# The Expanse (new show on syfy) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 13, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300 "2015-12-13T03:19:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/61 "2016-01-09T22:27:42Z")
I’ve watched the first four episodes now, and had heard about the general world of the books, but haven’t read them. Pretty damn great sci-fi. Good characters, pretty good dialogue, great universe. The combat sequence in EP4 was particularly great. I’m hooked. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2016, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/62 "2016-01-09T23:19:13Z")
I somehow missed the fact that what was happening with the families on strike was a flashback and completely misunderstood the twist at the end. Oops. Really enjoying this show though. I am aching for optimistic sci fi but if I can’t have that, I want good gritty sci fi and so far this is. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/63 "2016-01-10T06:35:48Z")
The Expanse is the best SF I’ve seen in 2015, and yes, I’ve seen the new Star Wars film. I’ve read two of the novels prior to watching (I’ve currently seen then first three episodes). The visuals are on par with top of the line studio SF films and the acting and story are topnotch. It’s the very best thing the SyFy Channel has ever done, and yes, I’m including the Battlestar Galactica reboot here (which I never really liked anyway). I’m really amazed the rating are so dismal, but I guess the comic book movies have captured all the younger viewers and the older ones are all getting their Game of Thrones on. Is the word not getting out, or is my judgment skewed, or does this show not appeal to larger audiences? At one time, I would have said, “No appeal for large audiences, the show is far too intelligent for them,” but Game of Thrones and several other series indicate that there IS a large audience for intelligent drama of any stripe on TV. The only other thing I can think of, and it was a problem for me, I admit, is that SyFy’s decades-long dedication to a well-earned reputation for churning out crap movies and TV shows is biting it in the ass. I know when I heard the expanse was airing on SyFy, I thought, 'The Expanse? That’s pretty fucking good SF! I wonder how SyFy Channel will fuck it up?" ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/64 "2016-01-10T11:35:38Z")
I’m really enjoying the show. The way we’re dropped into a world, with relatively little exposition and plenty of confusing weird bits, is right up my alley. My only complaint is that I think Jim Holden was badly cast. He should be a guy pushing thirty, with a sense of humor and a charismatic presence and a pathological inability to be anything other than profoundly decent. The actor they chose looks too recently off the pages of Tiger Beat, pretty but not especially smart or charismatic, and he kind of comes across as a little bit sleazy to me so far. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/65 "2016-01-10T15:36:23Z")
I think the ratings are poor because SyFy has been embracing the whole Mutant Shark vs. Giant Octopus side of sci fi so people assume everything on it is crap. I’ve been telling everyone who will listen to watch. Also Tuesdays seen crowded for TV, especially genre TV. They would be better off putting it on a new night. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/66 "2016-01-10T15:49:15Z")
A big chunk of the viewers of a show like this one may not show up on Nielsen ratings – if they have enough web, on demand, and similar viewership, then that might make up for low Nielsen ratings in terms of revenue for the network. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/67 "2016-01-10T18:18:47Z")
One related issue: when I tried to watch it on SyFy, their streaming service had a frame rate of about 3FPS. It was unbearably choppy. Episodes are…available elsewhere, of course, but I’d rather watch them on SyFy to give them the ad revenue. Have other folks had that experience? Is there something I need to do on my end to make the streaming smoother? (FWIW, I’m using Firefox, Windows 10, and Comedy Central’s ads, but not their main shows, are similarly choppy). ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/68 "2016-01-10T18:37:46Z")
(follow-up: realized it runs smoothly in Chrome, so maybe something like Adblocker or some other add-on in Firefox is causing the problem. Solved!) ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/69 "2016-01-10T19:39:24Z")
I think SyFy’s streaming is crap. You might be able to find it on Amazon or Hulu. We really like the show so far. I find some of the departures from the books a little annoying, but I’m thoroughly enjoying it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/70 "2016-01-11T20:23:40Z")
Unfortunately they split this and a few other channels from my cable TV tier. Getting it added (and having access to their streaming app) is like $50 more a month,s o it’s a no go. I’m downloading them… elsewhere… to see them the day after airing, but I’m going to buy the season from Amazon digital video when it’s available. They’ll see my money, just not until later. Definitely want to support TV like this. EDIT: Just realized Amazon offers the episodes day after airing too. $25 for the season, $2.99 for each episode. Gonna go that route. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/71 "2016-01-11T20:31:21Z")
Hmm, actually a Hulu subscription might be worth it just for this show… ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/72 "2016-01-11T20:36:57Z")
On the general topic of Sy-Fy and the quality of their shows, I highly endorse _The Magicians_, which is a similar book-to-miniseries translation, and starts Jan. 25. They previewed the first episode, and it looks fantastic. And I echo the general enthusiasm for _The Expanse_. I read the books, but long enough ago that I don’t remember all the plot details, so I’m surprised by some of what happens, but not everything, which is interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/73 "2016-01-11T20:54:32Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > My only complaint is that I think Jim Holden was badly cast. He should be a guy pushing thirty, with a sense of humor and a charismatic presence and a pathological inability to be anything other than profoundly decent. The actor they chose looks too recently off the pages of Tiger Beat, pretty but not especially smart or charismatic, and he kind of comes across as a little bit sleazy to me so far. Okay, watching another episode and really trying to get where they’re coming from, I’m revising my opinion. The book Jim Holden came across as fairly intelligent, fairly competent, very charismatic, just with the huge flaw of always going by the “INFORMATION WANTS TO BE FREE!” mantra. I was mad that this Holden wasn’t like that. But the show’s Holden is a valid character. He comes across as younger than the other crew members, kind of a doofus slacker with a pretty face. He _really_ shouldn’t be captain at this point. But two things have put him in this position: a trick of rank (he got promoted by his weirdass semicompetent captain right before his his exploded, putting him technically in command), and the fact that his face has literally become the face of the OPA resistance, showing up in all the posters and graffiti and videos. Dude is WAY over his head. He doesn’t completely realize how far over his head he is, but the rest of the crew realizes it, and are exasperated/enraged by the fact that this doofus is in charge. Instead of being a competent hero with a major flaw, he’s majorly flawed, with the redeeming virtue of decency. I think I can get behind that. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/74 "2016-01-12T03:40:24Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > Also, they need to be asking how the hell he knew where they were. Thats going to be addressed in episode six, we found out in ep 4 or 5 Declan ---
**Author:** ![tingbudong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tingbudong/32/520_2.png) [@tingbudong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tingbudong)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2016, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/75 "2016-01-14T01:50:57Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > I’ve watched the first four episodes and I like it a lot so far. The book it’s based on (Leviathan Wakes) is okay, but it is translating well to a TV series. And Corey has written a bunch of books in that series so there is plenty of material to draw from if the series is successful. I’m enjoying the books and I feel like they were written with a serialized TV series in mind. It also streams on the Space Channel in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/76 "2016-01-29T01:47:04Z")
So did anyone else get the impression from Chrisjen’s meeting with Mother Elise that Holden was an only child? :dubious: I just figured that an 8 person group marriage would produce a lot of children (even if a full genetic mix is pricey), but growing up as the sole hope of 8 parents would also explain a lot about his personality. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/77 "2016-01-29T01:50:42Z")
Syfy will only allow the first 5 episodes to be watched on their website; after that you have to tell them who your cable provider is and log in to watch. Just FYI. I enjoyed the episodes I saw, but I guess now I’ll have to wait for the first season on BR or something to see the rest of them. (I do not have cable or satellite TV service.) (I’ve also caught the fist 2 episodes of _The Magicians_ and enjoyed what I saw; thanks for the tip, **Max**!) ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/78 "2016-01-29T21:25:31Z")
I started watching and was moderately impressed. Hard science fiction where they get the physics right! High production values! On syfy?! However the characters were pretty thin, and the plot seemed too complicated for its own good. Now at episode 8 I’m hooked. The characters have been fleshed out and several intriguing scifi concepts are getting woven to an increasingly intriguing plot. A few particular observations: I like how Amos is clearly shown as both an asset and a liability. He’s a violent simpleton that might go off at the exactly wrong moment, but shoot-first-ask-questions-later has saved the crew’s ass. The first few mentions of the Mormon generation ship makes so much more sense than any other treatment of the generation ship concept I’ve seen so far. Why in God’s name would anyone commit their lives to a dangerous, miserable, and possibly fruitless life on a fragile metal box in deep space? More importantly, why would anyone do that to their children, grandchildren, etc? Sure, you can contrive a catastrophe that will be certain and absolute, but at a convenient known later date to allow construction of a ship. Otherwise… I guess you would have to invoke God’s name, because for everyone else the misery of life on a tiny asteroid would be a better bet than putting 3+ generations of descendants at risk. And in the latest episode: There’s the introduction of what looks like some kind of blue-grey goo nanobot AI thingies that have escaped from a military lab. With the rest of the show I have confidence that it won’t devolve into lazy Borg/zombie tropes. Already the introduction was well handled: no cheap jumps cares when the crew explored the Anubis, but a sense of dread that was slightly relieved when the crew prudently ran away and blew the whole damn thing up. But the dread proved well-founded when Julie’s nanite-covered body was found. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/79 "2016-01-30T01:50:00Z")
The show is getting better and better. Can’t wait for the finale. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2016, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300/80 "2016-01-30T01:56:21Z")
I have to agree. Each episode so far is better than the preceding one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-new-show-on-syfy/740300.md?page=5)