Science fiction, especially as a TV adaptation, is not an easy genre to tackle. However, when you have source material as well-written as James S.A. Corey’s The Expanse novels and the right team at the helm, sci-fi can be a revelation. The Expanse, which ran from 2015 to 2021 for six seasons on Syfy and Prime Video, changed the genre and set the bar impossibly high in terms of storytelling. Its near-perfect run showcases what sci-fi is capable of, how resonant its messages can be, and that movie-level special effects have a place on the small screen.
Lately, sci-fi hasn’t been given the chance to shine that it deserves. Streamers and studios are gutting fledgling shows with potential left and right, or cutting their seasons short to a measly six or eight episodes. People crave thought-provoking sci-fi. The Expanse boasts 62 compelling episodes, making it the perfect show to binge if one is looking for a series with a higher episode count in this post-streaming world. While the quality and production values never wane, certain episodes stand out from the rest. They serve as the best representation of this series. So, without further ado, here are The Expanse‘s 10 greatest episodes, ranked from weakest (well, by show standards) to strongest.
“Here There Be Dragons” (Season 2, Episode 11)
Season 2’s “Here There Be Dragons” is bolstered by the stellar Frankie Adams as resident badass Bobbie Draper. While the Rocinante storyline is certainly of import, it’s Bobbie’s arc that truly makes this episode. It’s a pivotal moment of character development. When viewers first meet Bobbie at the beginning of Season 2, she is your stereotypical soldier. Her unwavering loyalty to Mars leaves no room for questioning orders or defiance. She wholeheartedly believes in her planet’s mission.
Throughout the season, she grapples with her PTSD from the Ganymede incident and survivor’s guilt. Slowly but surely, she questions the narrative Mars feeds her about said Ganymede incident before learning of Project Caliban in “Here There Be Dragons.” Bobbie’s request for asylum on Earth and her decision to throw Mars under the bus are organic changes for her at this juncture, with diplomatic, personal, and political ramifications. This decision alters her overarching story for the rest of the series.
“Cibola Burn” (Season 4, Episode 10)
“Cibola Burn” is the end of an era in more ways than one. Obviously, the plot on Ilus comes to a close. It marks the conclusion of Klaes Ashford’s arc, who bravely faces death via airlock and literally goes out singing. David Strathairn is a force of nature in this episode (and every episode he appears in). The Season 4 finale also serves as a true introduction to Marco Inaros (Keon Alexander) as the villain of the show’s last act, along with the reveal that Filip (Jasai Chase-Owens) is Naomi’s (Dominique Tipper) and Marco’s son.
This episode sets the stage for the show’s final two seasons. That cliffhanger ending with Marco, as viewers learn of his intent to attack Earth with stealth-coated asteroids, ensures that Season 5 will hit the ground running.
“Winnipesaukee” (Season 5, Episode 9)
The latter half of Season 5 gets a bad rap, particularly Naomi’s survival arc aboard the (seemingly defunct) Chetzemoka. However, The Expanse is also lauded for its enthralling performances, and Dominique Tipper delivers some of her show-best work in “Winnipesaukee.” Naomi is pushed to the brink as she fights to stay alive until help arrives (in the next episode). We really see the breadth and depth of Naomi’s ingenuity and her expertise as an engineer.
Now under Marco’s employ, Drummer (Cara Gee) chafes at his orders to destroy the Rocinante, even though the Chetzemoka is a lure for the former. Drummer obviously loves Naomi, and her true loyalty lies with Belters who aren’t Marco. “Winnipesaukee” lays the groundwork for Drummer’s inevitable defiance of Marco and her storyline as a hero of the resistance in Season 6.
Meanwhile, on Earth, Amos (Wes Chatham), Clarissa (Nadine Nicole), and Erich (Jacob Mundell) encounter turbulence in their attempt to leave Earth. Their escape scene is a masterclass in explosive action and tension. Overall, “Winnipesaukee” delivers on the white-knuckled tension front.
“Triple Point” (Season 3, Episode 5)
Season 3’s “Triple Point” pulls back the curtain on how the war affects those outside the Roci circle. It’s a deft portrayal of all the necessary elements of conflict, which, as the MCRN Hammurabi captain puts it, are “intense emotion, politics, and luck.” There’s the high-octane, high-stakes attempted mutiny aboard the UNN Agatha King, which keeps fans on the edge of their seats. Then, there’s the much-needed context behind Naomi’s perceived betrayal – why she gave the protomolecule sample to Fred Johnson (Chad L. Coleman). The series plants the seeds for Marco and Filip’s introductions even as far back as Season 3.
This outing is the perfect storm of gripping performances, political machinations, and interstellar warfare. As the cherry on top, it brings viewers one step closer to witnessing Sadavir Errinwright’s (Shawn Doyle) downfall. Praise be.
“Abaddon’s Gate” (Season 3, Episode 13)
Doors and corners, kid. Who doesn’t love watching Holden (Steven Strait) interact with Ghost Miller (Thomas Jane)? The Season 3 finale redefines the final frontier for The Expanse. The discovery of the Ring network and the mind-boggling 1,373 wormholes it contains, giving way to uncharted worlds beyond them, perfectly tees up the fourth season. Those rings are crucial to the rest of the series, too.
Beyond the fun of Holden slowly unraveling with his best protomolecule buddy by his side, “Abaddon’s Gate” sees Drummer team up with the Roci crew to stop Ashford and retake control of the Behemoth. It’s all heart-pounding action sequences, and it feels like a full-circle moment for Naomi as she reconciles with her Belter identity and her place aboard the Roci. Fans are also blessed with this banger of a quote from Reverend Anna (Elizabeth Mitchell) to Amos: “Hate is a burden. You don’t have to carry it with you.”
“Leviathan Wakes” (Season 1, Episode 10)
The Season 1 finale is The Expanse‘s version of the Avengers as Holden and Miller, the season’s two leading protagonists, join forces to escape the volatile, protomolecule-infected Eros. It’s a breathtaking fight for survival. Elsewhere, Avasarala (Shohreh Aghdashloo) sits on a political powder keg on Earth. “Leviathan Wakes” really is the waking of a leviathan – the narrative floodgates burst wide open, with the protomolecule taking center stage from here on out. Viewers also get some closure regarding Julie Mao’s (Florence Faivre) story as her shady father inserts himself into Earth’s government.
Admittedly, the escape from Eros feels like an action movie in space, and it eclipses even the typically intriguing political scheming in terms of excitement. Miller fits in well with the Roci crew, too.
“Babylon’s Ashes” (Season 6, Episode 6)
Despite its truncated nature, Season 6 stands strong as a solid collection of episodes from beginning to end. The series finale, “Babylon’s Ashes,” hits right in the feels. Naomi’s monologue at the end packs an emotional wallop, especially the reveal that Filip is alive after he flees his father’s ship at the last minute. The final battle between Team Roci and Marco’s fleet is as nerve-racking as it is a bona fide spectacle. It’s expansive in scope and scale, and the show’s special effects budget is put to good use here. Keon Alexander takes a bow as one of the most nuanced, genuinely terrifying villains of recent memory, too. And thankfully, the core crew gets a somewhat happy ending as they fly off into the expanse (sorry). Happy endings are hard to come by.
Additionally, the episode sets up the Laconia storyline from the last three books in James S.A. Corey’s series. Here’s hoping Amazon decides to adapt them to give this story a proper conclusion.
“Immolation” (Season 3, Episode 6)
Season 3 is undoubtedly the show’s strongest, with “Immolation” sliding into the top three spot on this list. It’s a worthy entry, to be sure. Errinwright’s arrest for treason has been a long time coming, and it’s oh so gratifying. Bobbie is essentially a Martian Iron Man on Io. Prax (Terry Chen) finally reunites with his daughter, Mei (Leah Jung). It’s an action-packed affair, with some of the show’s best fight sequences, both on the ground and in space.
Cotyar (Nick E. Tarabay), Avasarala’s trusted security guard, sacrifices himself by blowing up the protomolecule-infected Agatha King, and his tear-inducing farewell speech is enough to make the Tin Man weep. With the perpetrators behind the protomolecule getting their just deserts, one would think the series would close the door on this storyline. However, the jaw-dropping reveal on Venus teases that this is only the beginning. And who can forget Amos’ iconic “I am that guy”?
“Gaugamela” (Season 5, Episode 4)
“Gaugamela” sees Marco’s nefarious – and deadly – plan for Earth, Mars, and the Belt come to fruition. It’s a tense, high-wire act that leaves one forgetting to breathe for its 46-minute runtime. Unfortunately, Secretary-General Gao (Lily Gao) and Fred Johnson meet their ends as part of Marco’s plan to weaken the aforementioned entities. For viewers who haven’t read the source material, “Gaugamela” is a shocking episode. The Expanse knows how to play with narrative tension, and this outing effectively builds up that tension to an explosive climax. There’s never a moment wasted, and, admittedly, the stakes have never been higher.
If anything, “Gaugamela” is a cautionary tale. The whole “let sleeping dogs lie” doesn’t apply to pompous “revolutionaries” like Marco Inaros, who spent his time in the shadows cultivating a following and amassing enough weaponry to send the universe back to prehistoric times. At least Earth, Mars, and the Belt are truly paying attention now…
“Home” (Season 2, Episode 5)
This episode is, hands down, the best of the series. “Home” is a masterclass in emotional and narrative impact, packing a punch in more ways than one. Composer Clinton Shorter delivers the show’s most heartstring-tugging track with “Milowda,” which complements the powerful scene between Miller and Julie. It’s a proper sendoff for them as Eros crashes onto Venus. Miller’s sacrifice saves Earth, too.
The conflict between Earth and Mars reaches a fever pitch as Earth believes Mars is behind Eros’ hurtling toward the planet. It’s a bit of a Cold War situation, with countless lives hanging precariously in the balance. “Home” is a nice blend of hard science fiction and drama, delivering something for everyone. If one wants a moving piece of television, look no further than this Season 2 episode.
What are your top 10 episodes of The Expanse? Would you swap any of our rankings? Let us know in the comments.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
