The Expanse...why is this not #1 rated sci-fi show?

BossAttack said:

It's a Texas accent. The various accents are a result of the groups that colonized the various planets and asteroids early on. I forget the specifics, but the Belt was colonized by like the Dutch, English, and Portuguese irrc. Mars was colonized by a bunch of Texans and other people. Someone correct me with the specifics, I only read the first book once and that was enough.

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More specific: Alex is from 'Mariner Valley's on Mars, which was colonised by a combination of Indians, Texans and some other groups. The Texan accent spread through the population over time.

Bobby is from a different city on Mars, not sure if they ever describe her accent in the books (though her Polynesian heritage is mentioned)

As others have said, I watched the first episode and didn't like it.

After all the positive stuff I've been reading recently I'd like to give it another shot though.

After the big thread about it being cancelled I watched a couple of trailers for the show and my interest was killed. Looks like a SyFy show alright. I like the genre, but the quality of SyFy makes a lot of shows unwatchable for me.

TaterTots said:

After the big thread about it being cancelled I watched a couple of trailers for the show and my interest was killed. Looks like a SyFy show alright. I like the genre, but the quality of SyFy makes a lot of shows unwatchable for me.

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Your prejudice is understandable, but wrong in this case.

For me, because it was a sci-fi show on SYFY. I figured it would have a terrible budget and look like it. Only after amazon picked up and got a reco from a friend did I take a closer look.

I already burned through it and am now caught up with S3. No regrets here!

TaterTots said:

After the big thread about it being cancelled I watched a couple of trailers for the show and my interest was killed. Looks like a SyFy show alright. I like the genre, but the quality of SyFy makes a lot of shows unwatchable for me.

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SyFy's trailers are terrible. They kept me from watching the show for quite a while despite the praise. That was a mistake. It's easily the best sci-fi space show since BSG, and honestly there's nothing else like The Expanse.

I started watching this last week based on a recommendation from a coworker. I'm at Ep 6 in season 1.

ElectricKaibutsu said:

As others have said, I watched the first episode and didn't like it.

After all the positive stuff I've been reading recently I'd like to give it another shot though.

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I suggest people watch till at least episode 4

I think it's above average, but I hesitate to give it too much credit. The protomolecule is not a very interesting plot point, and the show does suffer because of its budget. This is most pronounced outside the spaceships. Many of the scenes in the UN remind me of the not-Oval Office dining rooms in cheap productions.

I couldn't finish the first episode, it was too dull visually. If a sci fi show is dull visually I won't like it.

Kimaris said:

The show is good but I feel like it's been overhyped by some of y'all on here. I'm only halfway through season 2 but I think it's better than the first one. Hopefully S3 continues the trend.

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I love it, but I think this is true. It's not as good as Battlestar Galactica in the good seasons. One thing that had, that this does not, is top level actors. No Mary MacDonald or Edward James Olmos on this show. The best actors are in the recurring roles in the Expanse.

Conversely, what The Expanse has over BSG is a well thought-out overarching plot.

Crispy75 said:

Conversely, what The Expanse has over BSG is a well thought-out overarching plot.

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Absolutely true.

Ignatz Mouse said:

I love it, but I think this is true. It's not as good as Battlestar Galactica in the good seasons. One thing that had, that this does not, is top level actors. No Mary MacDonald or Edward James Olmos on this show. The best actors are in the recurring roles in the Expanse.

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As much as I love The Expanse, I find this pretty hard to disagree with. Shohreh Aghdashloo, Cara Gee and Jared Harris really impress me, but... well, besides Shohreh being amazing, no one else in the main cast is bad or even subpar, but nobody else really wows me like Mary McDonnell, Edward James Olmos, James Callis, Katee Sackhoff and Grace Park did. BSG's got the cast edge.

Quinton said:

As much as I love The Expanse, I find this pretty hard to disagree with. Shoreh Aghdashloo, Cara Gee and Jared Harris really impress me, but... well, besides Shohreh being amazing, no one else in the main cast is bad or even subpar, but nobody else really wows me like Mary McDonnell, Edward James Olmos, James Callis, Katee Sackhoff and Grace Park did. BSG's got the cast edge.

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Yeah. The show isn't really set up to be an actor's showcase, either. It's much more large-plot driven. And that's completely OK. Nobody is bad in it. Shoreh Aghdashloo is probably the best regular, and the actress that play Bobbi is pretty great at time. Wes Chatham is great at what he does, which isn't a lot.

It may be a dumb question, but... how is the soundtrack compared to BSG? I really appreciate good music in my shows.

Tigel said:

It may be a dumb question, but... how is the soundtrack compared to BSG? I really appreciate good music in my shows.

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Bear McCreary's BSG score, especially in the third and fourth seasons, is simply unrivaled. It's phenomenal. It becomes a part of the show's world in a very real way and that blend, that synergy, is unforgettable.

By contrast, The Expanse's soundtrack is... pretty good? Like BSG, it starts off a little weaker but improves as it goes on. It's a lot of synth. It feels like Mass Effect 1, or Deus Ex, if you catch my drift. It's suitable. It definitely works. At its best, it heightens tension and gives the world some memorable flavor. At its worst, it's inoffensive.

It's good.

Not a dumb question, btw. :)

Thanks! I found the first season soundtrack on Apple Music, so I'll give it a listen pretty soon.

SliChillax said:

I couldn't finish the first episode, it was too dull visually. If a sci fi show is dull visually I won't like it.

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Check out the fan trailer (because fuck SyFy). It's not a visually dull show at all.

Jag said:

Check out the fan trailer (because fuck SyFy). It's not a visually dull show at all.

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That looked more interesting, I might give it a second chance one day.

My wife and I watched the first three episodes last night.

To everyone who keeps saying "stick with it! It gets good after episode four!" what are you smoking? This show was good right away! I like the slow burn world building and it's been really easy to understand everything.

Is this a case of people multitasking on devices while watching? I used to be bad about that and I now put my phone in another room while I watch most anything other than the news and sports.

That series finale...was so very, very Mass Effect.

God damn, Season 4,5,6 are going to be INSANE on Amazon Prime!!

I dropped it after a few episodes in S2. In my opinion the quality took a big nose dive there.

I'd disagree but I also think the quality really ramped up in season 3.

Would I like this show if I only like the BSG mini series and stopped watching the main series during Season 2 because i thought it sucked?

Distantmantra said:

Is this a case of people multitasking on devices while watching? I used to be bad about that and I now put my phone in another room while I watch most anything other than the news and sports.

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One of the main reasons I still like going to the movie theatre. No phone temptation.

HotHamBoy said:

Would I like this show if I only like the BSG mini series and stopped watching the main series during Season 2 because i thought it sucked?

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Depends on why you thought it sucked.

h1nch said:

Depends on why you thought it sucked.

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The writing

I still cannot fathom just how different season 1 is from the other seasons, and oh yeah it get´s better and better...and yes it starts a bit dull and all like huh?

Distantmantra said:

My wife and I watched the first three episodes last night.

To everyone who keeps saying "stick with it! It gets good after episode four!" what are you smoking? This show was good right away! I like the slow burn world building and it's been really easy to understand everything.

Is this a case of people multitasking on devices while watching? I used to be bad about that and I now put my phone in another room while I watch most anything other than the news and sports.

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Well, for me, it was being skeptical of any show coming from Syfy. BSG was great, but aside from that, nothing much grabbed me. First couple of episodes were fine, but the show didn't get it's hooks into me for a number of episodes. So, when people say "the first episode didn't grab me" I sympathize and say give the first season a full, honest watch and then decide. I can see where someone might not be sold at first.

It certainly didn't grab me like BSG did with 33. Easily one of the best first episodes in television.

Really like the first book, but the first episode turned me way off the show. Might give it a shot again if my partner is up for it. Not gonna waste my "me time" watching a show by myself when I could be playing games.

GF and I just finished the 3rd season last night after starting it last week. We just couldn't stop watching it and now we're bummed there isn't more yet. Love that it has some of the most realistic physics I've seen in space sci-fi.

HotHamBoy said:

The writing

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Personally I think the writing is better in The Expanse (having a series of books to pull from probably helps). I do think BSG had better actors, though the current main cast of The Expanse has grown on me.

I also think BSG completely fell apart towards the end of the series, and I found that it did not age super well upon rewatch (mostly because I know the show is headed for a total bullshit ending)

At this point in BSG's life, it was terrible....The Expanse is pulling an opposite of a BSG, it's pulling a TNG.

TNG was GROSS for 2 whole seasons...Will W hurro...(sorry Will lol), then it was amazing...this is how I see The Expanse evolving. The season finale was amazing science fiction, it's a slow burn for sure, but it's worth it.

Expanse at its worst is better than the first two seasons of TNG.

Can we talk about 0G tears?

Because that scene blew my mind.

Distantmantra said:

My wife and I watched the first three episodes last night.

To everyone who keeps saying "stick with it! It gets good after episode four!" what are you smoking? This show was good right away! I like the slow burn world building and it's been really easy to understand everything.

Is this a case of people multitasking on devices while watching? I used to be bad about that and I now put my phone in another room while I watch most anything other than the news and sports.

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As someone who is very much against multitasking and loves to put in marathon sessions of TV shows on a rainy Sunday I'll admit I only watched the first episode and never came back.

They did an amazing job of world building and the special effects were great for a TV show budget. That said, something about the show feels "off" and I didn't really click with any of the actors. I really liked how they ended the 1st episode, though.

I'm willing to jump into it again after reading this thread. It's possible I just wasn't in the right frame of mind watching the 1st episode.

I watched the first two or three episodes then stopped (don't remember why). Recently Microsoft talked about the Halo tv series and a lot of halo fans were hoping the Halo series was as good as The Expanse (there was also that other thing but I haven't reached that point yet) so I decided to finish it to see what all the fuss was about and wow, just finished Season 2 and its amazing.

It actually does the Prequel trilogy of Star Wars better then the Prequel trilogy did: the mixing of political drama and action/adventure.

manhack said:

As someone who is very much against multitasking and loves to put in marathon sessions of TV shows on a rainy Sunday I'll admit I only watched the first episode and never came back.

They did an amazing job of world building and the special effects were great for a TV show budget. That said, something about the show feels "off" and I didn't really click with any of the actors. I really liked how they ended the 1st episode, though.

I'm willing to jump into it again after reading this thread. It's possible I just wasn't in the right frame of mind watching the 1st episode.

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It takes 4 episodes to get into the flow.

As someone who read the books first, I wasn't completely on board with some of the changes they made to events and characters initially. It took awhile to adjust. Book 1 did have a slow start too, but Miller's investigation really got things cracking and I don't think the show quite captured that as well, so S1 was pretty uneven.

But season 2 really started to pull things together and showed they were thinking more coherently about the overall plot of the books and season 3 has made some excellent casting choices (straithairn, mitchell) and has ratcheted the pace nicely. The last two episodes in particular were really firing on all cylinders

Ignatz Mouse said:

Expanse at its worst is better than the first two seasons of TNG.

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True, but if we're being honest like 60-70% of TNG is garbage.

chirt said:

Really like the first book, but the first episode turned me way off the show. Might give it a shot again if my partner is up for it. Not gonna waste my "me time" watching a show by myself when I could be playing games.

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I think we have similar TV viewing habits. Luckily my wife loves sci-fi, superheroes and fantasy, so when she "forces" me to watch with her it's always something I wanted to watch anyway. Otherwise I'm gaming.

Expanse was like when GoT started though. Loved the books and was going to watch it no matter what.

dead souls said:

True, but if we're being honest like 60-70% of TNG is garbage.

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I'd probably say 50, but why quibble.

Those first two seasons though... eesh. I started watching and after a few I wrote it off, until later when people told me it got better.

Jag said:

I think we have similar TV viewing habits. Luckily my wife loves sci-fi, superheroes and fantasy, so when she "forces" me to watch with her it's always something I wanted to watch anyway. Otherwise I'm gaming.

Expanse was like when GoT started though. Loved the books and was going to watch it no matter what.

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Yea, we mostly watch those genres too. I can sit through slow starting shows for a later payoff, but she's very impatient. It took years of hounding to get her to watch Stranger Things and Westworld, but now she's more hooked than me. She's crazy about Altered Carbon. She hard passed on Expanse about 20 minutes into the first episode and I didn't care enough try and talk her into continuing lol.

The Expanse is amazing and I am very happy that Amazon Prime has picked up the show. My entire family of four have enjoyed this show from day one. After watching three full seasons, I cannot imagine any other actors in the main roles. I think everyone has been cast very well. I have also read up to book 6 and find it fascinating that so little of the books has been covered so far.

Gimme season 4 with my Amazon Prime.

To be honest, if you're impatient you can skip the first 3 episodes and just start with 4 as long as you watch the recap.

Well thanks to this thread I started watching and so far so good. Not sure if the guarantee of things getting better mollified my reaction, but the first 3 episodes were... enjoyable. Writing doesn't seem to be wasted and everything seems to be at the least helping to establish the world(s). I wasn't bored but maybe that's part of the allure with starting a new series, and T Jane is fun.

I like the show but understand why it was canceled, its missing soul.

sets and cgi are good, script has a lot to be desired, and the lead actor isn't great.

show would be better with Miller, Amos as the main characters.

every1 agrees season 2 is much better
season 1 probably just watch the 2nd half or something

Greigor the FellHand said:

I like the show but understand why it was canceled, its missing soul.

sets and cgi are good, script has a lot to be desired, and the lead actor isn't great.

show would be better with Miller, Amos as the main characters.

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SciFi just doesn't have the legs or appeal to a mass audience. Look at the amount of shit shows that get multiple seasons, then compare that to very good shows that struggle with garbage metrics like viewership, etc.

Halt and Catch Fire, one of the goat shows. Flirting with cancellation, but was fortunate enough to get actually finish their story.

It's just hard to keep certain genres on tv, regardless of how good it is.

We're lucky that we've had three fantastic seasons, and then get picked up by Amazon.

Outside of Holden at times, the rest of the cast is great. Especially Amos, Miller, and Avarasala.

rsfour said:

SciFi just doesn't have the legs or appeal to a mass audience. Look at the amount of shit shows that get multiple seasons, then compare that to very good shows that struggle with garbage metrics like viewership, etc.

Halt and Catch Fire, one of the goat shows. Flirting with cancellation, but was fortunate enough to get actually finish their story.

It's just hard to keep certain genres on tv, regardless of how good it is.

We're lucky that we've had three fantastic seasons, and then get picked up by Amazon.

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true, but I think something that has helped expanse so far is the length between seasons.

I feel like they might do best the Venture Bros route.

A fantastic season, then 1.5-1.8 years between the next season to maintain quality.

+ a holiday episode in that 1.5-1.8 years to hold over the audience.

The holiday episode could be them just bored on the ship, celebrating hallloween/christmas/spacemas,
and treat it as a fan centric episode where its quirky, and not in the books, to help build character and background for the characters.