The Expanse Season 6 |OT| Remember the Cant

MadLaughter · Jan 11, 2022

Can someone explain the railgun/ring gate thing to me?

They mentioned infinite inertia or something, so I'm assuming that the ring gate railguns are basically borderline unstoppable but what's the dumb version of the science there? (It's not that I think it doesn't make sense I'd just enjoy it more if I knew what was causing what here)

And also, tactically, is it just the fact that he has the greatest choke point in cosmic history, and thus controls the resources of every planet and the lives of every colonist on the other side that has Earth/Mars freaking out or is there more to it?

Soap · Jan 11, 2022

Nooblet said:
Dark and For all Mankind have threads in teens. And we all know how trigger happy Netflix is with cancellations.

Era doesn't even have a Stargate community and it's a billion dollar franchise, that came to streaming in the past 5 years or so.

Fantasy is always big on era but sci fi is almost always like this, unless it's Star Trek or some HBO show like Westworld.

Part of the popularity of Star Trek and The Expamse is its international availability (even if paramount has messed up recently). The issue with Stargate is that it isn't available for streaming on popular international platforms.

Nooblet · Jan 11, 2022

Soap said:
Part of the popularity of Star Trek and The Expamse is its international availability (even if paramount has messed up recently). The issue with Stargate is that it isn't available for streaming on popular international platforms.

Currently true, but it was on Netflix internationally a few years ago.

Dr. Mario · Jan 11, 2022

MadLaughter said:
Can someone explain the railgun/ring gate thing to me?

They mentioned infinite inertia or something, so I'm assuming that the ring gate railguns are basically borderline unstoppable but what's the dumb version of the science there? (It's not that I think it doesn't make sense I'd just enjoy it more if I knew what was causing what here)

It's been a while but I don't think the railguns had inertia, but the ring station had, meaning it was impossible to build anything on top of it. Conversely what the Free Navy did was build rings around the ring station that contained the rail guns. I'm not really sure what the point was, but maybe it's a way for the guns to fire without moving in the opposite direction.

Crispy75 · Jan 11, 2022

MadLaughter said:
Can someone explain the railgun/ring gate thing to me?

They mentioned infinite inertia or something, so I'm assuming that the ring gate railguns are basically borderline unstoppable but what's the dumb version of the science there? (It's not that I think it doesn't make sense I'd just enjoy it more if I knew what was causing what here)

And also, tactically, is it just the fact that he has the greatest choke point in cosmic history, and thus controls the resources of every planet and the lives of every colonist on the other side that has Earth/Mars freaking out or is there more to it?

The trouble with railguns is that they transfer a LOT of momentum to the projectile. This means having to deal with a LOT of recoil. The protomolecule tech has magic power over inertia (remember when Eros "dodged" the nauvoo?) so can effectively "soak" up arbitrary amounts of momentum.

I think.

BloodHound · Jan 11, 2022

MadLaughter said:
Can someone explain the railgun/ring gate thing to me?

They mentioned infinite inertia or something, so I'm assuming that the ring gate railguns are basically borderline unstoppable but what's the dumb version of the science there? (It's not that I think it doesn't make sense I'd just enjoy it more if I knew what was causing what here)

And also, tactically, is it just the fact that he has the greatest choke point in cosmic history, and thus controls the resources of every planet and the lives of every colonist on the other side that has Earth/Mars freaking out or is there more to it?

Ring station has Infinite inertia meaning the rail guns suffer no recoil, making them deadly accurate.

Dr. Mario · Jan 11, 2022

lt519 said:
I do think it is better as a binge watch, due to a lot of holiday travel we just binged episodes 3/4/5 and I thought it flowed and went really well together and that a long episode 6 is more than enough to wrap up the current arc. I could see how watching 40 minutes of this every week would feel like nothing is happening or being accomplished.

I'm happy I did this too because of holiday travel. To be fair, outside of maybe WandaVision, I haven't seen a single modern show that worked better in the dripfeed weekly format.

-Hyperion- · Jan 11, 2022

MadLaughter said:
Can someone explain the railgun/ring gate thing to me?

They mentioned infinite inertia or something, so I'm assuming that the ring gate railguns are basically borderline unstoppable but what's the dumb version of the science there? (It's not that I think it doesn't make sense I'd just enjoy it more if I knew what was causing what here)

Recoil is equal to the force the railguns eject their projectile, which in space would send the firing ship careening in the opposite direction if they're big enough. Infinite inertia means the alien sphere is immovable, meaning the only constraint would be the railguns not crushing their own mounts when fired.

And also, tactically, is it just the fact that he has the greatest choke point in cosmic history, and thus controls the resources of every planet and the lives of every colonist on the other side that has Earth/Mars freaking out or is there more to it?

Pretty much. Instead of borderline indefensible 360 degrees of empty space, you have this relatively tiny ring everyone has to come through, and on your side is all the supplies and ship building materials you could ever need

MadLaughter · Jan 11, 2022

BloodHound said:
Ring station has Infinite inertia meaning the rail guns suffer no recoil, making them deadly accurate.

Good enough for me, thanks to you and everyone else!

Poimandres · Jan 11, 2022

Ep 5 was pretty good. I like the Amos and Bobby stuff, Drummer is awesome, the stage is set for a good show down. This season as a whole has been underwhelming but I actually feel pretty good about going into the ending at this point.

Overall season rankings for me is probably 2 > 3 > 5 > 1 > 6 > 4. Maybe a bit premature.

BobbyRawlins · Jan 11, 2022

it was funny how they just slapped the rail guns on the station off screen and just whoop, here they are! blaow blaow!

Overflow · Jan 11, 2022

Loving this season so far. The last few seasons have cemented this as one of my fav shows ever. I'm just such a sucker for space drama/intrigue, especially with how grounded a lot of the tech is.

Overflow · Jan 11, 2022

Can anyone speak to the value of reading the books as well as watching the series? Looks like it'll be a big reading list, but I'd be down if there's a lot there that isn't in the show.

PeskyToaster · Jan 11, 2022

Poimandres said:
Ep 5 was pretty good. I like the Amos and Bobby stuff, Drummer is awesome, the stage is set for a good show down. This season as a whole has been underwhelming but I actually feel pretty good about going into the ending at this point.

Overall season rankings for me is probably 2 > 3 > 5 > 1 > 6 > 4. Maybe a bit premature.

Really the only bad thing about this season is in the context of apparently being the final season. The actual content is great but it doesn't feel like the final season. Especially with it introducing an entire new mystery world of resurrection dog aliens. It feels like there's several episodes more which is the opposite issue of most TV shows.

IggyChooChoo · Jan 11, 2022

Overflow said:
Can anyone speak to the value of reading the books as well as watching the series? Looks like it'll be a big reading list, but I'd be down if there's a lot there that isn't in the show.

I read the books and enjoyed them. They go real quick.

nofriendo · Jan 11, 2022

Poimandres said:
Ep 5 was pretty good. I like the Amos and Bobby stuff, Drummer is awesome, the stage is set for a good show down. This season as a whole has been underwhelming but I actually feel pretty good about going into the ending at this point.

Overall season rankings for me is probably 2 > 3 > 5 > 1 > 6 > 4. Maybe a bit premature.

Yeah I feel the same, shame it just never got continued backing and funding. This season just stinks of a show that was impacted a lot by covid and lack of interest from Amazon.

I have loved the show and books but this season just feels, well...boring. Which is not something I should be feeling going into the last episode of the whole series.

Overflow said:
Can anyone speak to the value of reading the books as well as watching the series? Looks like it'll be a big reading list, but I'd be down if there's a lot there that isn't in the show.

The books are really great. I am onto book 8 now so a bit ahead of the TV show. The short stories in between are also worth checking out.

Eoin · Jan 11, 2022

Overflow said:
Can anyone speak to the value of reading the books as well as watching the series? Looks like it'll be a big reading list, but I'd be down if there's a lot there that isn't in the show.

The books are good, definitely worth reading if you have time to do that and not much else is on your list. The show is a relatively close adaption so in terms of story events, there's not a whole lot in the books that isn't covered in some form in the show. The main value from reading them after watching the show is they do more worldbuilding and explaining - stuff the show often tries to get across visually but which can sometimes be easy to miss (or take in only as background detail).

If you're going to be reading the later books anyway to get the story finished, then I'd probably suggest also reading one or two of the preceding ones. That'll give you an easy way to compare what's different in the books by starting you off with the book version of a season or two that you've seen recently.

kyle mechlachlan · Jan 11, 2022

The hardest part about reading the books is the completely different visual depiction of Amos that the books got totally wrong and the show got totally right: Amos a bald guy with a belly, described as looking like a 'huge baby'? No. Sorry authors. You did a bad job :P

Sobriquet · Jan 11, 2022

kyle mechlachlan said:
The hardest part about reading the books is the completely different visual depiction of Amos that the books got totally wrong and the show got totally right: Amos a bald guy with a belly, described as looking like a 'huge baby'? No. Sorry authors. You did a bad job :P

Word. Although

Wes Chatham kinda has a baby head :D

Super-Volt · Jan 11, 2022

kyle mechlachlan said:
The hardest part about reading the books is the completely different visual depiction of Amos that the books got totally wrong and the show got totally right: Amos a bald guy with a belly, described as looking like a 'huge baby'? No. Sorry authors. You did a bad job :P

I started the books after seeing season 1, and I remember reading that description of Amos and thinking "wow, they nailed the casting on that guy".

Jag · Jan 11, 2022

Finally finished the last book. Feels so weird to be done after starting it in 2011. I guess I still have GoT to wait on.

Also feels even weirder that the show is ending the same week I finish the books.

Perkin_Warbeck · Jan 11, 2022

Still can't get over the Marco man bun. He looks like he should be playing for Real Madrid or something, lmao.

Ignatz Mouse · Jan 11, 2022

I don't know if they'll be able to wrap things up in a satisfying way, but I'm always surprised that people just assume that they won't and pre-criticize. I'm enjoying the hell out of this season and if the finale is disappointingly incomplete nor abrupt, so be it. Enjoy it in the moment folks, don't worry about the finale til we get there.

btkadams · Jan 12, 2022

Ignatz Mouse said:
I don't know if they'll be able to wrap things up in a satisfying way, but I'm always surprised that people just assume that they won't and pre-criticize. I'm enjoying the hell out of this season and if the finale is disappointingly incomplete nor abrupt, so be it. Enjoy it in the moment folks, don't worry about the finale til we get there.

Blame game of thrones haha. I think there are a lot of people who have been burned badly by other shows ending poorly.

PeskyToaster · Jan 12, 2022

btkadams said:
Blame game of thrones haha. I think there are a lot of people who have been burned badly by other shows ending poorly.

I'm really just longing for more at this point because it doesn't feel like a final season to me. And that's not a bad problem for a show to have. At least it's going out still good rather than limping sadly to the finish line. With Game of Thrones I thought it was off the rails for a long time so the last season wasn't notably bad for me which it seems to have been for many people.

QuigleyMcShine · Jan 12, 2022

They should just put the final episode out now so we don't have to keep wondering if it'll be good or not.

Timbuktu · Jan 12, 2022

PeskyToaster said:
I'm really just longing for more at this point because it doesn't feel like a final season to me. And that's not a bad problem for a show to have. At least it's going out still good rather than limping sadly to the finish line. With Game of Thrones I thought it was off the rails for a long time so the last season wasn't notably bad for me which it seems to have been for many people.

I think after this I'll catch up with For All Mankind and watch it as a kind of Expanse prequel.

Ocarina_117 · Jan 12, 2022

Amos is one of my all time favourite characters from a TV series

"You're not that guy"

"I am that guy"

Wish we did get Prax's story line fleshed out this season.

metsallica · Jan 12, 2022

Ignatz Mouse said:
I don't know if they'll be able to wrap things up in a satisfying way, but I'm always surprised that people just assume that they won't and pre-criticize. I'm enjoying the hell out of this season and if the finale is disappointingly incomplete nor abrupt, so be it. Enjoy it in the moment folks, don't worry about the finale til we get there.

I think it's mostly borne out of people simply wanting more of something they enjoy. Personally I haven't enjoyed the Marco / Filip stuff at all and we've been living with it for 2 seasons now. I've also hated the "space mormon" stuff with Drummer.

QuigleyMcShine said:
They should just put the final episode out now so we don't have to keep wondering if it'll be good or not.

8 hours I think!

Perkin_Warbeck · Jan 12, 2022

Ocarina_117 said:
Amos is one of my all time favourite characters from a TV series

"You're not that guy"

"I am that guy"

Wish we did get Prax's story line fleshed out this season.

Legendary!

I've enjoyed the final season overall. It helps that I know the books are out there if I want more expanse. At the end of season 3, I thought they left the show in a really satisfying place if they had been unable to continue it. They wrapped up the big arcs, but there was still huge possibilities for the future. I'm hoping for something similar hear.

PeskyToaster · Jan 12, 2022

Timbuktu said:
I think after this I'll catch up with For All Mankind and watch it as a kind of Expanse prequel.

I'm reading the book series which should take me quite a while. Plus it's nice to go back and see how far the characters have come since they were just a bunch of ice haulers

QuigleyMcShine · Jan 12, 2022

metsallica said:
8 hours I think!

They've been going up on Thursdays at 7 eastern, so I think it's more like 32 hours.

metsallica · Jan 12, 2022

QuigleyMcShine said:
They've been going up on Thursdays at 7 eastern, so I think it's more like 32 hours.

Oh, I thought it was Wednesdays. My bad!

m_shortpants · Jan 12, 2022

So sad this is ending, 6 episodes are not enough! Shame, this is such a good show, I recommend it to literally everyone.

Will definitely have to read the books.

Perkin_Warbeck · Jan 12, 2022

This is definitely a top 5 all time sci fi show for me, regardless of how this last episode pans out.

Nooblet · Jan 12, 2022

For some reason I thought it was gonna come out midnight tonight.
I got ready with popcorn and all, only to realise it's coming out tomorrow night.

UnluckyKate · Jan 12, 2022

Nooblet said:
For some reason I thought it was gonna come out midnight tonight.
I got ready with popcorn and all, only to realise it's coming out tomorrow night.

Same here. Off to bed disapointed :(

Chitown B · Jan 12, 2022

UnluckyKate said:
Same here. Off to bed disapointed :(

but why? it comes out on Fridays.

StreetsAhead · Jan 12, 2022

Finally caught up on this season in anticipation of the finale. Doesn't really feel like the show is ending, primarily because of the protomolecule and alien planet storylines. I know that the books continue on, but I can't tell if the show runners know something about a future project that hasn't been announced, or if they simply decided it'd be better to let some storylines remain unresolved rather than haphazardly concluded a la Game of Thrones. Can't say that I have any issues with the latter, particularly if the main storyline and the characters are done justice.

Regardless, I'll be checking out the books soon.

metsallica · Jan 12, 2022

Chitown B said:
but why? it comes out on Fridays.

Amazon stuff generally goes live at 12 GMT, so that's 7PM Eastern on Thursday. So it can be confusing!

cinch · Jan 12, 2022

This season hasn't been amazing or anything, and it almost seems like an afterthought. But i'm enjoying it and it's just nice seeing the characters doing whatever, just to have more of it all since this is the last season. Nothing new to add, but yeah we noticed that Steven Strait seemed almost sickly looking, good to know it was on purpose and for character. I was incredulous at the end of episode 5 and was like how are they going to end the show like this in one last episode?!

Quinton · Jan 12, 2022

Maybe I'll change my mind if ten years go by and nothing's ever announced, but at least for right now, I'm quite glad that the writers didn't skip Laconia or anything. 7-9 is my favorite stretch of the book series overall. And while I would imagine the best case scenario at this point is for some kind of miniseries a while down the road, I'll take whatever I can get for it.

Regardless, sticking to their guns was the right move IMO. Just sort of ignoring what is, ultimately, the bigger issue in this universe would have made subsequent rewatches feel limp.

curiouscharles · Jan 13, 2022

Perkin_Warbeck said:
This is definitely a top 5 all time sci fi show for me, regardless of how this last episode pans out.

Yup - precisely why this is all such a bittersweet end.

Really hope we see the story concluded soon though, regardless of how or where.

Tovarisc · Jan 13, 2022

Quinton said:
Maybe I'll change my mind if ten years go by and nothing's ever announced, but at least for right now, I'm quite glad that the writers didn't skip Laconia or anything. 7-9 is my favorite stretch of the book series overall. And while I would imagine the best case scenario at this point is for some kind of miniseries a while down the road, I'll take whatever I can get for it.

Regardless, sticking to their guns was the right move IMO. Just sort of ignoring what is, ultimately, the bigger issue in this universe would have made subsequent rewatches feel limp.

If they never actually deal with said bigger issue (outside of the books that is) it will always feels as unnecessary tack on. Opening of major story lines that never goes anywhere and is just left hanging.

Maybe tomorrow finale changes my mind, but not holding my breath.

BeeDog · Jan 13, 2022

Episode 5 I found very good again, mainly due to all the excellent character interactions between many of the OGs and less focus on the limp dicks Marcos and Filip. Feels like the show hasn't been this sincere in a good while.

The issue is still that it feels like the show isn't heading toward any definitive conclusion so I'll be mighty, mighty impressed if the finally is even halfway decent.

curiouscharles · Jan 13, 2022

BeeDog said:
Episode 5 I found very good again, mainly due to all the excellent character interactions between many of the OGs and less focus on the limp dicks Marcos and Filip. Feels like the show hasn't been this sincere in a good while.

The issue is still that it feels like the show isn't heading toward any definitive conclusion so I'll be mighty, mighty impressed if the finally is even halfway decent.

Character interactions have singularly driven this entire season - and they've been pretty great.

At this point I'll be happy enough if Drummer takes out Marcos.

I have no idea what to expect though as I've only just started reading Leviathan Wakes.

endlessflood · Jan 13, 2022

curiouscharles said:
Character interactions have singularly driven this entire season - and they've been pretty great.

At this point I'll be happy enough if Drummer takes out Marcos.

I have no idea what to expect though as I've only just started reading Leviathan Wakes.

I haven't read the books either. My guess is currently that they are able to remotely reactivate their previously deactivated warhead on Marcos' ship, and kill him that way. Not sure if it would be Holden or Naomi to do that.

Tovarisc · Jan 13, 2022

endlessflood said:
I haven't read the books either. My guess is currently that they are able to remotely reactivate their previously deactivated warhead on Marcos' ship, and kill him that way. Not sure if it would be Holden or Naomi to do that.

My money is on that when Free Navy is cornered they decide to try transit though the ring all at once, only to be decimated in that instant.

endlessflood · Jan 13, 2022

Tovarisc said:
My money is on that when Free Navy is cornered they decide to try transit though the ring all at once, only to be decimated in that instant.

Actually that's a pretty good one too, I like it.

BeeDog · Jan 13, 2022

Do we know if the final episode is expected to run longer than an average episode?

The Expanse Season 6 |OT| Remember the Cant

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