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- SyFy
- Dec 16, 2020
- SyFy
- Dec 16, 2020
- SyFy
- Dec 16, 2020
- SyFy
- Dec 16, 2020
Where to Watch
Season Episodes
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6 Seasons
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 5 Critic Reviews
82
100% Positive
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 5 Critic Reviews
82
100% Positive
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
None of these storylines are duds, and the ways in which they all interact with one another to varying degrees remains one of the show’s greatest accomplishments.
For fans who want a bit more going on than a bunch of solo heroes working through their own long, dark teatimes of the soul, I can see it being a bit of a slog. That said, a bit of a slog, when it comes to The Expanse, is still a deeply satisfying, multisensory experience, and for all that the interpersonal stories are smaller this season, it is still as beautiful to look at as ever.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 84 User Ratings
7.4
70% Positive
59 Ratings
59 Ratings
12% Mixed
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
18% Negative
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 84 User Ratings
7.4
70% Positive
59 Ratings
59 Ratings
12% Mixed
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
18% Negative
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
This season the cast separates into several interesting adventures, further developing their relationship. It's about tragedy, hope, terrorism and a hair raising finale that will leave you wanting for more. Nice work.
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SEASON 5
Even with the protomolecule saga relatively sidelined this season, “The Expanse” draws so much strength from exposing how fragile an expansive society like this is.
The Expanse’s complexity risks turning off the casual viewer. Yet its portrayal of a multi-faceted and morally ambiguous future brimming with dozens of heroes and villains remains a stunning achievement. For those prepared to commit the necessary time and attention, it’s an absolute blast.
If you can look past some wooden dialogue and stiff acting, however, the new season might be the show’s best as an adventure-drama delivery system — the creators have only gotten better at pacing and packaging a taut conspiracy thriller over 10 weeks.
Worst performance of all seasons, I do not know why they focused only on the belters and the worst, selected tantrum characters / actors, as if all the belters were angry teenagers.
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SEASON 5
There are quite a few factors one might consider when distinguishing between good cinema and poor. Individual variables such as writing, acting, directing, production value et cetera et al are all invaluable in determining where the major faults may lie, but ultimately they are utterly immaterial if the most base aspiration is ignored: whether or not the production is convincing.
Whether it is compelling, how well it is executed, these are distant and secondary considerations which will not matter if the audience can not be convinced of the reality - of the setting, of the characters, of the stakes. If they cannot be convinced it is real, or at the very least that they should want it to be real, then they will never be convinced they should care.
I don't enjoy writing this. I discovered this show before I knew there were books. I roped a lot of friends into watching it after seeing the very promising first season and we would get together every season that followed for the first aired episodes, My friends got into the books and passed them back to me. All of which is to say I was very much invested. All of us shared a lot of enthusiasm concerning this series even as Amazon acquired the rights and believed Amazon would provide the only two things the series had ever seemed to lack: A spotlight and a larger market.
Season 4 was really rough, but there was a lot of confidence that showed through. Season 5, however, is listless. Nothing sells the tensions or the stakes, none of the narrative archs track well, the production value is very thin, with messy, indistinct sets and tight framing which seems as though the directors and showrunners were more concerned with concealing what was not present rather than showcasing what was. The acting has always been inconsistent, some of the talent this season is much better than in previous seasons while inhabiting the same roles (special emphasis Wes Chatham and Chad L. Coleman) while a few of the new additions are also supremely competent despite still trying to find greater comfort with the material. It is good to see greater strides on this front it is simply a pity forward progress isn't obvious anywhere else.
This season feels tired and as a result it absolutely fails to be convincing in any meaningful way and I feel confident that if nothing changes it will be put to sleep after another season if not sooner. The only thing worse would be if it were to be allowed to continue as it is now on life support.
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SEASON 5
