The Expanse

:

Season 1
Season #: 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 640 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 566 out of 640
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 640
  3. Negative: 40 out of 640
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User Reviews

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  1. DrkJhnsn
    Jan 19, 2016
    5
    DIsappointed. I was so excited to hear that The Expanse novels were being adapted for TV. Unfortunately, Under The Radar's review is spot on. With the excellent source material, and the writers so involved in the production, i don't know how they missed the mark so badly. They have completely changed the dynamic between the characters and made me not like or care about any of them. TheDIsappointed. I was so excited to hear that The Expanse novels were being adapted for TV. Unfortunately, Under The Radar's review is spot on. With the excellent source material, and the writers so involved in the production, i don't know how they missed the mark so badly. They have completely changed the dynamic between the characters and made me not like or care about any of them. The show has completely lost the cool tone of the novels, especially the brilliantly voiced audio books (except book 4 - NEVER change the narrator in the middle of a series! ). Best sci-fi BOOKS in a long time.… Expand
  2. neoguy
    Feb 3, 2016
    6
    I just finished watching the season finale and I really have no idea what is going on. I didn't read the books and I think for this series, reading the books first is a required assignment. SO many questions while you're watching and never any explanations. What's OPA? CPM? What language are the Belters speaking and why? What are they saying?? I literally had to google the answers.I just finished watching the season finale and I really have no idea what is going on. I didn't read the books and I think for this series, reading the books first is a required assignment. SO many questions while you're watching and never any explanations. What's OPA? CPM? What language are the Belters speaking and why? What are they saying?? I literally had to google the answers. I feel like I need to watch it again with 'Pop Up Video' bubbles pausing the show and explaining what they're trying to convey.
    Great production values, but they really have to do a better job to convey the story. I shouldn't have to read the book in advance and already know what's going to happen -- just so I can understand what's happening on this show!    … Expand
  3. Triggerhappy
    Feb 18, 2016
    4
    Whereas the first four episodes set the stage perfectly for a sprawling space opera with a grand conspiracy in the background, the storyline quickly falls apart afterwards, characters seem to wander aimlessly, and all drive and drama dissipates as the inevitably disappointing conclusion comes closer. Rarely have I encountered such wasted promise.

    There is some solid acting, decent    Whereas the first four episodes set the stage perfectly for a sprawling space opera with a grand conspiracy in the background, the storyline quickly falls apart afterwards, characters seem to wander aimlessly, and all drive and drama dissipates as the inevitably disappointing conclusion comes closer. Rarely have I encountered such wasted promise.

    There is some solid acting, decent production values, two quite thrilling space battles, and the story universe is very nicely fleshed out, but how on Earth could this series become such a dismembered wreck in its second half is really a mystery to me. I would recommend you to avoid it unless for study or professional reasons.    … Expand
  4. Feibrix
    Nov 6, 2017
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The first episode tried to keep me focused on different stories. That means it literally didn't try to keep me focused. At the end I didn't feel any attachment to any of the characters or the story lines introduced. Will it be better? The first one failed at the only thing it was supposed to do: telling an interesting story. Instead it decided to go for 4 of them. It kills characters without creating any kind of relationship with the spectator. We should share the sadness and desperation of the protagonist and the crew that survived and instead we are left with a "meh, who cares".… Expand
  5. Electrogasm
    Jan 6, 2016
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Read the books. Better plot pacing, better character development, better characters in general. (Book version of Miller isn't a crooked cop, just a washed up drunk who used to be a good cop; in the TV version, Millers taking bribes etc). The SyFy version has fundamentally changed most of the characters inside the first 3 episodes, it's "The Expanse" in name only.… Expand
  6. zurnzurn
    Feb 3, 2016
    4
    Characters and plot are not properly developed; characters are mostly one-dimensional, and I barely cared about any of them. The plot is obfuscated for too long, and rarely gives any satisfying payoff. The first season ends with almost nothing resolved; I get that there'll be more, but why should I care to watch?

    It's typical SyFy channel rushed, sloppy writing, and with the added    Characters and plot are not properly developed; characters are mostly one-dimensional, and I barely cared about any of them. The plot is obfuscated for too long, and rarely gives any satisfying payoff. The first season ends with almost nothing resolved; I get that there'll be more, but why should I care to watch?

    It's typical SyFy channel rushed, sloppy writing, and with the added annoyance of a cliffhanger ending (but unlike a proper cliffhanger, I don't care to watch more, I just wished I'd gotten something for the time I'd spent so far).    … Expand
  7. lmi
    Jan 2, 2016
    4
    This series tries too hard. I concede that I only viewed S1E1, but it was all I could muster just to make it through the one episode. The Expanse seems as though it were created by students working on a college project. The drama is over-done, the dialog is repetitive and the concept is pretty shallow. How many shots of boots with red LEDs do you think you need to show me, before IThis series tries too hard. I concede that I only viewed S1E1, but it was all I could muster just to make it through the one episode. The Expanse seems as though it were created by students working on a college project. The drama is over-done, the dialog is repetitive and the concept is pretty shallow. How many shots of boots with red LEDs do you think you need to show me, before I understand that they are counteracting gravity. Oh, sorry, forgot.. Writers and directors on this project are new... Okay, ONE. I need (1) shot. The creative team also could refrain from laying on the "Everybody disgusts everybody" attitude so thickly. My eyes are sore from eye-rolling at all the cheap dialog of how someone can't stand someone else for just being in the same room with them. I suppose it doesn't surprise me that this was renewed. I'm sure the special effects are appealing enough for another season.… Expand
  8. nilsy
    Sep 27, 2017
    4
    Didnt have a good time watching this, while one can seek to pick apart reasons why the fact stands on its own.

    The start was just bad it didnt grab me i felt no interest in any of the characters or the world, the only thing that kept me watching was people saying "it becomes best ever!!!" and well it never got better. Looking for comparison it seems like a bad version of battlestar    Didnt have a good time watching this, while one can seek to pick apart reasons why the fact stands on its own.

    The start was just bad it didnt grab me i felt no interest in any of the characters or the world, the only thing that kept me watching was people saying "it becomes best ever!!!" and well it never got better.

    Looking for comparison it seems like a bad version of battlestar galatica to me, its a shame since i love scifi and there isnt enough scifi tv basically watch it all good bad horrible i consume it all.
    Never trust the hype, im a little bit tempted to check out the books but suspect it just not be my thing    … Expand
  9. cterryr2
    Mar 20, 2017
    4
    Characters don't pull me in. Tired of crime stories, we have more than enough of them already. Hard to follow. Hard to hear dialog. Story seems weak. Nothing really had jelled for me in the 1st 4 episodes so I say it's crap.
    I'm a huge SCIFI fan but not this. Nothing here to make me watch it.
  10. PoeticDumpling
    Dec 14, 2015
    5
    It's too early to tell. I hope it gets more focused and tighter storyline wise. I agree with the critics saying it is crammed with too much and is balancing a lot in a breakneck pace. I need a little more development, but I am intrigued. I am hopeful. It is something excitedly a bit different. I hope that after a few more weeks I will be wanting to raise my score.
  11. Octomort
    Jan 27, 2016
    5
    I had hopes for this, but the characters are tedious, I identify with none of them such that i care about their stories.
    The visual realisation is great. The setting and idea fantastic.
    The pace is slow and again none of the characters are personable enough to want to follow. I watch five of the episodes. I might try it again but... And for a man of his age Millers hair cut is    I had hopes for this, but the characters are tedious, I identify with none of them such that i care about their stories.
    The visual realisation is great. The setting and idea fantastic.
    The pace is slow and again none of the characters are personable enough to want to follow. I watch five of the episodes. I might try it again but...
    And for a man of his age Millers hair cut is laughable.
    I think I will try the books.    … Expand
  12. Snotbottom
    Mar 4, 2016
    6
    I haven't read the books, so the story and setting is all new to me. I am thoroughly enjoying the storyline and really like how well SyFy has done with the production on this and on several of its new series. I particularly like that the tech isn't the focus of the series, but merely the setting in which the story is delivered. I also like that it is in the near future, still within ourI haven't read the books, so the story and setting is all new to me. I am thoroughly enjoying the storyline and really like how well SyFy has done with the production on this and on several of its new series. I particularly like that the tech isn't the focus of the series, but merely the setting in which the story is delivered. I also like that it is in the near future, still within our own solar system, which adds to the plausibility of the whole.

    My biggest complaint is the language. They at least (mostly) bleep out the f-bomb, but anything else gets aired. I've never understood why some feel the need to use profanity to tell a story. I think it actually takes away from a very good show, and my rating reflects that.    … Expand
  13. Goby
    Jan 15, 2017
    6
    It's probably not going to accumulate a cult following, but it's another slightly above average show from SyFy that's in the same basket with the likes of Falling Skies or Defiance. It doesn't achieve the level of some science fiction cinematography like Star Wars or Alien, but it can be entertaining in it's own way, depends on how much you like to nitpick on plot holes.

    Couple of    It's probably not going to accumulate a cult following, but it's another slightly above average show from SyFy that's in the same basket with the likes of Falling Skies or Defiance. It doesn't achieve the level of some science fiction cinematography like Star Wars or Alien, but it can be entertaining in it's own way, depends on how much you like to nitpick on plot holes.

    Couple of aspects bother me more than others:
    1) The most significant one is that the plot seems to center a bit too much on the main characters while putting a serious emphasis on the political background of the scenario, but develops the latter insufficiently. Consequently we don't really get answers to dwelling questions like: How did the different factions come to be? Why is there so much tension between those factions? How has Mars become such a strong military power if that planet is barren and, as it said in the show, hasn't even started terraforming into an Earth-like planet (meaning it's hardly sustainable)? Based on our knowledge today such a scenario is not possible and Mars could only serve as a colony, nothing more.

    Also the OPA is regarded as a terrorist organization and in several instances the viewer is expected to react solely upon the connotation of the word, rather than the background of their activities. There are two kinds of dialogue you'll come across:"He's OPA! Terrorist bastard!" and "You're wrong! The OPA only serves the people, we're the good guys." How could any viewer sympathize with either one? It's easy if you're an easily triggered person that doesn't need more than some guy to tell you that the other guy is a terrorist and you're already emotionally involved. Others need more intricacy.

    2) Another problem is that sometimes the characters seem to be pulling deductions out of their asses - they just randomly know information that helps drive the plot... I call that cheating and it really makes the already fast-paced show feel like it's developing even faster than it should.

    3) And what the bloody hell is going on with these dumb user interfaces that we see in almost every average sci-fi flick? They're all over the walls and tables, but most of them seem impractical and when they do get used, we usually only get to see that single big button in the middle of the screen that says something you'd never expect to see there. It's kind of analogous to those scenes from other movies where someone is locally hacking a computer for top-secret information and there's that big button in the middle of the screen that says HACK. You press it and a wild loading bar appears...    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Most Discussed TV Season of 2015
27
#27 Most Shared TV Season of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Liz Shannon Miller
    Feb 2, 2017
    91
    The biggest challenge will be how well all these threads can hold together, but so far, the show’s proven its ability to focus when essential. And all those little stories, when blended together, create a hell of a narrative.
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  2. Vox.com
    Reviewed by: Emily VanDerWerff
    Dec 15, 2015
    80
    The show overexplains here and there--especially in the first episode--but after some early jitters, it settles in and simply lets its world be.
    Read full review
  3. The Wrap
    Reviewed by: Amber Dowling
    Dec 15, 2015
    50
    The Expanse is indeed expansive with the universe it sets up within the pilot and through the characters presented. Unfortunately though there’s so much going on in the pilot that it quickly becomes a convoluted romp through space that’s more about showcasing the wasteland that humans have become than developing characters viewers will remember, let alone invest in watching.
    Read full review
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