# The Expanse Season 5 trailer and release date

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, amazon-prime\
**Created:** [October 9, 2020, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543 "2020-10-09T04:06:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 8

<div class="post-metadata">

**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 28, 2021, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/141 "2021-01-28T09:22:54Z")

</div>

> [@DSeid](#):
>
> Not thrilled with this one on any of the storylines.

Gotta agree; this was boring and predictable.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/142 "2021-01-28T16:21:24Z")

</div>

> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> predictable

Just wait until the next episode, where all the good guys get killed and the whole series shifts into being a sitcom about the rescued maids and cooks adjusting to live and love on the Moon.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/143 "2021-01-29T15:24:51Z")

</div>

> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#):
>
> Gotta agree; this was boring and predictable.

I’m kind of liking the parts where Baltimore Timmy is at war with Rocinante Amos. There were a couple of moments where you could see Amos about to do the practical thing, but changes when he realizes that Peaches disapproves. You can see him using her as his off-site moral compass.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/144 "2021-01-29T15:40:49Z")

</div>

The way they have set up the character of Eric there is no way he would have been deferential to Timmy about that practical choice. He did not get to the top of the churn doing stuff like that. Once the rent-a-cop gang was walking away he would have given a signal and they would have been mowed down. The choice would have resulted in fewer deaths and both sides than allowing Peaches her kumbaya phase.

I’d like to see Naomi’s affect show more of the resolve that the character demonstrates by action.

Pretty much all the characters’ developmental arcs that had any arc were pretty jarringly out of line with where they had been going, yes even down to the Acting Sec Gen.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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 29, 2021, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/145 "2021-01-29T16:40:14Z")

</div>

I thought this was a decent episode - not amazing, but not awful. The firefight at the mansion was totally predictable start to finish, but I’m willing to forgive some of that because it was filmed so well. The exterior shots were beautiful, the action was exciting even knowing who would live and who would die, and overall it was very well choreographed.

> [@DSeid](#):
>
> Pretty much all the characters’ developmental arcs that had any arc were pretty jarringly out of line with where they had been going, yes even down to the Acting Sec Gen.

Agree on some points, not on others. You’re right about Erich - from his decision to leave Baltimore to letting the goons walk, his actions aren’t consistent with the character we were shown.

I’m unsure about Naomi - I’m annoyed by her whininess and frustration, which doesn’t match her usual confidence and practical nature. But on the other hand, she almost died, she’s in terrible shape physically and getting desperate, so this character development is probably realistic even if I don’t like it.

I disagree with you about the Acting SecGen. He was introduced as completely lacking in confidence and unsure of what to do, but trying to do the right thing. That kind of person is going to be malleable and easily influenced by perceived strength, so him going along with the hawkish general makes perfect sense to me.

I liked Amos’ continuing development. You can see the Timmy vs Amos battle in his face as he looks at the goons then looks at Clarissa.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/146 "2021-01-29T16:46:31Z")

</div>

> [@TroutMan](#):
>
> I’m unsure about Naomi - I’m annoyed by her whininess and frustration, which doesn’t match her usual confidence and practical nature. But on the other hand, she almost died, she’s in terrible shape physically and getting desperate, so this character development is probably realistic even if I don’t like it.

She’s basically in a no-win situation. She has do _something_ or else the Roci gets destroyed, but she doesn’t have access to comms or any other way of signaling aside from trying to disrupt the message and hope that helps. So it seems fairly in keeping with her character to me. It’s hard to be so confident considering the situation she’s in.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/147 "2021-01-29T17:59:50Z")

</div>

> [@DSeid](#):
>
> The way they have set up the character of Eric there is no way he would have been deferential to Timmy about that practical choice. He did not get to the top of the churn doing stuff like that. Once the rent-a-cop gang was walking away he would have given a signal and they would have been mowed down. The choice would have resulted in fewer deaths and both sides than allowing Peaches her kumbaya phase.

Except for the part where they need her to fly the ship…he doesn’t know her, he doesn’t know how she will react, so he did the cautious thing, but told everyone to hurry the F up before they came back with reinforcements.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/148 "2021-01-29T21:15:03Z")

</div>

I think you are putting more thought into than the writers did, or even than the character would have.

Still it is a good fanwank!

In light of that though a bit amusing that flying the ship into orbit anyway was pressing the start button. Which he did while she waiting for the roof to fully open.

As for Naomi. I’d think less wasting energy yelling and more the look of someone on a final leg of an Ironman in pain, but determined to get the next step done and the next even if one is a stumble. The “fuck”s quiet angry and veering towards resignation sometimes then back.

I’m not sure what I’d expect Dummer to be like torn as she is. But what is shown does seem her to me.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2021, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/149 "2021-01-29T22:43:05Z")

</div>

> [@DSeid](#):
>
> I think you are putting more thought into than the writers did, or even than the character would have.

The writers (of the books, that is) are actually pretty good about getting characterization down, as well as growth over time. And you don’t get to be at the top of the churn in Baltimore without some ability to read people and situations. About the only mistake he made was showing just how much force he had available at his disposal so that the marauders could make sure they came back with MUCH more.

Actually, I think his first mistake wasn’t just inviting those 4 or 5 dudes into the house to take what they needed, and then ambushing them at the door without getting Amos/Timmy and Peaches involved.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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 31, 2021, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/150 "2021-01-31T00:03:15Z")

</div>

> [@Darren\_Garrison](#):
>
> It is silly (as I just mentioned). The problem is that in the show the strikes killed 2-3 million in local damage, while in the books they killed 20-30 _billion_ –the majority of the Earth’s population–and effectively killed the whole planet. But the escape plot was lifted from the book anyway.

Agreed. It’s extremely jarring how everyone suddenly writing Earth off; this disaster seems confined to the North American East Coast. Presumably life would be going on more or less as normal on the West Coast, to say nothing of Asia, Oceania, or South America. Yet, the seat of the UN has moved to Luna instead of say Vienna or Nairobi. If this is a global catastrophe they’re going a poor job of showing it.

> [@ISiddiqui](#):
>
> Interim Secretary General went from decent enough seeming guy to wannabe genocidal maniac.

I don’t get that at all. He’s just completely out of his depth and is faced with an impossibly difficult situation. The Free Navy doesn’t have military bases so there is no way to respond proportionally. They’re not a conventional planetary-state like Mars. MADD isn’t going to hold them in check. This is basically like Osama bin Laden was able to buy a small fleet of Soviet nuclear submarines instead of having to hijack airplanes. I’m glad Chrisjen is back in charge.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\
**Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/151 "2021-01-31T01:53:17Z")

</div>

> [@alphaboi867](#):
>
> If this is a global catastrophe they’re going a poor job of showing it.

They did show maps and broadcasts that showed that other places were hit too. Africa, India, and SA, IIRC

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [February 3, 2021, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/152 "2021-02-03T05:20:07Z")

</div>

## Episode 10 - Nemesis Games

I liked the first half, the second half dragged a bit. The battle was exciting even if I could only tell who was shooting at who half the time. Naomi’s rescue was well done too (especially the sound editing).

IMO they handled Alex’s demise as well as they could have, given that I think they’d finished shooting when he got the boot. It looks like they took some general footage of him at super slo-mo to make him look dead, and refilmed a few scenes with the rest of the cast. It was still better than starting next season with some lame story about him dying off screen.

And regarding Erich (very mild spoiler for the novella _Auberon_ set several years in the future):

I didn’t connect until now that he was the one-armed crime kingpin on Auberon, so I guess he did OK abandoning Baltimore for the Ring colonies.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [February 3, 2021, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/153 "2021-02-03T10:49:42Z")

</div>

Great episode and great season.

I wonder who will be the new pilot? Bull seems like the obvious choice, but I think Clarissa would be a better fit personality wise. They already have grumpy military types like Bull - Clarissa has a very different perspective that I think would be welcome.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2021, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/154 "2021-02-03T12:35:57Z")

</div>

> [@Babale](#):
>
> I have to admit, I completely forgot about Clarissa Mao from two seasons ago. I thought she was one of Amos’ acquaintances from the old days. I had to refresh my memory with the wiki once she said her real name, and now it all came back to me.

I’m glad you brought that up, because that entirely slipped my mind as well. I too thought she was a friend of Amos’ from some point in the past.

Man, I think I’m gonna marathon all the episodes before season six starts. I’m forgetting things.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2021, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/155 "2021-02-03T15:37:17Z")

</div>

> [@iiandyiiii](#):
>
> Great episode and great season.
> 
> I wonder who will be the new pilot? Bull seems like the obvious choice, but I think Clarissa would be a better fit personality wise. They already have grumpy military types like Bull - Clarissa has a very different perspective that I think would be welcome.

Didn’t they have an extended scene where Bull was drinking coffee from Alex’s cup, where the camera lingered on the name? I took that to mean he’s the designated “successor”.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [February 3, 2021, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/156 "2021-02-03T15:54:48Z")

</div>

I didn’t notice that at the time, but I read about it from some redditors, so yeah, that seems like what the producers intend.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2021, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/157 "2021-02-03T16:13:33Z")

</div>

> [@TroutMan](#):
>
> It looks like they took some general footage of him at super slo-mo to make him look dead, and refilmed a few scenes with the rest of the cast.

Apparently they redubbed a few scenes as well. Probably the best way they could go. Though I’m not sure how Bull fits with the crew.

The ending was a definite Holy Shit! I was wondering how they would film the final scene and they nailed it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [February 3, 2021, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/158 "2021-02-03T16:20:57Z")

</div>

> [@iiandyiiii](#):
>
> I wonder who will be the new pilot?

Good question. Bull is the logical choice (he’s already a pilot). But you’re right that his personality doesn’t fill the gap. They need someone easy-going to counter the rest of the crew, all of whom are pretty tightly wound. Bull is just more of the same.

Bobbie and Clarissa are good additions to the crew, but they aren’t pilots. Bobbie could fill the role in a pinch, but she’s better on fire control. Clarissa is the person who fixes the ship, not the one who flies it. Neither of them would be believable as the amazing pilot that can get them out of situations where no one else could.

I assume they’ll go with Bull and try to fill in the personality gaps with the other characters.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [February 3, 2021, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/159 "2021-02-03T16:22:37Z")

</div>

Maybe they’ll find a way to rework Bull’s personality – maybe something like he was still grieving/in shock from Fred’s death, but now he’ll loosen up, and maybe turn into the “relaxed old veteran who’s seen everything” trope. That might work.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2021, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543/160 "2021-02-03T17:12:40Z")

</div>

Clarissa was the one flying the Razorback as a racer, wasn’t she? That would make her a promising candidate in my mind

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543.md?page=7)

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-expanse-season-5-trailer-and-release-date/922543.md?page=9)
