The Expanse

[Saul]

So, I just started watching the Syfy series 'The Expanse', never read the books, but I have to say this show is really good. The ads call it "Game of Thrones" in space but I have to say, Game of Thrones vilifies characters and factions to serve plot purposes while this show treats all characters fairly, no one's evil, they all have agency to some degree. It does have a complex plot, follows multiple storylines, and doesn't give you all the details (largely because the characters themselves don't know the details).

I also appreciate that it sticks to more "hard science" than a lot of other Science Fiction works... variable gravity, burning away from destinations, slightly more nuanced politics, sure it forces us to suspend our disbelief for certain things but I'm impressed that they've been able to execute a harder science without me constantly finding something to complain about because, above this semi-hard science foundation, the show has capable character development.

Overall, this is definitely one of the best shows to have graced Syfy in a long time; the production quality is spot on, it apparently is doing a good job of sticking to the novels - and does a great job executing a book-to-tv story, and otherwise I actually look forward to watching the next episode. I definitely feel elements of Battlestar Galactica in it. Anyone else watched it and want to chip in their thoughts?

 

[Jake]

I've been looking for a decent new sci-fi series to dig into after finishing the last morsel offered up to me, which was a similarly hard science sci-fi romp in the arctic circle called Fortitude which I would recommend. I'll probably check this out as my boredom gets the better of me and sink a couple hours into watching it.

 

[Dmitri]

It has proven itself to be an interesting show.

 

[Saul]

I've been looking for a decent new sci-fi series to dig into after finishing the last morsel offered up to me, which was a similarly hard science sci-fi romp in the arctic circle called Fortitude which I would recommend. I'll probably check this out as my boredom gets the better of me and sink a couple hours into watching it.

It's really good; if you don't have Syfy it's also available on YouTube. I've been needing a good scifi show to hit TV for a while, and Syfy is finally reclaiming the genre they are named for with quality TV rather than low production quality horror genre films that have plagued the network for years.