.
They managed to satisfyingly execute more than half of the reference material (Babylon's Ashes) already...and we still have three more episodes to go. Seems like we're in for a great finale after all.
The Expanse: Nemesis Games (2021)
Not the best ending, but still a very good one.
Alex's death makes an interesting change in dynamics on the show. He was an "okay" character with expendable contribution/easily replaceable by a more compelling character, which Bull appears to be so. Even his role in the books can be easily taken over by a new character. The mood in the Roci is getting pretty stagnant with the 4 of them and will only get more stale without mixing things up. There's nothing to be whiny about the loss of a "major" character especially when we get to see more people in the ship next season.
The Expanse (2015)
"Is this show really Sci-fi?"
True that in the first three seasons, we were introduced to the *MILD SPOILER* existence of extra-solar life (protomolecule) and access to other grander artifacts, which would make us feel like this show is going toward the "hard sci-fi" direction. However, as the story progressed from Season 4 onward, the focus was shifted from the "hard sci-fi" element to humans being humans. That the conflict humanity has among themselves sidetracks the unfolding main plot. And that's how humanity has always been going years, centuries back - ignoring the big picture to save their sorry selves.
Which is basically what The Expanse is all about and they have been consistent from Season 1 to the latest.
After 5 seasons, it should be clear that space is just a tool here used to highlight that no matter how advance technology gets, even if it allows man to reach the stars, the same sins and decisions bring the SAME conflict, just measured on a different, much larger scale. And we can expect that on the upcoming seasons.
The storytelling ranges from some ~meh dialogues to "ohhh s*** that hits hard". EXPECT a lot of conversations throughout the show - which I find essential in the character arcs (and is finally paying off in season 5!). If you can forgive a few inconsistent acting and dialogues, this show definitely sits at the top.
The strongest point of this show is its GREAAAT world-building. Wow. Holy s***. Definitely takes a while to build up but I guarantee the plot pays off beautifully. If you're starting to watch blind from Season 1, ooohhhh boy you're up for a surprise.
The main plot, subplots, character arcs, are perfectly paced laid with mystery, politics, and thriller, that work so well together. Great rewatch value too!
Without a doubt one of the best Sci-fi shows and will remain at the top. The best soap opera there is. Amazing how this show is not far from reality and perfectly mirrors humanity 200 years past to 200 years forward. If the protomolecule exists in reality, The Expanse wouldn't be fiction at all.