The Expanse (Seasons 5 and 6)
Feb. 14th, 2022 10:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakReaders, I finished the show, which, small quibbles aside, remained top notch impressive. I can now see why bimo told me she changed her mind on Clarissa Mao, and indeed so did I - that was an excellent redemption arc, with clear acknowledgement of responsibility throughout. Also, Amos acting essentially as her sponsor brought his own continuing struggle to live ethical, which he started by looking for the "right" people to follow, full circle. Incidentally, the show through the seasons provided enogh tidbits about what Amos' ghastly childhood was like to get the picture even before he revisited Baltimore, and yet it never felt like the easy equation of "abused childhood = no responsibility for adult violence", on the contrary, by making Amos' struggle and search of ways to act ethical a core part of his character, it went against this.
Naomi in the last episode basically saying that Clarissa's arc was what she hoped for Filip: while both Clarissa and Filip were children of evil fathers they were desparate to impress and who impacted their world view, I'd say the differences were larger than the commonalities. Clarissa was an adult woman when committing her crimes, she did have other influences than him, while Filip - without taking away his own responsibility for all the blood on his hands - was basically a child soldier with all that impliies. As the audience, though not Naomi, knows, Filip did travel his own road to realisation and breaking away (though not yet redemption), but unsurprisingly, but it strikes me as realistic this could not happen a season earlier when she tried to reach him. He hardly knew her. BTW, that the show let Naomi end her attempt to reach Philip with her escape instead of, to quote her, "martyr herself for motherhood" by staying on the Pella was a still unusual but excellent choice. (What with sympathetic female characters who are mothers usually get depicted as putting up with everything for the sake of their children.) Not to mention that her whole escape-and-saving-the-Roci-from-the-trap sequence was one of the show's most intense "character who has everything set against them still does not give up" episodes.
In terms of the political developments, I can't help but compare and contrast of how The Expanse never falls into the trap I mentioned re Falcon and Winter Soldier, where there is no medium and no alternate political actiivism than the terrorist one, whom our heroes therefore have to act against even if they understand the original motivation. In The Expanse, the entire series makes it clear why Marco Inaros happens, but he's never the sole representative of the Belt he claims to be, and by building up Camina Drummer throughout the series the show avoids the "villain has a point, villain commits mass murder, therefore point invalid" fallacy. Not to mention the sci fi equivalent of the white saviour trope, neatly avoided in the great bait-and-switch with Holden and her in the last but one scene. Chrisjen Avalasara herselb bringing up the torture of her introduction scene in s1 and saying "the reason Belters see me like that is that I was like that" , and her awareness that helping exploited Belters now mid war does not negate the preceding 100 years also contributes to this, and fits with the general themes of responsibility, of change (both character change and political change) being possible but only if you work for it, and keep working for it.
One thing that stuck out like a sore thumb and which presumably was an aborted arc - was this show supposed to go on longer? - is the entire Stephen King lilke subplot with Cara on Lanconia, last seen running away with her recently ressurected brother. (Cara may be too young to have read Stephen King, but her parents clearly did.) So I don't know how this was supposed to contribute to the main plot.
Bobbie Draper and her relationship with "the old lady" (tm Bobbie) remained a highlight throughout. After the show killed off Alex at the end of s5, I was a bit afraid Bobbie would die in the season finale, but no, we got to keep the other Martian. Speaking of poor Alex, though, his off screen death and then everyone realising he died and having to cope with the loss for the remaining show reminded me a bit of Joyce Summers in BTVS - we don't see the moment of death itself, and it is a stroke, not a deed-by-villain, but it is quietly gut wrenching precisely because of that.
In conclusion, truly a superb sci fi epic from start to finish, and I'm very glad I waatched.
bimo told me she changed her mind on Clarissa Mao, and indeed so did I - that was an excellent redemption arc, with clear acknowledgement of responsibility throughout. Also, Amos acting essentially as her sponsor brought his own continuing struggle to live ethical, which he started by looking for the "right" people to follow, full circle. Incidentally, the show through the seasons provided enogh tidbits about what Amos' ghastly childhood was like to get the picture even before he revisited Baltimore, and yet it never felt like the easy equation of "abused childhood = no responsibility for adult violence", on the contrary, by making Amos' struggle and search of ways to act ethical a core part of his character, it went against this. Naomi in the last episode basically saying that Clarissa's arc was what she hoped for Filip: while both Clarissa and Filip were children of evil fathers they were desparate to impress and who impacted their world view, I'd say the differences were larger than the commonalities. Clarissa was an adult woman when committing her crimes, she did have other influences than him, while Filip - without taking away his own responsibility for all the blood on his hands - was basically a child soldier with all that impliies. As the audience, though not Naomi, knows, Filip did travel his own road to realisation and breaking away (though not yet redemption), but unsurprisingly, but it strikes me as realistic this could not happen a season earlier when she tried to reach him. He hardly knew her. BTW, that the show let Naomi end her attempt to reach Philip with her escape instead of, to quote her, "martyr herself for motherhood" by staying on the Pella was a still unusual but excellent choice. (What with sympathetic female characters who are mothers usually get depicted as putting up with everything for the sake of their children.) Not to mention that her whole escape-and-saving-the-Roci-from-the-trap sequence was one of the show's most intense "character who has everything set against them still does not give up" episodes.
In terms of the political developments, I can't help but compare and contrast of how The Expanse never falls into the trap I mentioned re Falcon and Winter Soldier, where there is no medium and no alternate political actiivism than the terrorist one, whom our heroes therefore have to act against even if they understand the original motivation. In The Expanse, the entire series makes it clear why Marco Inaros happens, but he's never the sole representative of the Belt he claims to be, and by building up Camina Drummer throughout the series the show avoids the "villain has a point, villain commits mass murder, therefore point invalid" fallacy. Not to mention the sci fi equivalent of the white saviour trope, neatly avoided in the great bait-and-switch with Holden and her in the last but one scene. Chrisjen Avalasara herselb bringing up the torture of her introduction scene in s1 and saying "the reason Belters see me like that is that I was like that" , and her awareness that helping exploited Belters now mid war does not negate the preceding 100 years also contributes to this, and fits with the general themes of responsibility, of change (both character change and political change) being possible but only if you work for it, and keep working for it.
One thing that stuck out like a sore thumb and which presumably was an aborted arc - was this show supposed to go on longer? - is the entire Stephen King lilke subplot with Cara on Lanconia, last seen running away with her recently ressurected brother. (Cara may be too young to have read Stephen King, but her parents clearly did.) So I don't know how this was supposed to contribute to the main plot.
Bobbie Draper and her relationship with "the old lady" (tm Bobbie) remained a highlight throughout. After the show killed off Alex at the end of s5, I was a bit afraid Bobbie would die in the season finale, but no, we got to keep the other Martian. Speaking of poor Alex, though, his off screen death and then everyone realising he died and having to cope with the loss for the remaining show reminded me a bit of Joyce Summers in BTVS - we don't see the moment of death itself, and it is a stroke, not a deed-by-villain, but it is quietly gut wrenching precisely because of that.
In conclusion, truly a superb sci fi epic from start to finish, and I'm very glad I waatched.
no subject
Date: 2022-02-14 10:25 am (UTC)Re. the Laconia segments, they're adapted from a novella called 'Strange Dogs' that sits between two of the main novels in the series. The writers don't know whether they'll ever get the chance to adapt the final three books, which deal with Laconia, but they wanted to at least nod to them by doing 'Strange Dogs'.
Alex's death and its aftermath are particularly well-handled because they were never meant to happen. The actor was accused of sexually harassing female fans, including minors, at conventions and, following an investigation that substantiated the claims, was fired from the show, but they made the choice to honour the character and his relationships with the Roci crew in the writing throughout the series both because Alex was there before Cas Anwar ever played him, and because the character isn't the actor.
no subject
Date: 2022-02-14 01:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-02-14 07:25 pm (UTC)For me a great moment was Chrisjen and Drummer shaking hands -- how earned that felt. (It was a little bit like Londo and G'Kar in Babylon 5, now that I think about it.) Two powerful complex women who weren't villains or martyrs -- and the actresses were amazing, and it was hard for them to stand out because pretty much EVERY actress was amazing, especially in the later seasons.
One of my favourite parts personally was the whole subplot with Amos basically sponsoring Peaches (Clarissa). It was just so well-done and not smarmy. Apparently the actor who plays Amos did a LOT of research into children from abusive backgrounds and how that affects them throughout life, and he was so great at portraying both that and Amos making himself better.
no subject
Date: 2022-02-15 01:01 pm (UTC)Very true. We've seen both characters move through the seasons to this point. If it happened years earlier, it wouldn't have meant nearly as much, nor would we be able to believe it'll mean something long term.
And yes, this show has so many interestintg female characters, and none that gets saddled with Not Like Other Girls The One Exception instead. Re: Chrisjen, I also appreciated, as I said in the last review, that her rival Nancy Gao wasn't presented as stupd or malicious, and that when given the necessary information was immediately willing to follow her advice to save Earth before her death.
Apparently the actor who plays Amos did a LOT of research into children from abusive backgrounds and how that affects them throughout life, and he was so great at portraying both that and Amos making himself better.
So very much!
no subject
Date: 2022-02-14 07:26 pm (UTC)That's a good way of putting it - I really liked the conversation between him and Naomi about this and the meaning of "boss" from him towards Naomi and now from Clarissa towards him. Amos was really unique for his type of character, his self-awareness throughout and his genuine interest to learn were so great to watch (which is also why he and Anna made such an unexpectedly great pairing in season three).
this could not happen a season earlier when she tried to reach him
Yeah, I have to say, I found Philip's psychology immensely plausible, including the doubling down in the face of doubt - until it was just one thing too many and one mask of Marco's falling too many, and he finally took the step to leave.
Naomi in the last episode basically saying that Clarissa's arc was what she hoped for Filip
And I really loved how that was relevant for Naomi's own growth as well - not just a statement of fact, but the self-awareness that this is why she couldn't accept Clarissa on board for so long and treated her like she did.
instead of, to quote her, "martyr herself for motherhood" by staying on the Pella was a still unusual but excellent choice
So much this. I loved that line, I loved her whole conversation with Holden, and I loved the way she got to make her decisions during this two season arc, as hard to watch as it sometimes was.
re: Laconia - I see
a bit afraid Bobbie would die in the season finale
Yeah. Three times I was afraid of that - Bobbie, Amos, Clarissa - and they never went there. I especially loved that they didn't with Clarissa, because I'm not a fan of redemptive deaths.
Speaking of, this reminds me - did you watch the five additional mini-episodes during the last season? They are a bit hard to find, so I wondered.
no subject
Date: 2022-02-14 07:32 pm (UTC)Naomi's saving herself and not martyring herself as a mother is also what enabled Filip to live, eventually -- he was able to walk away from Marcos who was obviously going to go out in a blaze of glory and take everyone with him. So not only was it a great choice for Naomi, it was a good choice as a mother, too, and I loved that.
no subject
Date: 2022-02-15 01:11 pm (UTC)I especially loved that they didn't with Clarissa, because I'm not a fan of redemptive deaths.
It depends on the death, but by and large, I much prefer for a character to live a life of working for redemption, too. Especially since the series had done such a good job showing Clarissa doing just that.
And the way the show kept letting characters surprise you by showing compassion - like Ashford offering shelter to everyone, or Prax risking all to share his data so Earthers would have a chance at food supply again - and how forming human connections often was tied to that - Prax having bonded with the Rocinante crew as they helped him rescue his daughter, Ashford and Drummer bonding while saving each other's lives.
no subject
Date: 2022-02-15 01:26 pm (UTC)Yes, they are, but Amazon for some reason does its best to hide them. You need to start the last episode, then click on the X-Ray function and then Bonus Content (or some such) and you'll get them all at once - one each for Drummer, Clarissa, Chrisjen, Bobbie+Amos, and Holden.
no subject
Date: 2022-02-14 07:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-02-14 11:05 pm (UTC)