The Expanse - Episode One

 

I am a sucker for original space adventures even if they do come from SYFY. I hate how they have sucked me into loving one of their programs so many times before only to feed me the screwgie in the end. Many times I have been left hurt and disappointed for getting fooled. But I still do it because every once in awhile something like BSG and Stargate Universe come around. The new series, The Expanse, tries to impress me with it's great production values (which really do give the illusion of being on the outer rings of Saturn), a cast of eager unknowns and a mystery for me to unravel.

This one really takes it's time with the scientific details of actual space travel. How it would feel to be born in zero gravity and how your body would develop over time. Ever wonder how difficult would it be for someone born in space to handle the heavier gravity of Earth? Here you get those answers. It's not pretty.

 

Thomas Jane is playing an old time Noir detective in a role which harkens back to Blade Runner (or at least it aspired to be). The production design here is impressive and deserves a second mention. Everything is not shiny and new. It's seat of your pants technology that can fail at anytime. Everything feels real world in the 24th Century.

 

Of course aliens are involved and the one thing that would be huge enough to drive this ten episode series and all the conspiracies involved. From the premiere I get the feeling that a lot of thought went into creating not only this story but the world that it takes place in. I am here for the ride after this impressive first episode.

The Expanse is an upcoming American space opera / mystery science fiction drama television series on Syfy, based on the series of novels of the same name. Set in a future where humanity has colonized the Solar System, it follows police detective Miller, ship's officer Jim Holden and his crew as they unravel a conspiracy that threatens peace across the System and the survival of humanity.