A podcast dedicated to the Amazon Prime show The Expanse based on the book series by James S. A. Corey. Send in your thoughts and theories each week to feedback@solotalkmedia.com or call 1-805-910-7656
Thank you so much for supporting me here at Solo Talk Media. I have a special announcement to make. I’m unretiring The Orphan Black Podcast to discuss the new AMC, AMC+, and BBC America show Orphan Black Echoes, which premiers on June 23, 2024.
If you’re not already following the podcast, please look for The Orphan Black Podcast by Solo Talk Media wherever you listen to podcasts.
The Last Of Us premiers on January 15
Jan 10, 2023
Join me on my new podcast Ellie’s Tale – The Last Of Us Podcast for The Last Of Us, a new HBO Max show based on the PlayStation video game of the same name.
Ellie’s Tale – The Last Of Us Podcast can be found on all podcast directories. Visit lastofuspodcast.com for links.
New Podcast Coming: The Last Of Us
Dec 09, 2022
I’m happy to announce a new podcast from Solo Talk Media… Ellie’s Tale – The Last Of Us Podcast
The Last Of Us debuts on January 15, 2025, and will air on HBO Max. This series is for you if you are a fan of the PlayStation game of the same name. HBO Max has pulled out all the stops and is making this a must-watch series.
I hope you get involved with the podcast by submitting your thoughts and theories weekly.
You can subscribe to the podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts.
New Podcast Coming: The Rings Of Power
Aug 03, 2022
I’m happy to announce a new podcast from Solo Talk Media… The Rings Of Power – Tales From Middle Earth.
The Rings of Power debuts on September 2, 2022, and will be an amazing series. If you are fond of The Lord Of The Rings, this series is for you. Amazon has pulled out all the stops and is making this a must-watch series.
I hope you get involved with the podcast by submitting your thoughts and theories weekly.
You can subscribe to the podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts.
If you don’t currently have Amazon Prime and want to watch this series, you can sign up via these links: For USA or Canada.
606 Babylon’s Ashes – Part 2 – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Jan 18, 2022
Crew of the Rocinante having a meal together
Today’s podcast is brought to you by Audible – get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 400,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
This episode Timestamps
[00:30] Feedback
Babylon’s Ashes
Here is the full discussion episode about The Expanse season 6 episode 6 titled Babylon’s Ashes.
606 Babylon’s Ashes – Part 1 – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Jan 18, 2022
Amos and Bobbie
This episode Timestamps
[11:30] Episode Recaps [25:30] Feedback
Babylon’s Ashes
Here is the full discussion episode about The Expanse season 6 episode 6 titled Babylon’s Ashes.
Episode Recap
The episode opens on Laconia with the strange ship in the sky blinking protomolecule blue lights, as Admiral Duarte watches from below with great intensity. Elsewhere, Cara returns to her worried parents, but she brings a surprise – her no longer dead brother, Xan. As the almost zombie like Xan approaches them, her parents realize the danger and Cara pretends to run out of their home. She has tricked them, and leads her brother into the forest, where we see her through Xan’s eyes, glowing with the blue protomolecule particles dancing around her. On the Zenobia, Avasarala, UNN and MCRN representatives, Drummer, Holden and Bobbie review options to stop Inaros before he gets to the Ring and Medina Station. The Free Navy and Alliance fleets are evenly matched, and the UNN, MCRN, and friendly Belter assets will each pursue one of the three Free Navy groups. The Roci crew has a Plan B. They will rendezvous with the Giambattista and join an assault team. If they can take out Medina Station’s targeting and comm arrays, they can capture the Rail guns, force Medina to surrender, and stop any Free Navy ships coming through the Ring that might have gotten past the main fleet action. It’s a bold, yet difficult plan. The Roci crew is docked with the Giambattista and is preparing for the coming assault. Bobbie and Holden reminisce about the Roci’s original name, the Tachi, and Alex. Naomi asks Clarissa to handle a task and when Amos gives the okay, Clarissa refers to him as “boss.” Naomi reminisces with Amos about their time on the Cant, when he called her “boss,” and helps Amos understand that the torch has been passed – to Clarissa. He’s grown into his new responsibilities and position. Meanwhile, Clarissa has another episode and goes to the medical bay. The news is grim. She’s experiencing complex endocrine collapse syndrome for which there is no approved course of treatment. Continued use of her mods increases the risk of sudden death. Her life expectancy is five years. Later, Clarissa makes a home cooked meal for the crew. Textured mushroom seco de carne with soy tequenos on the side. Amos tells Clarissa she’s the ship’s mechanic now. The crew has bonded, each giving the other a chance and putting old disagreements aside. And they eat, enjoying each other’s company before the coming battle. Drummer prepares for battle against the Free Navy tenders and supply vessels. Looking at her empty room, with her family no longer there, she heads to the flight deck to lead her battle group. Their mission is to destroy a frigate, but Walker suggests that they capture the prize. To their horror, they realize the freighter is not what it seems, but a disguised and fully loaded war ship – the Pella. The Dewalt is hit and Drummer’s ship, the Tynan, has a gaping hole in its side. Four ships have been lost and five are without power. Two ships are operational. She is going after the Pella herself, but Walker contacts her. He’s going on the suicide mission and she watches him die as his ship hits the Pella. Drummer knows they’ve done all they can. Tenye wa chesh gut, Rocinante. Have a good hunt. On the Pella, Filip reports to the main deck for duty as Rosenfeld has convinced Marco that Filip should be there. As Marco and Rosenfeld talk, we learn that Admiral Duarte supplied the rail guns to Marco, and that Marco apparently expects to get another weapon from him. When they are hit by Walker’s ship, they experience significant damage, and Rosenfeld is injured. Filip rushes to her side and is with her as she dies. With the Pella damaged and some of his fleet lost, Marco receives a tight beam from Admiral Duarte, who refuses to provide additional armaments to the Free Navy and refuses to communicate further with Marco, threatening his ships. Duarte has gods to kill. The Ring to Laconia is now closed. Marco is on his own. Filip informs Marco that Rosenfeld is dead, and Marco doesn’t seem to care. Filip asks his father how he so easily copes with all the people they’ve killed, and Marco dismisses it with the thought that he, Marco, could have died. When Filip expresses that he had no choice in the life Marco has made for him, Marco berets him, but it is clear that Filip now sees Marco for who he is. Marco leaves his room and rallies his troops as Filip turns away in disgust and despair. The Rocinante and Giambattista approach the Ring. The assault team members are each enclosed in cargo shipping pods which are launched from the Giambattista. Bobbie reminds them that they say “good hunting” before a fight, not “good luck.” The Roci uses the other ship for cover then peels off and changes the flight path of the pods to evade the rail guns. The Roci is hit and the new armor holds, but the ship is losing power. With alarms blaring and strong turbulence from the ship, Clarissa descends to find the problem with a coolant pipe. She knows what to do. Power returns to the ship and the Roci resumes its fight to save the pods from destruction from the rail guns. Meanwhile, the remaining assault team members eject from their pods heading to the Rail Station strapped into their engine powered seats. Holden takes out Medina’s targeting and comm arrays giving the assault team clearance to land. Naomi heads to the reactor to check on Clarissa, who’s not answering her comm. She finds Clarissa on the walkway, alive, mods unused, and the problem fixed. Clarissa’s gonna earn her keep. Amos, Bobbie and the other assault team members land on the Ring Station, as gun blasts and debris fly all around them. They’re met with heavy fire from the Free Navy forces at the station, and rapidly lose troops. Outgunned, outmanned, and pinned down, they need air support which the Roci can’t provide because of the rail guns. Bobbie charges the station and sends missiles toward the rail guns, giving the Roci the opportunity to come in and save her and Amos from the onslaught of fire from the Free Navy ground troops. Bobbie apologizes – they lost the rail guns that they wanted to use against Marco. Avasarala is on the Zenobia monitoring the war, and she tells the Roci crew what’s left of Marco’s fleet as he approaches the Ring. They have no assets in range to intercept him. The crew knows they can’t repair and power up the rail guns on the Ring, they’re outnumbered, they don’t have the fuel or reaction mass to make it to a colony and escape, but as Amos points out, no one really wants to cut and run. They could attempt what would be a suicide mission to slow him down. Naomi, looking at the screen, offers an alternative. She wants to trigger the Ring Entities – using the Giambattista, push mass and energy through the Ring all at once and wake the Entities up. It could put an end to Marco once and for all – with the risk of waking the Entities up permanently. The Roci crew is ready. They watch Marco and his ships approach the Ring. Naomi’s finger is on the trigger and she flashes back to a time when she held her young son. With tears in her eyes, she pushes the overload reactor button and the Giambattista explodes. Marco watches on his control screen and the Ring begins to fire up, and he shouts “Veer off!” – but it’s too late. Marco and the Pella are consumed by the angry red force. The Roci crew watches the ship disappear and Naomi screams and is held by Holden as she breaks down. The war is over, but her son is gone. Some time later, Avasarala, Drummer, Sanjrani, UNN and MCRN leaders, and Holden are meeting to discuss how they move forward together, and how to control traffic through the Rings. They have differences of opinion, and then Holden talks about trust. Avasarala suggests that the proposed Transport Union be headed by someone with no allegiances, a friend of the Belt, and everyone looks at Holden. We later see Holden being introduced as the President of the new Transport Union, naming Drummer as the Vice President. Holden, who was once called the most naive person she knew by Avasarala, outfoxes her, resigning and leaving Drummer in charge of the Ring and transport and trade for the colonies. As the Roci heads out, Bobbie takes over as pilot and Clarissa replaces Amos’s devil head pin and makes one for herself. Naomi and Jim talk together in their bunk, with the Rocinante emblem above their head. Naomi reassures him he did the right thing by ceding the Transport Union presidency to Drummer. As she speaks, we see a flashback. Filip Inaros leaves his station on the Pella, goes into a maintenance pod and leaves the ship, changing his name to Filip Nagata, leaving his father and his past behind. Naomi says: “The universe never tells us if we did right or wrong. It’s more important to try to help people than to know that you did. More important that someone else’s life gets better than for you to feel good about yourself. You never know the effect you might have on someone, not really. Maybe one core thing you said haunts them forever. Maybe one moment of kindness gives them comfort or courage. Maybe you said the one thing they needed to hear. It doesn’t matter if you ever know. You just have to try.” And Jim wonders, where’s that protomolecule sample, as the Rocinante flies out into —— The Expanse.
Babylon’s Ashes S6E6 – The Expanse Podcast
Jan 14, 2022
Today’s podcast is brought to you by Audible – get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 400,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
The deadline to submit your feedback is Monday, 9 AM Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the series finale titled “Babylon’s Ashes” I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) How satisfied were you with the ending?
2) Is there anything you wish they had addressed that they didn’t?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
Why We Fight Double Take S6E5 – The Expanse Podcast
Jan 07, 2022
Today’s podcast is brought to you by Audible – get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 400,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
The deadline to submit your feedback is Monday, 9 AM Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the penultimate episode of season 6 titled “Why We Fight” I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) How do you interpret the look on Filip’s face?
2) Do you think Bobble goes with Amos or goes with Amos?
3) Do you think the Roci’s new armour will come into play?
Bonus Question
What would be a satisfying ending to this series for you?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
604 Redoubt – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Jan 03, 2022
Ceres Station from Redoubt
This episode Timestamps
[4:16] Episode Recaps [12:52] Feedback
Redoubt
Here is the full discussion episode about The Expanse season 6 episode 4 titled Redoubt.
Episode Recap
The episode opens on Laconia, as friends pay their respects to Cara’s family on the loss of her brother. Admiral Duarte sits next to Cara and talks to her about grief, safety, and protection, and he discloses that he lost a place, the dream of Mars, which fell apart and made him sad, angry and frightened. He talks of sacrifice and that if they can accomplish what they are trying to do there, it will be worth the things they lost along the way, but Cara doesn’t want to sacrifice her brother. As Duarte talks about keeping everyone safe, Cortazar rushes in to find him. Cortazar’s new coordination protocol returned a reply pattern and he thinks he can turn it on, as the strange machine with blue protomolecule lights circles Laconia. Late at night Cara pushes the gurney, with her brother’s body on it, deep into the forest. Sanjrani delivers a fiery speech to her people on Ceres, telling them now is not the time for Belters to sell their future for the empty promise of safety, and not to take the Inners’ side. The speech is watched by Avasarala, Admiral Kirino, and others on the Xenobia, and we learn that the explosives were Belter mining charges planted by Inaros, killing UN Marines, Martians, and Belters alike. The MCRN wants to attack Medina and reassert control of the Ring, but Avasarala won’t commit resources to the plan. When Kirino reports this, Fleet Command advises that Mars should be prepared to go it alone, exposing cracks in the Alliance. Avasarala then finds a battered and bloodied Monica Stuart in the ship’s makeshift morgue recording personal remembrances about the lost marines. Later, Monica shows Avasarala the videos she made on Ceres, including one of the man she was speaking with when the explosions occurred. As he helps the wounded, his voice is heard – he’s tired of the hate. Avasarala protests that it shows Earthers looking weak, but Monica replies that everyone needs to be seen as human. The way Belters see Earthers and how Earthers see Belters. On the Rocinante, the crew is repairing damage from their fight with the Pella. Bobbie and Amos work while listening to Alex’s country music, then Clarissa calls Amos to the cargo bay. She’s checked all the torpedos and the rest are okay, but she discovered that Holden deactivated the missile that hit the Pella. Amos confronts Holden with this information as they work outside the Roci, and offers to lock him out of fire control. He trusts Holden to do the right thing, but he doesn’t understand letting Marco go. Holden tells Naomi about disarming the torpedo, and said he couldn’t be the person to kill Naomi’s son – he doesn’t have it in him. Later in the galley, Holden listens to Bobbie who is still in disbelief about the torpedo malfunction. She leaves and Clarissa tells Holden not to tell Bobbie about the missile. During another heart to heart between them, Clarissa tells Holden that killing someone is a terrible thing that you can never take back; don’t ever feel bad about not killing someone. Marco Inaros and his crew are also assessing damage to their ships, but one is beyond repair and Marco angrily orders that the two senior most officers of the doomed craft be spaced. Rosenfeld begins to protest and Marco quickly shuts her down. She seeks out Filip, telling him he needs to apologize to his father, and give him support and counsel. Instead, Filip begins his new job – a demotion – to repair technician. Filip’s new boss, Tadeo, shows him what to do, then begins looking at his news feed. Filip makes a mistake which Tadeo fixes, but Filip blames Tadeo for distracting him. Filip then learns that Tadeo hasn’t heard from his older brother on Ceres, and about Tadeo’s life. Filip seems to enjoy the banter and appears to have empathy for his new co-worker. As they continue their repairs, they discover the torpedo warhead and see it was disarmed. Tadeo thinks it malfunctioned. Back in Marco’s cabin, Rosenfeld reports that the two officers were spaced, but not a third one, and Marco accuses her of insubordination. She stands up to him, tells him that someone has to speak to him this way and that he is Marco Inaros – these small defeats roll off him. Marco asks her what she expects to get when they win, and Rosenfeld says she wants to be the governor of Medina – control of the crossroads of the empires. They toast. Meanwhile, Drummer, Walker, Josep, and another crew member enter one of the stations containing Marco’s supply stash and are attacked by four guards hidden inside. Another guard creates an explosion and a falling crate pins Josep’s arm. Michio immediately goes to the supply depot. With her medic focus and authority, she applies a tourniquet to Josep’s arm, tells him she loves him, and field amputates his arm, saving his life. Back on the Tynan, Drummer watches Michio care for Josep then opens a wideband channel. Her message is for the traitor, the coward, Marco Inaros. They’re still here – unbent, unbroken, unbowed. In the final scene, Pella crew members are in the galley and Filip sits with Tadeo, where he learns that the torpedo was disarmed moments before impact. As he considers this, Drummer’s message plays on the screen. Marco stole from his own. He abandoned Ceres. He left Belters to starve. She took back what he stole. Live shamed and die empty. And Filip, who only moments before had shown compassion in asking about Tadeo’s brother, suddenly explodes. Drummer is their enemy. This is war and it won’t be over until we are dead or victorious. There is no turning back now.
Here’s the recap for the Season 6 Episode 4 Bonus Content, “Night Watch:” Clarissa has the night watch on the Rocinante and there’s nothing to watch, so she goes through the maintenance checklist looking for things to keep her occupied. She takes a meal break and there’s a news alert. Her father, Jules Pierre Mao has died in prison from an underlying medical condition. Clarissa’s jaw tightens and we hear the click of her mod as she snaps her hand held device. We next see the galley camera view, and Clarissa is lying on the floor, her biometrics are at risk levels, and the galley is in shambles. As she slowly rouses, her biometrics return to normal and distraught, she wonders why she became so angry at the news of her father’s passing. Thinking back to her therapy sessions while in prison, she realizes that all she wanted was her father’s love – and she understands the hurt she feels for loving him and not getting his love back in return. And that was the episode.
Redoubt Double Take S6E4 – The Expanse Podcast
Dec 31, 2021
Today’s podcast is brought to you by Audible – get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 400,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
The deadline to submit your feedback is Monday, 9 AM Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the fourth episode of season 6 titled “Redoubt” I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) Do you think things on Ceres are about to get better or worse?
2) Will Holden come clean to Bobbie about what he did?
3) Is Filip ready to back his father or ready to challenge him for equal control?
One Ship Question
Do you think anyone will mention something different about the galley?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
Force Projection Double Take S6E3 – The Expanse Podcast
Dec 24, 2021
Today’s podcast is brought to you by Audible – get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 400,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
The deadline to submit your feedback is Monday, 9 AM Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the third episode of season 6 titled “Force Projection” I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) What happens next between Marco and Filip?
2) Who do you think was behind the explosions on Ceres Station
3) Who is Jim referring to as an expert on the Rings?
One Ship Question
No One Ship question this week?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
602 Azure Dragon – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Dec 20, 2021
Drummer and Walter from Azure Dragon
This episode Timestamps
[2:56] Episode Recaps [13:12] Feedback
Azure Dragon
Here is the full discussion episode about The Expanse season 6 episode 2 titled Azure Dragon.
Episode Recap
The episode opens on Laconia, with the little girl, Cara, running to her home with the sick mother bird, asking her mother and father to save it, but it’s too late. The mother bird is dead. Cara is guilt stricken when she is reminded that Laconia has a different chemistry than Earth, and realizes the crumb from her protein bar likely killed the bird. As her parents leave for a required meeting called by “the soldiers,” Cara decides to bury the bird and return the three baby birds to their nest. She returns to the forest, and uses her parents’ drone to successfully return one baby bird to the nest, but then it crashes. Devastated, she begins to dig a grave for the dead bird. The strange purring dog comes up behind her, picks up the dead bird in its mouth and disappears into the forest, as Cara cries out in dismay. In the Belt, the Rocinante is replenishing its supplies courtesy of a UNN ship. As Jim Holden prepares to disconnect, he is informed that a mission specialist ordered by the Secretary-General will be boarding, and he’s surprised to see Bobbie Draper. Later, Bobbie informs Holden, Naomi, and Amos that their plans to destroy the Azure Dragon have changed, and Avasarala wants them to capture it because she wants its data – and the UN needs a “win” for morale. The Roci crew is not pleased that they will be placed at risk in this mission, and Bobbie is not pleased to learn that Clarissa Mao, a convicted felon, is on the Roci. Holden shows Bobbie the strange footage of the Barkeith entering The Ring, and asks her to obtain information about any Martian ships that might have slipped through. The Roci crew catches up with the Azure Dragon, but it spots them and rabbits. Bobbie orders Holden not to fire, and as the ships draw aside, she jumps on the Azure and plants a device which shuts down its drive. Naomi prepares to jump but has flashbacks of her space leap to the Chezemoka and freezes, unable to jump and join Bobbie as precious seconds tick by. Clarissa takes the equipment from Naomi’s hand and joins Bobbie, but doesn’t know which wire to disconnect to bypass power and kill the reactor on the Azure. From the Roci, Naomi tells Clarissa which feed line to pull. Amos and Holden are waiting for the shutdown before they breach, and the delay enables two of the Azure’s crew to attack Bobbie and Clarissa, which Bobbie dispatches with her armor. A third man appears and Clarissa activates her mods to kill him, saving Bobbie, but suffering the mod’s effects in the process. Bobbie takes her back to the Roci as Holden and Amos disable the remaining Belter, and Naomi cracks the ship’s encryption from the Roci, but she’s not ready to talk about what happened when she froze. Amos and Holden view the data. It’s the mother load. With the mission over, Holden tells Clarissa that as long as she’s part of the crew, she must do what he says. She smiles – it’s the first time Holden’s called her part of the crew. Meanwhile, Filip is being held in custody in a Ceres Station cell, when his father, Marco, tells the acting station head, Nico, to release him – this is a Free Navy matter and he will deal with it. Marco tells Filip that Yoan assaulted a superior officer and that Filip killed him to defend himself. Filip is stunned that there are no further consequences, and Marco precedes to berate him, telling him he has become an embarrassment, that Marco and Cyn had partied hard in their youth, but always reported for duty the next day because they didn’t have anyone to bail them out – they only had each other. Later, Rosenfeld approaches Marco about Filip, and offers a punishment based on her own experience. Marco continues to blame Filip for his problems, beginning when he brought Naomi aboard their ship. Marco claims he loves Filip, and says he needs him – he needs him to be the man he should be, while Rosenfeld reminds him that the war is more important to worry about – rather than Filip. Marco tells her that everyone else is afraid of him, but she’s unfazed. Filip seeks out Rosenfeld to ask for compensation for Yoan’s family, and she tells him that had Yoan lived, he would have been punished and discharged, then she concedes that Filip is being gracious and offers to send them a small tribute. Filip struggles to record a message for Yoan’s family, then his countenance changes and he records a formal message ending with “He died honorably serving Marco Inaros and the Belt.” In the Belt, Drummer prepares to dock the Tynan with the ship, Inazami, captained by former smuggler and thief, Liang Walker, a member of Golden Bough and now part of Marco’s Free Navy. Some Golden Bough members broke away from the Free Navy, so Marco saddled the remaining ones, like Walker, with freight movement tasks and no fighting. The plan was for Walker to provide safe passage for Michio, but once Drummer sees Walker’s apparent dislike for Marco and learns that he is stealing the Free Navy’s supplies in retaliation, she proposes that she, Walker, and his like minded Golden Bough comrades raid the Free Navy supply depots “like a true pirate would.” On the Xenobia, Monica Stuart overhears Avasarala’s officers talking, and guesses that a mission is underway. Once Avasarala knows the Roci’s mission to capture the Azure Dragon is successful, she asks Monica to make a documentary so that Belters can see the people that are being hurt in the war. Lives lost and pain suffered. To change a few minds of Belters on the margin. Put a face on the Earthers. A really good guilt trip. We end with Marco and Rosenfeld realizing that the Azure Dragon is lost, and they know the fight is here. Marco says: Let them come. We’ll be ready.
Zenobia
Here’s the recap for the Season 6 Episode 2 Bonus Content, “Zenobia.” Avasarala is on the UNN Zenobia, finishing a briefing with a Martian admiral regarding the state of their war with the Free Navy. As she returns to her quarters, she receives an update on Earth’s climate problems from Gareth. Alone in her room, she checks her messages and screens, and waits for her next meeting in 15 minutes. She then checks her biometrics, which are not good. Tired, she tries to take a 10 minute nap, but is interrupted by a transmission from her granddaughter. Kiki has started a garden, so Avasarala won’t need to worry about them – the whole family will have fresh vegetables to eat. Encouraged, Avasarala sends her granddaughter a message – she wants a salad with vegetables from Kiki’s garden when she returns. She then calls her doctor to get the medication they discussed, and keep it between them. She jumps from her chair, suddenly energized, and lets her assistant know there is much work to do. And that was the episode.
Azure Dragon Double Take S6E2 – The Expanse Podcast
Dec 17, 2021
Today’s podcast is brought to you by Audible – get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 400,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
The deadline to submit your feedback is Monday, 9 AM Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the second episode of season 6 titled “Azure Dragon.” I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) Holden reprimanded Clarissa for her actions. Do you think Naomi will talk to her?
2) Rosenfeld, Marco’s second in command, admitted she isn’t afraid of Inaros. Do you think she’ll end up crossing the line with him?
3) Drummer is desperate and is trying to convince Walker to turn on Marco. Do you think she can trust the man not to turn her over to Inaros?
One Ship Question
Ep 2 Zenobia: Will Avasarala survive to the end of the series?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
Strange Dogs Double Take S6E1 – The Expanse Podcast
Dec 10, 2021
Today’s podcast is brought to you by Audible – get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 400,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
The deadline to submit your feedback is Monday, 9 AM Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the season 6 premiere titled “Strange Dogs.” I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) Do you think Yoan is dead? What do you think is going to happen next with Filip?
2) What will it take to reunite the Roci crew?
3) What do you think Avasarala’s has in mind?
One Ship Question
Ep 1 Ankawala: What do Drummer’s actions at the end mean?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
The Expanse Season 5 Recap – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Dec 05, 2021
The Expanse Season 5 Recap
Time Stamps
[09:20] Ep 1: Exodus
[13:16] Ep 2: Churn
[19:31] Ep 3: Mother
[26:03] Ep 4: Guagamela
[33:37] Ep 5: Down and Out
[41:40] Ep 6: Tribes
[52:59] Ep 7: Oyedeng
[1:03:22] Ep 8: Hard Vacuum
[1:11:56] Ep 9: Winnipesaukee
[1:22:03] Ep 10: Nemesis Games
I’ve combined all ten of my season 5 recaps into one episode. In just about an hour of listening, you can be back up to speed on where things stand in The Expanse before the premiere of season 6 on Friday, December 10.
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Do you prefer reading a physical book? You can pick your copies of the Expanse series on Amazon or eBay.
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
The episode opens on the Rocinante. Monica isn’t buying the destruction of the Protomolecule along with the Zmeya. She wants to review the nav and combat logs. But it’s going to have to wait because the Roci’s treat responder picked up five Free Navy vessels heading their way.
Low on fuel and ammunition, Bull says their only option is to turn and get out of there as fast as possible. But Holden doesn’t want to run. He knows that the Roci has become a symbol for Marco, who won’t give up until they’re destroyed.
Jim reminds Bull that they’re looking for Naomi, but not to forget that Inaros murdered millions on Earth and attacked Tycho killing Fred. If Marco wanted a fight, they’d give him one by going directly at them. And hopefully, distracting them enough for Alex and Bobbie to rescue Naomi undetected.
Jim contacts Alex and tells him of his sacrificial plan. Unable to help his captain increases Alex’s determination to get to Naomi, and he pushes the Razorback even faster.
As the Rocinante prepares for battle, Holden admonishes Bull for calling Belters “Skinnies” he won’t have derogatory terms like that used on his ship.
Bull wants to do as much damage as possible to the Frigate, but Jim orders him to fly straight through the Free Navy formation. Their goal isn’t to win this fight. It’s to buy time for the Razorback.
As the Roci prepares for its suicide run against the Free Navy ships, something happens.
Onboard the Tynan, Drummer and her crew, who are part of the Free Navy armada, prepare to engage the Rocinante. As the two sides approach each other, Drummer snatches Karals gun and orders the woman to sit still as she reprograms and launches their missiles. One hits the Mowteng, taking out its drive. Before she can do anything else, Bertold tries to subdue Drummer. As the two are grappling, Karal retrieves her gun and is about to fire on Drummer when Michio hits her from behind, inadvertently killing the woman.
Drummer reports back to the Koto that they had a malfunction and Karal was injured. Buying time, she asks for immediate assistance. Then, she arms their remaining torpedos and fires on the Free Navy ships.
Seeing what is happening, Jim orders the Rocinante to come about to engage the heavy Frigate.
Onboard the disabled Mowteng, Josep does what they should have done before and follows Drummer’s lead. He fires their missiles as well.
The incoming torpedoes paired with the Rocinante’s attack is too much, and the heavy Frigate is destroyed. With both Martian ships gone, Drummer contacts Holden to say the fight is over.
———-
On the Chetzemoka, Naomi is desperately trying to loosen a frozen valve before the Razorback gets too close. It takes several attempts with her having to replenish her suit’s limited oxygen before finally dislodging the valve, causing one of the ships maneuvering trusters to fire, putting it into a spin.
When they notice, Alex prepares to compensate for the now spinning ship. Bobbie points out how dangerous it is to attempt docking two spinning ships in a high-G turn. Especially since the Razorback is already damaged. She warns him of all the dangers of attempting this, but Alex ignores her. Naomi is on that ship, and they’re going to get her, and that’s that.
Low on oxygen and barely conscious, Naomi is distraught that her little trick didn’t dissuade Alex, and he’s still approaching the Chetzemoka. With no more tricks left to try, Naomi does the only thing she can think of. It’s a long shot, but it may be the only way to save her friends. She dons her vac suit with its minimal air, opens the airlock and leaps into space.
Onboard the Razorback, Bobbie notices something dislodge from the Chetzemoka. Upon closer inspection, they see that’s it’s Naomi. Alex recognizes the arm gestures she’s making as Belter emergency hand signals. “My radio is out.” “Low air.” “Ship.” “Explosion hazard. Do not approach.” But with the Chetzemoka circling Naomi, they cannot approach her.
After several tense moments floating in space, and her air completely depleted. Naomi is about to pass out when something collides with her. Bobbie, in her Martian Marine armour, grabs hold and administer her oxygen.
With Naomi now secured. Bobbie informs a relieved Alex that they’re safe and free of the Chetzemoka’s path. But when she questions if he’s told Holden yet, there’s no response. The high-G burns were too much for him, and he dies of a stroke.
———
Reunited on the Rocinante, Jim tells Naomi that Alex’s ex want’s to handle the funeral arrangements. Alex is going to receive full military honours.
Naomi blames herself. Alex died, saving her from her mistakes. But Jim reminds her that strokes are a risk they all take with every hard burn.
Dealing with their grief, Holden asks Bull to fire a missile at the Chetzemoka, destroying the ship for good. Before they alter their heading for Luna, he assures Naomi that she will be granted immunity and be a valuable asset with her knowledge of Marco.
Jim confesses that he never played the message she left for him. Doing so would be admitting she was gone. So she plays it for him. It’s a message of her love towards him as well as for Amos and Alex. And if she’s gone, she wants him to move on with his life. She’ll always be a part of it, but his future isn’t over.
While watching a broadcast from Luna where newly appointed Secretary-General Avasarala declares martial law on Earth and Luna and declares that they are not at war with the good and law-abiding people of the Belt, only with those who follow Marco Inaros. As Bobbie walks by, Monica asks for her opinion on the destruction of the Zmeya.
————-
Onboard the Pela, Marco is angry because he doesn’t know what’s going on. The Rocinante is still alive, and he’s not getting any responses from the Free Navy ships.
Flip asks what happened, and Marco tells his son his plan failed. When the boy displays no reactions to the news, Marco questions his feelings and why he’s not upset. Filip says there’s no point. They tried to kill them, and they didn’t. It doesn’t alter Marco’s plan either way, and there’s still more work to do. For the first time, Marco shows a sense of pride in his son.
Feeling betrayed, Marco asks Serge to help him send a message to Drummer.
She later receives the message. It’s a video of Marco spacing Serge. Drummer confesses to Oksana and the others that she figured that would happen. But there was no other way. At least now, they can choose their own path.
Oksana tells her she’s leaving and taking the Mowteng. Bertold goes with her, but Josep and Michio decide to stay with Drummer. Drummer asks her to stay, but Oksana says they have nothing to stay together for and leaves.
———-
On Luna, Erich plans on settling on one of the ring worlds. He figures it won’t be long before he’s running things. He offers Amos to join him, but the big man says he has his own thing and the two part ways.
Amos rejoins the Roci and is immediately embraced by Naomi in a big hug. When she starts saying how sorry she is that Alex is gone, he stops her. It’s not her fault. Making a choice to hold your ground to save her family. As far as last stands go, that’s the one he’d pick, just like Alex did.
Before settling in, Amos asks for a moment alone with Holden. Amos tells Holden he’s going to need a favour.
He questions whether or not Holden would have really killed him way back when the Martians were going to board the Rocinante, and Amos was preparing to fire on them. Holden says he would have. Accepting the answer, Amos says there are no hard feelings between them, Holden may have thought of killing him then, but now they have each other’s back. They’re family now.
Satisfied, Amos calls out, “We’re good!” and then turns to Holden, saying, she’s going to ride with us for a while and thank you for being cool about this, before walking into the ship.
Holden is stunned when he turns to see Clarissa Mao standing there. Before he can say anything, Amos pulls her into the ship.
––––—
Later at a special gathering. Avasarala introduces Bobbie as her new liaison. With everyone gathered, she asks everyone to take a good look around. This is what Marco Inaros hates, what he’s afraid of. Diverse people coming together and working for a common cause. Now, all they have to do is turn every Earther, Martian and Belter into this. It’s how they win.
As people are mingling, Monica informs Holden that one of the Zmeya’s missiles got away and could possibly be carrying the Protomolecule sample.
Avasarala interrupts the conversation asking James to go with her to the situation room without making a fuss. There’s been another attack at the Ring. A coordinated attack significantly damaged all three ships guarding the Ring. To make matters worse, another attack came from within the Ring, destroying one of the UNN ships.
Their spirits turn when a fleet of Mars ships appear on the sensors. However, they soon discover that the incoming ships were previously reported lost by the MCRN. They’re in league with Marco and quickly decide the battle. Then unexplainably, the MCRN ships transit the Sol Ring on route to who knows where. An entire Martian fleet has gone rogue.
Jim informs them that Inaros may have bought the Martian’s help with the Protomolecule sample. Even though it’s dangerous, it’s possible the Martians know something about the Protomolecule they don’t.
———-
The scene shifts back to Marco. He’s telling Filip that this was only something to dream of when he was the boy’s age. Now, and for generations to come, it will be something that happened. He made it happen.
As the last of the ships guarding the Ring is destroyed, Marco’s crew starts chanting his name. Filip doesn’t look pleased. Inside the Ring Zone, Admiral Sauveterre congratulates Inaros on his well-won victory.
In turn, Marco offers his gratitude for their help and assures them that the Laconia system is there’s and their heirs from this time forward.
Once disconnected, Admiral Sauveterre plays a message received from Dr. Cortazar. The Protomolecule sample arrived safely, and they’ve already seen beautiful results. By the time they arrive at Laconia, he expects to start phase 3 construction. The image in the video shifts to show an enormous alien-looking vessel orbiting above the planet.
As the Barkeith prepares to transit the Laconia Ring. Sauveterre takes pride in what they are doing. Laconia is going to be a military-run world. Strict with rules and protocols. Where the smallest infractions will be disciplined with death. As the Barkeith transitions the gate, time slows, and what appears as alien-like spirits infiltrate the vessel. As the ship proceeds through, it vanishes.
The episode opens on the Rocinante. Monica isn’t buying the destruction of the Protomolecule along with the Zmeya. She wants to review the nav and combat logs. But it’s going to have to wait because the Roci’s treat responder picked up five Free Navy vessels heading their way.
Low on fuel and ammunition, Bull says their only option is to turn and get out of there as fast as possible. But Holden doesn’t want to run. He knows that the Roci has become a symbol for Marco, who won’t give up until they’re destroyed.
Jim reminds Bull that they’re looking for Naomi, but not to forget that Inaros murdered millions on Earth and attacked Tycho killing Fred. If Marco wanted a fight, they’d give him one by going directly at them. And hopefully, distracting them enough for Alex and Bobbie to rescue Naomi undetected.
Jim contacts Alex and tells him of his sacrificial plan. Unable to help his captain increases Alex’s determination to get to Naomi, and he pushes the Razorback even faster.
As the Rocinante prepares for battle, Holden admonishes Bull for calling Belters “Skinnies” he won’t have derogatory terms like that used on his ship.
Bull wants to do as much damage as possible to the Frigate, but Jim orders him to fly straight through the Free Navy formation. Their goal isn’t to win this fight. It’s to buy time for the Razorback.
As the Roci prepares for its suicide run against the Free Navy ships, something happens.
Onboard the Tynan, Drummer and her crew, who are part of the Free Navy armada, prepare to engage the Rocinante. As the two sides approach each other, Drummer snatches Karals gun and orders the woman to sit still as she reprograms and launches their missiles. One hits the Mowteng, taking out its drive. Before she can do anything else, Bertold tries to subdue Drummer. As the two are grappling, Karal retrieves her gun and is about to fire on Drummer when Michio hits her from behind, inadvertently killing the woman.
Drummer reports back to the Koto that they had a malfunction and Karal was injured. Buying time, she asks for immediate assistance. Then, she arms their remaining torpedos and fires on the Free Navy ships.
Seeing what is happening, Jim orders the Rocinante to come about to engage the heavy Frigate.
Onboard the disabled Mowteng, Josep does what they should have done before and follows Drummer’s lead. He fires their missiles as well.
The incoming torpedoes paired with the Rocinante’s attack is too much, and the heavy Frigate is destroyed. With both Martian ships gone, Drummer contacts Holden to say the fight is over.
———-
On the Chetzemoka, Naomi is desperately trying to loosen a frozen valve before the Razorback gets too close. It takes several attempts with her having to replenish her suit’s limited oxygen before finally dislodging the valve, causing one of the ships maneuvering trusters to fire, putting it into a spin.
When they notice, Alex prepares to compensate for the now spinning ship. Bobbie points out how dangerous it is to attempt docking two spinning ships in a high-G turn. Especially since the Razorback is already damaged. She warns him of all the dangers of attempting this, but Alex ignores her. Naomi is on that ship, and they’re going to get her, and that’s that.
Low on oxygen and barely conscious, Naomi is distraught that her little trick didn’t dissuade Alex, and he’s still approaching the Chetzemoka. With no more tricks left to try, Naomi does the only thing she can think of. It’s a long shot, but it may be the only way to save her friends. She dons her vac suit with its minimal air, opens the airlock and leaps into space.
Onboard the Razorback, Bobbie notices something dislodge from the Chetzemoka. Upon closer inspection, they see that’s it’s Naomi. Alex recognizes the arm gestures she’s making as Belter emergency hand signals. “My radio is out.” “Low air.” “Ship.” “Explosion hazard. Do not approach.” But with the Chetzemoka circling Naomi, they cannot approach her.
After several tense moments floating in space, and her air completely depleted. Naomi is about to pass out when something collides with her. Bobbie, in her Martian Marine armour, grabs hold and administer her oxygen.
With Naomi now secured. Bobbie informs a relieved Alex that they’re safe and free of the Chetzemoka’s path. But when she questions if he’s told Holden yet, there’s no response. The high-G burns were too much for him, and he dies of a stroke.
———
Reunited on the Rocinante, Jim tells Naomi that Alex’s ex want’s to handle the funeral arrangements. Alex is going to receive full military honours.
Naomi blames herself. Alex died, saving her from her mistakes. But Jim reminds her that strokes are a risk they all take with every hard burn.
Dealing with their grief, Holden asks Bull to fire a missile at the Chetzemoka, destroying the ship for good. Before they alter their heading for Luna, he assures Naomi that she will be granted immunity and be a valuable asset with her knowledge of Marco.
Jim confesses that he never played the message she left for him. Doing so would be admitting she was gone. So she plays it for him. It’s a message of her love towards him as well as for Amos and Alex. And if she’s gone, she wants him to move on with his life. She’ll always be a part of it, but his future isn’t over.
While watching a broadcast from Luna where newly appointed Secretary-General Avasarala declares martial law on Earth and Luna and declares that they are not at war with the good and law-abiding people of the Belt, only with those who follow Marco Inaros. As Bobbie walks by, Monica asks for her opinion on the destruction of the Zmeya.
————-
Onboard the Pela, Marco is angry because he doesn’t know what’s going on. The Rocinante is still alive, and he’s not getting any responses from the Free Navy ships.
Flip asks what happened, and Marco tells his son his plan failed. When the boy displays no reactions to the news, Marco questions his feelings and why he’s not upset. Filip says there’s no point. They tried to kill them, and they didn’t. It doesn’t alter Marco’s plan either way, and there’s still more work to do. For the first time, Marco shows a sense of pride in his son.
Feeling betrayed, Marco asks Serge to help him send a message to Drummer.
She later receives the message. It’s a video of Marco spacing Serge. Drummer confesses to Oksana and the others that she figured that would happen. But there was no other way. At least now, they can choose their own path.
Oksana tells her she’s leaving and taking the Mowteng. Bertold goes with her, but Josep and Michio decide to stay with Drummer. Drummer asks her to stay, but Oksana says they have nothing to stay together for and leaves.
———-
On Luna, Erich plans on settling on one of the ring worlds. He figures it won’t be long before he’s running things. He offers Amos to join him, but the big man says he has his own thing and the two part ways.
Amos rejoins the Roci and is immediately embraced by Naomi in a big hug. When she starts saying how sorry she is that Alex is gone, he stops her. It’s not her fault. Making a choice to hold your ground to save her family. As far as last stands go, that’s the one he’d pick, just like Alex did.
Before settling in, Amos asks for a moment alone with Holden. Amos tells Holden he’s going to need a favour.
He questions whether or not Holden would have really killed him way back when the Martians were going to board the Rocinante, and Amos was preparing to fire on them. Holden says he would have. Accepting the answer, Amos says there are no hard feelings between them, Holden may have thought of killing him then, but now they have each other’s back. They’re family now.
Satisfied, Amos calls out, “We’re good!” and then turns to Holden, saying, she’s going to ride with us for a while and thank you for being cool about this, before walking into the ship.
Holden is stunned when he turns to see Clarissa Mao standing there. Before he can say anything, Amos pulls her into the ship.
––––—
Later at a special gathering. Avasarala introduces Bobbie as her new liaison. With everyone gathered, she asks everyone to take a good look around. This is what Marco Inaros hates, what he’s afraid of. Diverse people coming together and working for a common cause. Now, all they have to do is turn every Earther, Martian and Belter into this. It’s how they win.
As people are mingling, Monica informs Holden that one of the Zmeya’s missiles got away and could possibly be carrying the Protomolecule sample.
Avasarala interrupts the conversation asking James to go with her to the situation room without making a fuss. There’s been another attack at the Ring. A coordinated attack significantly damaged all three ships guarding the Ring. To make matters worse, another attack came from within the Ring, destroying one of the UNN ships.
Their spirits turn when a fleet of Mars ships appear on the sensors. However, they soon discover that the incoming ships were previously reported lost by the MCRN. They’re in league with Marco and quickly decide the battle. Then unexplainably, the MCRN ships transit the Sol Ring on route to who knows where. An entire Martian fleet has gone rogue.
Jim informs them that Inaros may have bought the Martian’s help with the Protomolecule sample. Even though it’s dangerous, it’s possible the Martians know something about the Protomolecule they don’t.
———-
The scene shifts back to Marco. He’s telling Filip that this was only something to dream of when he was the boy’s age. Now, and for generations to come, it will be something that happened. He made it happen.
As the last of the ships guarding the Ring is destroyed, Marco’s crew starts chanting his name. Filip doesn’t look pleased. Inside the Ring Zone, Admiral Sauveterre congratulates Inaros on his well-won victory.
In turn, Marco offers his gratitude for their help and assures them that the Laconia system is there’s and their heirs from this time forward.
Once disconnected, Admiral Sauveterre plays a message received from Dr. Cortazar. The Protomolecule sample arrived safely, and they’ve already seen beautiful results. By the time they arrive at Laconia, he expects to start phase 3 construction. The image in the video shifts to show an enormous alien-looking vessel orbiting above the planet.
As the Barkeith prepares to transit the Laconia Ring. Sauveterre takes pride in what they are doing. Laconia is going to be a military-run world. Strict with rules and protocols. Where the smallest infractions will be disciplined with death. As the Barkeith transitions the gate, time slows, and what appears as alien-like spirits infiltrate the vessel. As the ship proceeds through, it vanishes.
Nemesis Games Double Take S5E10- The Expanse Podcast
Feb 03, 2021
Today’s podcast is brought to you by Audible – get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback this week is Monday, 9 AM Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the season 5 finale titled “Nemesis Games.” I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) Is that the last we see of Oksana and Erich?
2) What was your favourite and least favourite story arch from season 5?
3) With season 6 announced as the last, what do you hope to see?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
The episode opens with Marco receiving an update on their war efforts detailing victories won and loss. Many Belters died in these conflicts but he says it was worth the price.
He becomes furious when he receives news from Karal about the Chetzemoka distress call changing. It can only mean Naomi is still alive.
He later confronts Filip. The two apologize for their previous actions. Filip for bringing Naomi there, and the death of Cyn. When Marco tells his son Naomi is alive, he can’t believe it. His mother didn’t walk into that airlock out of sadness, despair or remorse. She wasn’t trying to kill herself. She was trying to escape. To leave them, again. Filip lashes out in anger and unbelief, crying.
—
Both the Razorback and the Rocinante also pick up the altered distress call. The crews of both ships try to understand the meaning behind this strange new message. Confused, the two ships decide to increase speed towards the Chetzemoka with the Razorback in the lead.
—
On the Dewalt, Oksana and Karal talk privately about the Chetzemoka. Oksana doesn’t want to keep this news from Drummer but Karal tells her Marco will tell them what to do. And if she informs Drummer, whatever happens after will be her fault Oksana agrees to keep silent.
Later, Drummer questions their new orders to rendezvous with other Free Navy ships and engage and destroy the Rocinante. Why pick a fight with a ship that is already heading to a trap with the Chetzemoka? When Karal questions her loyalty to Marco, Drummer says if it needs to be done, it will be done.
After this short standoff, Oksana asks Drummer to relinquish her gun. She’s worried Camina may start something. Drummer reluctantly hands it over.
Later, Drummer confronts Oksana about what’s going on. She knows her friend is keeping something from her. Marco killed Ashford and Naomi. Two people she loved. And now he wants them to murder Naomi’s friends? She’s gone along for the sake of her crew. But demands some respect.
Oksana question’s Drummer’s love for them. Does she love them as much as she loved Naomi? Drummer says yes. Oksana gives in and tells her about Naomi and why Marco is sending them against the Rocinante. She pleads with Drummer to think rationally. If she acts out it’s not just her Marco will have killed, but all of them.
—————
On Earth, the Baltimore crew arrive at Lake Winnipesaukee and find an estate with an orbital shuttle still in the hanger. They enter the building only to find some of the house staff hiding there. They’ve been barely surviving since the rocks fell. They inform Amos and the rest that the shuttle has a reactor problem and hasn’t flown in over two years.
Amos, Clarissa and Erich get to work trying to figure out what the problem is. The ship’s batteries are charged and it’s full of fuel. But something is tripping every time they try to turn on the reactor.
With the temperature dropping and food supplies running low, Erich questions whether they should abandon their plan and take the helicopter and leave. But Amos isn’t ready to give up. If they put their heads together they should be able to figure out the problem.
When the winter staff from nearby estates arrive thinking they’re a relief team, Erich wants to send them away. But Clarissa steps in and offers them space on the shuttle if they want to go to Luna. Amos and Erich are not happy with this. It’s a small ship, and what if more people show up? But Clarissa stands her ground. If they want her help fixing the ship, they don’t leave anyone behind who wants to come. Erich is ready to leave her and the others behind, but Amos gives in and tells them they can come.
While working on the ship, Erich calls Amos to meet him outside. They have trouble. A group of island security officers want to move all their food and essential supplies to a central location for efficient distribution. Knowing the business, Erich says it’s the most pathetic shakedown he’s ever seen.
When the security officer asks for their helicopter as well, tensions rise, guns are drawn. Once again, Clarissa steps in and asks everyone to put down their guns. Things are bad enough without everyone trying to kill each other. To Erich’s surprise, Amos gives the order to drop the guns and tells the security team to walk away. As they leave, Amos tells Clarissa they’ll be back in force. Their best plan is to get the ship running and be gone before they do.
Later, Amos and Hutch are taking a break outside. She asks about his decision to leave Earth. She’s afraid to leave everything behind and start all over again. But he assures her that nobody ever starts over, because nobody ever leaves everything behind. While talking, he has an epiphany about the ship. He knows what’s wrong. They test out his theory and it works.
As they start the pre-launch sequence, the island security team attack. A gunfight ensues. Several of Erich’s team are shot as they try to retreat to the hanger.
Inside, Clarissa gets the last of the house staff inside the ship when she hears the commotion of someone breaking in. As Erich and the team enter the hanger they find a weakened Clarissa amongst almost a dozen bloody and mangled corpses. They pick her up and retreat inside the ship.
Amos and Hutch bring up the rear as the pre-launch sequence finishes. Hutch is shot, and the big man picks her up and carries her inside. He shuts the airlock door and orders Clarissa to take off. Once in orbit, he takes care of Hutch’s wounds and then joins the others.
———
On Luna, Avasarala is shocked to find out Secretary-General David Paster ordered the attack on Pallas Station. She scolds Admiral Delgado for going behind her back. He says all he did was give his professional opinion when the Sec-Gen asked for it.
They arrive in the sit-room to a conversation on what their next target should be. The Secretary-General wants to expand the Pallas Initiative by attacking anything with a connection to Marco Inaros. Avasarala tries to defuse the situation saying they need to spin their story to make it clear that they are not at war with the Belt. But Delgado counters that they are.
Chrisjen is angry at the eye for an eye attitude they’re all taking. Marco should not be their role model. Just because he attacked civilians doesn’t mean they should as well. She tries to convince them that the Belt is not all one nation and that they can still ally with factions in their common cause.
Paster rebukes her saying it would take too much time. His job is to make their people safer and reduce the enemy’s ability to hurt them as quickly as possible. They need to take the fight to the people who hurt them.
Avasarala stands her ground. Saying she wants that too. Every night she dreams of torturing Marco Inaros because he murdered her husband. Arjun is dead and she would sacrifice everything to get him back. But right now, everyone who loved someone on Pallas Station is feeling the same way she does. And if they keep this up, every partisan they kill will create ten more who will stand against them.
The Secretary-General dismisses her comments as being emotional. And right not they can’t be emotional, they need to be rational and objective.
The conversation turns to attacking Ceres Station. Denying it to the Free Navy would force Inaros back to the outer planets spreading his forces thin. When her plea for the hundred of thousands of children on Ceres is ignored. She stands up and resigns her post. saying she will not be a part of this. As she walking out as if on cue, half of the council resign and walk out as well.
Later, General Tesfaye approaches Avasarala as she adds Arjun’s name to an Earth memorial. Three more cabinet ministers just resigned and a no-confidence vote is scheduled for tomorrow and Paster will lose, triggering a snap-election and the ministers want to know if she would step up and serve again.
Chrisjen approaches Delgado. Despite their differences, she would like him by her side. But he says he’s transferring to a strike group to go after Inaros. She tells him that will everything Marco has at his disposal, they may lose if they go toe-to-toe with him. But he won’t back down. He wants the chance to be the one to take out Inaros.
Conceding, she has a drink with him and asks him to finish the joke he never finished.
A Belter, a Martian, and an Earther go to a bar. The Belter says, “Give me a shot of your finest Martian Whiskey. Drinking like my enemy helps me think like my enemy.” The Martian says, “Give me a shot of your finest Earth Tequila. Drinking like my enemy helps me think like my enemy.” The Earther says, “Give me a shot of the finest Belter liquor you have. Best the Belt has to offer.” The bartender says “Because it helps you think like your enemy?” And the Earther says, “No, because I’m trying to drink less. The best the Belt has to offer is terrible.”
After reciting it, Delgado admits. That joke used to be funnier. ——-
On board the Chetzemoka, Naomi is desperate and risks her life for a minuscule amount of water. In despair, she notices the casing on one of the bomb wires is cracked exposing the wires within. Connecting a wire from the bomb to the vac suit helmet activates the display. She sees the bomb’s proximity as well as detonation radius. She also sees the Screaming Firehawk, AKA the Razorback on an intercept trajectory.
The residue from the water she got earlier gives her an idea. Desperate, and in a last-ditch effort, she dons the vac suit and once again enters the space between the hulls. The episode ends with the sound of clanking on metal.
Winnipesaukee Double Take S5E9- The Expanse Podcast
Jan 27, 2021
Today’s podcast is brought to you by Audible – get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback this week is Friday, 9 AM Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the ninth episode of season 5 titled “Winnipesaukee.” I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) What was Amos thinking as he looked out the airlock window?
2) Will it be a smooth takeover for Avasarala?
3) What is Naomi up to?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
The episode opens on Earth with Amos and Clarissa trekking across the wilderness on their newly acquired motorbikes on the way to Baltimore.
While stopping at an abandoned building, Clarissa discovers several abandoned bodies. The Elderly left behind when people fled the place. It’s a stark reminder of what the world will be like for a while.
Clarissa tells Amos she knows where they can find a ship to get off-world. But it would be very hard for them to get there by themselves.
Once in Baltimore, they’re brought before Erich who reminds Amos of their previous deal and says he can’t help them. But it’s them who are offering to help Erich. They tell him of an island in New Hampshire where the rich have their vacation homes. Each one has a suborbital shuttle that can get them to Luna.
When Erich asks why he would want to leave everything he’s worked for. But they convince him that there’s nothing left there for him. The person he was is gone. With that realization, Erich is in.
————-
On Luna, Secretary-General David Paster addresses the assembly for the first time. Uneasy at first, he delivers a strong speech touching the hearts of all Earthers.
What he lacks in experience he will more than makeup for in passion, dedication and internal support.
He acknowledges how Avasarala and Delgado saved them all from further catastrophe and that they will now be working by his side as he orders the largest manhunt in human history. They will not stop until Marco Inaros and his fellow terrorist are caught and dealt with. The times ahead will try their souls but make no mistake. they will prevail. They must. The future of humanity demands it.
His speech is met with raving applause. As they leave the auditorium, Paster admits that he’s not as confident as his speech made him sound.
Later at a cabinet meeting. the Secretary-General is informed that their military is looking but they have no information on Inaros’ whereabouts. Avasarala reminds him that they cannot depend on the Martians until they know who can be trusted.
Paster expresses concern for the Ring should Marco intend to destroy it. But they assure him they have the firepower to deal with any Free Navy ships that approach the ring.
Paster is not happy that they’re waiting for Marco to make his next move instead of them making their first. The citizens of Earth need to see they can apply pressure.
Admiral Delgado suggests they attack Palace station but the rest of the cabinet is concerned about civilian casualties. Delgado thinks it’s worth it, but Avasarala voices her concern that by attacking Palace, they would radicalize every Belter who doesn’t already support Inaros. If that happens they wouldn’t be fighting just Marco’s faction but the entire Belt.
The Secretary-General decides to table the decision before an argument breaks out.
Later, the Sec-Gen privately asks Delgado to speak his mind about Palace station. The Admiral is frank, he thinks they should blow it up. The victims on earth need to see that they’re fighting back and the casualties won’t be nearly as many as Marco killed on Earth.
As the Admiral leaves, the Secretary-General is left with a lot to ponder.
———-
Onboard the Pella, Marco mourns Cyn’s death and demands to know how Naomi died. He blames Filip for his friend’s death because he’s the one who brought Naomi to them.
———
Onboard the Rocinante, Holden and crew search the Zmeya’s debris for signs of the Protomolecule but find nothing.
Speculations fly about whether or not the sample could have been destroyed by the blast or if the ship transferred it to another vessel before they arrived. Nobody is satisfied with any answers.
With nothing left to do, they plot a course to rendezvous with the Razorback. Bull is concerned that when it comes to Naomi, Jim would have no problem putting them all in harm’s way to get her back.
As they’re searching for Marco’s fleet, Alex and Bobbie notify Jim that they picked up the automated emergency call from the Chetzemoka.
———-
Onboard the Chetzemoka. Naomi is in bad shape. Her exposure to space has left her burnt and suffering in pain.
She tries to access the ship’s systems but everything has been stripped away. And what little remains she has no access to. Upon closer inspection, she notices that the ship has been rigged with explosives which will detonate if she tries to disarm them.
As if things weren’t bad enough, she discovers the ship is broadcasting a distress call in her voice.
“This is Naomi Nagata of the Rocinante. If you get this message, please retransmit. Tell James Holden I am in distress. Comm is not responding. I have no nav control. Please retransmit.”
With no way to stop the transmission. She tries to fabricate a communicator using a space helmet to broadcast her own warning not to approach the ship. It’s a bomb with a proximity detonator. But it doesn’t work.
She becomes desperate after receiving a message from Alex saying they’re coming to get her. In a dangerous play, she dons the vac suit, and without oxygen enters the maintenance section between the ship’s inner and outer hulls.
She tries one terminal junction box after another without any luck. Almost suffocating in the process each time. After many, many tries, she finally finds the terminal box connected to the com unit. By disrupting the circuit she can change the message to say.
“This is Naomi Nagata,.. Tell James Holden I am in… …Control.”
——
Elsewhere in space, Drummer and her team are salvaging the remains of a belter ship. Drummer tells them the many dead bodies they saw were from a faction that voted for Marco’s death at his tribunal.
Her crew says nothing has changed, they’re still just salvagers. But Drummer says no. They’ve become scavengers. Marco kills those who defy him and they pick the bodies clean.
On the bridge, Karal tries out the captain’s chair. When Oksana arrives she asks why Marco attacked them. But Karal corrects her by saying Marco didn’t attack. They attacked the Free Navy. Marco offered them the same deal everyone got but they declined. Then they hijacked two skiffs loyal to Marco. So Marco retaliated. Their job now is to salvage what they can from them, including food so they can feed protect and the belt.
Oksana later confronts Drummer and asks why she’s pushing her away. They may not like working with Marco, but at least they’re alive. But Drummer isn’t sure she can continue doing this.
Later, Karal informs them they’ll be heading to Ceres Station once their salvage job is done. Marco believes the Inners will try to block the trade routes and it will be their job to engage with any inner ships they encounter.
When they receive Naomi’s distress call, Karal informs them it’s a fake. She tells Drummer that Naomi was aboard the Pella when she was there. But she killed herself by walking out of an airlock when she realized she couldn’t get her son back. Naomi was a traitor to the Belt and now she’s dead.
Oksana has to restrain a furious Drummer from attacking Karal. Grief-stricken Camina retreats to her quarters and drowns her sorrow in a bottle.
Alone with Oksana, Karal tells her that Drummer is only captain as long as she follows Marco’s orders. She tells Oksana that she was friends with Naomi long ago. But then she stopped believing in what they were fighting for and turned her back on them and left.
When they realize the distress call has changed, Oksana asks if it’s possible Naomi is alive and on the Chetzemoka. But Karal says it’s impossible although she doesn’t look so sure of that statement.
The episode ends with Naomi’s new message playing on a loop.
“This is Naomi Nagata,.. Tell James Holden I am in… …Control.”
Hard Vacuum Double Take S5E8- The Expanse Podcast
Jan 20, 2021
Today’s podcast is brought to you by Audible – get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback this week is Friday, 9 AM Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the eighth episode of season 5 titled “Hard Vacuum.” I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) Is the Secretary General leaning towards or away from Admiral Delgado idea of attacking Palace Station?
2) Will Erich be an asset or cause problems for Amos and Clarissa?
3) Are we going to see Mars’ side of the story this season?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
507 Oyedeng – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Jan 16, 2021
This episode Timestamps
[3:13] Episode Recaps [16:40] Feedback
Episode Recap
Oyedeng
The episode opens with Naomi remembering a happy moment from when she was still with Marco and Filip was a baby.
Meanwhile, Filip is watching video feeds of his mother’s escapades upon the Behemoth. Marco sees him but the boy lies about what he was looking at. Marco praises his son for the man he’s become. So young and yet so accomplished. Filip tells his father he just wants him to be proud of him.
Marco then tells Filip the ship his mother gave him is of no use to their fleet. Would he mind if Marco used it for a special purpose. The boy agrees saying, even though it was a gift from Naomi, it means nothing to him.
Marco then goes to Naomi’s cell. He wants to know why she came back to Filip after all these years. She tells him she needed her son to know she loves him and that she would do anything for him.
Marco says he took Filip because he thought it would make her stay. Marco thought he and Naomi were of the same mind. But has since realized her heart was never in like his. Now he’s raising Filip to be the fighter he thought she was.
Naomi retorts that Filip is his own person and doesn’t deserve to die for Marco’s dreams.
Marco replies that she doesn’t know the boy. She hasn’t seen him since he was a baby who needed to be protected. However, Marco’s been there for every important moment in the boy’s life. Something Naomi feels very guilty about. But even living with that guilt, she still felt relief. Relief because the pain of losing Filip was not as horrible as having to stay with Marco.
And now she want’s Filip to know who his father really is. She says the only reason he hasn’t killer her yet is because Marco fells threatened. If he did kill her, Filip would know she got to him and she was right all along.
But Marco replies he hasn’t killed her because he doesn’t want their son to feel abandoned again. As he leaves, he gives her permission to walk about the ship providing she doesn’t raise a hand against any of the crew.
Her new freedom takes her to Filip’s quarters. Her son arrives and tells her he’s been reading up on her exploits and how she saved everyone. She tells him it was a team effort.
He changes the subject and asks what she meant when she told him she knows what he’s going through.
She knows the power his father has. She tells him that Marco made her feel like the centre of the universe and she craved his attention. Which made her blind.
She asks Filip if he feels any remorse for what he’s done? She tells him she used to dream of all the things he would become when he grew up. A killer was not one of them. Now, all she dreams of is that one day he will regret his actions. Killing people doesn’t mean you’re strong. She didn’t know how strong she was until she left Marco. That’s when she realized that everything she had done was to please Marco. Who was happier with himself than with her.
She knows the hold Marco has over people and the way Filip looks at his father. And she hopes he’s not turning into his father. But Filip says he’s his own man. Marco doesn’t control him. He doesn’t need his father or her. But the two then embrace and he asks why she left him.
She never wanted to, but Marco hid Filip from her. She searched for a very long time. Eventually, she had to accept that she couldn’t save him and that her life was nothing without him. She went into an airlock, prepared to take her own life, finally at peace with herself. But then she realized that opening the airlock wouldn’t change anything for Filip. Whether she was alive or dead, he was going to grow up without a mother.
She never wanted to leave him, but walking away was the only choice she had left. It’s the only choice anyone ever has.
—-
Finished getting the Chetzemoka ready for Marco’s new plan. Cyn encounters Naomi. She apologizes for hitting him, he accepts and the two are good again.
He tells her that he saw her enter that airlock all those years ago. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He didn’t think anything could break her. But then she walked out. When he looked for her the next day she was gone.
She tells him that without Filip, the only way to get her life back was to leave. Cyn then confesses that he’s the one who hid Filip from her on Marco’s orders. If he had known she would leave he would have helped her. They were all a family, he thought he was doing the right thing and she would come back to Marco, to him.
When he saw her on Palace station after so long he thought it was her chance to make it up to her. She says it is and asks him to help her.
———
Out in space, the Rocinante is searching a popular trade route for the Zmeya who is hoping the traffic will hide them.
When the topic of the Protomolecule comes up and what they’re going to do with it, Jim assures Monica and Bull that he intends to destroy it.
Monica tells them she reached out to some sources for the whereabouts of Marco’s fleet in case they don’t find the Zmeya. It’s always good to have a second plan.
Jim and Bull reminisce about Fred. Talking about how the man often ignored others to do his own thing. Which usually turned out to be right.
Bull comments that Jim and Fred were a lot alike, which is probably why they butted heads so much. Holden confesses that he never trusted Fred, he always thought he had an angle he wasn’t revealing. But he should have.
Their conversation is interrupted by a message from Alex. When they realize how close Alex is to them Jim reaches out.
Meanwhile, on board the Razorback, Alex and Bobbie are getting an update from Avasarala. The UN Fleet is pulling back to protect Earth. With the information they provide her they’re going to hunt down and destroy any of Marco’s Free Navy they come across.
They’re surprised when a reply to their message comes in from Holden. Jim updates them on the Zmeya and the stolen Protomolecule and tells them to get back to Tycho and await further news from him. They send Holden the information they’ve gathered on Marco’s fleet in case that’s where the Zmeya is headed.
Reviewing this new information, Holden spots Naomi’s ship the Chetzemoka. He’s distracted for a moment, thinking of Naomi, but realizes that the most important thing is getting the Protomolecule sample back.
He tells Alex and Bobbie that Marco has Naomi and asks them to divert and keep an eye on Marco’s fleet. If they lose them, they may never get Naomi back.
Still, on the hunt for the Zmeya, Holden and Monica contemplate how Marco has MCRN ships. He clearly has supporters on Mars. Guns and ammo are one thing. But acquiring gunships would take months of planning and logistics. Not to mention high-level military access. They deduce that the only way Marco could pay for all of this is by offering something extremely valuable that Mars wants in return. And the only thing Marco has that is valuable is the Protomolecule sample and Dr. Cortazar. It can’t be a coincidence that both were seized just days apart.
Holden confesses that they, or more specifically Naomi, gave the Protomolecule sample to Fred. Without it as a bargaining chip, the Inners would never have recognized the OPA without it. Fred was holding on to it until they could build a navy to defend themselves.
Bull interrupts them. They’ve found the Zmeya. In an attempt to escape, the Zmeya fires torpedos at them. The Rocinante just barely manages to take them out with their PDCs. Then Jim fires the railgun to disable their ship so they can board it. Bull and Monica question this decision and why they are not destroying it and the Protomolecule Sample. But Jim wants to find out what they know in order to locate Naomi.
Before they can send in drones to check the ship, the Zmeya explodes.
—
Unbeknownst to them, Marco is monitoring the situation. Marco is upset. If they hadn’t brought Naomi on board, this wouldn’t be happening.
Cyn asks that he let Naomi go. But Marco seeing weakness in his old friend says she’s never leaving the ship. And if Cyn has a problem with that he can go.
A while later, Filip approaches his father and asks for command of his own ship. He wants to show his father all he can do and he wants their people to know who he is. But Marco shows his son just how disappointed he is in his recent actions. The boy’s weakness nearly undid everything they’ve fought for.
Marco doesn’t want to share the glory. He basks in the knowledge that Belters everywhere are chanting his name. Marco, Marco, Marco, and he tells the boy he’s nothing without him. Filip played a part in their victory, and those who matter know that. One day, Filip will lead the Belt. But not until Marco is gone.
Marco then summons Naomi to the bridge. He taunts her, saying she’s free to leave, but no on her ship. Since she was the reason the Rocinante didn’t blow up, taking half of Tycho station with it, they’ve decided to use the Chetzemoka as a trap for the Roci. Once she sees her family die, they’ll put her on the float and she’ll be free.
Marco says it was Filip’s idea. When she questions her son, he can’t look her in the eye. She pleads with her son, and he strikes her calling her a pathetic earth-loving welwalla who tried to make him weak. Marco accuses her of trying to make their sun betray him. She screams and curses at Marco as she’s escorted off the bridge.
As Marco and his crew set the Chetzemoka to remote pilot and detach it from their ship. Naomi makes her way to the airlock. As she closes the inner doors Cyn squeezes through. He pleads with her not to do this. Not to end her life this way.
She turns and tells him he shouldn’t have followed her. Too late, he notices the hypospray in her hand indicating she has other plans. Taking a deep breath, Naomi opens the outer doors and propels herself through space towards the Chetzemoka killing Cyn in the process. Unbeknownst to her, Filip is watching at the inner door.
As she floats towards the ship, completely exposed to the vacuum of space. She injects herself with the hypospray. She manages to grab hold, open the outer airlock door and pull herself in. The outer door cycles closed as her space ravaged body floats inside.
Oyedeng Double Take S5E7- The Expanse Podcast
Jan 13, 2021
Today’s podcast is brought to you by Audible – get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback this week is Friday, 9 AM Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the seventh episode of season 5 titled “Oyedeng.” I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) Why was Marco looking at the ring gate?
2) Was the protomolecule destroyed along with the Zmeya?
3) Are Jim and Monica correct that Mars is supplying Marco in exchange for the Protomolecule?
Bonus Question) If your answer to questions two and three is YES, then what will happen now between Mars and Marco?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
506 Tribes – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Jan 09, 2021
This episode Timestamps
[3:30] Episode Recaps [22:49] Feedback
Episode Recap
Tribes
The episode opens on Luna. A visibly distraught Avasarala is desperately trying to reach her husband Arjun who is missing after the attack on Earth. when David Paster, the Minister of Transportation arrives and uneasily announces that he’s the new acting Secretary General.
He inadvertently mentioned the devastation on the planet, embarrassingly oblivious to the fate of Chirstjen’s family. She tells him her daughter and grandchildren are safe but she hasn’t heard anything about her husband. He offers to pull whatever strings he can to help locate him.
The acting Secretary General confides in her that the only reason he got into politics is because he thought his local politician was an idiot and figured he could do a better job. He never aspired for a higher position and now he’s in over his head.
He knows that Avasarala is responsible for averting additional attacks on Earth and asks her to be part of his provisional cabinet.
She graciously agrees, composes herself and steps out to begin her new role.
————
On Tycho station, Holden and his makeshift crew are in the process of starting up the now no longer sabotaged Rocinante, when Monica Stuart shows up.
Bull and Holden tell her they’re going on a military operation and she shouldn’t be there. But she won’t take no for an answer. The only reason they have a target to go after is because of her and she has a story to write.
She’s already been kidnapped once, and for all they know Marco has more people on Tycho station so she’d rather take her chances on the Roci. She reminds Bull that this isn’t her first rodeo. She was on the Rocinante when it was the first ship to go through the ring gate and survive.
Holden escorts their new passenger to her quarters and orders the ship to give her guest access only to the onboard systems.
Once underway, Holden discovers an unread message from Naomi with the subject line: IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, that was sent while she was on the Chetzemoka. We however, do not see Holden play the message.
————-
Drifting in space, the Razorback is approached by another ship. Three belters attempt to board her, but when they open the hatch they’re met by Bobbie who’s wearing the Martian Marine Goliath suit she acquired on the black market. She opens fire with the suits machine gun and easily dispatches two of them before the third retreats back inside his ship as it tries to make its escape.
While this is going on, Alex who was hiding on the back side of the Razorback leaps through space to the attacking vessel. He makes his way to the ships thruster section and plants a grenade, while Bobbie attempts to hold the two ships together with her suits enhanced strength.
The strain is too much for her suit and she loses her grip. As the two ships drift apart Alex makes a desperate leap and manages to collide with the Razorback quickly engaging his boot and glove magnets.
Bobbie pulls him in as they desperately try to get out of there knowing what’s to come.
As soon as he’s inside he activates the ships emergency startup, putting them under way. As the enemy ship powers up to pursue, their thrusters ignite the grenade which causes a catastrophic explosion destroying the vessel.
———-
Meanwhile, on board the Free Navy flag ship the Pella, Marco is infuriated because the Rocinante didn’t blow up taking out half of Tycho station as expected.
He blames Naomi’s presence for the failure. When Filp apologizes for bring her on board Marco orders his son to space her.
Filip, Cyn and Marco get into an argument and Cyn finally loses his temper and stands up to Marco, telling him if he wants space her he can to do it himself. He won’t let Filip be a part of it.
Marco calmly asks Filip to make the choice for himself and the boy pleads to spare his mother. Marco dismisses the situation saying he has more important things to do.
Once Cyn and Filip are gone, Karal tells Marco, that if he really wants Naomi spaced, the next time ask her.
When Filip confronts him mother telling her she deserves to die for what she did, Naomi feels relieved, knowing she succeeded in saving her people.
Filip accuses her of no longer thinking of him and those she once knew as family anymore.
She agrees, she doesn’t and she feels bad about it. She also knows that if she had attacked Marco she would have been killed. It would have been the last thing she ever did but worth it. Because it’s the only thing left she can do to help her son.
Marco made Filip a murderer. He ended millions of ordinary lives and one day he’ll feel the pressure of what he did.
She also tells him that Marco would expect Filip to die for him, but he would give up his life for the boy.
—
Later Drummer and her armada arrive for their meeting with Marco surprised that his free navy includes Martian warships. Oksana and Josep are worried about Drummer’s state of mind. Her losses are still fresh. They need to make sure she doesn’t do anything rash.
On the Pella, they notice Marco’s crew include members of Golden Bough and Black Sky factions, there as tributes in exchange for Marco people on their ships.
They’re concerned that if Marco already has Golden Bough and Black Sky with him, half the OPA will rally to his banner as well.
After some witty banter sizing each other up Oksana brings everyone back on topic before Drummer and Marco come to blows. They’re there to talk about the future, not the past.
With the inners now the enemy, how are belters going to get food? Earth is the only source of live soil.
Marco assures them plans are in motion, and within a decade the belt will have more agricultural sources than Earth.
Once freed from colonial control, the Belt will have no limit.
He invites Drummer and her crew to join his Free Navy. They are free to leave if they don’t want to, but don’t expect his protection.
Camina reminds him that the only reason they need protection is because of what he did. His actions have committed the entire Belt to war with the Inners and made peace impossible.
Marco explains that they were always at war. All he did was alter the terms.
Back on her ship, Drummer tells her crew what’s going on. There is much debate on whether or not they should join him with both sides sharing valid points.
Until Bertold tells them they have no choice. Marco may have said they have a choice but they don’t. Earth will go to war with the Belt, and their only chance to survive is to stand together.
Like it or not, Inaros is going to do what centuries of leaders, including Anderson Dawes and Fred Johnson couldn’t.
He’s going to combine hundred of factions into one nation and their only choice is to join him or die.
—
The decision made, Marco and Drummer exchange crew members. Serge will stay on the Pella as Karal joins Drummer’s ship.
When Drummer mentions that Serge is family to her, Marco introduces his son Filip to her, stating that Camina is a good friend of his mother. He tells his son how Naomi was with Drummer on the Behemoth before leaving to rejoin her inners.
Drummer reminds him that by rejoining her crew, Naomi helped save every soul in their system. Filip is curious to hear more but there’s no time.
Marco tells Drummer to mention to Naomi what a fine young man her son has become.
And when Drummer asks Filip if he has anything he wishes her to tell Naomi, the boy let slip by saying that there’s no need, he can tell… before Marco abruptly cuts him off.
Suspicious, Drummer returns to her ship and everyone parts ways.
Back at her cell, Filip sits down next to his mother and asks her to tell him about the Behemoth, while Marco watches from the bridge while setting up an intercept with the Rocinante.
————-
On Earth, Amos and Clarissa come across a refugee aid station. Not wanting to be identified by the authorities and Clarissa being sent back to prison, they decide to take their chances on reaching Baltimore. Teaming up with people like Erik in times like these will increase their chance of survival.
It’s a long trip, and Clarissa isn’t in the best of shape, the withdrawal from the mod blockers is making her muscles cramp, but she says she’ll make it.
They come across a dead body in the woods which Amos strips for provisions. They briefly discuss their parents, or lack thereof. When Amos brings up Lydia Clarissa says she sounds like she was a good person. But Amos tells her there are ways someone can live a good life without actually being a good person.
As it’s getting dark they come across a lone traveller sitting by a campfire and they join him to warm up.
Amos questions him about Baltimore but the man tells them they’d be crazy to go there. It’s chaos with people killing each other over simple provisions.
There’s something about the man Amos doesn’t trust so he and Clarissa leave. The man warns them about a man to the east, and end of times guy, who’s holed up in a compound and will shoot anyone who comes too close.
Once they’ve put some distance between them, Amos stops to make sure the man isn’t following them. He says the problem with civilization is it keeps people civil. If you take the one away, you can’t have the other.
He grew up looking over his shoulder and now everyone else is going to have to learn to do the same.
Satisfied that they’re not being followed, Amos changes direction towards the protected compound.
Telling Clarissa to stay hidden, Amos jumps the front gate, calling out with his hands up.
He just wants to talk trade. Amos claims to have a water recycler he’s willing to exchange for a hinting riffle.
The man tells Amos strip to make sure he’s unarmed. But once he does the man intends to shoot Amos and retrieve the water recycler for himself.
Before he can pull the trigger, Clarissa, with her mods fully engaged attacks and kills the man before collapsing from exhaustion deliriously whispering about monsters and not being afraid.
Amos carries her into the house by the fire as she recuperates from her ordeal.
When she regains consciousness he shows her their haul. They have weapons, food and transportation.
Then he asks her about her mods. She explains to him how they help her for a short time but take a heavy toll on her.
He tells her not to worry, he won’t let anything happen to her. He heard her talking in her sleep about monsters and being afraid.
She explains that that was a poem she wrote that she uses as a prayer.
I have killed, but I am not a killer, because a killer is a monster and monsters aren’t afraid.
She then tells him she’s afraid all the time. of the things she did and how right it felt while doing them.
She then question why they came there. Does it bother him that they killed a guy just to get supplies they need?
They went out of their way to murder someone and take his stuff just because they needed it. That’s not the kind of thing good people do. Not even bad people trying to live like good ones.
Amos realizes that Holden never would have approved his actions, and he has to get back to his crew before he loses himself even more.
Tribes Double Take S5E6- The Expanse Podcast
Jan 06, 2021
Today’s podcast is brought to you by Audible – get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback this week is Friday, 9 AM Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the sixth episode of season 5 titled “Tribes.” I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) How long until Avasarala is calling all the shots again?
2) Will Monica turn out to be an asset or a liability?
3) Who will draw first blood, Drummer’s or Marco’s crew?
4) How much darker will Amos get before reuniting with his Roci crew?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss the tenth and final episode of season 4 of The Expanse titled “Cibola Burn”.
You can purchase The Expanse books via Amazon. USA or Canada or the UK
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Down And Out
The episode opens on board Drummer’s ship. The crew is watching the news reports on Earth.
Drummer is taking it hard. She feels guilty for having let Marco live. If she had killed him like was epxected, Ashford’s and Fred’s death and the destruction on Earth would have never happened.
However, Oksana reminds her that if Marco hand’t done it, someone else eventually would have.
Even through her grief, she’s worried about Naomi and how this will affect her.
Drummer’s crew is concerned for their future. Even though Marco is only one small faction, the innards will see all Belters as a threat. And with increased vigilance, it will make their role as pirates much more difficult.
Drummer informs them that she’s agreed to a meeting with Marco Inaros.
————————-
On Earth, with all communications to the rest of the prison cut off, Amos convinces security guard Rona that their best option is to try and leave the place. She reluctantly agrees to allow Amos to bring Clarissa along.
With the elevators down and the stairway blocked, their only option of escape is to find the elevator’s maintenance ladder. However, with the doors jammed there’s no way to access the elevator shaft. Until security guard Sully comes up with a crazy plan.
At gunpoint, they release Konecheck, an inmate who’s mods give him superhuman strength, and get him to pry the doors open. But there’s no maintenance latter to be seen.
However, Clarissa spots a wall panel with a hinge. Amos get’s one of the guards to shoot two holes in the panel and then get’s Konecheck, who he’s calling Tiny, much to the big inmate’s distaste, to pry open the panel, revealing the much needed ladder.
The plan is to send up one guard to make holes in the subsequent panels for Tiny to pry open. It will be slow going, but it’s their only way out.
They draw lots, and Sullivan is chosen to go up with Konecheck.
A while later, the ones waiting below hear a scream as Sullivan’s body comes crashing down.
Konecheck claims the guard lost his grip and fell.
He’s almost at the top so Rona, refusing to split up again, goes up to complete the job with the others trailing behind on the ladder.
They start to get the feel for their situation when they see daylight at the top of the shaft where a whole building should be.
When they reach the top they see the devastation. The entire prison building has been destroyed.
While everyone is distracted, Konecheck kills the guard Morris and disarms Rona, tossing her gun down the elevator shaft.
Amos tries to fight the inmate, but the mans mods make him no match for Amos.
Clarissa tries to activate her mods to help but the blockers she’s on are still in effect.
As Konecheck walks Amos over to the shaft, Rona uses Morris’ gun, still clutched in his dead hand so the override the biolock and shoots the big inmate allowing Amos to throw Konecheck down the elevator shaft.
Rona, still in shock can only think of her daughter. Amos tells her to leave and go find her kid.
Left alone, Amos and Clarissa have nothing left to do but find their way out of there.
———————
On board the Razorback AKA the ScreamingFirehawk, Alex is torn between his loyalty to Mars and his loyalty to Holden. He wan’t to help Jim find the Protomolecule, but Bobbie reminds him that there’s nothing they can do from where they are. However, there is something they can do to help Mars.
When the Barkeith and her escorts kill their transponders and alter their direction, Alex and Bobbie try to covertly find out where they’re heading.
By their trajectory, it looks like they’re going to intersect with the Hungaria Group. The innermost large asteroid group in the Belt. It’s the perfect place to hide in space if you don’t want to be spotted by any scopes.
Alex alters course for a better look but tries to stay hidden by keeping the asteroids between them.
As they approach, spot more Martian ships. As they watch the Barkeith depart they realize it wasn’t transferring weapons, the Barkeith’s escort are the weapons.
That’s when they realize that Marco Inaros’ Free Navy is comprised of Belters on Martian ships.
As the martian ships split up and depart, Alex and Bobbie are spotted and fired upon.
They pump themselves full of juice and push their ship to the max.
Alex tries to outmanoeuvre the incoming missile but it’s no use, it’s catching up to them.
In one last ditch effort, he dumps the ships core to collide with the missile.
They survived, but without power and hustling through space at maximum velocity, how long can they last.
————
On board Marco’s ship, Marco tries to play nice with Naomi, inviting her to join he, Filip and their friends for a meal. Even though she’s being treated like a prisoner, He tells her she’s free to do whatever she wants, except leave. She walks out.
Even though Cyn is on Marco’s side, he does’t like the way his boss is treating Naomi. He seems to be the only one concerned for her.
When left alone, Marco tells Filip that he’s not angry with the boy, but he is disappointed with him for bringing Naomi.
He thinks that having his mother there will be a distractions for the boy. Marco needs his son clear of mind for what’s to come.
He tells the boy that it’s ok to feel sad or even angry for what Naomi did to them. But he can’t let those feelings rule him.
Elsewhere on the ship, Cyn asks Naomi if she would like to help him replace the air scrubbers.
She angrily tells him that things can’t go back to the way they used to be. She had hoped that when she left, he would be there for Filip. That he would install some of his goodness in her son and not let Marco poison the boy.
Cyn tries to justify what Marco is doing, how it’s for the future of all Belters. But all she sees is the river of blood he’s doing it on, and Cyn is helping him.
Later, in the mess hall, Karal tells Naomi she was happy when she left. The fact that she feels remorse for creating the code that destroyed the Gamarra means she was never one of them.
She says nobody is coming to save her and after what she did to Marco, the only way she’s ever leaving that ship is dead.
Naomi picks up a knife and makes her way to the bridge.
She approaches Marco with the intention of killing him but Filip intercedes telling his mom they are busy and she has no business there.
As he escorts her back to a lower deck, he tells her she should be grateful that he took her. By doing so he saved her life.
Naomi reads into his meaning and in a panic, realizes the code she wrote all those years ago that destroyed the Gamarra is now on the Rocinante.
She finds Cyn and pretends to play nice with him, offering her help with the scrubbers. When the Belter’s back is turned, she knocks him out, grabs his terminal and sends a message to Holden telling him the Roci has been sabotaged and to not start its reactor.
—————
On Tycho station, Jim is in a bad place. Fred is dead, Marco has the Protomolecule sample, he can’t reach his parents on Earth. nor can he get ahold of any of the Roci’s crew.
He and Bull interrogate Sakai, she doesn’t give them any useful information, she just keeps reminding them that they’re not Belters and they don’t belong there.
Luckily, Monica’s eye saw the Zmeya’s flight plan while it displayed on Sakai’s terminal. Jim plans on intercepting it with the Rocinante.
As Jim and his temporary flight crew prepare the ship for departure, he receives Naomi’s message. She warns him about the reactor and tells him she’s being held captive by Marco. The message is cut short as Cyn grabs her and the transmission cuts off.
He immediately shuts down the reactor.
Unfortunately, without any location data, there’s no way for him to know where Naomi is.
Down And Out Double Take S5E5- The Expanse Podcast
Dec 30, 2020
Today’s podcast is brought to you by Audible – get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback this week is Sunday, 9 AM Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the fifth episode of season 5 titled “Down And Out.” I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) Who will Holden go after, Naomi or the Zmeya?
2) What are Drummer’s intentions for meeting Marco Inaros?
3) Will Amos ever see his Timmy mug again?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
504 Guagamela – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Dec 28, 2020
This episode Timestamps
[3:35] Episode Recaps [14:24] Feedback
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss the tenth and final episode of season 4 of The Expanse titled “Cibola Burn”.
You can purchase The Expanse books via Amazon. USA or Canada or the UK
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Guagamela
The episode opens between Mars and the Belt on board the Razorback AKA The Screaming Firehawk.
Bobbie and Alex are following the Barkeith. Bobbie is convinced it’s a smuggling run but Alex not so much. He’s having a hard time believing so many Martians can be in on it and doesn’t understand why Bobbie isn’t more upset about the whole situation.
She tells him a story about her pet rat dying and how you only have so much grief inside you. Once it’s used up there’s nothing left to do but react by doing something that matters. Which is what they are doing.
They receive an emergency alert advising all ships headed towards Earth to give way to ships involved in relief efforts. They turn on the news feeds and hear about the asteroid impact on Earth that happened almost simultaneously to an explosion at the Martian parliament building.
—————-
On Earth, Amos visits Clarissa AKA Melba at The Pit, a U.N. Penitentiary. Clarissa is being held 10 floors underground in a special wing for prisoners with body modifications. According to the constitution, prisoners have the rights to body privacy, meaning they cannot be forced to relinquish their mods.
Amos is escorted to Clarissa’s cell. A small concrete cube where she is being kept sedated with mod blockers since it would be too dangerous to try removing her modifications.
At first Clarissa doesn’t believe Amos is really there. She tells him of her life. Blockers every morning, food through a slot in the door, daily 30-hour walk in the yard and therapy once per week. Repeat.
She questions why he came to visit her. He tells her that people like them, and the things they do, can play a toll on them. He was lucky that he had people helping him. He was hoping the be that person for her. But she tells him she can’t be helped.
Their conversation is interrupted by the lockdown alarm. Moments later the whole place shakes violently as cracks appear in the concrete walls and the lights go out.
——————
On Luna, Avasarala is trying to warn Nancy Gao that the asteroid was not a random occurrence but a deliberate attack. But nobody is taking her calls.
Admiral Delgado arrives and informs her that a second rock struck earth northwest of Philadelphia.
The Secretary General and her council is on board UN One trying to understand what is happening.
Her Chief of Staff tries to convincer her to go to Luna but she won’t hear it.
Using her previous connections, Avasarala manages to contact the plane’s chef and get him to pass his communicator to the Secretary-General.
Finally through to Nancy, Christjen tells her what’s happening and what they need to do. Reposition the watch towers which are the only things that can detect stealth technology.
The Secretary General orders it done, moments before another rock strike earth close to her plane and communications is lost. The fate of the UN Government unknown.
—-
With the order received, the Watchtower satellite is redirected to look for stealth asteroids.
Avasarala can’t get a hold of Arjun and pleads with him to contact her. Delgado arrives with the news that with Nancy and most of her cabinet MIA nobody seems to know who is next in line of succession.
Christjen is down and depressed. Delgado takes her to the officer’s lounge to see everyone in shock about what has happened. Everything seems hopeless when they receive word that the repositioned Watchtower satellite detected another asteroid. Relief and hope are renewed as the news comes that Earth’s defence satellites destroyed the incoming asteroid.
—————-
On Tycho, Fred, Jim and Sakai are monitoring the arrival of the Zmeya, as Bull and his team wait inside the shipping container.
Suspiciously, an alert comes in from reactor control, on the other side of the station that requires security to check out.
Jim gets suspicious when the Zmeya doesn’t follow their projected flight plan, stating thruster issues.
Holden tells Bull to get out of the container. It’s a trap. Bull and his team exit as the ship’s cargo bay doors start to open, and they fire a missile destroying the shipping container.
Distracted by wha’t happing outside, Sakai takes the opportunity to reveal herself by shooting Fred in the back three times before fleeing, shutting of the entire station’s communication network on the way.
The Zmeya fires a second time, but this time it’s not a missile but a boarding skiff. It latches on the the station outside of Fred Johnson’s quarter where Monica Stuart hiding.
Fred, badly wounded tells Holden that his sample of the Protomolecule is in his quarters. Jim has to get to it before they do.
The boarding team break through the wall to Fred’s quarters and send in a retrieval droid.
Sakai arrives as the droid starts cutting through the floor. She orders the Belters with her to put Monica in a vac suite. They’re taking her with them.
With station security holding off an attack in the reactor, Holden is on his own.
He shoots the belters, as Monica subdues Sakai, but the droid makes it out with the Protomolecule sample. Sakai laughs at them.
—
Later, In the medical bay, the doctors are unable to save Fred. Jim, Bull and Monica grieve by his body.
——————
Somewhere in space, Filip and crew rendezvous with the Pella, Marco’s ship. Naomi is brought before Inaros who is both surprised and pleased to see her.
He shows off his warship saying Belters need a way to protect themselves but she says there are other ways Belters can protect themselves.
She tells him he hasn’t changed, but he disagrees. He tells her that raising a child changes one’s perspective. All you want to do is provide a better world for them than the one that was given to you.
She’s disgusted that he had their son kidnap her but Marco informs her that that was all Filip’s decision. In some ways he thinks their son is still a little boy who needs his mother.
Marco tries to impress Naomi by showing her what’s happening on Earth. How he’s taken steps to free their people and return dignity to the Belt. But she’s disgusted by what he’s done, putting blood on their son’s hands.
But Filip says he willingly helped. In fact, Marco tells her their son played a pivotal roll in the plan.
When informed that the rest of the rocks were either destroyed or missed Earth, Marco is not upset. On the contrary, he views 3 rocks hitting the planet as a huge victory for the Belt.
After locking Naomi in her room. He get’s on the coms and broadcasts system wide.
He is Marco Intros, commander of the Free Navy, the military arm and voice of the outer planet and the ones responsible for the attacks on Earth and Mars as retribution for the atrocities committed by the inners against innocent Belters over generations.
But they won’t be persecuted anymore. He threatens more attacks on Earth and Mars if the Inners don’t recognize the new regime. The Free Navy now possess the last remaining sample of Protomolecule and they won’t hesitate to use it on either planet.
Earth and Mars can remain sovereign planets, but everything outside their atmosphere, including the Ring Gate and Ring Worlds belongs to the Belters.
Going forward, the Free Navy will remake humanity without the greed and corruption of the inner planets.
He calls upon all Belters to rise up and fight for their future and their freedom.
Guagamela Double Take S5E4- The Expanse Podcast
Dec 23, 2020
Today’s podcast is brought to you by Audible – get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback this week is Sunday, 9 AM Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the fourth episode of season 5 titled “Guagamela.” I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) What is Holden’s next move?
2) How will Earth respond?
3) How will Mars respond?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss the tenth and final episode of season 4 of The Expanse titled “Cibola Burn”.
You can purchase The Expanse books via Amazon. USA or Canada or the UK
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recaps
NOTE: I write these recaps fast while watching the episodes. I have not taken the time to edit them for grammatical or spelling errors.
Exodus
The episode opens in space. Following the progression of Rock #9. As it passes by the sun it breaks up into smaller fragments.
The U.N.S. Hasami, a science ship near venus is tracking the mysterious fragments that appeared from nowhere. They’re having a hard time getting sensor readings from them.
All of a sudden the ship is boarded. A team of Marco Inarus’s people, lead by Filip demands their data about the rock. Once they have what they came for they kill the crew, destroy the ship and are on their way.
————-
On Tycho Station, the Rocinante is undergoing much needed repairs after their adventure on Illus.
Tycho’s chef of operations, Bull isn’t happy with the special treatment given to the ship.
When Naomi encounters Fred, he gives her information on the whereabouts of her son Filip.
She immediately acquires a ship to travel to Palace station to find her son.
Meanwhile, Holden runs into Monica Stewart. She’s working on a story about secret experimenting on the Protomolecule and wants to know what Jim knows. He doesn’t tell her anything but immediately goes to question Fred.
Fred doesn’t deny the fact but assures Jim the Protomolecule is secure.
Jim shows Fred classified footage from Dr, Okoye experimenting on the device found on Illus aka New Terra.
He tells Fred the entities that created the artifact killed the Protomolecule and are a threat to humankind.
Fred questions, Holden’s imagination. As far as he’s concerned, everything Jim is telling him is pure speculation.
Back at their quarters on the station, Naomi tells Jim she’s leaving Tycho to find Filip but she has to do this alone, without him.
Naomi is torn up with guilt over abandoning her son. If he’s killed, she’ll never be able to live with herself.
Of course Holden protests, he’s worried for her safety, especially with Marco Inarus involved. But in the end agrees to let her do alone.
She boards the freighter and leaves as Jim watches her go from the bridge of the Rocinante.
—————
On board The Lazy Songbird, a Belter ferry en route to Luna, Amos runs into a bit of trouble from a group of belters strong-arming the passengers.
They’re trying to extract a passenger insurance but the big man puts them in their place.
Once on Luna, Security asks Amos to accompany them to see Avasarala.
She wan’t to know why he’s going back to earth.
She’s not sure she buys his story about taking care of a dead friend’s affairs.
———
Still on Luna, Admiral Delgado informs Avasarala about the investigation into the Hasami, the destroyed science ship. Investigators found something suspicious that could possibly be one of Marco’s ships. Which makes them question why Marco would want to destroy a science ship?
————
On Mars, Bobbie acquires a stolen Marine power armor from a dealer. She enquires about stealth torpedoes but he blows off her question.
She informs Avasarala of her progress in discovering the roots of the black market ring. She’s getting close but feels like time is running out.
Meanwhile, Alex discovers how bleak life on Mars has become. He tries talking to his ex-wife but she blows him off. She doesn’t want to hear whatever he has to say.
He calls Melas, his son who is on a school trip, the conversation is a bit awkward.
Bobby meets up with him at a bar. Alex tries to catch up but Bobbie is very defensive. She snaps at him for no apparent reason and storms off.
The episode comes to an end with Christjen is studying a propoganda video of marco. while the scene cuts to Inarus looking at the rocks heading towards earth. Time to impact 12 days, 7 hours, 13 minutes.
That’s the episode
Churn
The episode opens with a mayday from the colony ship Sulaiman Al Mahri, they’ve been attacked and are in the process of being boarded. They’re asking for immediate assistance.
Drummer contacts the attacking ship and demands her dues as faction leader. When they refuse, she disables their ship with a missile. Humbled the pirate concedes and gives Drummer her cut of his bounty.
Without any remorse, Drummer leaves the Sulaiman Al Mahri dead in space waiting for another ship to rescue them.
Drummer and her crew celebrate their victory. Not only did they get their cut of the bounty, solidifying her claim as head of the faction. But they did so without anyone getting hurt.
When word arrives that the Tynan, Klaes Ashford’s ship has been found, Drummer orders a new course
———
On Earth, in Baltimore, Amos remenises about his youth in the city. Experiencing memories of Lydia and growing up there.
He arrives at Lydia’s house and is met by Charles and we find out that Amos’ real name is Timothy.
Once Amos is satisfied that Lydia’s death was natural and that Charles was good to her he relaxes.
We find out that Thimothy was protituted out as a kid, but once he outgrew his cuteness he was used as an enforcer.
Then Lydia found him and taught him how to save himself.
When Amos hears that Charles is being kicked out of the house because it belonged to Lydia and that the landlord is someone by the name of Erich. Amos knows him from his youth, he decides to help the old man.
—
Later, Amos confronts one of Erich’s goons to set up a meeting.
He’s directed to what appears to be an old derelict building, but the outside is just a front. Inside the building is state of the art.
Erich is wondering why his old friend is back. Timmy killed the real Amos Burton over 20 years ago for Erich, took the dead man’ name and left the planet promising never to return.
Erich thinks that with Lydia dead, Timmy is coming back to take over his operation. He calms down once he realizes that the big man is only there to ensure Charles can keep Lydia’s house.
The two reminisce before Erich says goodbye to his old friend telling him if he ever comes back he’ll kill him.
A flashback of Lydia explaining hurt and kindness to a young Timothy giving us more insight into the complicated man’s psyche.
Before Amos leaves the planet he calls Avasarala for a favour. He’s never coming back to Earth, and before he goes, there’s one more person he needs to see.
——————-
On Tycho Bull questions Fred’s motives for what he does.
On the Roci, Sakai informs Jim of the repair progress. He decides to followup on a message Monica left for him. But when he shows up at her room for the meeting there’s evidence that Monica has been abducted.
With the station shut down to all departing ships, Bull’s team investigates but they have no leads. All surveillance video has been scrubbed.
Holden is convinced her disappearance has something to do with the proof Monica said she has about the secret Protomolecule research.
Later, Holden discovers a video signal coming in from Monica. It’s a recording of what she’s seeing. They figure out she’s in a shipping container but they have no way of telling which one.
—
In the container, Monica manages to free herself from her bonds. She tries to break out, but in doing so releases the pressure in the container. She’s in space, and is losing her breathable air.
—
Using Thermal imaging, Fred discovers a shipping container that is warmer than the rest. Holden and Bull cut it open, only to discover it’s filled with fertile soil, hence the heat.
—
As the air runs out in Monica’s container, we hear a noise from outside. The hole she made allowed Holden and Bull to see the escaping air allowing them to rescue her.
———————-
On Mars, Alex tries to figure out what’s going on with Bobbie. She’s angry and snaps at everything he says. When he’s about to give up on her she comes around and confides in him what she’s been up to.
She takes him to her storage locker where she stores the contraband she’s acquired. Alex is shocked by what is going on.
Unable to turn to the police or the MPs he agrees to help her.
When he notices she’s investigating Emil Sauveterre he thinks something must be wrong, He knows the man and doesn’t think he’s capable of betraying Mars.
But Bobbie claims that everyone she knows is involved was transferred to their posts, posts they are not qualified for, by Sauveterre.
Alex decides to pay a visit to his old shipmate at the military college. He catches the end of Sauveterre’s very moving lecture about the Ring Space and Mars’ role in the future of humanity.
When Alex talks to him, the Admiral shows contempt towards Alex and dismisses him. Lieutenant Babbage, the admiral’s aide, assures Alex it’s not him. The Admiral is just jealous about his experiences going through the Ring Gate.
She says it’s an honour to meet him and asks if he’d be up to getting together.
—————
On Luna,
Ashanti, Chrisjen’s daughter says goodbye to her mother. She has to go back to earth. She encourages her mother to patch things up with Arjun. but Avasaraly says what she’s doing is important and Arjun understands that.
Later during a UN council meeting, Avasarala brings up the destroyed science ship and a possible connection to Marco Inaros but Nancy Gao dismisses her story.
Later, Avasarala and Delgado discuss Nancy over a drink and how the new secretary general treated Christjen at the meeting.
They then contemplate why the science ship was destroyed. Why would Marco take the risk?
They don’t think it was piracy, that would be too dangerous this close to the inner planets. So it must have something to do with the mission the ship was on.
And that was the episode
Mother
The episode opens with a shot of the rock’s trajectory. Time to impact 22 hours and 47 minutes.
Meanwhile, Out in the Belt, the crews of the Dewalt and Mowteng investigate Ashford’s ship. It’s been stripped clean and left for dead.
the reactor is still in tact, with water and fuel from their reserves, they can patch up the ship and take it with them adding it to their armada.
Drummer tells everyone to search the ship for a hidden data cores she knows Ashford would have secretly kept.
While investigating a malfunction in the forward airlock, Drummer discovers a fire extinguisher with a false bottom and the missing data core.
It contains the last recording Ashford made of his conversation with Marco, where the terrorist confesses to plans much larger than any Belter ever dreamt of.
With this new information, Drummer plans on going after Marco herself using the $20 million bounty as the reason.
Her crew is reluctant but doesn’t oppose her plan.
Later, Oksana confronts Drummer. She tells her her grief over Ashford is not an excuse for vengeance. It’s ok for her to grieve.
Drummer confesses that she feels guilty over Ashford’s death. He had asked her to be is XO but she turned him down.
She wanted to set her own path. but her grief and pain is bringing her back to her old ways, of anger and vengeance.
Later that night, Drummer sends a message to Fred Johnson informing him they found the Tynan and that Ashford is dead. She sends him the recording from Ashford for him to do with as he pleases. It’s no longer her fight.
————
Back on Tycho, Monica shows Holden and Fred video of an attack that took place on Ceres station a few days ago. Everyone was killed except for Cortazar, the scientist who specializes in the Protomolecule and the man that Anderson Daws had taken.
According to her sources, a Belter strike team took Cortazar.
Fred later tells Holden that Daws confirms the video but doesn’t have a clue who’s responsible.
Holden thinks Fred is a target and should get off of Tycho but Fred brushes it off.
They put a plan in motion to catch Monica’s kidnappers.
With the help of Sakai they find out who sold the Shipping container that Monica was trapped in.
But when they arrive to question them, the two men are dead. But all is not lost.
The ship that was scheduled to pick up Monica’s shipping container is still inbound, and they don’t know Monica isn’t in it.
Bull wants to set up a greeting party inside the container to capture the ones who come to collect i.
————-
On Pallas Station, Naomi encounters Cyn and Karal, old friends who have mixed feelings about seeing her there.
When she mentions Filip the two get cold. They tell her Filip doesn’t want her in his life.
Naomi tells them the price on Marco’s head is going to get her son killed and she wants to see him. She pleads them to pass on the message.
Later, Filip arrives to ask his mother what she wants. He’s angry at her abandoning him.
She tells him she’ll never forgive herself for her choices, but it was never about him.
She’s not looking for forgiveness. but she loves him and wants to help him.
She’s tells him she’s afraid that whatever Marco has gotten himself into will end up hurting Filip.
She bought him a ship so that he could leave.
but he says he doesn’t need her. Everything Marco told him about his mother was true.
Later, when Filip arrives on the ship, Naomi thinks he’s reconsidered, but instead, he tazers her and with the help of Cyn and Karal takes the ship. Taking Naomi with them.
————
On Mars, Bobbie is convinced Admiral Sauveterre is the head of the black market cartel.
She wants Alex to meet with Lewtenant Babbage and dig for information on the Admiral.
However, when they do meet, Babbage is the one digging for info. She’s charming and flirtatious and Alex can’t resist answering her questions.
When Alex finally starts asking about Sauveterre, Babbage gets suspicious.
When Alex suggest they continue the date elsewhere, Babbage says she can’t. She’s shipping off in the morning on a routine resupply missing on board the Barkeith.
She doesn’t seem to interested in another date, but confuses Alex by kissing him before departing.
Back at his room, Alex is attacked by two people who inject him with a form of truth serum and ask him why he’s asking about Admiral Sauveterre. He can’t resist telling them.
Before they can kill him Bobbie arrives and quickly subdues both attackers.
The police later inform them that the two attackers are ex marines dishonourably discharged for stealing military hardware.
Knowing what they know, they decide to use the Razorback to follow Babbage and the Barkeith on their supply mission to see if it’s an arms deal.
They each make their preparations and agree to meet at the Razorback.
————————
On Luna, Avasarala and Delgado asking Dr. Alaoui about his interpretation of the rock fragments the Hasami was investigating.
Upon closer inspection, Dr. Alaoui notices that all the rocks have a higher return signatures on one side which is very strange.
He theorizes that If they were all fragments of a larger rock that broke up, and if that larger rock struck the earth, an impossibility Dr. Alaoui assures them, but if it did, it would be akin to a nuclear bomb with a blast radius of 13 kilometres.
Delgado speculates that the rock was coated with stealth tech to hide it from their spotting stateliness.
And why would Marco stop at just one rock?
Avasarala says they need to reposition the watch towers that are currently looking towards Mars, keeping an eye out for stealth technology.
She wants Delgado to make the case to the director of intelligence. But Delgado thinks the attempt will be futile.
Later, he informs Christjen that realigning the watchtowers will not happen. She wants him to find another way, but he’s backed into a corner. His career is on the line if he keeps following her.
He tells her it’s time to move on. She pleads with him, but he walks out.
That evening, Christjen records a message for Arjun. It’s a veiled admission that she misses him, but that she’s still needed on Luna.
As she’s leaving her office, she receives a message from Fred Johnson with the Ashford Marco recording. But it comes too late. The rocks have arrived.
Today’s podcast is brought to you by Audible – get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback this week is Sunday, 9 AM Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the first three episodes of season 5 titled “Exodus,” “Churn,” and “Mother.” I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) Who is going after the Protomolecule?
2) What will Bobbie and Alex find on their covert mission?
3) What is Filip up to with his new ship and his mother?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
The Expanse Season 4 Recap – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Dec 01, 2020
The Expanse Season 4 Recap
Time Stamps
[16:15] Ep 1: New Terra
[20:11] Ep 2: Jetsam
[26:19] Ep 3: Subduction
[30:16] Ep 4: Retrograde
[36:40] Ep 5: Oppressor
[43:04] Ep 6: Displacement
[48:44] Ep 7: A Shot In The Dark
[54:33] Ep 8: The One Eyed Man
[1:01:52] Ep 9: Saeculum
[1:08:57] Ep 10: Cibola Burn
I’ve combined all ten of my season 4 recaps into one episode. In just about an hour of listening, you can be back up to speed on where things stand in The Expanse before the premiere of season 5 on Wednesday, December 16.
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Do you prefer reading a physical book? You can pick your copies of the Expanse series on Amazon or eBay.
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
410 Cibola Burn – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Feb 19, 2020
Cibola Burn
This episode Timestamps
[4:15] Episode Recap [19:45] Feedback
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss the tenth and final episode of season 4 of The Expanse titled “Cibola Burn”.
You can purchase The Expanse books via Amazon. USA or Canada or the UK
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Cibola Burn
The episode opens with Dr. Elvi Okoye falling through the void with Miller. The terrifying experience of passing through the eye leaves her shaken. The machine that once housed Miller sits inert on the floor next to her.
The essence of the detective is gone, and around the planet, all energy reading from the ancient protomolecule machinery goes dark.
With Elvi now safe, Holden goes and finds the badly injured Amos and brings the big man and Murtry back to the void chamber.
Jim asks Elvi what she saw in the void. She tells him it was more of a feeling. She could feel the spaces between things and a presence that was moving towards her. Jim has experienced that feeling himself.
Holden then decides to climb the chamber wall to an opening way above them. Before doing so he makes Amos promise not to kill Murtry while he’s gone.
He scales the wall to the top and looks out over the vastness of dead protomolecule machinery covering the planet. He calls the Roci and asks them to come to pick them up.
——
In orbit, seeing the energy readings on the planet end, Naomi successfully fires up the Roci’s reactor and is soon followed by the Barb and the Edward Israel.
Everyone is celebrating, but Lucia knows that she will now have to answer for what she did on the planet.
After receiving the call from Jim they head to the planet and pick them up. Including Murtry who they are holding as a prisoner.
Lucia is brooding. After everything she did to save her family, she’s never going to see them again. She doesn’t think they’ll want to talk to her again, but Alex convinces her that she’ll regret it if she doesn’t open up to them. He urges her not to make the same mistake he made with his family.
Naomi is sad about Lucia’s fate. The Belter woman never intended for anyone to get hurt, but she’s sure to be made an example of for others. But Holden offers to alter his report and say that Lucia was lost to space when the Roci was attacked by the Edward Israel’s shuttle.
Down on the planet, the RCE team and the Belters work together to build a new settlement they’re calling Second Landing.
Elvi is excited for the chance to be the first scientist to study the war between the Builders and whoever killed them. Holden just wants to make sure that they don’t become the second victim to the killers.
As the Roci and the Barb leave orbit. Felcia says goodbye to her family as she heads to school on Ceres station. On Elis, Lucia and Jakob have taken Chike into their family.
In the cargo hold. Naomi and Holden remove the section of deck Miller told them about. The place the now inert glob of protomolecule into a torpedo and fire it into the nearby sun, Holden contemplates his friendship with Miller and how he’ll miss the strange man.
When Naomi learns of the bounty on Marco Inaros she immediately sends a message to Fred Jonson asking his help in finding her son Filip.
Now that both Amos and Murtry are healed. The two men finally have their fight. Murtry throws the first punch and immediately regrets it once he sees the look in Amos’ eyes.
——
At an abandoned steroid mine in the Belt, Ashford is following the trail of Marco Inaros. He suspects the Belter terrorist was there very recently but he doesn’t know why. The iron-nickel asteroids are worthless so why the interest?
He manages to extrapolate the trajectory of a ship that passed by there with its transponder off and sets pursuit.
In the cargo bay, a Martian, one of Marco’s known collaborators is being interrogated. Ashford wants to know why Mars is helping a Belter Terrorist. The MCRN Supply Officer says it’s for money, Mars isn’t what it used to be.
He was apprehended on Callisto station where he has access to the MCRN arsenal. Ashford suspects he was selling weapons to Inaros.
Ashford warns the man, that violence is an indiscriminate tool. If you use it against your enemies it sometimes kills the ones you love most.
The MCRN Officer has nothing else to say. After Ashford leaves him along he manages to get his hands on a pair of pliers.
Ashford’s crew wants to do away with the Martian but Ashford teaches them compassion. Yes, you need to show strength but then you show a smile. This way they’ll open up to you. Inaros knows this, it’s what makes him so dangerous. His crew is not convinced.
Upon further investigation, Ashford discovers that Marco took two of the asteroids with him and that could only mean he’s planning an attack. But where? Maybe Tycho or Ceres as revenge against Fred Johnson and Anderson Dawes.
Unfortunately, the MCRN Officer manages to kill one of the crew members with the pliers and is killed by another before he can give them answers.
——
On Mars, a suspicious Bobbie is following Beltran when she runs into Leelee. They compare notes on the man. From what they’ve figured out, he’s a low-level desk jockey. So how has he been able to supply them with top-level security codes? Bobbie suspects he may be an intelligence officer playing them.
Bobbie thinks his latest score is a setup, and she thinks the big payout has blinded Esai to the danger.
Leelee hears her out but decides to go along with the plan. It’s too much money to pass on.
Bobbie continues her investigation and discovers that Leelee was part of the Protomolecule Working Group but her file is classified.
She later learns that Beltran is dead and tries to call Esai to warn him but he turns it off without answering.
She goes to the secret exchange location and discovers it’s an ambush right as the shooting starts.
Esai is killed and Bobbie goes after the assailants. A bomb detonates shattering the warehouse’s dome ceiling exposing it to the Mars atmosphere. Bobbie manages to escape through an airlock pulling a distraught Leelee with her. They were all supposed to die in the ambush. Whoever coordinated it must be very high up in the ranks. The merchandise stolen was Mars stealth technology.
The news outlets are reporting the explosion as a terrorist attack. They need to get off-planet. Leelee offers to take Bobbie with her to Ceres station but the ex-Marine has other plans. The two-part ways.
——
On Earth, Avasarala and her command team sift through Holden’s report. With the protomolecule now inert, the RCE science team and the Belters have agreed to remain on Ilus to rebuild the settlement.
The Roci will escort the Barbapiccola to the Ring Gate for it to sell it’s ore while the Edward Israel will remain in orbit and offer help to those on the planet.
Christjen knows this report is the final nail in her coffin and is exactly what Nancy Gao needs to win the election.
Fast forward to after the election. Nancy has won. In her victory address, Gao states her intent to fully open the Ring Gates for exploration and for colonization.
A graciously defeated Avasarala is summoned to Luna to meet with Nancy’s transition team. She asks Arjun to go with her but he thinks it might be better if he stayed on Earth as they both adjust to their new lives. The two obviously have a lot to work out.
Chrisjen later records a heartfelt message to Nancy Gao, welcoming her to her new office and offering her advice and wisdom on what the new Secretary-General should expect.
As she finished her recording she receives a message from Bobbie warning her about the secret military dealings between Mars and the Belt. And if the offer still stands, she would like to come work for the Earth woman.
——
Somewhere in space, drones apply a stealth pain to huge asteroids effectively masking them from sensors and view.
The ship carrying the asteroids is attacked and power is knocked out. On the bridge, Marco Inaros prepares his crew to repel a boarding attack as Ashford and his crew land on the ship in a pod and prepare to board.
Ashford fights his way to the bridge where he faces Marco. Ashford has Marco dead to rights when a young man steps out from the side with his gun trained on Klaes. It’s Filip, Naomi and Marco’s son.
They place Ashford in an airlock. Marco is surprised the old man isn’t begging for his life, but Klaes won’t give him the satisfaction.
Instead, he secretly turns on his communicator and starts broadcasting as he tries to get Marco to confess he’s attacking Tycho Station. But Marco says the days of Belters attacking Belters are over.
He tells Ashford he’s thinking too small but doesn’t elaborate any further.
They open the airlock doors and Ashford floats out to his death with an old Belter song on his lips. The communicator on his wrist sending its message.
Marco then puts his grand plan into action. Setting everything up, and launching several stealth asteroids towards Earth.
409 Saeculum – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Feb 11, 2020
Saeculum
This episode Timestamps
[4:34] Episode Recap [14:29] Feedback
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss the ninth episode of season 4 of The Expanse titled “Saeculum”.
You can purchase The Expanse books via Amazon. USA or Canada or the UK
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Saeculum
The episode opens from Miller’s point of view. The Protomolecule’s Investigator and Miller’s true conscience are fighting each other for control.
Miller finally emerges victorious and explains to Holden how the Protomolecule created The Investigator in his image to get Holden to do its bidding.
But being inside Jim’s head, watching how he thinks, gave Miller what he needed to outsmart his jailer and take over. But he doesn’t know for how long.
During his battle, Miller discovered something important the Protomolecule didn’t want him to know about. A dead place on the planet the Protomolecule can’t go.
He leads Holden into a previously unknown passage to finally put an end to all of this.
He explains that there was a war on the planet between the beings that made the Protomoleucle and something even worse. And the dead spot he senses is something left behind from that war. Possibly a bomb that kills the Protomolecule on touch.
Unsure of what else it might do makes Holden hesitant. However, if it works, Miller can kill his jailers which will free the ships in orbit and Holden and everyone else can go free. The only other option is to watch everyone on the planet starve to death as the ships fall out of the sky.
They come to a hole in the ground and Miller wants Jim to jump in.
Elvi overhears Jim having a one-sided conversation with someone and follows him down the passage.
Miller vanishes as she reaches them. She offers to help but with her around, Jim can’t see Miller who he needs to guide him.
He takes a deep breath and jumps into the hole.
Holden falls for what seems like forever before gently landing on the bottom.
Miller and The Investigator continue to battle each other with Miller, for the time being, coming out on top.
He leads Holden further and further through the ancient passages.
They reach a chamber that Miller cannot sense. At its center is a glowing void that Holden describes as the eye of an angry god.
Miller is running out of time. The Investigator is fighting hard to regain control.
His plan is to put himself into something physical and then turn on every machine on the planet. When he then walks into the void, everything Protomolecule should be destroyed.
Holden questions, if the void is what killed the Builders what happens to humanity who is now using their Ring Gates? Miller doesn’t have an answer.
Holden then realizes, that if this works. It will be the last time he sees Miller and says goodbye as Miller tries to enter a physical form.
——
In orbit above New Terra, the Rocci is experiencing more drag than expected while pulling the Barbapiccola. They need to do another burn to get the ship higher.
Alex mentions in passing that the Barb would be easier to pull if it wasn’t carrying its heavy cargo.
On the planet, Murtry is getting regular updates on the progress of the two ships. He orders the modified shuttle to intervene on the Roci and Barb’s progress.
Fayez on board the Edward Israel questions the launch of the shuttle. When he demands to know what’s going on, the head of security onboard threatens him if he doesn’t back down.
Frightened, and unsure of what’s going on, he investigates on his own and notices the shuttle is on a trajectory towards the Roci and Barbapiccola.
He secretly warns Alex who questions the Edward Israel about their shuttles approach. When he fails to get an answer he surmises they’re under attack and fires upon the shuttle destroying it.
The debris reins down on the Rocci dislodging Lucia spinning her off into space. A quick-thinking Naomi tethers herself and jumps after the Belter woman. After a tense few seconds, she reaches Lucia and manages to pull her back in.
The incident drained a lot of needed power from the Roci, which drastically impedes their effort to move the Barb.
With the situation bleak, Lucia decides the only remaining course of action is to rescue the Barb’s crew and cut the ship loose.
But then Alex remembers that the Roci’s newly installed railguns have their own batteries. Firing them will act like a big thruster propelling the Roci and the Barb. If it doesn’t work, they can always evacuate the Belter ship.
He fires the first shot and it works. The two ships move into a slightly higher orbit, but it will take more shots for them to make any real progress.
——
At the camp, Chandra Wei invites Amos to join their camp, now that the blindness and slugs are no longer an issue, the next problem will be food and things could get ugly as people start to starve.
Amos expresses concern over Murtry and tells her that no matter how well someone treats his people, it doesn’t mean you can trust them.
Wei says the reason Amos doesn’t like Murtry is that the two are exactly alike. But Amos disagrees. He says the difference is he would never lie to her. She walks away.
Later, at the RCE camp, Murtry advises Wei that it’s almost time for them to take action. He wants to know the whereabouts of Amos and Holden.
When Holden can’t be found, he pressures Dr. Okoye into revealing his location.
She informs Amos that Murtry and Wei went after Holden and she thinks he’s in trouble. She leads him to the passage as he calls Wei and tells her he’s coming after Murtry.
When Amos and Elvi arrive at the bottom of the hole, Wei is waiting for them. She begs Amos to join her. People like them kill for money but never get rich. This time they can.
He can’t believe she bought into Murtry’s story.
He reminds her that he will never lie to her. He’s going after Holden, even if it means going through her. When she says she can’t allow that, he shoots her.
Murtry, who had been listening nearby shoots and severely wounds Amos. Elvi wants to help the big man but he sends her after Holden.
She finds Jim and tells him about Murtry shooting Amos and how the RCE man wants him dead.
Jim goes to help his friend leaving Dr. Okoye in the void chamber.
——
On his way to Amos, Holden encounters Murtry. The two stand off. The RCE man blabbers on about civilization and everyone’s purpose, and how he’s so much better than everyone else.
The two draw their guns and fire. Holden receives a glancing blow but Murtry’s wounds are more serious.
Murtry taunts Jim to finish him, but Holden intends to bring him back to stand trial. With Murtry not going anywhere, Jim returns to the void chamber.
——
Alone in the void chamber, Dr. Okoye hears a voice, it’s Miller. With Holden gone, he asks her to help him reach the void.
Now in the form of a metallic multi appendage machine, she guides him to the void.
When he’s less than a meter away he flips the switches he’s been talking about. All over the planet, machines that have laid dormant for millennia start turning on and the entire planet starts to glow blue.
But before Miller can finally enter the void, the Protomolecule machines attacks and drags him away.
As Elvi watches, thousands of metallic insect-like creatures swarm into the room. She ducks for cover as they narrowly miss her and fly into the void.
A badly mangled Miller machine falls to the floor. Unable to move on his own, Dr. Okoye drags him to the eye in the center of the room.
As Holden enters the room, Elvi gives Miller one final push into the void.
408 The One Eyed Man – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Feb 03, 2020
The One Eyed Man
This episode Timestamps
[5:15] Episode Recap [16:50] Feedback
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss the eighth episode of season 4 of The Expanse titled “The One Eyed Man”.
You can purchase The Expanse books via Amazon. USA or Canada or the UK
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
The One Eyed Man
The episode opens on Earth. A restless Avasarala prepares herself for a memorial service in honour of the marines killed during the boarding of the Pizzouza.
Video of the Pizzouza’s final moments is circulating on all the news feeds and causing an uproar in the Belt. Former UNN Officer turned OPA leader Fred Johnson condemns the UN for threatening the armistice and alliance around the Ring Gate.
Nancy Gao is calling for an investigation into the action and stresses that peace is essential for the colonization of the new worlds.
General McCourt, who’s marines were the ones killed tenders his resignation, stating that he cannot work for someone like Avasarala who only has her best interests in mind.
Later, at the memorial service, Avasarala halts mid-speech. She discards the prewritten speech and talks from her heart. She shares the story of her own son’s death and how it affected her as a mother.
She admits to her failure in keeping the people of earth safe and takes responsibility for the death of the marines. She tells them she’s truly sorry.
When later questioned about the memorial service, Nancy Gao praises Avasarala for accepting responsibility and showing she’s an honourable woman.
However, the day doesn’t end on a pleasant note. Classified footage showing the Protomolecule machines on New Terra was leaked to the media causing a new apprehension towards the Ring Gate and the worlds beyond. An investigation into the security breach is underway.
Arjun confronts Christjen about the report. She admits to leaking the footage in order to change the narrative. In her mind, this election should have always been about New Terra.
He’s upset that she’s placed her pride over what’s best for the people. She’s manipulating the system and she used their son’s death for political advantage. Upset, he walks out on her.
——
In Ring Space, Fred Johnson arrives at Medina Station. Drummer doesn’t give him the warm welcome he expected. She blames him for leaking Marco Inaros’ location to the innards which ended in the death of the Pizzouza’s crew. The results of which rallies the Belters’ against the innards and turns Marco into a hero.
He tells her it was the right move to make. Leaking the location appeased the Earthers and keeps the OPA’s hands clean when it comes to the other OPA factions who support Marco.
Fred turns the blame on Drummer for siding with Marco when she had the chance to kill him, but Ashford backs Drummer up saying it was the right move at the time.
But there’s a bigger issue at hand. In the aftermath of the Pizzouza tragedy, the Belters are losing their authority in Ring Space. Fred Johnson is there to negotiate a way for them to maintain control of the Ring Space and ensure the UNN removes their battleship. Medina Station is the backbone of the Belt’s economic future and they must do whatever they can to protect it.
Still upset over the circumstances, Drummer quits. Ashford talks to her. She’s uncertain about the Belt’s future and she’s afraid that Marco’s vision may be right. He assures her it’s not. Their future cannot be built on violence.
Ashford tells Drummer he turned down Fred’s offer to take her place as head of Medina. Instead, he plans on hunting down Marco himself and would like her to join his cause. She later meets him on his ship. Not to join him, but to wish him well. She’s done working for men with big dreams and wants to stay out of politics.
——
On Mars, Thomas splits out early on Bobbie after their night together. He as a job interview that might take him off-world.
Later Bobbie and her crew are briefed on their new contract. Bobbie questions the simplicity of the mission compared to the huge payout and wonders what package they are moving.
She later visits Esai at his home and is surprised that he has a wife and kids. She tells him there’s something about their new job that doesn’t feel right. Beltran, the active marine is the one who brought them the job and she doesn’t trust him.
But Esai is blinded by the payout. He sees this as his family’s ticket off of Mars. With thousands of newly inhabitable worlds to explore, there’s no reason to stay on the red planet. He tells Bobbie her debt to him is paid so if she wants out, it’s OK.
She later runs into her nephew David. The two have an awkward conversation. He tells her he’s been accepted into the terraforming project and thanks her for her help in getting him there. Bobbie’s joy for her nephew is weighed down by her recent conversation with Esai about Mars being a dead planet.
That night, Thomas tells her he got the job. He leaves for Europa next week and he wants her to come with him. He tells her he knows what she’s been up to. He’s not judging her, but he knows she’s better than that.
She tells him it’s become fruitless to work for the betterment of Mars, and they part on less than pleasant terms.
——
In orbit, the Roci and the Barbipicola complete the modifications to connect the two ships.
Tensioners on both ships will ensure the cable remains taught. They were only able to fabricate 800 meters of cable and should any slack develop between the two ships, it’s possible the cable snaps with catastrophic results.
When everything is ready, they position the two ships and connect the cable. Alex gives the Roci a bit of thrust and they start pulling the Barb to a higher orbit. It looks like their plan is working.
——
On Ilus, everyone has gone blind except for Holden. Without sight, the death slugs are taking their toll on the refugees. Bodies are stacking up and people are getting jumpy. Jim is concerned about Amos’ state of mind.
The lack of sight doesn’t prevent Dr, Okoye from continuing her research. It’s slow going, and she requires Holden to read all the results to her. But so far, there’s nothing to explain why Jim isn’t going blind.
Medication to help calm those who are panicking is depleted. Murtry reminds Holden that should the situation get worse, the Belters will remember that it’s because of Jim that they are all down there which will not turn out well for him.
Jim gets called over to the Belter camp. Amos wandered away. When Jim finds him, Amos panics and tries to attack him. Jim tells the big man that he can’t lose him. He calms Amos down and returns him to the camp.
Wei later visits the big man. She tells him it’s ok to be scared but he says he’s not sure what he is. He recounts a story from his youth when he felt helpless. That’s how he feels now.
Holden is frustrated with their situation and why he’s the only one who can still see. He’s feeling the pressure of everyone’s fate on his shoulders.
Then Elvi has a thought. What if the reason Jim can still see is not his blood, but his eye fluid.
After extracting a sample, they discover that Holden’s cancer treatments from his exposure on Eros are what makes him different.
With this new information, Dr. Okoye is able to produce a treatment for their blindness.
While everyone’s eyesight is being treated, Jim climbs to the surface and informs Naomi of the good news.
While below, Murtry confirms the readiness of the light shuttle with the proximity detonator.
Returning below, Holden encounters Miller again. Or at least a glitching, screaming version of the detective. Something is obviously wrong.
407 A Shot In The Dark – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Jan 28, 2020
A Shot In The Dark
This episode Timestamps
[2:15] Episode Recap [10:44] Feedback
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss the seventh episode of season 4 of The Expanse titled “A Shot In The Dark”.
You can purchase The Expanse books via Amazon. USA or Canada or the UK
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
A Shot In the Dark
The episode opens on Ilus. The Tsunami survivors within the ancient ruins have divided into two camps, the Belters and the RCE. Everyone is making due with reduced rations and cramped quarters while they wait for the ocean of water outside to recede.
But it’s taking longer than expected and the Belters only have a day worth of water purification tablets left.
Murtry orders his RCE team to be vigilant and protect their supplies. They have more than the other camp and as time passes, the Belters will get desperate and want theirs.
He approaches Holden and asks if there’s any way for him and his team to help Holden to shut down the machines Miller started so they can all get out of there.
Dr. Elvi then arrives. She’s concerned about the number of eye infection cases. She’s been telling everyone that it’s an allergy. But in truth, it’s a native micro-organism that’s taken residence in everyone’s eyes which will cause them all to go blind.
Upon examination, it turns out that Holden is the only person not affected so she takes a blood sample from him.
With everything already going on, this new event jumps to the top of the priority list.
Jim and Elvi discuss his connection to Miller. She envies him his connection to an advanced alien species and wishes she could experience what he does. But Holden tells her it’s not the same when you don’t have a say in it. He wishes it had never happened.
Holden lets Amos in on the situation with the eyes. He’s counting on him to help keep things under control when panic sets in.
When a confrontation between a Belter and the RCE over water arises, Murtry uncharacteristically helps the Belter and allows him to get water.
He then informs Wei about the eye situation. Should they all go blind, the Belters outnumber them and the situation could be lost. So they need to start sharing their supplies now for the safety of everyone.
But he has a long term plan. He’s sure that if they wait it out, the settlers will eventually fail and relinquish any claims to the planet. When that happens, his contract with the RCE grants him one percent of the claim value once the Belters are gone. Which could be in the millions. However, if they can also gain control to the technology that Holden has activated, it could be worth billions. And he’s willing to share his cut with anyone who helps him with what needs to be done.
But for his plan to succeed, Holden needs to be eliminated. Wei says she has Murtry’s back and Amos won’t be a problem.
—
REC member Eugene goes looking for his partner Liam and finds him dead in a pool of water. He immediately attacks Angeletti, the Belter he suspects of killing Liam and starts drowning him.
He only stops once Holden and Murtry threaten to shoot him.
When Angeletti sits up, he’s covered in green slug-like creatures. He immediately starts gasping for air before falling down dead.
Another slug falls from above and lands on Eugene, who also drops dead gasping.
Looking up, everyone sees that the ceiling and walls of the chamber are covered with millions and millions of deadly slugs.
——
Above the planet, the ships are running out of time as they try to get their reactors back online. The Barbipicola only has two days left until it falls out of orbit.
As a last resort, Alex and Naomi plan on evacuating the crew of the Barb to the Roci, But Lucia explains that if they lose the lithium ore the Barb is carrying they might as well be dead.
—
Naomi instructs Felcia on board the Barb how to remove the parts from the light shuttle they’ll need to increase power to the Barb’s thrusters.
She tells the young girl that her mother only did what she did out of love for her family and home. All Lucia wants is for her daughter to follow her dreams, but she’s scared that she won’t be able to protect her.
Alex and Lucia have a conversation about family and how happy Lucia and her’s were on Ganymede. This sparks an idea. On Ganymede, they used tug drones to raise the mirrors when their thrusters failed. They can do the same with the Barb.
If they weaved together a kilometre long cable, they could use the Rocinante to pull the Barb to a higher orbit.
——
On Earth, Avasarala is discontent with how her campaign team is making her sound. She feels they are making her sound weak and incompetent. As the election approaches, Nancy Gao is only three points behind her in the polls.
Christjen seems angry with everyone, including herself. Arjun tries to console her to no avail. It’s obvious that her attitude is taking a toll on their marriage.
—
She later surprises Arjun by showing up at his class. She confesses how helpless she felt when the Eros incident happened. And how she’s feeling helpless now, for both the planet and her lack of control over the outcome of the election.
He tells her that she’s always done the right thing, but this election feels like it’s not about her being right but about her winning. Would losing be so bad?
That’s what scares her, she doesn’t know. What she does know is that she can’t be right if she doesn’t win.
—
Later at an intelligence briefing to discuss the recent attack on Earth, Avasarala is told that Marco Inaros is on board the Pizzouza, an OPA freighter in the fringes of the Belt. Marco often travels on passenger ships and uses the people on board as human shields.
Christjen is presented with two military options. Destroy the Pizzouza, or board it with a company of marines and take Inaros alive. She ops for the second and orders the Marines to proceed.
She watches from the ops room, as the marines board the Pizzouza with military precision, but Marco Inaros is nowhere to be found. A firefight erupts with people dying on both sides when the signal is lost and all marine life signs register zero.
The UNN ship monitoring the operation informs them that the Pizzouza blew up.
406 Displacement – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Jan 20, 2020
Displacement
This episode Timestamps
[2:49] Episode Recap [11:00] Feedback
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss the sixth episode of season 4 of The Expanse titled “Displacement”.
You can purchase The Expanse books via Amazon. USA or Canada or the UK
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Displacement
The episode opens with tensions rising, the Belters and RCE are yelling at each other when Holden receives a call from Naomi informing him of an island exploding like a nuclear bomb.
As if matters were not bad enough, the explosion is causing a ripple effect and the camp will soon feel the explosion in the form of an earthquake, followed a few hours later by the shockwave and then a tsunami resulting in the destruction of the settlement.
Jim devises a plan to use the Roci and all available shuttles to evacuate everyone off the planet. Carol Chiwewe agrees to leave only if Holden publicly supports their claim to the planet. He can’t speak for anyone else but he gives his word to do whatever he can.
—
While preparing for the evacuation, Felcia is discovered on the Barbapicola. She’s planning on leaving with the ship when it goes back to the Sol system to attend university.
Jakob, tells his daughter the unsettling news of what her mother has done.
Felcia then talks to her mother on board the Rocinante. She expresses how ashamed she is of her and then abruptly ends the call.
—
In orbit something is wrong with the ships, none of their fusion reactors are working. It’s as if the physics of fusion has been re-written by the Protomolecule.
And without their reactors and the ability to speed up, the ships declining orbits means they will eventually be pulled down towards the planet and burn up. The Barbipicola, in its low orbit, being the first one.
Alex informs Jim of the situation, putting a wrench in their evacuation plan. Fortunately, light shuttles use chemical rockets and still function. They’ll have to make more trips, carrying smaller groups but it can be done.
However, Murtry objects to Holden backing the Belter’s claim and refuses to help them evacuate unless they agree to dump all the lithium they’ve mined.
When the Edward Isreal sends down their shuttle it mysteriously disintegrates upon entry along with an unexplained phenomenon causing one of the planet’s moons to start melting.
With no other options, they decide to use the old ruins as shelter, blasting their way in.
Murtry pulls Wei aside and tells her that depending on the length of their stay, there may not be enough supplies for everyone. If it comes down to it, they may have to eliminate the Belters for the RCE members to survive.
—
While packing her things, Dr. Elvi experiences vision problems. She runs a test and discovers microscopic organisms attached to her retina.
——
On earth, Avasarala reviews the last broadcast message from New Terra. Since Carol Chiwewe’s message, nothing has been heard from the planet. Speculations arise as to what could be going on.
——
On Mars, Bobbie takes on the role of muscle for her new crew.
When she discovers her old dockyard foreman has been arrested for murder in connection to a black market ring, she suspects her new crew’s involvement.
After hooking up with Thomas, Bobbie joins her new crew where she receives payment for their last job.
She questions Leelee about the dead customs agent but doesn’t get a satisfactory answer.
A new member joins their crew. They plan on taking advantage of a decommissioned terraformer tower by stealing valuable components from it and selling them to Belters.
They arrive at the decommissioned tower only to find a new security protocol in place denying them access. Bobbie suggests an alternative plan. She dons an environmental suite and climbs the outside of the tower to an access hatch. With very little breathable air left, she climbs in and releases the hydraulics for the door.
Bobbie’s actions are noticed by a guard who locks her out of the airlock as her oxygen runs out.
She comes to, surrounded by her crew. The guard who spotted her knocked out and bound. They proceed with their plan to salvage what they can from the tower.
——
On Medina Station, The captain of the UNN Tripoli voices Earth’s displeasure in how the Marco Inarus situation was handled.
Before the Sojourner was destroyed, a tight beam comm laser was sent to an unknown location in the Belt.
The captain then announces that the Tripoli will remain in the Ring Space to “help” with any other issues the Belters cannot handle.
Ashford and Drummer take this news to mean the UN is planning on taking over Medina Station and ousting the Belters.
They know they don’t have the power to force the UN out, so their best option is to find out where the tight beam comm laser was sent.
Drummer discovers that the message was sent to an unregistered OPA router that redirected the message. However, the message was encrypted with MCRN codes. They can’t figure out why a Martian would help a Belter.
They do know the final destination of the message was a Belter ship, and they know that Marco is on it. They need to board the ship now and recapture Marco before he can slip away.
——
Back on Ilus, using explosives provided by the Belters they blast and opening into the ruins and start the slow process of lowering people inside.
Back at the camp, Holden prepares those remaining for the oncoming shockwave which hits with ferocity, levelling part of the settlement and killing several people in the process.
The survivors make their way to the ruins.
As the tsunami approaches, wiping out the settlement, the makeshift door they fabricated to seal the ruins won’t close. Holden risks himself to close the hatch making it back in with seconds to spare.
405 Oppressor – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Jan 13, 2020
Oppressor
This episode Timestamps
[3:19] Episode Recap [13:45] Feedback
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss the fifth episode of season 4 of The Expanse titled “Oppressor”.
You can purchase The Expanse books via Amazon. USA or Canada or the UK
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Oppressor
The episode opens with a flashback from Ilus. Dr. Lucia, Coop and their gang are installing detonation charges to blow up the landing platform. When the RCE shuttle appears in the sky, 10 hours ahead of schedule, Lucia panics knowing the shuttle’s drive will set off the charges killing everyone on board. She doesn’t want to be responsible for the death of the shuttle passengers so she tries to remove the charges but Coop shoves her away knocking her out in the process.
She regains consciousness just in time to remotely set off the charges, minimizing the shuttle’s casualties.
Dr. Lucia wakes up from the nightmare in the present time onboard the Rocinante. She’s in the medical bay recovering from the gunshot wound she received.
Her first thoughts are about the safety of her family. Alex and Naomi assure her that Holden will take care of them.
——
On the planet. Holden arrives back at the camp only to find it in lockdown. In the process of getting Amos released, he confronts Murtry about what’s happening on the planet. When Jim mentions evacuating everyone from the planet, Murtry likes the idea, his job is to get the Belters off the planet and evacuating them is a lot easier than shooting them.
But Jim makes sure the RCE Man knows that once their back home, Murtry will be charged with murder.
Once alone, Murtry calls the Edward Israel and orders one of their shuttles to be rigged for remote operations and to have all it’s safety mechanisms disabled, turning it into a proximity bomb.
—
On his way to talk with the Belter leader, Jakob, Lucia’s husband asks Holden and Amos if they’ve seen his daughter Felcia, but they can’t help.
Much to Holden’s frustration, Carol Chiwewe informs Jim that, regardless of the dangers the protomolecule machines pose, the Belters will not evacuate. They know that if they leave, they will never be allowed to return.
—
Elsewhere, Elvi and Fayez are discussing the islands that are giving off hear. Neither has an explanation but plan on keeping tabs on them.
When an RCE guard comes looking for Elvi, the doctor comments on the unsightly green blemish on her eye, but the guard dismisses the comment.
Murtry arrives and questions Elvi about the alien technology she, Alex and Holden were investigating.
Later, Elvi confronts Holden and insists he tells her how he’s connected to what’s been going on with the planet.
Their conversation is interrupted by gunfire as two RCE guards on patrol attacked and taken prisoner. Resulting in a tense standoff between the Belters and the RCE.
Carol Chiwewe broadcasts a message saying the RCE has attacked their people and all they want is to be left alone.
This only makes Murtry more determined to round up the Belters and get them off the planet by force. And due to the recent circumstances, Holden isn’t sure if he can blame the man.
Jim shares his feelings with Naomi who reminds him that nobody is responsible for anybody else’s actions but their own. The best he can do is give them the facts and let them decide for themselves.
—
An unarmed Holden approaches the Belter side of the standoff. He brings the two sides together and comes clean about Miller, the Protomolecule and why he was sent to Ilus.
He explains that the Protomolecule was created to build the ring gates and then report back to its creators, but they’re gone.
Whatever Holden is in contact with is turning on all the old technology and won’t stop until it gets answers.
But, regardless of what’s going on, the Belter’s still refuse to leave. They’ll never find another planet so rich in lithium. They aren’t giving up.
Tensions on both sides continue to rise as everyone starts yelling at each other.
——-
In orbit, Naomi receives a call from Dr. Fayez on board the Edward Israel. He’s wondering if the Roci has any surface readings they may help with his investigations of the planet’s surface.
Jakob calls to ask his wife if she knows where Felcia is. Lucia fears that Murtry may be involved in her disappearance.
Jakob lets his wife know how ashamed he is about her involvement with Coop and the other OPA Belters in the destruction of the landing pad.
Lucia notices her wound is bleeding again, but in her grief over what she’s done and the words of her husband, instead of seeking medical attention decides to let nature take its course.
When Alex stops by her quarters with a meal, he finds her near death. The wound is too much for Alex’s limited medical knowledge. She just wants to die, but he uses her daughter against her and forces the Lucia to tell him how to save her.
Later, Naomi confronts the remorseful doctor. She tells Lucia about her time with Marco Inaros. Their plan was in insert a secret code into ships that would allow them to remotely turn off the ship’s drive, and then they would come to their rescue and collect the reward from the grateful crew.
But Marco used Naomi’s code to instead overload a ship’s reactor resulting in the death of 516 people.
When she told Marco that she wouldn’t help him again, he left with their son, and Naomi hasn’t seen her little boy since.
After that, being dead seemed better than living with herself and she almost walked out an airlock.
But she now has a life she likes living and a family who loves her. And Lucia can have the same if she chooses the right path for her life. But only she can decide to follow it.
——
Back on Earth, Avasarala is frustrated with the lack of knowledge from Ilus while she’s preparing for her upcoming political debate.
Later, as Avasarala and Nancy Gao are facing off against each other, Nancy seems to be winning the crowd when a security alert forces Avasarala to leave before she can rebut her opponent’s words.
Once safely in orbit, she’s informed that a runaway ship is on a collision course with an Earth asteroid detection satellite.
The ship is broadcasting saying they have families on board and are trying to fix their navigation problem.
When intelligence identifies the ship as the pirated Sojourner, Chrisjen orders it destroyed.
Later, Nancy Gao, who was the clear winner of the debate, uses the incident as a political means to further attack Avasarala, saying that if the blockade wasn’t in place this wouldn’t have happened.
——
In orbit above Ilus, Alex is alerted to seismic activity on the planet, One of the islands that have been heating up, exploded in what looks like a massive nuclear blast.
404 Retrograde – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Jan 06, 2020
Retrograde
This episode Timestamps
[5:02] Episode Recap [13:11] Feedback
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss the fourth episode of season 4 of The Expanse titled “Retrograde”.
You can purchase The Expanse books via Amazon. USA or Canada or the UK
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Retrograde
The episode opens immediately after Murtry’s mass killing from episode 3. Naomi, with the help of a distraction from Amos that lands him in custody, Naomi manages to slip the now hunted Dr. Lucia out of the camp. If she can get the doctor to the Roci they’ll be safe.
——
Meanwhile, Holden, Alex and Dr. Elvi are examining the aftermath of the Rocinante’s missile strike on the mysterious Protomolecule device. Jim and Alex are content that the device is now inert, but Elvi isn’t happy with the situation. She knows the two are keeping things from her and she wants to know what.
Whatever they were going to do next is cut short when Naomi informs Jim of Murtry’s actions.
Holden calls Murtry and the two butt heads to no avail and then Jim and Alex head off to rendezvous with Naomi.
——
Lucia and Naomi navigate a back route to the Rocinante. Lucia confides in Nagata that she was in fact, along with the now-dead Belters, responsible for the crash of the Edward Israel shuttle.
They make their way to the base of the ridge where the Roci is parked but Murtry is one step ahead of them and he shoots and injures Lucia when they break cover.
Holden is concerned when he can’t reach Naomi. He heard the pain in her voice and thinks she’s hurt, but Alex comes clean about her condition and how gravity is affecting her.
Naomi remotely engages the Rocinante’s point defence cannons and the distraction allows them to reach the ship with the help of Jim and Alex where both women are hooked up to the ship’s medical facilities.
—
Later, Elvi and Fayez discuss Murtry’s actions and their options. With the lack of any clear direction, Fayez suggests they do what they came there to do and study the planet. He shows her that there’s more seismic activity on the continent, lots more. He also discovers that several islands on the planet are generating massive amounts of heat.
——
Back on Earth, Avasarala is frustrated with the lack of information coming from Ilus.
Later in an interview, she expresses her disappointment in learning about Nancy Gao’s checkered past in defrauding the government.
——
On Mars, Bobbie tries to come clean to her foreman about her involvement in the theft from the dockyards.
To her surprise, the foreman wants in on the action and asks if she can make it happen again. Disgusted, she quits her job and walks out.
Unfortunately, with so many veterans returning to Mars, jobs are at a premium and there’s nothing available for her.
She later confides in her fellow Marine Thomas how disenchanted she is with the current state of Mars.
—
Back at home, Bobbie, her brother and David are in a heated discussion when the police arrive and arrest her for grand larceny. She uses her one phone call to ask Detective Esai if his offer still stands and she agrees to work for him.
——
Out in the belt on board the O.P.A.S. Tynan, Ashford and Drummer take Marco Inaros into custody.
Drummer inquires as to the whereabouts of Filip, Naomi’s son. He recounts how, in their youth, he and Naomi destroyed a ship together. Her coding skills and his coordination made it possible.
After the incident, Naomi was haunted by what she had done. The pain of killing a ship full of people overcame her love for Inaros and she left him and their son behind.
—
Ashford informs Drummer that Marco’s people are pursuing them. They’re evenly matched so the best course of action is for them to run.
Marco warns them that if anything happens to him there will be retaliation on Ceres, Tycho and possible Medina Station.
A problem with their ship causes them to lose ground.
Marco tries to appeal to Ashford by reminding him of what they come from. Truce or no truce, they will always be Belters to the Innards. The resources are now available to make the Belt a paradise. All they have to do is take them.
Ashford says they don’t have the ships or guns for that fight, but Marco tells him not to be so sure of that. Mars isn’t the treat it used to be but refuses to elaborate.
The whole thing was a ploy to get Marco talking but it didn’t work.
At Ashford’s signal, ships from Black Sky, Golden Bough and Matar Kubileya reveal themselves and Marco’s people break off pursuit.
Ashford and Drummer were never planning on turning Inaros over to the Innards.
—
Later, representatives of the different Belter factions hold an informal trial on Marco Inaros’ fate. They plan on executing him but Marco reminds them that the crimes they are accusing him of are no less than what any of them have committed.
They all believe that the appearance of the rings somehow changed things but he tells them they’re wrong. The Innards have always taken what they need from Belters and they’ll do the same with the 1300 new worlds.
Ashford and Drummer want to shut him up but the other faction representatives vote to let him have is last say.
Marco reminds them that the OPA, regardless of factions has always fought for the rights of all Belters and nothing has changed.
A ring appears and they are now expected to make a truce with the Innards and hunt down their own kind?
While the innards take advantage of new planets that Belters can’t even live on?
How does the appearance of a ring suddenly make the Innards just, fair and kind? Do they really think the Innards will honour their new treaty?
The war between Earth and Mars made the innards weak, and their just buying their time as they build up their strength enough to no longer need the Belter’s help.
Marco offers to hand over the gains from his recent activities and wait patiently for the Innards to break their treaty, which he’s certain they will.
The five representatives put Inaros’ fate to a vote. It’s a two-two tie until Drummer, much to Ashford’s surprise votes to spare Marco’s life.
She later explains she did it to avoid a civil war between the OPA factions. Ashford feels like they lost their only chance to take Marco Inaros down.
——
Back on Ilus, Holden says bye to Naomi as she and Alex take the Roci back up to orbit. As the ship lifts off he comes face to face with Murtry and punches him in the face informing him that he’s no longer in charge.
403 Subduction – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Dec 31, 2019
Subduction
This episode Timestamps
[4:14] Episode Recap [10:05] Feedback
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss the third episode of season 4 of The Expanse titled “Subduction”.
You can purchase The Expanse books via Amazon. USA or Canada or the UK
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Subduction
The episode opens immediately after Murtry’s shooting from the previous episode. Tensions are high as the RCE and Belters standoff against each other. A dire outcome is averted when lightning strikes the village knocking out the Belter’s power.
——
Back on Earth, Nancy Gao announces her run against Avasarala for UN Secretary-General. Christjen looks forward to the challenge.
The pre-election approval ratings remain in Avasarala’s favour, but she’s still worried about Gao’s chances.
Christjen’s aid uncovers that Nancy Gao cheated the system to get off basic and they decide to leak the information.
——
As the settlers, joined by Amos and a still weak Naomi see to repairing the damage, the RCE security force holds their ground refusing to offer aid.
Dr. Lucia is treating a young child’s eye injury when she notices her daughter is no longer there. She finds her hanging out with Naomi. Felcia wants to go to university and study engineering but her mother won’t hear of it. They came to Ilus as a family and they’re going to remain there as a family.
Scotty approaches Lucia asking if she’s in. He’s gathering a bunch of people to stand up to the RCE but she wants no part of it. Little did they know that Murtry was listening in on their conversation.
When Amos needs a part, he takes it by force from the RCE encampment. Chandra Wei prevents further bloodshed by ordering the guards to stand down.
Once power is back on, Amos and Murtry have a conversation. Amos claims to know what Murtry is, a killer who can’t wait to kill again. The two seem to be on a path to confrontation.
——
Holden is upset with Miller and himself for inadvertently starting the machine.
With the help of Fayez on board the Edward Israel, Elvi learns that the lightning strikes are not a natural phenomenon. She’s scared in the aftermath of Murtry killing a Belter but is determined to remain on the planet and figure out what the lightning means.
After several hours the lightning mysteriously stops and they experience an earthquake. They set up seismometers and determine the source of the quake.
They discover a giant spike that is tearing up the ground leaving a path 3km wide. If they don’t stop it will destroy the settlement.
To Elvi’s strong opposition, Holden decides to fire one of the Roci’s missiles at the spike destroying it.
——
On Mars, Bobbie is worried about David when he calls saying he’s in trouble. She goes to meet him but instead is met by his abductor. The man is upset about the loss Bobbie caused him and intends for David to work off the debt. Bobbie can help free the boy if she agrees to “accidentally” leave a security door unlocked at the end of her shift.
Bobbie decides to go to the police only to find out that the man who has her nephew is decorated detective Esai on the force.
Angry, but backed into a corner, she agrees to do what he asked. Leave the door to a security locker open.
She keeps an eye on who goes in and out and spots a couple of disguised OPA Belters stealing a crate of tightbeam encryption modules.
Detective Esai releases David as promised and offers Bobbie a job working for him. She turns him down but he thinks she’ll come to her senses for the good of Mars.
——
Back at the settlement, Murtry asks Lucia to adjust his leg brace and questions her relationship to Scotty. He tells her he wants a peaceful resolution to the recent violence.
Naomi angrily confronts him about his actions when she collapses from the stress of being on the planet.
Dr. Lucia tends to her and tells her she has to go back up the well soon or she will die.
—
Scotty and his crew are secretly planning their attack on the RCE force when Murtry and his squad open fire on them, killing the lot.
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss the second episode of season 4 of The Expanse titled “Jetsam”.
You can purchase The Expanse books via Amazon. USA or Canada or the UK
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Jetsam
The episode opens with a distorted view of Miller’s perspective. He’s trying to figure out what happened to the Protomolecule when he notices a small spark of something on the planet New Terra.
On the planet, everyone is recovering from the swarm attack, and wondering if they’re what caused the crash of the Edward Israel’s shuttle.
——
On Medina station, Drummer and Ashford are investigating a mysterious group of human bodies that hurtled through the gate before disassociating when the hit the ring periphery. They extrapolate from their trajectory that they came from the UN colony ship Sojourner after being attacked by pirates.
Drummer doesn’t see a reason for the attack, but Ashford thinks it’s a message that some Belters are not happy with the new peace between Earth, Mars and the Belt.
The U.N.N. reluctantly shares their findings from the attack with Medina Station as tensions between the three factions remains high, even in this time of peace.
The new information helps Ashford determine who the pirate is that attacked the Sojourner. One Marco Inaros who has a past with Naomi Nagata.
They reach out to Anderson Dawes and Fred Johnson to sanction a bounty on the pirate.
——-
On her way to Mars with a delegation including her husband Arjun, Avasarala isn’t happy to learn the Protomolecule may be active on New Terra.
Meanwhile, On her way to work, Bobbie receives an invitation to attend Chrisjen Avasarala’s address to Mars. This brings in the question of her loyalty to Mars when she’s later questioned by police about the death of a Customs Inspector.
Later, at the official gathering. Avasarala and the Martian Prime Minister are questioned about the timeframe for distributing and colonization of the 1,300 new planets beyond the rings. Neither commits to anything.
Bobbie arrives and feels out of place as her presence at the gathering is questioned. However, her placement at the table next to Arjun Avasarala helps ease her tension.
Chrisjen gives a moving speech on lasting peace between Earth and Mars and points out the dishonourably discharged Bobbie as one of the courageous soldiers from the war.
After the dinner, Avasarala asks Bobbie to come work for her but the ex-marine walks away.
Draper is brooding at home when she decides to follow her nephew to see where he’s going at such a late hour.
She tracks him to a drug lab run by his girlfriend LeeLee. Bobbie takes matters into her own hands and attacks the two thugs and LeeLee before leaving with David.
——
Back on New Terra, Alex and Dr. Lucia Mazur set up a test to determine if anyone cut in the swarm attack is infected by the Protomolecule.
They test the citizens but everyone is clean.
Alex is warming up to the Doctor when she introduces him to her husband and daughter, putting an end to his intended advances.
——
Amos and Murtry take a look at the Israel’s shuttles crash site to see if the metal swarm could have caused it. What they find instead is that someone blew up the landing pad.
Back at the settlement. Murtry confronts the town’s leader accusing the settlers of attacking his shuttle and killing his people.
Murtry threatens retaliation if they don’t produce the people responsible for the bomb by morning.
Amos stays behind at the bar drinking and is later joined by Wei, Murtry’s second in command. The two ending up in bed together.
Later a couple of Belters confront Murtry. One of them makes an idle threat and Murtry kills him for it.
——
Naomi and James join Dr. Elvi Okoye in her lab to try and figure out what the swarm of small metal “insects” are. Upon closer examination, Holden determines that they are made of Protomolecule tech.
They travel to one of the non-native towers found on the planet. From their initial scans, the Edward Israel determined that they disappear deep below ground. Deeper than their scans can penetrate.
Their investigation reveals a solid structure with no way in. Analysis dates it at 1.5 billion years old. Holden says the structure feels dead.
Later, back on the Roci, Naomi passes out from the effects of the planet’s gravity on her system. Her cardiovascular system isn’t strong enough to deal with the strain.
She asks Alex not to tell Holden. James has enough on his mind already.
That night, Miller comes to Holden. James was on the right track but there’s more to be done and Miller needs Holden’s hands to do it.
Drone footage shows the solid structure they investigated earlier now has openings in it so James and Alex head off.
The entire front of the structure has swung inwards like a door revealing a chasm below. Holden descends where Miller asks him to remove some roots from some ancient mechanism.
Miller confesses to Holden that he hears the voices of the hundred thousand people who died at Eros in his head.
When Jim removes the roots, the machinery starts operating and the door he came in through starts closing. It’s a mad scramble but he makes it out with no time to spare.
The newly activated machines across the planet start firing lightning blasts into the air.
401 New Terra – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Dec 16, 2019
New Terra
This episode Timestamps
[4:20] Episode Recap [16:00] Feedback
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss the first episode of season 4 of The Expanse titled “New Terra”.
You can purchase The Expanse books via Amazon. USA or Canada or the UK
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
New Terra
The episode opens outside the Sol Ring; several belter ships are making a run for the ring trying to avoid the blockade. UNN ships open fire, destroying some of the ships, but a few make it through and traverse the Ring Space disappearing through some of the 1,300 gates to other worlds.
—-
8 Months later, on his family farm in Montana, Holden’s mother gives him a copy of Don Quixote. She says it was nice meeting Naomi with the rest of the family, even if just through a screen.
When left alone, Holden experiences a vision of the ring gates and the worlds beyond, when he snaps to, Miller is with him. The detective wants a ride through the ring, saying It’s the next clue to the case. Holden says he’ll ask again when he visits New York the next day.
—-
In New York, Secretary-General Avasarala is not happy with her board of governors. She wants the ring blockade strengthened but is facing resistance. There are arguments for opening the blockade and allowing ships through to explore the other worlds they now have access to. But Christjen is adamant until they know what’s on the other side of those rings and are sure there are no threats to the Sol system, nobody is going through.
When Holden arrives, Avasarala assigns him a new mission. The crew of the Barbapiccola that ran the ring gate, have settled on a planet designated as New Terra, although they’re calling it Ilus. Images sent back reveal structures that look eerily like the work of the Protomolecule.
She wants the Rocinante to investigate. If the Protomolecule is active, he’s to try and destroy it and evacuate the Belters.
—-
In Earth orbit on the Rocinante, Amos receives a call from Clarissa, who is now serving a life sentence in a penitentiary on Earth. She wants to thank him for his kindness towards her on their trip back. And also ask about an incident where she could have killed herself. She’s wondering if the option was left open on purpose. Amos, nonchalantly replies that if he was facing a life sentence, he would want his options to be open.
Holden arrives to explain their mission. The R.E.C. Edward Israel, a science ship, will be there to assist them in their investigation. Naomi surprises them all by saying she wants to go down to the planet when they arrive.
—-
On Mars, Bobbie arrives home after a long day’s work. She’s crashing with her brother and his family while she’s looking for a place of her own. Her nephew David is a bit embarrassed when his “study date” LeeLee shows up early.
Alex calls Bobbie as the Rocinante passes by Mars, and he confides in her that he’s scared of what they may find on Ilus.
Later at a bar, Thomas, a fellow ex-Marine, asks her about her choices. The MCRN wanted Bobbie to lie during her trial, but she refused. She was discharged without any pension.
—-
Out in the Belt, Ashford hunts down pirates attacking supply ships. He captures one of the pirates who berates Ashford for turning on his own people and working for the innards.
When he arrives at Medina station, Drummer scolds him for aggravating the innards. He’s still bitter about how the battle for the rings turned out with him on the losing side.
—-
Onboard the Roci, Naomi is undergoing bone and muscle intensity treatment as they pass into the Ring Space.
After her treatment, she calls Drummer at Medina Station. The OPA woman is still recuperating from her broken back. Drummer voices her disdain for the Belters trying to make a living on the surface of Ilus. She sais in two-generation they won’t be Belters anymore.
—-
Once the Rocinante passes the ring gate into Ilus space, Miller briefly appears to Holden thanking him for the ride. James starts to question him, but it appears like Miller vanishes and travels to the planet.
—-
Orbiting New Terra, the R.C.E. Edward Israel launches a landing shuttle. Those on board are expecting trouble from the squatting Belters, even though the UN and Mars have a charter for the planet.
As it descends, the shuttle is struck and crash lands. Only a few on board survive many of them with injuries. Luckily, the Belters come to their aid. Security Chief Murtry, the highest-ranking survivor takes command of the expedition.
—-
Holden receives a message from Avasarala telling him to get to the planet, do his job, let the RCE do theirs, and don’t get involved with things that don’t involve him.
The Rocinante arrives and lands on the planet. Naomi, the first to debark and not accustomed to being on a planet, is momentarily stricken by the vastness of her surroundings.
They are greeted at the Belter settlement by both the new inhabitants and the survivors of the RCE Shuttle. Tension builds as both sides are vying for control, guns are drawn, and the situation looks dire when a new threat emerges.
A swarm approaches the colony and seems to attach them. It passes in a matter of seconds leaving everyone cut and confused
Here are the instructions for submitting feedback to The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante for season 4.
Feedback deadlines are Mondays 9 am Eastern time starting with episode 1 feedback by December 16.
If you plan on watching ahead you can still submit your feedback. But keep each episode’s feedback to one submission. I will hold onto your feedback until I discuss that episode.
Feedback is limited to 3 minutes for audio, and one page typed.
I look forward to experiencing season four of The Expanse with you.
Mark
The Expanse Season 3 Recap
Nov 27, 2019
The Expanse Season 3 Recap
Time Stamps
[10:54] Ep 1: Fight Or Flight
[14.07] Ep 2: IFF
[19:15] Ep 3: Assured Destruction
[25:27] Ep 4: Reload
[29:43] Ep 5: Triple Point
[34:53] Ep 6: Immolation
[40:12] Ep 7: Delta-V
[47:11] Ep 8: It Reaches Out
[53:18] Ep 9: Intransigence
[58:34] Ep 10: Dandelion Sky
[1:03:26] Ep 11: Fallen World
[1:07:18] Ep 12: Congregation
[1:10:53] Ep 13 Abaddon’s Gate
I’ve combined all thirteen of my season 3 recaps into on episode. In just over an hour of listening, you can be back up to speed on where things stand in The Expanse before the premiere of season 4 on December 13.
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Do you prefer reading a physical book? You can pick your copies of the Expanse series on Amazon or eBay.
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
Hi everyone. You may be wondering what my plans are for this podcast for The Expanse. Wait no longer and have a listen to what’s going to happen for season 4 and beyond.
The Expanse Season 4 Pre-Announcement
Jun 25, 2019
Sorry, still no premiere date for season 4
312-313 Congregation and Abaddon’s Gate (Part 2)
Jul 10, 2018
Congregation and Abaddon’s Gate
This episode Timestamps
[1:53] Feedback [none] Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This is the second part of feedback for season 3 of The Expanse with the two-part finale made up of “Congregation” and “Abaddon’s Gate”.
If you would like to preorder season 3 of The Expanse on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada or the UK
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Congregation
The episode opens with all the ships in the slow zone trapped around The Station.
On the Behemoth Holden is being interrogated by the MCRN but refuses to talk until he knows his crew is OK.
When Ashford approaches him in a more civilized manner he opens up. He tells his story and everything he saw.
They have it all wrong about the Protomolecule. It doesn’t care about them. All it wanted to do was build a road. Now that the Ring is open it’s trying to report back, but there’s no one to receive its message. Whoever created the Protomolecule was wiped out.
They fought back, destroying entire solar systems in the process, but in the end, they were defeated by something more powerful then they were.
Ashford is convinced that Holden is insane. Bobbie refutes this but is overruled. Holden will be held for everyone’s safety.
Bobbie and her unit, stripped of their armour escort Jim to his cell. The team is divided on the treatment Holden is getting and Bobbie is visibly torn between her loyalties.
——
Clarissa Mao is being held on the Rocinante, her enhancement implant being blocked. Anna and Amos figure out that everything that has happened to them was her fault. Amos thinks the best course of action is to put her down but Anna stops him.
Naomi and Alex manage to get partial communications back online. They learn of the offer from the Behemoth and everyone on board decides to go there to look for Holden.
Upon their arrival, Clarrissa is taken to the same detention block Jim is being held in, and Naomi is arrested for desertion and brought before Ashford.
She wants to see Holden but Ashford won’t let her until she agrees to help them fix their power grid.
—
Alex and Amos take their supplies to the medical bay where Amos takes an interest in Anna. Something about her behaviour fascinates him.
——
Elsewhere on board, Drummer is undergoing a spinal cord regrowth procedure. She goes through a slew of emotions about her predicament. At first, she’s upset, then angry and sorrowful, but then her resolve takes over and she decides to do something instead of just lying there helpless.
Naomi arrives as Drummer is putting together a pair of mech legs to help her walk. The two make quick amends before Naomi asks for Drummer’s help in getting to Holden. The former captain agrees.
They make their way to the holding cells where Naomi is finally reunited with Jim. He tells her what he’s been through. He blames himself for everything that has happened and he’s determined to fix it at all costs. Clarissa, in a nearby cell, overhears their conversation.
——
Taking a break from the injured, Anna visits Clarissa. She’s trying to understand Clarissa. She doesn’t understand why she doesn’t care about the Mao girl. She usually cares about everyone. She can’t figure out why someone like Clarissa would do the things she’s done.
——
On the Thomas Prince, UN Scientist Kolvood informs Commander Kunis that the Behemoth’s com laser may be powerful enough to send a message through the gate.
The Behemoth crew attempt to send a message but it fails to penetrate the Ring.
Kolvood has a new idea. He wants to detonate a nuke between their ships and the Station. The data collected would help them better understand their predicament. Commander Kunis is sceptical but Ashford agrees to the plan.
They detonate the skiff but the results are not what they expected. The Station starts building up power as if it’s getting ready to fire at something. They estimate they have less than seven hours until it happens.
Ashford realizes that Holden may not be as crazy as he suspected.
Abaddon’s Gate
The episode opens with everyone learning about the recent nuclear detonation and the Station’s reactions and wondering what it all means.
Ashford convenes the leaders of the MCRN and UN and explains his theory. He believes that by detonating the bomb they proved themselves as a threat to the Station. And according to Holden when faced with a threat the station responds by obliterating the solar system the threat originated from.
He proposes they save their solar system by destroying the Ring using the Behemoth’s comm laser. It would strand all of them inside but it would save the human race.
The three agree and put their plan into motion.
——-
In a desperate plea, Holden reaches out to Miller who tells him how he can fix their situation. By detonating the bomb they showed the Station that every reactor is a threat. But if they shut down all their reactors they would show the Station that they are not a threat and it will stand down.
Drummer contacts Ashford telling him they have a plan but he doesn’t want to listen, Instead, Ashford orders Diogo to capture them.
Knowing Ashford’s intent, Alex and Amos enlist the aid of Monica Stewart to spread the word of their plan to power down every ship in the fleet and Amos convinces Anna to help them.
They make their way to a substation where they can tap into the transmitter array. The problem is as soon as they start broadcasting their location will become known.
As they’re waiting, Anna and Amos discuss their limited futures. Anna tells him that both sides think they are right. If they get out of their situation alive everyone on both sides will need to explain to each other why they chose the side they did. It is the only way they can let go of the hate.
Amos is touched by her words and tells her that he won’t let anyone hurt her.
—-
Holden, Naomi and Drummer make their way to the reactor control station and start the shutdown sequence on the Behemoth.
They learn Ashford’s plan to destroy the Ring but Jim knows that the Station will only view the attack as another treat and kill everyone on both sides of the Ring.
They try to talk Ashford down but he believes that even if Holden’s plan succeeds someone in the future will do something to escalate things again.
——
On the bridge, Ashford commissions every available person to help complete the power grid repairs, including Clarissa. When she mishandles a live wire Ashford removes the chemical restraint blocking her implant in order to clear her head.
She asks him if a truly good act at the end of your life would counterbalance all the bad you have done. Ashford believes so.
When he realizes that someone is attempting to shut down the reactor he sends Diogo to stop them.
——
Monica starts the broadcast and turns the camera to Anna who explains to everyone in the flotilla what is going on and what they have to do to stop it.
When Grigori questions Ashford the captain kills the man and asks if anyone else feels the same. The MCRN commander orders Bobbie and her team to arm up and stop the broadcast.
The marines make their way to the substation where they engage in a firefight. When Alex realizes they’re fighting with Bobbie he puts down his weapon and asks to talk with her.
He explains Holden’s plan to her. She’s not convinced, saying the Station changed Holden and he’s not the man they knew.
Alex counters that Holden is running around putting his life on the line for others, that’s exactly the Holden he knows.
When the other two Marines attack Bobbie chooses her side and fights her fellow Martians putting one down, taking a shot in the process as Amos kills the other.
——
Diogo and his goons, wearing the Martian Marine attack the reactor control room where Holden, Naomi and Drummer barely escape.
They make their way up an elevator shaft. Knowing they are no match for the Marine armour, Drummer takes the grenades from Holden and stays behind to confront Diogo, knowing it’s suicide giving the other two time to escape.
She prepares to detonate the grenades as Diogo passes her position but the young OPA agent is hit by a descending elevator; sent by Naomi, sparing Drummer her fate.
——
UN Scientist Kolvood calls Commander Kunis from the Thomas Prince and tells him that if Ashford is right, it won’t make a difference if they all shut down their reactors. But if he’s wrong, shouldn’t they even try?
The Thomas Prince and other flotilla ships start going dark as Ashford prepares to fire the comm laser. Their first shot misses.
Holden and Naomi reach the bridge as they are realigning the comm. The two surrender and try to explain to Ashford and everyone in the command centre that both sides are trying to save lives. The problem is they are both reacting to things they don’t understand. They are reaching for violence because it’s what they know. But just this once, can’t they try something else.
Ashford orders them shot and Clarissa makes a decision. She attacks Ashford and then reverses a relay, something Ren had warned her never to do because it could cause a devastating chain reaction that could overload the system. In doing so the Behemoth’s reactor shuts down.
——
As Miller predicted, shutting down all the reactors worked. The Station powers down and releases all the ships from their prisons.
As everyone watches, thousands of Ring Gates start appearing around them. 13,000 habitable systems for humanity to explore. Holden suspects that was Miller’s plan all along. He just doesn’t know if humanity is part of that plan.
With so many opportunities now open to them it’s inevitable that Earthers, Martians and Belters alike will want to reach out. It will be like another gold rush.
Holden is scared. When he was connected to the Ring he saw that the civilization that built the Rings is gone. What could have killed them?
Miller concurs, he want’s to know that as well, and he needs a ride.
Everything starts to wind down and the ships are heading home. The crew is back on board the Rocinante, accompanied by Anna, Bobbie and Clarissa.
As they pass the Ring Gate Holden receives one more vision. Something is coming for them.
312-313 Congregation and Abaddon’s Gate (Part 1)
Jul 07, 2018
Congregation and Abaddon’s Gate
This episode Timestamps
[6:10] News [9:48] Episode Recap [20:04] Feedback [none] Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss season 3 of The Expanse with the two-part finale made up of “Congregation” and “Abaddon’s Gate”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
If you would like to preorder season 3 of The Expanse on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada or the UK
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Congregation
The episode opens with all the ships in the slow zone trapped around The Station.
On the Behemoth Holden is being interrogated by the MCRN but refuses to talk until he knows his crew is OK.
When Ashford approaches him in a more civilized manner he opens up. He tells his story and everything he saw.
They have it all wrong about the Protomolecule. It doesn’t care about them. All it wanted to do was build a road. Now that the Ring is open it’s trying to report back, but there’s no one to receive its message. Whoever created the Protomolecule was wiped out.
They fought back, destroying entire solar systems in the process, but in the end, they were defeated by something more powerful then they were.
Ashford is convinced that Holden is insane. Bobbie refutes this but is overruled. Holden will be held for everyone’s safety.
Bobbie and her unit, stripped of their armour escort Jim to his cell. The team is divided on the treatment Holden is getting and Bobbie is visibly torn between her loyalties.
——
Clarissa Mao is being held on the Rocinante, her enhancement implant being blocked. Anna and Amos figure out that everything that has happened to them was her fault. Amos thinks the best course of action is to put her down but Anna stops him.
Naomi and Alex manage to get partial communications back online. They learn of the offer from the Behemoth and everyone on board decides to go there to look for Holden.
Upon their arrival, Clarrissa is taken to the same detention block Jim is being held in, and Naomi is arrested for desertion and brought before Ashford.
She wants to see Holden but Ashford won’t let her until she agrees to help them fix their power grid.
—
Alex and Amos take their supplies to the medical bay where Amos takes an interest in Anna. Something about her behaviour fascinates him.
——
Elsewhere on board, Drummer is undergoing a spinal cord regrowth procedure. She goes through a slew of emotions about her predicament. At first, she’s upset, then angry and sorrowful, but then her resolve takes over and she decides to do something instead of just lying there helpless.
Naomi arrives as Drummer is putting together a pair of mech legs to help her walk. The two make quick amends before Naomi asks for Drummer’s help in getting to Holden. The former captain agrees.
They make their way to the holding cells where Naomi is finally reunited with Jim. He tells her what he’s been through. He blames himself for everything that has happened and he’s determined to fix it at all costs. Clarissa, in a nearby cell, overhears their conversation.
——
Taking a break from the injured, Anna visits Clarissa. She’s trying to understand Clarissa. She doesn’t understand why she doesn’t care about the Mao girl. She usually cares about everyone. She can’t figure out why someone like Clarissa would do the things she’s done.
——
On the Thomas Prince, UN Scientist Kolvood informs Commander Kunis that the Behemoth’s com laser may be powerful enough to send a message through the gate.
The Behemoth crew attempt to send a message but it fails to penetrate the Ring.
Kolvood has a new idea. He wants to detonate a nuke between their ships and the Station. The data collected would help them better understand their predicament. Commander Kunis is sceptical but Ashford agrees to the plan.
They detonate the skiff but the results are not what they expected. The Station starts building up power as if it’s getting ready to fire at something. They estimate they have less than seven hours until it happens.
Ashford realizes that Holden may not be as crazy as he suspected.
Abaddon’s Gate
The episode opens with everyone learning about the recent nuclear detonation and the Station’s reactions and wondering what it all means.
Ashford convenes the leaders of the MCRN and UN and explains his theory. He believes that by detonating the bomb they proved themselves as a threat to the Station. And according to Holden when faced with a threat the station responds by obliterating the solar system the threat originated from.
He proposes they save their solar system by destroying the Ring using the Behemoth’s comm laser. It would strand all of them inside but it would save the human race.
The three agree and put their plan into motion.
——-
In a desperate plea, Holden reaches out to Miller who tells him how he can fix their situation. By detonating the bomb they showed the Station that every reactor is a threat. But if they shut down all their reactors they would show the Station that they are not a threat and it will stand down.
Drummer contacts Ashford telling him they have a plan but he doesn’t want to listen, Instead, Ashford orders Diogo to capture them.
Knowing Ashford’s intent, Alex and Amos enlist the aid of Monica Stewart to spread the word of their plan to power down every ship in the fleet and Amos convinces Anna to help them.
They make their way to a substation where they can tap into the transmitter array. The problem is as soon as they start broadcasting their location will become known.
As they’re waiting, Anna and Amos discuss their limited futures. Anna tells him that both sides think they are right. If they get out of their situation alive everyone on both sides will need to explain to each other why they chose the side they did. It is the only way they can let go of the hate.
Amos is touched by her words and tells her that he won’t let anyone hurt her.
—-
Holden, Naomi and Drummer make their way to the reactor control station and start the shutdown sequence on the Behemoth.
They learn Ashford’s plan to destroy the Ring but Jim knows that the Station will only view the attack as another treat and kill everyone on both sides of the Ring.
They try to talk Ashford down but he believes that even if Holden’s plan succeeds someone in the future will do something to escalate things again.
——
On the bridge, Ashford commissions every available person to help complete the power grid repairs, including Clarissa. When she mishandles a live wire Ashford removes the chemical restraint blocking her implant in order to clear her head.
She asks him if a truly good act at the end of your life would counterbalance all the bad you have done. Ashford believes so.
When he realizes that someone is attempting to shut down the reactor he sends Diogo to stop them.
——
Monica starts the broadcast and turns the camera to Anna who explains to everyone in the flotilla what is going on and what they have to do to stop it.
When Grigori questions Ashford the captain kills the man and asks if anyone else feels the same. The MCRN commander orders Bobbie and her team to arm up and stop the broadcast.
The marines make their way to the substation where they engage in a firefight. When Alex realizes they’re fighting with Bobbie he puts down his weapon and asks to talk with her.
He explains Holden’s plan to her. She’s not convinced, saying the Station changed Holden and he’s not the man they knew.
Alex counters that Holden is running around putting his life on the line for others, that’s exactly the Holden he knows.
When the other two Marines attack Bobbie chooses her side and fights her fellow Martians putting one down, taking a shot in the process as Amos kills the other.
——
Diogo and his goons, wearing the Martian Marine attack the reactor control room where Holden, Naomi and Drummer barely escape.
They make their way up an elevator shaft. Knowing they are no match for the Marine armour, Drummer takes the grenades from Holden and stays behind to confront Diogo, knowing it’s suicide giving the other two time to escape.
She prepares to detonate the grenades as Diogo passes her position but the young OPA agent is hit by a descending elevator; sent by Naomi, sparing Drummer her fate.
——
UN Scientist Kolvood calls Commander Kunis from the Thomas Prince and tells him that if Ashford is right, it won’t make a difference if they all shut down their reactors. But if he’s wrong, shouldn’t they even try?
The Thomas Prince and other flotilla ships start going dark as Ashford prepares to fire the comm laser. Their first shot misses.
Holden and Naomi reach the bridge as they are realigning the comm. The two surrender and try to explain to Ashford and everyone in the command centre that both sides are trying to save lives. The problem is they are both reacting to things they don’t understand. They are reaching for violence because it’s what they know. But just this once, can’t they try something else.
Ashford orders them shot and Clarissa makes a decision. She attacks Ashford and then reverses a relay, something Ren had warned her never to do because it could cause a devastating chain reaction that could overload the system. In doing so the Behemoth’s reactor shuts down.
——
As Miller predicted, shutting down all the reactors worked. The Station powers down and releases all the ships from their prisons.
As everyone watches, thousands of Ring Gates start appearing around them. 13,000 habitable systems for humanity to explore. Holden suspects that was Miller’s plan all along. He just doesn’t know if humanity is part of that plan.
With so many opportunities now open to them it’s inevitable that Earthers, Martians and Belters alike will want to reach out. It will be like another gold rush.
Holden is scared. When he was connected to the Ring he saw that the civilization that built the Rings is gone. What could have killed them?
Miller concurs, he want’s to know that as well, and he needs a ride.
Everything starts to wind down and the ships are heading home. The crew is back on board the Rocinante, accompanied by Anna, Bobbie and Clarissa.
As they pass the Ring Gate Holden receives one more vision. Something is coming for them.
Feedback Reminder for Season 3 Finale – The Expanse Podcast
Jul 02, 2018
Feedback Reminder – S3E12-13 – The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback this week is Tuesday, 9am Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the season 3 two-hour finale titled “Congregation and Abaddon’s Gate”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) What does Holden’s vision at the end represent?
2) Is that the last we hear of “The Station”?
3) Were you satisfied with the season 3 finale?
Bonus) Do you want season 4 to be a weekly show or drop all at once?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
Congregation and Abaddon’s Gate – Double Take – S3E12-13 – The Expanse Podcast
Jun 28, 2018
Congregation and Abaddon’s Gate – Double Take – S3E12-13 – The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback this week is Tuesday, 9am Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the season 3 two-hour finale titled “Congregation and Abaddon’s Gate”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) What does Holden’s vision at the end represent?
2) Is that the last we hear of “The Station”?
3) Were you satisfied with the season 3 finale?
Bonus) Do you want season 4 to be a weekly show or drop all at once?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
311 Fallen World – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Jun 23, 2018
Fallen World
This episode Timestamps
[3:47] News [7:20] Episode Recap [11:41] Feedback [none] Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss season 3 of The Expanse with the eleventh episode titled “Fallen World”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
News
If you would like to preorder season 3 of The Expanse on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada or the UK
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Fallen World
The episode opens in the Nucleus. The Lieutenant is dead and Holden is in a catatonic state.
The remaining Marines are preparing to bug out when Bobbie orders one of them to fire a rocket up the entrance shaft. The projectile is instantly stopped showing them the new reduced speed limit within the Ring.
They grab Holden and cautiously head back to their dropship.
Bobbie is concerned for Holden health but the other two Marines blame him for their L.T.s death. But that’s the least of their worries. Throughout the Ring, every ship underwent a massive deceleration causing thousands of casualties.
But that’s not the worst of their problems. With most of the ships caught and being pulled towards the Nucleus, it only leaves skiffs to evacuate people. However there are not enough of them to rescue everyone and with the reduced speed limit, it will take seven months to exit the Ring.
Holden finally wakes up. He’s confused. He tells Bobbie that he saw something, a vision, a vision of the end of everything.
——
On board the Behemoth, Drummer and Ashford are pinned within a freight lift and nobody knows they are there.
The two, still at odds, try to figure out ways to free themselves but every option doesn’t work or would end up further injuring one of them.
In pain, Ashford starts signing to keep his mind steady. The two exchange stories of their previous close calls with death and then discuss their hopes that one day, Belters will be viewed as equals to Earthers and Martians.
When Ashford realizes he’s bleeding internally and doesn’t have much time, Drummer decides to take action. She tells him that he finally got the captaincy he wanted and then activates the lift, further crushing herself in order to free him.
In order to save the many injured, Ashford orders the drum spun up on the Behemoth.
It’s a tense moment but the Belter built ship responds as it was intended and spin gravity is achieved.
Ashford sends out a wide beam message to all ships in the area inviting everyone to bring their wounded to the Behemoth where they will be welcomed.
——
A shocked Anna wonders the Thomas Prince witnessing the devastation the deceleration caused. She offers help those with minor injuries but she’s told there’s nothing she can do. In zero G blood can’t drain, it clouts where it is, meaning any internal injury is a death sentence.
Searching the corridors for more injured Anna stumbles upon Melba who has a broken arm.
Anna receives a call from Tilly and tracks her down. Tilly is too far gone to save, before she succumbs to her injuries she manages to tell Anna that Clarissa attacked her and is trying to kill James Holden.
While being treated, Clarissa learns that all ships within the Ring are converging near the center of the Ring. Including the Rocinante.
She leaves the medical bay and finds an airlock. She dawns an EVA work mech and ejects herself right as Anna arrives.
——
Naomi regains consciousness on the Belter Skiff. When she tries to push the small ship towards the Rocinante the electronics start to melt down. She quickly dons her EVA suit, abandons the skiff, and makes her way to the Roci.
She arrives on board to find Alex and Amos injured and Jim missing. Amos questions whether she’s back for good or only to help. She tells him that she finally figured out that they are her family and it’s where she belongs. He accepts that.
While tending to her two crewmates Naomi responds to an alarm in the cargo bay. She goes to investigate and is attacked by Clarissa.
With the worker mech, Clarissa easily overpowers Naomi and is about to kill her when she is attacked from behind by Anna who shocks her into unconsciousness.
Fallen World – Double Take – S3E11 – The Expanse Podcast
Jun 21, 2018
Fallen World – Double Take – S3E11 – The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback this week is Fridays, 9am Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the eleventh episode of season 3 titled “Fallen World”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1a) Does Drummer Survive? 1b) If so, will she accept Ashford as Captain?
2) How will things go on the Behemoth with Earthers and Martians on board?
3) What do you want from the season finale?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
310 Dandelion Sky – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Jun 16, 2018
Dandelion Sky
This episode Timestamps
[2:15] News [4:42] Episode Recap [10:32] Feedback [none] Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss season 3 of The Expanse with the tenth episode titled “Dandelion Sky”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
News
If you would like to preorder season 3 of The Expanse on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Dandelion Sky
The episode opens with Alex and Amos discovering Holden has left.
When the Shugen launces a skiff after Holden Amos calmly suggest they after them even though there’s no chance of reaching the Marines before they get to Jim.
Alex is scared and he confronts Amos about his calm demeanour. The big man tells him he’s confused but not scared. He hasn’t felt fear since he was five years old.
Alex envies him and says he wishes he didn’t feel fear. But Amos tells him no, you don’t.
Alex is afraid, not only for himself but for all of humanity. Amos assures him that if they are all going to die, he’ll make sure to take Alex along with him.
Meanwhile, on board the Belter skiff, Naomi is unable to connect with the Rocinante. An MCRN ship contacts her saying she’s interfering with a police action and orders her to turn back.
———–
Outside the Ring, the Thomas Prince prepares for its trip inside. Lieutenant Jordan Nemeroff_ approaches Anna as a member of her faith. Preoccupied with what is going on around them, Anna doesn’t pay much attention to what he has to say and brushes him off when he asks her about God’s will and their being there.
Through the Ring, Anna is enraptured by what they are seeing. She surmises that anything that the Ring sees as a threat, such as objects moving too fast, are isolated like the body does to a cyst. Tilly shivers at the thought that the Ring may be sentient. Lieutenant Nemeroff also seems ill at ease with the thought.
He retreats to his cabin, puts his sidearm in his mouth and pulls the trigger.
Anna is later shocked at discovering the news, recognizing the lieutenant’s earlier plea for help for what it was. She’s blaming herself for what transpired. She’s there to be a minister, not a scientist.
At Jordan’s memorial, Anna comforts his friends, telling them that they are all there for each other and should offer help whenever possible.
—
Elsewhere on board, Clarissa is trying to figure out a way to get to the Rocinante before it is intercepted by the Mars ship but there are no possible options available to her. As a plan B, she researches how to make the Roci’s reactor core go critical.
When Tilly recognizes and confronts Clarissa offering to help her with whatever problem she’s hiding from.
So close to her goal. Clarissa activates the device in her mouth and attacks Tilly.
——
On the Behemoth, Ashford loudly voices his objections to Drummer letting Naomi leave.
Diogo tells Ashford that he should be the captain. Ashford tells his young lieutenant to tread carefully with what he says.
Later, in private, Drummer calls Ashford out for undermining her in front of the crew. She knows things are coming to a head and it’s only a matter of time before there’s a mutiny.
——
A dropship with a squad of Marines including Bobby Draper persues Holden towards the Nucleus. Her Lieutenant questions Bobbie’s willingness to apprehend Holden but she assures him she has every intention of carrying out her orders.
When Holden doesn’t acknowledge their attempts at hailing him, Bobbie gives it a try and succeeds. She’s concerned by what she hears. Holden seems to be talking nonsense with someone else. The Marines deduce that he’s cracked. They prepare to go in hot and retrieve their target.
——
On his way to the nucleolus, Holden holds a conversation with Miller who is floating, without an EVA suit in front of him. They discuss whether or not Holden’s actions are his own or if he’s following some programming.
When Jim spots the Marines on an intercept course he speeds up. The Nucleus opens up but Holden hesitates to enter. Miller tells him there used to be a civilization there but now it’s just a bunch of locked doors. With the Marines approaching, Jim enters.
Miller tells him there’s something he needs Jim to do. The doors leading to the records are locked and he needs Holden to turn the key.
They reach the center and Miller asks Holden to complete a circuit and unlock the records but Jim is hesitant. What if unlocking it causes harm to humanity.
Miller confides in Jim that he was afraid to die on Eros, but knowing he was with Julie made it easier.
The Marines arrive and order Holden to come with them. When he makes a lunge to complete the circuit the Marines opens fire but their bullets are stopped mid-air. The room itself responds and the Lieutenant fires a grenade. The Nucleolus grabs the lieutenant, tears him apart and absorbs him while also drastically reducing the speed limit within the Ring.
Holden uses the distraction to complete the circuit, showing him a vision taking him back in time. He’s inside a Ring with many openings, each one with a solar system behind it. Some of the solar systems vanish, other’s the ring disappears, and more are taken over by the Protomolecule as it reaches out through the Rings and takes them over.
It’s too much for Holden. He removes his hand and collapses.
Dandelion Sky – Double Take – S3E10 – The Expanse Podcast
Jun 14, 2018
Dandelion Sky – Double Take – S3E10 – The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback this week is Fridays, noon Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the tenth episode of season 3 titled “Dandelion Sky”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) What is brewing on the Behemoth?
2) What will be the outcome of Clarissa and Tilly’s confrontation?
3) What was it that Holden saw at the end?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
309 Intransigence – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Jun 09, 2018
Intransigence
This episode Timestamps
[2:34] News [6:57] Episode Recap [14:33] Feedback [none] Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss season 3 of The Expanse with the ninth episode titled “Intransigence”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
If you would like to preorder season 3 of The Expanse on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Intransigence
The episode opens on the Behemoth as they’re trying to repair the ship after several systems failed after firing their missile.
Naomi finds herself in a difficult position. She’s upset over the recent actions taken by Ashford and Drummer and Ashford chastises her for not pulling her weight as chief engineer while worrying about the fate of the Rocinante.
Drummer attempts to apologize but Naomi walks away.
Ashford later informs Naomi that her former crew is still alive. They don’t know any more than that so they plan on entering the Ring to get more answers.
He sais her admires her loyalty to her old crew but it’s just nostalgia she’s feeling. She left her old crew for a reason, she’s a Belter and she belongs with Belters.
As the Behemoth is about to enter the Ring, Drummer addresses her crew and gives very motivational speech reminding them that they are Belters, they are strong and it is their right to claim their part of the Ring.
Once inside the bubble, Naomi tries to steal a skiff but she’s caught by Drummer. She tells the captain that it was a mistake returning. Her place is on board the Roci. Drummer is upset that Naomi is leaving her but she understands and allows her to leave.
———
On board the Roci the crew is trying to make heads or tails of their predicament inside the Ring. They deduce that there’s a speed limit inside the mysterious bubble of space and anything that goes too fast within it gets snapped up and taken towards an unknown object in the center of the bubble.
While discussing the crippled state of the Roci, Amos comes to the conclusion that Cohen is responsible for the systems failures. The cameraman confesses when confronted but he doesn’t know what he did or who hired him to do it.
A Martian ship, The Shousen enters the Ring and starts testing the limitations of their new environment, complicating matters for the Rocinante. They determine the maximum velocity they can travel and they fire a probe at the bubble wall that simply vanishes upon touching it.
Holden reveals to the crew that he’s been seeing visions of Miller who has been cryptically helping him but not since they’ve entered the Ring. He retires to his stateroom to try and contact the detective but Miller isn’t cooperating.
Amos meanwhile tries to no avail to get more information out of Cohen. He even threatens to kill Monica if the cameraman doesn’t cooperate.
Alex interrupts them as Amos locks Monica and Cohen in an airlock. The mechanic calmly explains that since their com system isn’t working, it only makes sense to space the two in the hopes the Martian ship picks them up. After all, the MCRN isn’t after the documentary crew. And if they make it, they can deliver the message that Holden is being framed.
On their own, Jim, Alex and Amos are in deep. They can’t fix the ship and they’re running out of options. Holden decides their best course of action is to surrender to the MCRN and hope that Monica was able to convince them of the truth. They’ll lose the Roci but at least they’ll survive.
Miller finally shows up after Holden has accepted his fate. The detective tells him they have to go to the nucleus, the station at the center of the Bubble. Only there will they find the answers they’re looking for.
So Jim suits up and heads out.
——–
On the Thomas Prince, in lieu of recent occurrences, all civilians are being ordered to transfer ships for a return trip home.
Anna and Rev. Cortez are discussing their disappointment at coming so close and now having to leave when they find out the ageing debutant Tilly has a way to bypass the rules and stay on board. Anna quickly asks the woman to help her do the same.
When Anna offers Rev. Cortez a chance to stay as well, he shows his fear and turns down her offer.
Sitting nearby, Melba recognizes Tilly’s laugh and it triggers a memory from her past. We find out that Melba is actually Jules-Pierre Mao’s daughter and sister to Julie Mao.
Julie, the apple of her father’s eye who never appreciated the life she had like Melba did.
At a party in her honour, Julie tells her father that she’s quitting the racing team and heading off to the Belt. When he chides her she tells him off, telling him that she can’t stand being a part of all the corrupt things he’s doing.
When Melba tries to console her father and offers to take Julie’s place on the racing team he tells her that’s absurd and brushes her off.
Melba later confronts Julie about her actions. She tells her older sister that she’s through being humiliated by her. Before walking away, Julie tells Melba that their father is a damaged man and that she’ll never be good enough for him.
Later, with her father, Jules-Pierre Mao confesses to Melba how much more he admires Julie than de does her.
Back in the present, Melba isn’t happy with the way her coworkers are treating Ren’s demise. She’s obviously upset over his death.
Upon hearing the news that Holden is still alive she decides to stay on board the Thomas Prince to finish what she started. She sends a message to her father telling him that she’s going to do for him what Julie never could. Destroy the man who brought him down.
Intransigence – Double Take – S3E9 – The Expanse Podcast
Jun 07, 2018
Intransigence – Double Take – S3E9 – The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback this week is Fridays, noon Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the ninth episode of season 3 titled “Intransigence”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) What new scheme does Melba have up her sleeve?
2) What will Monica and Cohen do once they’re picked up?
3) How do you interpret the title in regard to this episode?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
308 It Reaches Out – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Jun 02, 2018
It Reaches Out
This episode Timestamps
[3:46] News [7:30] Episode Recap [14:36] Feedback [1:30:29] Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss season 3 of The Expanse with the eighth episode titled “It Reaches Out”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
If you would like to preorder season 3 of The Expanse on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
It Reaches Out
The episode starts on the U.N.N. Thomas Prince. Those onboard arguing while they try to figure out what happened to Moneo when he entered the ring.
—
On board the Seung Un, Melba wakes to what she did to Ren. Pressed for time to return to the Thomas Prince, she shoves his body into an access panel and hastily cleans up the blood and resets the bomb.
Back on board the shuttle, Stanni gets under Melba’s skin by teasing her about his imagined hookup between the new girl and her boss.
Visibly shaken by what she did, Melba almost crashes their shuttle.
——-
On the Roci, Jim thinks he’s going crazy. He keeps seeing Miller, but the detective disappears whenever someone else is around.
Monica confronts him about his behaviour. She’s there for his story and she feels like he’s holding something back.
Holden brushes her off by telling her he’ll do better, and then heads to the medical bay to run tests on himself. He keeps running them over and over but the results always come back clean.
But it doesn’t prevent Miller from showing up again. The detective is talking nonsense, sputtering about doors and corners.
When Jim tells him he’s dead. Miller says he’s an investigator now and continues talking nonsense.
Amos catches Holden arguing to an empty room and offers an ear if the captain wants to get anything off his chest but Jim politely declines.
Upon reviewing security footage from before Amos showed up, Holden sees that he was always alone in the room.
—
Amos catches Cohen, Monica’s cameraman wandering parts of the ship he has no reason being in and sends him on his way.
He later spies Amos’s and Alex’s private conversation. The two are concerned about Holden’s behavior. Amos confesses that he looked at Jim’s medical logs, all 35 scans for the Protomolecule he ran, but all of them came up clean. The two agree to keep an eye on Holden.
Meanwhile, Monica is interviewing Holden in private when he asks to see her archived video footage. He compares the moment Moneo entered the ring and the first time he saw Miller. He’s shocked to see the two coincide.
As soon as he kicks Monica out of his quarters Miller is back talking nonsense again. When Holden asks Miller why only he can see him, the detective says it’s because he has a ship.
Miller goes on and on about “it” building the investigator and sending it out to investigate. When it doesn’t find anything it destroys the investigator and then creates the investigator and sends it out again. And so on, and so on until it finds a door that wasn’t there before.
When Holden asks him to explain further, Miller switches back to his story of a brothel in sector 18 and he keeps telling this rookie to watch his doors and corners and how you don’t go rushing into a room.
With everyone distracted, Cohen accesses one of the Roci’s computer panels and swaps out a chip.
——-
On the Behemoth. Drummer, Ashford and Naomi are discussing Moneo’s fate and wondering how Earth and Mars will blame them for it.
Drummer is feeling out of her league and is doubting her command skills, Ashford’s presence isn’t helping. Naomi reminds her that they all have their place in the new Belter nation. But Drummer being cynical refutes her.
Later, Ashford proposes a toast to Anderson Daws and Fred Johnson for getting them there and to Moneo for foolishly sinking his teeth into the unknown for love. Kicking the door open for all of them.
——-
Back on board the Thomas Prince, Anna spots Melba and notices something off about the girl. The Reverend asks her if she’s ok, Melba looks hesitant, as if she wants to answer before telling Anna she’s ok and walking away.
Once alone, Melba activates and triggers her bomb destroying the Seung Un, setting off alarms across the sector.
——-
On the Roci, they’re trying to figure out what just happened. For some reason, most of the ship is locked out to them. Then unexpectedly they start broadcasting a message from Holden taking credit, on behalf of the OPA that they are the only benefactors of the Ring and to prove his point he admits to destroying the Seung Un as a show of force.
Tensions are high. Holden swears it’s not him but the other’s are questioning his recent behavior and aren’t so sure.
With ships targeting them Alex fires off the drive to get them out of there.
Holden comes to a realization and runs from the deck in close pursuit by Amos. The big man tries to stop whatever his captain is about to do but Holden pleads with him to trust him, something he’s never asked of Amos before. Amos concedes to give him one minute alone.
Holden enters the airlock alone and sees Miller who once again talks about entering a room, and how if you do it too fast the room eats you.
——-
There’s confusion on the Behemoth, Naomi swears that the message can’t be Holden. Drummer and Ashford are less concerned about the message than what Earth and Mars are going to do next.
To Naomi’s shock, Ashford suggests firing on the Rocinant. It’s the only way to disavow their connection to Holden.
Naomi protests when Drummer orders a missile lock and is forcibly removed from the command deck.
With a lock in place Drummer orders them to fire their missile.
——-
Back on the Roci, with a missile bearing down on them, Holden orders Alex to fly towards the Ring as fast as they can and then flip and burn and do a massive deceleration before they enter it.
Holden tells Amos that he can’t explain it, but Miller told him what they need to do. Without hesitation, the mechanic tells Alex to follow the Captains orders.
At top speed, they head for the ring, flip and burn before they all pass out.
When Holden awakens all is quiet, The monitors show them within the ring with the missile suspended less than a ship’s length from their bow.
It Reaches Out – Double Take – S3E8 – The Expanse Podcast
May 31, 2018
It Reaches Out – Double Take – S3E8 – The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback this week is Fridays, noon Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the eighth episode of season 3 titled “It Reaches Out”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) What was Melba going to tell Anna?
2) How will things be between Naomi and Drummer?
3) How bad are things going to get before Holden’s name is cleared?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
The Expanse has been officially renewed for Season 4!
307 Delta-V – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
May 26, 2018
Delta-V
This episode Timestamps
[5:03] News [8:02] Episode Recap [15:58] Feedback [None Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss season 3 of The Expanse with the seventh episode titled “Delta-V”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
If you would like to preorder season 3 of The Expanse on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Delta-V
The episode opens with Chrisjen Avasarala addressing the United Nation. As we see the Protomolecule vessel that emerged from Venus transform into a giant ring in a stable orbit beyond Uranus.
She encourages the people of Earth to choose peace and to unite together with citizens from Mars and The Belt for the purpose of facing the unknown together.
A panel of civilian religious leaders, artists and intellectuals are sent out to investigate the Ring.
——-
In the depths of space, Moneo, a Belter Slingshot racer aboard the Y Que sends a message to his girl after setting a new course record for his Jupiter Six run.
A few months later, still setting records while shooting past Saturn Moneo receives a reply from Evita she’s tired of waiting for him and has hooked up with Moneo’s brother.
To try and win her back he alters his trajectory around Uranus so that he will pass through the Ring, becoming the first Human to do so.
——-
187 days after the formation of the Ring, the assembled fleet of Earth and Mars ships is finally approaching it.
On board the Roci, Holden, Amos and Alex are joined by a film crew documenting the life of the Roci and it’s crew.
Monica, the reporter interviewing them is getting under their skin and they are reluctant to cooperate with her, but since her company is funding the legal costs in their fight against Mars over ownership of the Rocinante they put up with her questions.
She probes into each of their lives showing some knowledge of their backgrounds. About Alex’s family back on Mars, about Amos’ miraculous luck being an Earther on Basic to winning the lottery to place him in an apprenticeship program. She probes deeper about his history in Baltimore and how there’s no record of him growing up there, although there is a record of a mob boss by the name of Amos Burton. Amos shrugs it off as coincidence and then gets defensive when she won’t let up.
Monica tries to apologize and even tries to flirt with him but he blows her off.
She later spies on Alex while he’s communicating with Bobbie who has been reinstated into the M.C.R.N. He mentions that his wife has filed for divorce. He’s visibly upset but understands it’s for the best.
Monica’s cameraman has a conversation with Amos. We find out that Prax and Mae have returned to Ganymede where he’s helping to rebuild the station. Amos misses the Botanist. The cameraman also flirts with the mechanic but he gets turned down as well.
Later after another failed attempt to get a rise out of Holden Monica heads off to do some editing while her cameraman, left alone, makes his way to the bridge and accesses a control panel.
——-
On board the O.P.A.S. Behemoth, head engineer Naomi Nagata interrupts a drug transaction between two Belters. She tells the dealer she doesn’t want to see that sort of thing anymore.
She joins Captain Drummer to welcome aboard the OPA Naval officers lead by Commander Klaes Ashford who is to be Drummers first officer. The two have a rocky history together. She works for Fred Johnson and he works for Anderson Daws, both of whom have come to terms and are tentatively working together for the betterment of the Belt.
The retrofit of the Behemoth is still underway, transforming the generation ship into the biggest battleship in human history. It sounds impressive but many of the ship’s systems were not built to withstand the rigours of battle.
When a construction skiff goes astray Naomi manages to gain control of it and bring it back on board. The pilot, who she recognizes as the man he saw buying drugs earlier is dead.
When Naomi confronts Drummer about the skiff pilot and the drug deal the Captain takes matters into her own hand. She confronts the pixie dust supplier and is about to space him, to Naomi’s protests, when Ashford stops her.
He reminds her that they are not rock hoppers anymore. They are now part of a legitimate society and they have to obey the laws of that society. If they want to be treated like equals by Earth and Mars they need to start acting the part.
Furious, Drummer addresses the assembled crowd telling them they have one standard shift to put any contraband they possess into the airlock without repercussions. She then starts to tell them what will happen to anyone caught with contraband after that time but Ashford interrupts her and announces that anyone caught afterwards with contraband will be put in the brig and sent back to Ceres station where they will be incarcerated.
The airlock quickly fills up with contraband but Drummer isn’t happy. She tells Ashford that it’s not who they are.
When he questions Naomi why she is there, she tells him she thinks it’s time for the Belt to stand up and show everyone who they really are. He tells her she should tell that to Drummer.
——-
On the U.N.N. Thomas Prince, Reverend Anna Volovodov, part of the civilian delegation questions whether or not the Protomolecule is a life form or not. Although nobody knows for sure, she’s told it’s technology created by an extremely intelligent intelligence.
A repair team from the Thomas Prince heads over to the Seung Un, Ren, the team leader orders newbie Melba to perform some simple tasks while he works on something else. He reassures her that the first long-haul trip like this is always the hardest. If she has any questions or just wants to talk she can come to him.
Once alone, she opens a neighbouring panel and activates a mysterious device inside. She seems nervous when Ren returns but he doesn’t take much notice, chalking it up to her being a rookie.
On their way back to their skiff, Ren realizes he forgot his flask where Melba was working. He notices something amiss with the compartment next to where she was working and discovers the hidden device inside.
She tells him she really wishes he hadn’t looked, then she does something in her mouth and attacks the larger man, easily overpowering and killing him before collapsing herself.
———
On board the Y Que, Moneo powers back on his systems and receives a message from Evita, She’s impressed by what he’s attempting and tells him she was wrong and that she will be eagerly waiting for him when he gets home.
As he approaches the ring he is warned off my M.C.R.N. ships. He tells them he’s complying but that it will take him a minute to power up his drive.
At a ballistic speed enters the Ring, only to be stopped almost dead as he breaks the plane. The force of the instantaneous deceleration reduces Moneo’s body to a pulp as his ship enters the Ring.
——-
Back on the Roci, Holden is in his stateroom washing up when he hears a voice, he looks to his bunk and sees Miller sitting there. Not believing what he sees his blinks his eyes and Miller is gone.
Delta-V – Double Take – S3E7 – The Expanse Podcast
May 24, 2018
Delta-V – Double Take – S3E7 – The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback this week is Fridays, noon Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the seventh episode of season 3 titled “Delta-V”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
For the book readers:
1) Were you happy with the way the new characters were introduced?
2) Were you happy with the transition from book 2 Caliban’s War to book 3 Abaddon’s Gate?
For the non-book readers:
1) Can Ashford be trusted?
2) What is Melba up to?
3) What the heck is Miller doing on the Roci?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
306 Immolation – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
May 19, 2018
Immolation
This episode Timestamps
[3:18] News [11:02] Episode Recap [18:04] Feedback [None Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss season 3 of The Expanse with the sixth episode titled “Immolation”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
Dark Matter: What season 4 episode 1 would have been like. Act 1Act 2
If you would like to preorder season 3 of The Expanse on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Immolation
The episode opens with confusion in the U.N. Command centre. The Secretary-General is demanding to know why U.N.N. ships around IO are firing upon each other.
Errinwright looks concerned when they are told that scanners detected a massive launch of stealth ships from IO but they’ve lost track of them.
In his office, Anna confronts the Secretary-General. She’s lost all respect for her old friend wants to show him the proof of Errinwrights role in the war.
When confronted with his treachery Errinwright doesn’t deny it. In fact, he admits he had to do it in order to make up for the ineptitude of the Secretary-General. He fought to save Earth while Gillis fought to save himself.
As Errinwright is taken away in handcuffs Anna is happy that her old friend has come around seen the errors of his way, until that is he thanks her for giving him a scapegoat to pass all the blame from his administration onto.
——-
Inside the IO bunker, Jules-Pierre Mao is ready to surrender but Strickland convinces him to use the children as shields as they escape on their own ships.
To buy them more time, the doctor releases Katoa, the Protomolecule Hybrid to slow Holden and his team down.
——-
The Roci team makes their way through the bunker encountering minor resistance until Bobbie spots the Hybrid and charges it. If she can keep it distracted, the rest of the team can complete their mission.
She runs, ensuring the creature follows her to the moon’s surface. The two tangle and fight before Bobbie’s suit runs out of power.
She’s helpless as the creature straddles her but through sheer willpower and her immense strengths she’s able to combat the dead servo motors in her suit, raise her arm and empty her gun into the creatures head, killing it.
—
Holden, Amos and Prax discover where the children are and the engineer and botanist take off after them. While Holden takes off after Mao. He tracks the man down and takes him into custody.
Doctor Strickland, his assistant and the kids are cornered at a blocked airlock. To save himself the Doctor kills his assistant and then feigns relief when Prax and Amos show up claiming to have been coerced. He only had the best interest of the children in mind.
Finally reunited with his daughter, Prax introduces her to his best friend Amos and asks her to go with the big man for just a few minutes while he talks to Doctor Strickland.
Alone, Prax draws his gun and points it at the pleading man. But Amos stops him, telling Prax he’s not the kind of man that can take a life like that.
As Prax returns to Mai, Amos turns to Strickland and kills the man.
————–
On the Rocinante docked on IO, Alex uses the Roci’s point defence cannons to try and shoot down the hybrid pods but there are too many and he quickly runs out of ammunition. The U.N.N. and MCRN ships destroyed some as well but the pods’ transponders are off and they are using stealth technology so once they leave the atmosphere there is no way of tracking where they are going.
Avasarala concludes that the pods are heading to Mars. If they reach the red planet it will turn into another Eros.
As the rest of the crew in the bunker, Chrisjen distracts herself by looking at what’s going on in orbit.
She, Naomi and Alex are shocked to see that the Agatha King was hit by a Hybrid pod and is infected by the Protomolecule.
After discovering the launch codes for the pods are on board the Agatha King, Alex and Naomi risk taking the Razorback to the Flagship to stop the Hybrids before they reach Mars.
They make their way to ICI. There’s no way for them to call back the pods but Naomi believes she can alter their courses but it will take a long time to do it to all of them.
Elsewhere aboard the U.N.N. Flagship, Ensign Larson frees Cotyar from his restraints. Infected by the Protomolecule and knowing what has befallen the ship Cotyar decides to scuttle it. He overloads the engine core that will cause a meltdown ending in a nuclear explosion.
Out of time, Naomi and Alex rush to get off the ship. As a last-ditch effort, Naomi manages to turn all the pods’ transponders back on before leaving. They make it off just in time before the Agatha King detonates.
There’s no way for them to change the trajectory of all the pods but Naomi has another idea. If they give the transponder codes to Fred Johnson he has a chance to destroy them all with the nuclear missiles he stole from Earth. They put it to a vote and Alex, Jim and Amos all agree to her plan.
————
Onboard Tycho station, Fred Johnson receives Naomi’s plan. One that would not only save Mars but would strengthen the Belt’s position as an equal player.
Fred agrees and destroys the pods with his missiles.
———–
As everyone settles back in on the Rocinante, Prax tucking in Mai, Alex tending to Bobbie, Amos watching the other children and Jim and Naomi embraced in each other’s arms, Naomi tells Holden that it’s time for her to leave the Rocinante.
The episode ends with whatever structure the Protomolecule was building emerging from Venus’ atmosphere.
Immolation – Double Take – S3E6 – The Expanse Podcast
May 17, 2018
Immolation – Double Take – S3E6 – The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback is Fridays, 9 am Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the sixth episode of season 3 titled “Immolation”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s questions are…
1) Did they destroy all the Hybrid pods?
2) Is that the last we’ll see of Errinwight?
3) What just came out of Venus?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
I’m putting out this special episode to let you know about an online petition that has been created in the hopes of saving this wonderful show. You can add your name to the growing list of fans who want to see more stories from The Expanse universe. Visit https://solotalkmedia.com/savetheexpanse and add your name.
And be sure to use the hashtag #SaveTheExpanse in all your social media posts.
Thanks,
Mark
305 Triple Point – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
May 11, 2018
Triple Point
This episode Timestamps
[3:17] News [11:32] Episode Recap [17:01] Feedback [None Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss season 3 of The Expanse with the third episode titled “Triple Point”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
If you would like to preorder season 3 of The Expanse on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Triple Point
The episode opens with the crew of the Rocinante discussing their approach strategy for IO.
Chrisjen comes clean to Holden, telling him he can’t nuke IO because she does indeed need the Protomolecule. Mars has it, The Belt has it and she wants it for Earth. Not as a weapon, but as a means to save the entire human species.
He tells her that he’s already tried to save the world but all he did was make it worse. She tells that at least he tried and he can’t stop trying now. He’s not a child so he should stop acting like one.
While checking the coms, Alex receives a message from his son Melas. The boy tells him that he’s proud to be Alex’s son and that one day he wants to fight for Mars, like his dad.
In the cargo hold, at Prax’s request, Amos teaches him how to use a firearm. The tough man isn’t sure how to interpret this new side of the normally peaceful botanist. When Amos later tells him he has his back no matter what they find on IO, Prax tells him he’s fully prepared whether they find his daughter or not.
Bobby is prepping her armour for the mission. She asks Alex to explain to her how they killed the Protomolecule Hybrid they faced. The plan is to run if they see one but she’s preparing to face it should it happen.
When Naomi and Jim have a moment together, she tells him the true reason why she gave their Protomolecule sample to Fred Johnson.
She used to run with the OPA, she had a child with one of the high ranking members and he took her son away when she refused to do what he wanted her to do.
She signed up on the Canterbury to forget her past. But after Eros and Ganymede and all the Belters who suffered there, she wanted to do what she could to help the Belt.
She’s sorry she lied, but she’s not sorry for what she did.
Holden tells her that he will never like what she did, but he can’t hate her for doing what she thought was right.
The Rocinante finally lands on IO and they prepare to breach the compound.
——
On route to the Jupiter A.O. Ensign Sinopoli shows the video Avasarala gave him to captain Carino of the MCRN Hammurabi. They find his story hard to believe but decide to take action when they discover the U.N.N. Agatha King has diverted to IO.
——-
On board the U.N.N. Agatha King, questions are raised as to why they are going to IO when the war is taking place at Calisto but Admiral Nguyen doesn’t offer an explanation.
Lt. Shaffer and Manusco, both loyal to Admiral Souther report to him that Nguyen has been communicating with IO off the record. They’re suspicious of the Fleet Admiral’s actions and suggest that should Souther want to take back his ship there are many on board who would back him.
When Lt. Manusco intercepts a communication from the MCRN Hammurabi addressed to Admiral Souther he and Lt. Shaffer secretly show it to him.
The Admiral verifies the message with Cotyar before deciding on his course of action.
Back on the control deck the Agatha King prepares for engagement with the Hammurabi but is confused when the Martians don’t fire upon them.
The captain of the MCRN ship doesn’t use her advantage and instead orders her ship to slow down its approach. She’s hoping to avoid thousands of lives lost on both sides if it can be avoided.
When Admiral Nguyen orders his ship to fire upon the Hammurabi Admiral Souther and those loyal to him try to retake their ship.
Souther broadcasts to all ships in the area to stand down, that they are fighting an illegal war and he has proof.
Before he can complete his message, Nguyen’s men retake the room and the Fleet Admiral kills Souther and arrests those loyal to Souther.
When Nguyen addresses the fleet and orders them to engage the Martians some of them refuse. He destroys one of the retreating U.N.N. ships, igniting a shooting battle amongst the U.N.N. Fleet.
The captain Carino of the Hammurabi orders all MCRN ships to stand down and let the U.N.N. Fleet destroy themselves.
She then contacts the U.N.N. Fleet informing them that any of their ships that declares their peaceful intentions will not be fired upon by Mars and even offers assistance should they need help.
When Shaffer and Manusco try to retake the control centre a firefight breaks out and both are killed and Nguyen injured.
In a desperate move, the Fleet Admiral uses his newly acquired launch codes to launch the Hybrid pods from IO.
—–
On IO, Katoa is close to being fully transformed. Jules-Pierre Mao is trying to get information from him as to what the Protomolecule is up to, but communication is difficult. Strickland tries to slow down the transformation process but it doesn’t work as intended. Before the boy is too far gone they do manage to discover that the Protomolecule has an objective and whatever work it’s doing is almost complete.
Mao is determined to learn more and orders, Strickland, to attempt the same process on Mae.
Jules-Pierre receives a message from Admiral Nguyen telling him his family assets have been unfrozen and demanding the launch codes for the Hybrid pods. Mao complies.
Triple Point – Double Take – S3E5 – The Expanse Podcast
May 10, 2018
Triple Point – Double Take – S3E5 – The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback is Fridays, 9 am Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode I give you my first impressions right after seeing the fifth episode of season 3 titled “Triple Point”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) How will the rest of the Roci crew react to the news that Naomi has a son?
2) What does the message from Alex’s son have to do with the story?
3) What happens next?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
304 Reload – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
May 05, 2018
Reload
This episode Timestamps
[2:35] News [5:14] Episode Recap [9:53] Feedback [None Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss season 3 of The Expanse with the third episode titled “Assured Destruction”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
If you would like to preorder season 3 of The Expanse on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Reload
The episode opens in the depths of space. Drummer and her armada of Belter’s salvage ships catch up with the unmanned L.D.S.S. Nauvoo.
After launching a fleet of drones and subsequently boarding the behemoth, they manage to secure the ship and begin their retrofit.
—–
En route to IO, the Rocinante stops in a debris field, the aftermaths of one of the war’s battles, in order to salvage some desperately needed supplies from what remains of the destroyed ships.
Avasarala is frustrated at being cut off from everything happening in the system and plans to user her speaking skills to convince Holden to allow her to send her message to Admiral Souther.
At first, Holden is steadfast in his refusal. Sending a message would alert every ship in the system to their whereabouts.
But Chrisjen assures him that a message to the right person could change the tides of the war. She wants to contact Anna Volovodov since she’s an outsider who’s communications are probably not screened and she has direct access to the Secretary-General.
To Naomi’s disapproval, he gives in and agrees to send the message. When she tells him he can’t trust the Under-Secretary he retorts that he can’t trust Naomi. At least he knows who Avasarala is.
Elsewhere on the ship, Prax is having moral conflicts as to what extremes he might go to save someone.
They board the Kittur Chennamma, a Martian vessel with similar specifications to their own.
While retrieving the supplies they need they discover 3 Martian survivors and transfer them to the Rocinante.
When the Martians discover they are aboard the stolen Tachi they take matters into their own hands by attacking Alex and trying to take over the ship.
Naomi tries to diffuse the tense situation but things get worse when Holden arrives pointing a riffle on them.
Things are coming to a head when Bobbie calmly walks in and contrary to an earlier statement she made to Avasarala about being a shooter, not a talker she manages to convince the Martians to peacefully give up.
One of the Martians is later surprised to be introduced to the U.N. Under-Secretary which just confuses him more.
She explains that the war is a sham, started by people within her own government. They are patching up the Kittur Chennamma enough to get them back to their fleet. When they arrive Avasarala wants him to relay a message to Admiral Souther for her.
———-
On Earth, the Secretary General addresses the general assembly. His speech, the one Anna wrote for him about facing the unknown, about humanity coming together and working together in the face of the alien threat is going well, but then he diverges from her script, saying he doesn’t think Mars and Earth can see eye to eye and that the only way to end the war and move forward is to put Mars in its place and unite all humanity under the U.N. Flag.
This deviation was clearly Erinwright’s doing.
Anna later confronts Sorrento and strongly expresses her disappointment in him, saying she thought there was some decency within him but she was obviously wrong. She storms out of the room done with him.
Frustrated and upset, Anna talks to her wife while packing to leave. Anna just wants to go home. Upon ending the call she receives an anonymous message with the incriminating video proving Errinwright’s involvement in starting the war.
——-
On IO the shutdown is well underway but Doctor Strickland is secretly continuing his research on Kotoa who is continuing to transform into a Protomolecule hybrid.
When Mae is being troublesome Jules-Pierre Mao tries to calm her but she runs away. He follows her to a locked remote room where she tells him that Katoa is being kept.
Doctor Strickland is summoned to open the door and inside they find a transforming Kotoa in the process of dismembering and cataloguing all the internal organs of one of the workers he killed.
When Mao realizes that Kotoa is communicating with the other Protomolecule infestations and that he is the key to everything he orders Doctor Strickland to continue his research.
Reload – Double Take – S3E4 – The Expanse Podcast
May 03, 2018
Reload – Double Take – S3E4 – The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback is Fridays, 9 am Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the fourth episode of season 3 titled “Reload”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) Will the Kittur Chennamma survivors successfully deliver their message?
2) If Anna tells the Secretary-General about Errinwright what will he do?
3) How long until the Crew trusts Naomi again?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
303 Assured Destruction – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Apr 27, 2018
Assured Destruction
This episode Timestamps
[1:50] News [7:19] Episode Recap [13:45] Feedback [1:27:24] Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss season 3 of The Expanse with the third episode titled “Assured Destruction”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Assured Destruction
The episode opens on board the Rocinante. Avasarala is in rough but stable condition.
Tensions are high as the crew wants answers from Bobbie, but she’s obviously holding information back.
Holden is unperturbed and decides to simply continue with their mission to IO. Bobby opposes saying the Under-Secretary has vital information that could end the war, but Jim puts her in her place saying they don’t owe her anything and she’s free to get back on the Razorback and leave any time she wants.
When Naomi scolds Holden for the way he’s acting he tells her, she can leave the ship as well if she doesn’t like it.
Amos and Prax continue their bonding over small talk. Amos is convinced they will find Mae, Prax isn’t as sure.
Later, Naomi fixes the Razorback’s comm system, and for a brief moment contemplates heeding Holden’s suggestion that she take the ship and leave for Tycho.
Alex confronts her about it later. He says he’s still angry that she gave the Protomolecule to Fred Johnson but he admires her commitment to the Belt. He wishes he had her strength.
When Chrisjen regains consciousness, she finally meets Holden face to face. She tries to convince him to let her contact Admiral Souther on the Agatha King, but he won’t hear of it.
When she tells him she’s trying to prevent the Protomolecule from falling into the wrong hands he tells her he’s heard it all before. Including from himself.
On their way to IO Alex receives a message from his wife. They thought he was dead for so long. They’re happy he’s alive, but that they’ve moved on and don’t need him anymore.
With everyone gathered, Chrisjen finally comes clean and tells them all what she knows about Jules-Pierre Mao, Errinwright and the Protomolecule. She tells them she believes Errinwright plans on using the hybrids to lay waste to Mars and she needs their help to stop it.
Holden then tells them about their own encounter with a Hybrid and how they believe they are being created on IO using the kids.
He then drops a bombshell by telling her that Fred Johnson already has a sample of the Protomolecule.
She confronts Naomi about what she did and then surprises them all when she agrees that they should simply nuke IO and destroy the Protomolecule.
When Naomi later confronts the Under-Secretary accusing her of wanting to go to IO to get the Protomolecule for Earth. Avasarala neither confirms or denies the accusation.
—–
On Earth, The ruling council is discussing the Martian stealth ballistic missile platform their spy satellite detected.
They’ve detected two of the five known platforms, and if they can find the other three before Mars moves them, they’ll be able to eliminate them with their planetary rail guns.
A preemptive strike would have to be perfect, or else Mars would retaliate, and the casualties would be enormous.
The possibility of casualties causes the Secretary-General to hesitate, but Errinwright is pushing him to attack.
—
Later, Anna is helping the Sec-Gen to write his speech, but his mind isn’t on it. He asks her a hypothetical question about facing fear to try and settle the upcoming decision he has to make regarding the Mars missile platforms.
She asks him how many sacrifices he can tolerate and still tell himself he’s doing God’s work. The answer she says is as few as possible.
—
When the 5th platform is discovered, and he’s told there is an 82% chance to successfully destroy them he backs down, saying the chances of casualties are too great.
In private, Errinwright confronts the Sec-Gen about his choice. He manages to convince him that if he wins the war, he will be remembered as the man that united humanity in the face of first contact.
The plan works, and the Secretary-General orders a strike on the Mars Missile Platforms. A glitch in one of the railguns delays its firing and the Missile platform manages to launch a missile before it’s destroyed.
The missile strikes Earth in South America killing 2 million people. The railgun misfired due to a glitch caused by the earlier power up and power down.
In the aftermath, Errinwrite tells Anna that all the casualties could have been prevented if only the Secretary-General hadn’t wavered earlier in the day. Putting the Unspoken blame on her.
—–
In the depths of space, the U.N.N. Agatha King detects the Mao dropship. Before they can intercept it, they receive a message from Admiral Nguyen that he’s on his way and whoever is on the dropship is to be detained without debriefing.
On the dropship, Theo, the Mao electrician is panicking, not sure what to tell the Agatha King once they’re rescued. To protect himself and Avasarala’s mission, Cotyar kills the man.
—
Later with Cotyar in custody, Admiral Nguyen briefs Admiral Souther on his orders to bring in Under-Secretary Avasarala on suspicions of treason.
They interrogate Cotyar but don’t get anything from him. He spins a story that Chrisjen is dead and that Bobby escaped on the Razorback.
They don’t believe him when he tells them the Guan Chin was destroyed by a U.N.N. Gunship and that it’s Errinwright who has been working with Jules-Pierre Mao and who is the true traitor.
After the interrogation, Admiral Souther creates a diversion to talk to Cotyar alone. He knows Chrisjen is not a traitor and he gets the true story out of the spy.
Suspicious, Admiral Nguyen relieves Admiral Souther of command and takes over the Agatha King and heads towards IO.
—–
On IO, Katoa shows off some of the new abilities he’s developed from Doctor Strickland’s new treatments.
Later, Mao meats Mae and he’s taken in by the young girl’s charm. When Katoa collapses, Mao seems genially concerned for the children.
Doctor Strickland sees it as a simple setback, but Mao orders him to stop the experiments. He wants the torture of the children to end.
Strickland protests but Mao tells him it’s not up for debate. The experiment is over, shut it down.
Assured Destruction – Double Take – S3E3 – The Expanse Podcast
Apr 26, 2018
Assured Destruction – Double Take – S3E3 – The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback is Fridays, 9 am Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the third episode of season 3 titled “Assured Destruction”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) What will Strickland do next?
2) What will Anna do next?
3) What will admiral Suthers do next?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review on Apple Podcasts.
302 IFF – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Apr 21, 2018
IFF
This episode Timestamps
[2:13] News [4:45] Episode Recap [10:15] Feedback [1:21:49] Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we discuss season 3 of The Expanse with the second episode titled “IFF”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
IFF
The episode opens on IO with Prax’s daughter Mae being comforted by Doctor Strickland after waking from a bad dream. She wants her daddy but Strickland deflects her requests.
After sending her to be examined he greets Jules-Pierre Mao who’s arrived to oversee his work.
Mao is not in a good mood. On one side he’s dealing with threats from Errinwright to provide the promised Protomolecule weapon. And on the other side, he’s dealing with the fact that they have no way of controlling the Protomolecule because it keeps breaking down the command and control tech inserted within them.
Mao wants to terminate the program but to his surprise, Doctor Strickland may have a solution. By using the immune deficiency disorder affecting the children they will be able to inhibit the Protomolecule.
If they can fully understand the process at a molecular level it could hold the key to finding countermeasures to the Protomolecule.
Mao is impressed and tells Strickland to do whatever he has to do.
In the examination room, Kotoa tells Mae that the new treatment Doctor Strickland is administering will cure them. He shows Mae the blue pulsing lights in his arm.
——-
On Earth, a protest rally is taking place outside the U.N. Headquarters. The Reverend Doctor Anna Volovodov witnesses some of the protesters being manhandled by security and comes to their aid.
Later, the Secretary-General gets reacquainted with his old friend Anna. He asked her there to help him write his speech to address the general assembly. She’s reluctant, but gives in and agrees to help him in exchange for support of her Church for a full year.
Unsure of her decision to help her old friend, Anna seeks comfort from her wife Nono and their daughter Nami.
Later at a dinner, it’s revealed that Anna wrote the speech that got the Secretary-General elected to power.
While the ruling council discuss the apprehension of Jules-Pierre Mao and the possibility of getting to him through his family. Anna puts Errinwright in his place by reminding him that collective punishment is a war crime.
——–
Aboard the Pinus Contorta (a.k.a. The Rocinante) Prax is putting his knowledge to good use by incorporating vegetation panels into the ship to help with air filtration.
The IFF system (Identify Friend or Foe) detects a distress call coming from a Martian marine aboard an unknown ship.
Upon further investigation, they discover that the ship is registered to Julie Mao. Alex is ready to alter course to intercept them when Holden belays the order. He’s determined that the right thing for them to do is to continue their search for Prax’s daughter.
——–
In the depths of space, a U.N.N. Escort ship under Errinwright’s control is hunting the Razorback.
Aboard the racing pinus, Bobby and Avasarala are hoping to avoid detection long enough to get out of range of their pursuers. They manage to get out of imminent danger before being detected.
Bobby pushes the Razorback but the strain of acceleration is too much for Chrisjen so she slows down allowing the U.N.N. ship to gain ground.
Avasarala convinces Bobby to send a distress call through her suit but the problem is, the inherent encryption means only Martians will be able to receive the call. It’s not the best plan considering Chrisjen is considered a war criminal and Bobby is viewed as a deserter but they have little choice if they want to survive.
Bobby tries to keep the ship at the highest speed possible while not harming the Under Secretary but the sustained acceleration is too much for the older lady and they are forced to slow down.
The U.N.N. ship gets within range and fires on them, right as another unknown ship and launches missiles as well. Bobby does her best to outfly them but there’s no hope.
But then suddenly, the second batch of missiles destroy’s the U.N.N. missiles and the remaining ones take up escort positions around the Razorback.
—
Aboard the Contorta the crew get ready for battle. Prax broke the tie choosing to help the Razorback. They strap in and enter the fray.
A utility closet that wasn’t properly locked opens and the tools become projectiles threatening Amos and Prax.
During a manoeuvre one of the flying tools dislodges Prax’s air hose. Amos unstraps and goes to his aid saving the botanist.
In a desperate manoeuvre, the Contorta detonates their missiles to act as a screen as they sneak in and shear the thrusters clean off the U.N.N. ship immobilizing it.
The trick saved them and the Razorback but in the process, they declared war on Earth.
—
After the battle, Prax confides in Amos that he’s afraid of what he will find when they do find Mae. Amos tells him he can’t give up on his daughter because he’s all she has left and she’s all he has left.
The episode ends with Bobby carrying an unconscious Avasarala onto the Contorta and asking for their help.
IFF – Double Take – S3E2 – The Expanse Podcast
Apr 19, 2018
IFF – Double Take – S3E2 – The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback is Fridays, 9 am Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the second episode of season 3 titled “IFFt”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) Is Strickland’s plan to use the kids’ genetic disorder to control the Protomolecule hybrids or is it to turn the kids into Protomolecule hybrids?
2) What do you think of Reverand Doctor Annushka (Anna) Volovodov?
3) What do you think Errinwright thinks of Anna?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
301 Fight Or Flight – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Apr 14, 2018
Fight Or Flight
This episode Timestamps
[2:17] News [3:48] Episode Recap [9:41] Feedback [1:17:08] Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we start season 3 of The Expanse with the episode titled “Fight Or Flight”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
News
No special news to report this week.
If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Fight or Flight
The episode opens immediately after the dismantling of the Aberghast above Venus. Not knowing what happened, the entire system braces for war.
The UN Secretary-General want’s to get Mars back to the negotiating table but Errinwright convinces him instead to formally declare war on Mars plunging the system into chaos.
—
Afraid for himself, Errinwright spins a tale, telling the Secretary-General that Avasarala has been behind everything that has happened on Eros and Ganymede and is in league with Mao in creating the Protomolecule.
He succeeds and the Secretary-General orders him to apprehend her at all costs.
——
Back on the Rocinante, the crew is cleaning up after the battle with the Protomolecule monster. While repairing the deck plating in the cargo hold a small sample left behind by the monster goes unnoticed.
Tensions are high in the aftermath of Naomi’s betrayal. She lied to them about destroying their Protomolecule sample and instead gave it to Fred Johnson. Her intentions were well meant but the rest of the crew doesn’t see it that way.
With war now raging throughout the system, Holden decides to hide the Rocinante by changing its transponder and drive signature. At Prax’s suggestion, they rename the ship the Contorta, after a pine tree from Earth.
Naomi suggests the crew goes to Tycho Station where Fred Johnson can help them. Alex and Amos don’t like the idea but concede that it is their best option.
Not sure what’s ahead for them. Alex records and sends a very heartfelt message to his family back on Mars.
After a brief conversation with Prax and a little bit of research, Holden realizes that the Protomolecule is somehow related to Iao, which also has ties back to Jules-Pierre Mao.
Swearing to do what they promised Prax they would do. Holden suggests they go to Iao to look for Mae. Naomi strongly objects but the rest of the crew overrule her.
——
Aboard Jules-Pierre Mao’s ship, Avasaraly tends to an injured Cotyar while Bobby tries to take control of the ship.
Knowing that Errinwright will do everything in his power to prevent Christjen’s escape They make plans to leave the ship.
Bobby enlists the aid of Mao’s Junior electrician. The four of them take over the bridge, only to realize that missiles are en route to destroy them. They have to abandon the ship.
Before leaving Avasaraly has the electrician retrieve copies of all communications to and from the ship. Proof that Errinwright is a traitor.
They make their way to Julie Mao’s racing Pinnace, the Razorback only to discover it’s a two-seater. Bobby and Avasarala narrowly make their escape while Cotyar and the electrician run to the dropship.
Their fate is unknown.
——-
In the Belt, Fred Johnson sends a message to Anderson Daws letting him know he has the Protomolecule. Since Daws has the scientist that worked for Protogen, Fred is hoping the two can come to terms and share their resources for the betterment of the Belt.
Drummer isn’t happy with Fred’s decisions to include Daws.
Fred asks her to lead a salvage mission to retrieve the Nauvoo. She sees it as a punishment for opposing Fred’s plan to untie the Belt. But she agrees.
Fight Or Flight – Double Take – S3E1 – The Expanse Podcast
Apr 12, 2018
Fight Or Flight – Double Take – S3E1 – The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback is Fridays, 9 am Eastern time.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the season 3 premiere titled “Fight Or Flight”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) Did Cotyar make it out?
2) How much trouble is Errinwright’s plan going to cause?
3) What will happen with the smudge of blue Protomolecule left on the Rocinante?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
The Expanse Season 2 Audio Recap – The Expanse Podcast S3E0
Mar 13, 2018
The Expanse Season 2 Audio Recap – The Expanse Podcast S3E0
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante. I’m Mark Des Cotes, host of the podcast and I hope you join me each week as I discuss my thoughts and theories on this amazing show.
This episode of the podcast is comprised of my thirteen episode recaps from season 2. I thought it would be an easy way for you to refresh yourself on what happened last season if you don’t have a chance to watch all thirteen episodes again.
The Expanse Podcast is a spoiler-free podcast. I have read the books the series is based upon, listened actually since I prefer audiobooks, but unlike some of the other podcasts, I do not spoil anything from the books for those who haven’t read them yet or for those who simply want to enjoy the TV show for what it is. Whenever I feel strongly about something book related I save it for the end of the podcast once all the TV Talk is over and I give you ample warning to turn off the podcast before diving in with my fellow readers.
I encourage listener feedback for the podcast. I want to hear your thought and theories. If you are not sure what to submit I make it easy for you by putting out a short Double Take episode soon after each week’s TV airing. The Double Take episodes contain my brief impression after my first viewing but most importantly, I share three questions about the episode I want to hear your thoughts on. You can submit your feed by calling 1-805-910-7656. You can email me an audio file at feedback@solotalkmedia.com. Or you can leave a voicemail directly on the website by clicking the “Send Voicemail” tab on the right-hand side of the site. I can’t wait to hear from you.
This episode Timestamps
[0:00] Intro [4:18] S2E1 Safe [8:48] S2E2 Doors and Corners [13:49] S2E3 Static [19:44] S2E4 Godspeed [26:44] S2E5 Home [32:01] S2E6 Paradigm Shift [37:44] S2E7 The Seventh Man [43:52] S2E8 Pyre [50:10] S2E9 The Weeping Somnambulist [54:52] S2E10 Cascade [1:00:04] S2E11 Here There Be Dragons [1:05:21] S2E12 The Monster And The Rocket [1:11:08] S2E13 Caliban’s War [None] Book Discussion
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
213 Caliban’s War – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
May 01, 2017
Caliban’s War
This episode Timestamps
[3:37] News [7:17] Episode Recap [12:16] My Observations [20:31] Feedback [None] Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we finish season 2 of The Expanse with the episode titled “Caliban’s War”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
News
If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
The episode opens with the standoff on Jules-Pierre Mao’s ship. Neither side willing to stand down.
Bobbie finds a way out for them but Cotyar is shot and too hurt to make the climb. He tells Bobbie that they brought her power armour with them. If she can get to the skiff she can save them so the marine heads off.
She encounters some resistance along the way but manages to make her way to where their skiff is docked. One of Mao’s men stands between her and her armour but she convinces him that dying for Mao isn’t what he wants to do. He agrees and steps aside.
After exchanging fire, Mao’s men ask Cotyar to negotiate. Avasarala coaches him what to say but the conversation is going nowhere. Then Mao’s men offer safe passage to Cotyar if he hands over the Under-Secretary.
Avasarala thinks he’s going to give in to them but he tells her he’s doing what he’s doing because he owes it to her son to keep his mother safe.
Wanting to keep Cotyar safe Chrisjen surrenders to Mao’s men, who receive orders to kill her.
Before they can follow through, Bobbie, dressed in full power armour arrives and takes them out.
——
After making arrangements for the Somnambulist, Naomi and Amos are back on board the Rocinante.
While evaluating the damage sustained by the missile explosion they discover they have a stowaway on board. The monster from Ganymede is in their cargo bay.
Prax is still convinced he can talk to the creature but Holden won’t hear it. Their only course of action is to destroy the monster.
Holden and Amos enter the cargo bay intending to shoot it. They watch as the creature digs out and discards a failsafe device that was implanted in its chest. Not taking any chances they open fire spraying the monster with bullets but they have little effect on it.
In retaliation, the monster rips a magnetic cargo container off the floor and throws it at them hitting Holden and pinning him to the wall.
Amos tries to help his captain but his suit is loosing air so Holden orders him to leave.
The rest of the crew are arguing what to do. Prax still wants to try communicating with the creature but the rest just want it destroyed. Holden calls their attention to the monster’s actions. It’s ignoring Holden and trying to dig its way through a bulkhead.
They realize that it’s looking for food and trying to dig its way to their reactor. If it succeeds they’re all dead.
Every solution they come up with to destroy the creature would also be fatal to Holden.
Amos comes up with the idea to pressurize the compartments around the cargo bay and then blow the hatch. The result will be like a balloon deflating, blowing the creature off the ship. Holden will probably be torn apart if they try but he orders them to get started anyway.
Time is tight so Alex shuts down their drive figuring if it’s off it won’t be as attractive to the creature. It works, but with its food source off it turns it’s attention back on Holden so Alex starts the drive up again.
Figuring he’s a goner, Holden opens up to Naomi but she refuses to see the inevitable.
On his way to help Amos, Prax being the botanist he notices the plants growing on the Roci and comes up with a new plan. Just like the way plants search for water. If they give the creature an easier food source to reach it may leave the reactor alone.
Using one of their nuclear warheads as bait. Naomi and Prax take it outside the Rocinante to attract the creature. It works, sensing an easier meal, the Monster exits the cargo hold and chases them down.
After a slight hesitation, Prax tosses the nuclear core into space and the monster jumps for it. Alex immediately fires up the Roci’s drive frying the creature in its wake.
They manage to free Holden who will need some time to heal.
Knowing he’s safe, Naomi doesn’t want to hold any more secrets from Holden and confesses to hiding their Protomolecule sample. She truly believes that since Earth and Mars have their samples, that the Belt should have one as well. Thinking she was about to die on the Somnambulist she sent a message to Fred Johnson telling where to find it.
——
Around Venus, The Aborgast starts descending to the planet to get better readings. Not to be outdone, the Martian ship also descends at a much higher rate than the science ship.
Suddenly, their descent is halted and everything calms down. The Protomolecule invades the ship and then tears it apart seam by seam, bolt by bolt until every single individual part of it is separated from the next. Killing everyone on board.
——
The season ends with Dr. Strickland loading Mei into some kind of sleeping pod and storing her away.
Caliban’s War Double Take – S2E13 – The Expanse Podcast
Apr 20, 2017
Caliban’s War Double Take – S2E13 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback is Monday, April 24 at 9 am Eastern time to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the season 2 finale titled “Caliban’s War”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) How did season 2 compare to season 1?
2) What would you like to see in season 3?
3) Has watching both season 1 and 2 made you want to read or re-read the books?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
212 The Monster And The Rocket – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Apr 16, 2017
The Monster And The Rocket
This episode Timestamps
[3:28] News [5:36] Episode Recap [11:26] My Observations [19:28] Feedback [None] Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we continue season 2 of The Expanse with the episode titled “The Monster And The Rocket”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
News
If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
The Monster And The Rocket
The episode opens with Errinwright contemplating his past actions. He has a heart to heart conversation with his son but fails to tell the boy what he really means to say.
Later, before the Eros hearings are about to begin, he’s talking to Avasarala as if he’s already been convicted. She won’t hear any of it and reminds him of all the good he’s done. When she mentions that she’s going to meet with Jules-Pierre Mao he looks hopeful. He begs her to hear the man out and try to convince him that selling the Protomolecule to the Martians in not in Earth’s best interest.
—
Later, Cotyar escorts Bobbie to the jump ship that will take them and Avasarala to Jules-Pierre Mao’s ship. With the marine off the planet, she can’t be used as a bargaining chip by the Martian delegation.
Their ship arrives at the UN-MCR Neutral Zone where it docks with Mao’s ship. They are greeted by Captain Malik but Avasarala forgoes any small talk until Mao arrives.
The mogul offers them an ultimatum. In exchange for freeing his family, he will, in time offer the Protomolecule research to Earth, just like Mars, for the benefit of the system. The fact that he plans on profiting from both sides isn’t lost to him.
—
Back on earth, Errinwright writes a letter to his love, Jodie before a meeting with the head of the Martian delegation.
Errinwright makes nice with his Martian counterpart discussing both their peoples and the conflicts facing both of them and how the Protomolecule could be the solution to their problems. The meeting is proceeding nicely when Korshunov suddenly collapses and dies. Errinwright poisoned him as part of a larger plan.
—
On Jules-Pierre Mao’s ship, he and Avasarala receive a transmission from Errinwright. He informs them that Korshunov is dead and the MCRN Karakum, the ship on it’s way to Ganymede to pick up the Protomolecule has been destroyed by his orders.
He sees Avasarala’s actions as a betrayal of their friendship.
Errinwright gives Mao his own ultimatum. Clean up the mess he made for him, Return to Earth alone and wait for further instructions before getting back to work.
With tensions high on Mao’s ship, guns are drawn as the two sides face off and Mao makes his exit.
—
On the Rocinante, Holden, Alex and Prax are hunting the Protomolecule monster on the surface of Ganymede.
Prax doesn’t understand Holden’s motives and tries to convince him to take a less lethal approach.
They follow the monster into one of the destroyed agro domes. It’s a tight fit and when Alex wants to pull out Holden overrides him. They spot the monster and Holden opens fire but Prax stops him, still thinking it could be a transformed Mei.
They hold up when they intercept a transmission that the MCRN Karakum, a black ops ship that was coming to collect the Protomolecule suddenly blew up.
—–
At the Ganymede loading docks, Melissa is getting ready to evacuate refugees aboard the Somnambulist. She refuses Naomi’s offers to repair the ship before departure but the engineer doesn’t take no for an answer.
With the station’s power failing there’s not much time to get the ship operational and under way.
The refugees are getting restless. There are no other ships for them to seek passage on. When they try to force their way on board Amos and Melissa seal the doors.
To make matters worse, the Ganymede’s air refill stations have been shut down so the Somnambulist has to make due with just the air it has left which is only enough to take 52 of the hundreds of people waiting for passage. If they found out there would surely be a riot.
Naomi is upset at the notion of leaving the refugees behind. Amos concedes that they have no choice. It’s too dangerous to open the doors.
When it comes time to depart. Naomi wants to go talk to the refugees. Amos tries to stop her but she injects him with a paralytic drug and opens the airlock doors.
As expected the crowd panics and tries to rush in. Naomi offers her spot on the ship if the big Belter helps her calm the people down so they can at least save 52 women and children.
The big Belter calms the crowd down and addresses them. He explains the situation and appeals to their Belter pride. 52 people board the ship in an orderly fashion.
When Naomi thanks the big Belter and offers her spot, he turns her down and puts her back on the ship saying she’s not done yet.
As the ship takes off the MCRN forces threaten to destroy the Somnambulist if they don’t return to the docks.
They broadcast that they are a refugee ship and beg them not to fire but their plea falls on deaf ears. The MCRN Valkyrie fires a torpedo at them.
——
Back on the Rocinante, they have the monster in their sights when they hear the MCRN threatening to blow up the Somnambulist.
Holden is reluctant to end their pursuit but Alex makes him come to his senses. Their family needs their help.
They arrive just in time to shoot down the missile aimed at the Somnambulist. Holden orders Alex to target lock every MCRN ship in range and then opens a channel.
He orders the Martian navy to stand down as they escort the refugees away from Ganymede. If any of them shoots he threatens to unleash all their firepower upon them. Even if it means they all die.
The Martians comply. As they clear the area we see that the Rocinante’s airlock has been torn open and a blue glowing monster is hiding on board.
The Monster And The Rocket Double Take – S2E12 – The Expanse Podcast
Apr 13, 2017
The Monster And The Rocket Double Take – S2E12 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback is Friday at 2pm Eastern time to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the twelfth episode of season 2 titled “The Monster And The Rocket”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) What is Errinwright up to?
2) What will it take for Prax to understand?
3) How will Amos react?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
211 Here There Be Dragons – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Apr 09, 2017
Here There Be Dragons
This episode Timestamps
[1:54] News [9:23] Episode Recap [14:44] My Observations [17:42] Feedback [1:37:36] Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we continue season 2 of The Expanse with the episode titled “Here There Be Dragons”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Here There Be Dragons
The episode opens with a flashback on Ganymede Station before the mirrors fell. Dr. Strickland and an accomplice escort May to an isolated part of the station.
They make it to their destination right as the orbital battle begins.
Strickland straps Mei down along side other children in order to include her in the experiment he’s performing on the other kids.
—–
Back in present day. Holden and crew are following the same path that Strickland and Mei took. They venture into the old part of the station where nobody lives anymore.
Naomi tries to prepare Prax for what they might find ahead but he blurts out that she has no idea what he’s going through. To his surprise, she tells him she does understand. Her son was taken from her and she tried very hard to get him back but she failed. It took her a long time to accept that it wasn’t her fault.
They find a clue showing they’re on the right track to find Mei and make their way to a room where a group of scientists and their security force are eating a meal. One of the guards flinches and a firefight breaks out. During the chaos, the scientists escape out a back door and Amos takes a bullet.
In a side room, Prax discovers the body of a young child infected with the Protomolecule. Not taking any chances, Holden incinerates the body to prevent another Eros incident.
The back door to the room they’re in opens and a grenade is tossed in. A quick thinking Amos grabs it up and tosses it back through the door where it explodes. In the aftermaths of the explosion, they hear a large commotion including screaming and gunfire and the brief sound of an alarm before it shuts off.
When everything settles down the team goes in to investigate. Everyone is dead. They find some kind of cell. Whatever was inside it obviously broke out. The alarm they heard was caused when something tore right through the outer airlock door.
One of the scientists isn’t dead but is barely holding on. Before she dies she tells them they succeeded in making the Protomolecule into their image and there’s a lot more where it came from.
—
Meanwhile, aboard the Rocinante Alex is trying to figure out how he’s going to circumvent the no-fly zone to get his people. He intercepts an MCRN communication clearing a landing path down to a remote section of Ganymede. He figures it’s a black ops mission and decides to get down there before the Mars ship does.
After doing some calculations Alex decides to use a slingshot manoeuvre in a gravity assisted path to Ganymede. He has a close call and is almost discovered by an MCRN ship but he makes it to the surface unobserved.
He finds his team just in the nick of time to rescue them. Before leaving, Naomi informs Holden that she’s staying behind to help the people of Ganymede. He’s reluctant to let her go but does give in and asks Amos to go with her.
Alex calls their attention to someone or something walking on the surface of Ganymede without a vac suit. Holden orders Prax to suit up, they’re going hunting.
——–
On Earth, Errinwright has a way to get to Jules-Pierre Mao. He suggests putting pressure on his family and then using the man’s kids to plead with him to talk.
Avasarala informs Errinwright that because of his connections with Jules-Pierre Mao the U.N. Security Council plans on targeting him during their investigation into the Eros incident. He’s not surprised. She tells him to come clean and atone for his sins.
—
Meanwhile, Bobbie is reprimanded by Sgt. Martens for her recent escapades. She tries to get the truth out of him about Ganymede but he won’t comply. Instead, he tells her that she’s a disgrace to her uniform and that when she gets back to Mars she will not be a soldier anymore.
When the time comes to depart they are informed that due to an OPA threat their shuttle has been postponed until further notice.
Later, Bobbie requests an audience with Martens. She presses him again for the truth but when he refuses to answer she assaults him. To stop the beating he gives in and shows her Project Caliban.
Knowing the truth and feeling betrayed, Bobbie makes a run for U.N. zone outside the Martian Embassy and seeks political asylum on Earth.
—
Bobbie later informs Avasarala that she was correct about the monster. It was a weapons test for something Mars badly wants to acquire. She provides the U.N. with the data she took from Martens for them to study.
After Bobbie leaves, Avasarala receives a message from Jules-Pierre Mao asking her to meet him. He wants to explain his side to her in the hopes they can come to an accommodation. Cotyar tells her it’s a trap and she shouldn’t go but it’s too late, she already accepted Mao’s invitation.
——
In orbit above Venus, the U.N.S. Arboghast tries to launch probes to investigate the Eros crash site but the atmosphere is so corrosive that the probes are destroyed before they can send back any data.
They decide to cannibalise one of their two remaining probes to reinforce the last one in the hopes it wakes the surface.
Their plan succeeds and the probe makes it to the surface. It only survives for a few seconds, but it’s enough time to send back a strange image of a blue glowing crystalline structure growing on the surface.
Here There Be Dragons Double Take – S2E11 – The Expanse Podcast
Apr 06, 2017
Here There Be Dragons Double Take – S2E11 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback is Friday at 2pm Eastern time to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the eleventh episode of season 2 titled “Here There Be Dragons”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) What is Mei’s fate?
2) Is Jules-Pierre Mao’s invitation a trap?
3) What will happen to Bobbie now?
Bonus) Naomi has a son! Thoughts?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
210 Cascade – The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante
Apr 01, 2017
Cascade
This episode Timestamps
[0:50] News [4:15] Episode Recap [10:24] My Observations [15:52] Feedback [1:27:22] Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we continue season 2 of The Expanse with the episode titled “Cascade”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Cascade
The episode opens on Ganymede. While Alex is passing away the time aboard the Rocinante, Holden and crew start looking for Doctor Strickland and Mae, Prax’s daughter. The botanist is questioning his decision of following the group in the aftermath of the shootout on the Weeping Somnambulist but he sticks with them.
There’s a gleam of hope in that Mae and Strickland are not listed amongst the dead or missing on Ganymede. They track down some of Strickland’s co-workers from the paediatric clinic to ask for his whereabouts but nobody seems to know where he is.
Holden and Naomi are questioning whether or not the events on Ganymede are linked to the Protomolecule. So far there’s no evidence to say they are.
Prax recognizes someone he knows. A friend who’s missing son Katoa is suffering from the same disorder Mae has. The man directs them to Roma, a man with eyes and ears all over Ganymede and their best chance of finding the missing children.
On their way to see Roma they notice how dire the situation is on the station. With a lack of food, people have taken to eating the plants intended for air purifications even though they have no nutritional value.
They find Roma, the belter wants to extort them for his own gains. He doesn’t care about finding a sick girl but he’ll do it in exchange for food, particularly chicken. No chicken, no girl.
Amos snaps and attacks Roma. Prax pleads with the big man to stop. Roma can’t help them find Mae if Amos bashes his head in. Terrified, Roma agrees to help them.
Amos tries to justify his actions to Prax by telling him about bullies where he came from and what they did to children.
Prax in turn, confesses that a small part of him was relieved when he thought Mae was dead. Because of her genetic disorder, he feels helpless in caring for her.
The botanist goes for a walk and discovers that Ganymede is dying. He explains to Amos that in any artificial ecosystem there are only so many pathways to compensate when something goes wrong. As they become over stressed and begin to fail there are fewer and fewer pathways to take over. He calls it the cascade. It’s already begun on Ganymede. The station is already dead, they just don’t know it yet.
Roma manages to track down Mae and Stickland to an old part of the station that doesn’t have camera feeds. None of them knows what’s down there but it’s where they need to go to find the girl.
——
On Earth, the U.N. delegation has deemed Bobbie Draper’s testimony as a lie but they see no point in questioning her again since she was just following orders. The Mars delegation just wants to get things over with and leave the planet.
Afterwards, Errinwright reviews the report on Bobbie Draper’s armour. By all accounts, the suit corroborates the story put forth by the Martians. Unsatisfied, he orders the analysis team to go over the armour again looking for any biological agents that shouldn’t be on Ganymede.
—
Later Errinwright confesses to Avasarala his involvement with Jules-Pierre Mao but she already knew. He’s had no recent contact with the man but he was aware of Mao’s weapon’s research. It all started out as a quest for peace but had he known what the protomolecule was capable of he would have put a stop to it and Jules-Pierre Mao.
He realizes his career is over but he wants to help put and end to it all before what happed on Ganymede spreads and becomes unstoppable.
Later when questioned by Cotyar as to why she hasn’t turned Errinwright in she says the man is more useful to her where he is, for now.
—
In her quarters, Bobbie get’s reprimanded by Sgt. Martens and starts questioning if what she saw on Ganymede was real or not. She wants to see the ocean before she heads back to Mars but Martens informs her she’s under restrictions and will be shipped out the day after tomorrow.
Left on her own, Bobbie manages to disengage the glass pane from the window and escapes from her quarters.
Earth isn’t what she thought it was. As she makes her way towards the ocean she sees the poverty the citizens are forced to live in.
She encounters an Earther who recognizes her as a Martian. In exchange for her bone density drugs, he’ll direct her to the ocean. He tells her how he put his name on the vocational training list to become a doctor when he was 17 years old. He’s 52 now and he’s still waiting for his slot. In the meantime, they do what they do to survive.
Bobbie makes her way to the ocean and steps in it fulfilling a lifelong dream.
——–
When Cotyar informs Avasarala about Bobbie’s disappearance they make a point to find her before the Mars embassy does.
They track her down to the ocean’s edge.
Avasarala shows Bobbie proof that what she saw on Ganymede was real. It was a new type of weapon being tested by Mars.
Bobbie is upset at the thought and doesn’t believe the woman.
Avasarala presses saying she needs Bobbie’s help if she’s going to get to the bottom of what’s really going on and who is doing it. They can’t afford to be enemies anymore.
Before Bobbie can respond. Avasarala and Cotyar are forced to leave before the Martians arrive for Bobbie.
Cascade Double Take – S2E10 – The Expanse Podcast
Mar 30, 2017
Cascade Double Take – S2E10 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Deadline to submit your feedback is Friday at 2pm Eastern time to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the tenth episode of season 2 titled “Cascade”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) Will Avasarala eventually expose Errinwright?
2) Is someone deliberately killing Ganymede?
3) Will Bobbie believe Avasarala?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
209 The Weeping Somnambulist – The Expanse Podcast
Mar 24, 2017
The Weeping Somnambulist
This episode Timestamps
[4:36] News [5:59] Episode Recap [10:43] My Observations [19:49] Feedback [1:14:43] Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we continue season 2 of The Expanse with the episode titled “The Weeping Somnambulist “.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
Screencaps from Fred showing Drummer and Fred interaction in S2E08
If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
The Weeping Somnambulist
The episode starts with the Weeping Somnabulist, a relief ship on route to Ganymede, being boarded by Mars inspectors who turn out to be Holden and Amos.
Later on board the Roci, Praxidike tries to send a condolence message to Dorris’ family back on Mars but his transmission is blocked. He’s told he’s not a prisoner so he demands to know what is going on. Amos obliges and tells him about the Protomolecule and their mission.
The commandeer the ship to take them to Ganymede. The Rocinante, being of Mars origin would cause too much commotion if they tried to approach with it. The plan is for Alex to hide behind a nearby moon in case they need a quick getaway. If it comes to that he will rendezvous with them at one of Ganymede’s surface airlocks.
The crew of the Somnbulist are sceptical of the Roci’s crew’s intentions but have no choice but to go along.
During their mission briefing, Holden is upset that Amos told Prax about the Protomolecule but there’s nothing he can do now so they bring the man in.
Prax informs them that Strickland was treating his daughter for a very rare genetic disorder. Without his help, Mae would be dead. However, they still can’t figure out the connection between the girl and the Protomolecule.
—
The Somnabulist lands on Ganymede. The crew tells Holden and gang that once they land they will be boarded by “inspectors” who will take 10% of their cargo. It’s just the way things work. Holden, Amos, Naomi and Prax debark but Holden and Amos notice some thugs boarding the Somnabulist and go back.
The thugs are demanding all the cargo and the ship, not the normal 10%. Holden and Amos heard enough and come in firing. They eliminate the threat but in the process, one of the Somnabulist crew is shot and killed. They offer to help but Melissa, the survivor screams at them to get off her ship.
———
On Earth, an MCRN drop ship containing the Mars delegation for the peace talks lands. Through flashbacks we see Sargent Martens preparing Bobbie for her visit to Earth. The Martians are visibly weekend by their visit to the planet.
With forced niceties out of the way, the proceedings get underway.
Marine Gunnery Sargent Roberta Draper is brought in to recount what happened on the ground. She recounts the events telling everyone that her squad mistook a training exercise as and act of engagement and opened fire first. Placing the blame on Mars.
The Mars delegation offers Private Travis, and Earth-born, Martian Marine as the one who opened fire. They think he was trying to prove his loyalty to Mars by taking out some Earthers. Mars is willing to take the blame and discuss reparations in order to get Ganymede back up and running as soon as possible. During the briefing, Avasarala takes an interest in Bobbie.
—
Back in her room Bobbi is outraged. She was blindsided with the information about Private Travis which she knows is false but Sgt. Martens informs her it was for the good of Mars.
—
Elsewhere, Avasarala and Errinwright discuss the convenient blame placed on an Earth-born Martian.
—
Back at the talks, things are wrapping up when Avasarala demands to talk with Sgt. Draper one more time.
Bobbie is brought in. Avasarala warms her up a bit with some small talk before bombarding her with quick questions to entice a response. Bobbie let’s slip that there was an enemy attacker not wearing a vac-suite. When things calm down and she’s asked to clarify, Bobbie sticks to the original story that Travis opened fire first.
———-
Elsewhere, Errinwright updates Avasarala on the progress of the Arboghast, the research ship they sent to Venus. He tells her that nothing important has been found. When asked to be kept in the loop he tells her her focus would be better spent on other matters. Luckily she has and inside man to keep her informed.
After Errinwright departs, Cotyar informs Avasarala that he’s found no indication that the under-secretary has had any communications with Jules Pierre-Mao.
——–
On board the Arboghast, Dr. Iturbi and Colonel Janus are at odds, both thinking the other will interfere with their mission.
On their approach to Venus, they discover a MCRN ship waiting for them. The ship doesn’t respond to any hails. Colonel Janus broadcasts on all frequencies that they are an unarmed scientific research ship and any acts of aggression against them will be considered an act of war.
The Martians and not interfering but they are matching every move the Arboghast makes.
While examining the planet they discover the Eros impact crater and signs of life where none should be possible.
The Weeping Somnambulist – S2E09 – The Expanse Podcast
Mar 23, 2017
The Weeping Somnambulist Double Take – S2E09 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This Week I have a special deadline of Fridays at 11am Eastern time to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the ninth episode of season 2 titled “The Weeping Somnambulist”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.h
This week’s question are…
1) Will the woman on the Weeping Somnabulist cause any problems for our group?
2) Were the Earth/Mars talks a success?
3) What do you think Prax thinks about his situation?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
[2:27] News [7:58] Episode Recap [14:20] My Observations [24:08] Feedback [1:20:03] Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we continue season 2 of The Expanse with the episode titled “Pyre”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Pyre
The episode opens on Ganymede as during the battle as one of the orbital solar mirror crashes down, destroying a bio-dome garden.
An unknown time later Praxideke Meng wakes up on board a refugee ship for Ganymede survivors. He finds his friend Dorris who tells him that his daughter Mei is dead. Half the mirror came down on sector 4 where Mei was at a clinic for her doctor’s appointment.
Things are rough on the refugee ship. With Ganymede no longer an option, Parx and Dorris make plans to start over on Mars. The ship rendezvous with another ship to unload all refugees from Earth and Mars.
Prax follows Dorris as they load all the “innards” into the airlock but he’s denied access because he’s a belter. As Prax watches, the outer airlock door opens and the Earth and Mars refugees are ejected into space.
When he arrives on Tycho Station he tries to report the crime but he doesn’t know the names of the refugee ship he arrived on or the name of the person who opened the airlock.
——
At Tycho, Naomi and Alex return with Diogo but the kid won’t give up any information on Anderson Dawes whereabouts.
They discover that a four man skiff left Tycho from the opposite side of the station at the exact time as Dawes’ ship did. Diogo was a diversion. To bypass station security they needed an inside man.
Dawes sends Fred a message. Fred is his protégé but they must now part ways. Fred told Dawes the Protomolecule was destroyed but he still had Cortazar held away. Anderson thinks Fred was vying for power all for himself and not just for the belt. So Dawes took Fred’s secret weapon and will share it will all the belt.
One of the belters from Fred’s command centre secretly recorded Dawes’ message and shows it to his Black Sky contacts.
—
Fred and Holden discuss their options. Fred isn’t worried. They have all of Cortazar’s notes and data. The drives Dawes took with him are useless without the security codes. Holden is more concerned with the fact that Cortazar was getting messages from the Portomolecule.
Naomi is shocked but offers a solution to pinpoint where Cortazar was looking. Before implementing her plan, she returns to the Rocinante to verify on the hidden missile only she knows about. From what she can tell, nobody else has approached it.
She then accompanies Drummer to an antennae array that Cortazar had used. Along the way, Naomi learns how loyal Drummer is to Fred Johnson. She used to work with Anderson Dawes. When Dawes found Fred she and Johnson started talking and he gave her a new perspective on life so she followed him to Tycho. Once they access the antennae they are able to pinpoint where his Protomolecule signal came from. A message was sent from Ganymede at the same time that Earth and Mars started shooting at each other.
Holden wants to set out for Ganymede to stop it’s spread. Fred on the other hand accepts that the Protomolecule is out there and they’re just going to have to live with it.
—
Back on the Roci, Holden and Naomi use the knowledge that Cortazar used to work for Protogen to look up anyone on Ganymede with a similar past. They narrow it down to anyone with an advanced degree and come up with the name of Dr. Lawrence Strickland a paediatrician. They continue their search and discover that Praxideke Meng, one of the refugees from Ganymede currently on Tycho Station is associated with Strickland.
They track him down in the refugee area, he thinks they are there to silence him about what happened on the ship that brought him there, but he’s surprised when they ask him about his daughter’s doctor.
Prax tells them that Strickland is his daughter’s doctor. She was with him when the mirror fell and the clinic was wiped out.
Naomi gets him to show her the last footage of Mei which shows Strickland taking her out of the clinic an hour before it was destroyed. Meaning Prax’s daughter may still be alive.
Holden concludes that Strickland knew the battle was coming and went back for Mei. When it becomes evident that they are going to Ganymede Prax asks to accompany them.
——–
In Tycho’s command centre, Black Sky burst in guns blazing and take over in order to gain access to the nuclear missiles. They can prep them but they can’t launch them without the codes. When Fred refuses to give them the codes they start shooting people. When Drummer, a fellow Belter sides with Fred they shot and wound her as well.
—
Elsewhere on Tycho, Alex asks a zoned out Amos for help fixing some hand terminals for the refugees but Amos says no and walks away.
Later, back on board the Roci, Alex interrupts Amos as he’s searching for information on Lydia Maalouf of Baltimore.
The pilot tells Amos that his problem is he only thinks of himself. Alex can’t figure out why Amos doesn’t want to help the people on the station in need. He presses him more so Amos asks him why he isn’t helping his family on Mars. Alex takes affront and confronts Amos who instantly retaliates before realizing what he’s doing and backs off before he hurts the pilot.
They are interrupted by a beeping and discover that someone is trying to access the nukes on Tycho. They contact Holden with the news.
—–
In the command centre, Fred refuses to cooperate with Black Sky. It doesn’t matter, they are close to breaking the codes themselves. Outside the station, Amos cuts off oxygen to the command centre causing everyone inside to black out.
Once everyone is down, Holden leads a team in to rescue the hostages. On her way out, Drummer kills the Black Sky leader and the Command centre trader.
——
Later, on board the Roci, Amos shows Prax around, he’s not a prisoner, but he will be restricted to his room.
Elsewhere, Naomi questions Holden’s motives in going to Cortazar’s cell. Jim confesses that he was going to kill the man to prevent another Eros.
Naomi is upset. Jim is not a murder, it’s not who he is. He wants her to keep reminding him who he is.
——
When the Roci is denied leave of the station, Holden calls Fred. Fred wants him to bring back whatever he finds but when Holden refuses, Fred tells him they are no longer welcome on Tycho. Holden isn’t concerned. He doesn’t think Fred will still be in charge of Tycho when they return.
Pyre Double Take – S2E08 – The Expanse Podcast
Mar 16, 2017
Pyre Double Take – S2E08 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This season, unless otherwise mentioned, you have until Fridays at 2pm Eastern time to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the eighth episode of season 2 titled “Pyre”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) Will Alex and his family reunite?
2) Why is Fred upset with Holden
3) What’s going on with Amos
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
207 The Seventh Man – The Expanse Podcast
Mar 11, 2017
The Seventh Man
This episode Timestamps
[1:57] News [4:01] Episode Recap [10:12] My Observations [18:15] Feedback [1:09:45] Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we continue season 2 of The Expanse with the episode titled “The Seventh Man”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
The Seventh Man
On Earth, the U.N. council is trying to make heads or tails of what happened on Ganymede. Errinwright wants to choose an appropriate Martian target and respond. But Chrisjen wants instead to invite Mars to a peace summit. She believes that neither side really wants a war but with tension so high between them it’s just a matter of time before it comes to that. She convinces the Secretary General to call a summit.
——
Bobbie Draper regains consciousness on Ganymede after what looks like a fierce battle took place. Martian troops arrive and retrieve the injured Marine.
Back on board the M.C.R.N. Scirocco, Commander Thorsen informs Bobbie that she’s the only survivor from her unit. She’s having trouble recalling the events from the battle. She remembers 6 U.N. Marines charging their position but then thinks there may have been a seventh.
—
Later, Commander Thorsen records Bobbie’s official statement of the incident. As she tries to remember the accounts of what happened, Thorsen tries to put words in her mouth, or at least swing the story in Mars’ favour.
She keeps repeating that 7 U.N. Marines were charging their position firing. But Thorsen keeps repeating that they were firing on the Martian Marines. He wants her to say that the U.N. started the fight. Still confused she concedes that the U.N. started the war.
—
Later Bobbie is visited by Captain Martens, an M.C.R.N. Chaplain. He tells her that M.C.R.N. command will need her full cooperation regarding the mission on Ganymede but she can talk off the record with him.
He asks her what really happened. She mentions the drone that flew over their position but Martens tells her they have no record of any drone there. When pressed why it’s so important she tells him she can’t remember.
—
When her interrogation continues she takes a stimulant to improve her focus and help her remember things better. With Captain Martens watching remotely, Thorsen continues to question her.
Bobbie realizes that the U.N. Marines were not firing on them, they were running away from the seventh man while firing back on him. When she recalls seeing the seventh man, the monster, not wearing a vac suit, Martens orders the interrogation terminated.
—
Later, Thorsen presents Bobbie with the Purple Heart and informs her that she’s to attend an emergency summit. Her first-hand account of what happened on Ganymede will be vital to the proceedings. She’s to tell them that in the confusion, her team opened fire first on the U.N. Marines. She’s shocked and furious but concedes to the chain of command. But then all thoughts are pushed aside as she learns that to tell her account, she’s going to Earth.
——
On Tycho, refugee ships from Ganymede are arriving. As the crew of the Roci are handing out care packets, Anderson Dawes makes a grand entrance. Holden and Naomi each have a different view of the man’s methods and motives.
After being called out for his rough behaviour by a child. Amos goes to visit Dr. Cortozar to learn more about the procedure that was done to him. The doctor tells him not to seek out those lost feelings from his past. Instead, stomp them out and he’ll be free of them to move forward. He offers to help Amos if he wants.
—
Fred addresses the Belters on Tycho. He wants a unified OPA to send a representative to negotiate with Earth and Mars for the benefit of them all. He thinks it should be a born Belter and suggests Anderson Dawes.
Dawes is honoured at the appointment but he doesn’t share Fred Johnson’s ideas. He believes that if Earth and Mars formed a peace they would both turn their sights on the Belt and view them as possessions, animals for their experiments. They’ve done it before, they’ll do it again.
Fred interrupts him saying there is no more threat against the Belt. Whatever happened on Eros has been destroyed and the people behind it killed. Earth knows that what happened there originated from their backyard and they don’t want anything like that to happen again either.
As Dawes retaliates, Holden interrupts, telling them that the threat from Eros is over. And the missiles they have, they should give them back as a sign that the Belt wants peace as well.
Dawes thinks them both ideologists, but he does agree about the missiles. Keeping them is an act of war and using them would offer the same results. That’s why they should be sent back.
—
After the gathering, Naomi tells Holden he should have stayed out of it. By taking Fred’s side all he did was show the crowd two Earthers trying to tell Belters how they should run the Belt. She leaves him quite upset.
—
Later, Dawes visits the Rocinante. He wants to know what they and Fred are leaving out of the Eros story. He knows Fred is a tactical thinker. He wouldn’t send Dawes to negotiate with Earth and Mars plus send back their missiles if he didn’t have another card to play. Earth doesn’t trust Fred’s past, and after the Nauvoo incident, he won’t be long on Tycho. So whatever weapon Fred is hiding will soon become vulnerable.
Annoyed with his accusing manner, Holden kicks the man off his ship.
—
Anderson Dawes runs into Fred’s second in command on the promenade. The two obviously know each other. He asks her to come back to Ceres with him to help run things, but she prefers it on Tycho. If she won’t come back with him, he asks if she would at least tell him what Fred’s secret weapon is.
—
Elsewhere, Fred tells Holden that Cortazar is somehow getting information from the Protomolecule. He doesn’t know from where, but he’ll soon find out. Once they have it in their possession Cortazar will help them to understand it better. Fred believes that if the Belt has the Protomolecule, no one will ever use it against them again.
—
When Diogo arrives back home Anderson Dawes is there waiting for him. The older man turns up the charm and soon learns that Fred is holding Cortazar prisoner.
—
That night, Holden wakes and goes to see Cortazar only to find the man is gone. He informs Fred but they’re too late. Dawes’ ship just took off. Holden orders the Roci with Alex and Naomi to pursue.
They manage to shoot out the ships engines but when they board her all they find is Diogo on board. Dawes and Cortazar are gone.
The Seventh Man Double Take – S2E07 – The Expanse Podcast
Mar 09, 2017
The Seventh Man Double Take – S2E07 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This season, unless otherwise mentioned, you have until Fridays at 2pm Eastern time to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the seventh episode of season 2 titled “The Seventh Man”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) What is Anderson Dawes’ agenda?
2) How is Cortazar sensing the Protomolecule?
3) Why does Mars want Bobbie to lie about the events on Ganymede?
Bonus) Was Anderson Dawes waving at Holden or Naomi?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
206 Paradigm Shift – The Expanse Podcast
Mar 04, 2017
Paradigm Shift
This episode Timestamps
[3:04] News [6:19] Episode Recap [12:06] My Observations [26:20] Feedback [1:32:37] Book Discussion
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we continue season 2 of The Expanse with the episode titled “Paradigm Shift”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Paradigm Shift
The episode starts 137 years ago above the United Nations Mars Colony long before it became The Martian Congressional Republic.
Solomon Epstein is testing the new modifications he made to his yacht’s fusion drive. In the process, he turned off the problematic voice controls leaving only touch controls available.
The new drive worked much better than anticipated, boosting efficiency by over 100 times more than anyone thought possible.
Unfortunately, Epstein’s breakthrough was also his downfall. The high Gs he experienced made his body so heavy that he couldn’t reach out to press the abort key.
As his ship reaches speeds never before dreamed of he’s comforted in the knowledge that his wife has the plans for his new drive system and it will set her up financially for life. As the G force finally overcome him, he imagines that his invention will allow Mars to travel outward, colonize the belt and beyond. His drive will finally give Mars the edge they need to break away from Earth. That’s the wonderful and terrible thing about technology. It changes everything. And with those final thoughts, Solomon Epstein perishes,
——-
On Earth, the U.N. Council is debating what happened to Eros and they can’t come to a consensus as to who, what or why it acted like it did. They plan on sending a research ship to Venus to study the impact area and see if anything from Eros survived.
They also mention that of the 150 missiles they launched, 121 are confirmed aborted and destroyed, but the remaining 29 are nowhere to be found.
—
Later, Avasarala has dinner with Dr. Michael Iturbi to discuss his thoughts on Eros. His theory is that Eros was infected by something alien. He tells her he needs to get to Venus to study the matter. If she can arrange it, he would be her own personal eyes and ears reporting all his findings directly to her.
—
Later, Avasarala goes to see Errinwright about Jules-Pierre Mao. She wants him to convince Mao to come in so they can learn what he knows. She’s willing to cut the man a deal because of the stakes involved. However, if he doesn’t come in, or if his family doesn’t help them, she tells him, in a quite articulate way that she will rain fire down on the Mao family and make them regret the day they ever crossed her and the people of Earth.
——-
On board the Rocinante the crew is contemplating the events of the past week. When they arrive back on Tycho they are treated like heroes.
When they tell Fred about the missing earth missiles he informs them that he has them. He’s not sure what he’s going to do with them but he’s going to hold onto them for safekeeping.
Holden tells Fred that they need to let everyone know about the Protomolecule but Fred disagrees. All that would accomplish is system-wide panic. For now, they should keep what they know under wraps, although it seems he’s more interested in looking out for the belters than he is for humanity as a whole.
Fred confronts Holden about an anomaly in their flight logs from their original trip back from Eros. He wants to know why they stopped for 5 hours. James tells him about Miller’s friend Semba and giving him a proper burial. Fred doesn’t think Holden is being straight with him. If they’re going to continue working together they need to be on the same team. But to Holden’s thinking, there shouldn’t’ be any teams.
—
Later Naomi tells Fred she wants to tell everyone about Miller and Julie’s story. She thinks it would help everyone to see how a Belter and an Earther/OPA member came together to save humanity.
—
Back on board the Roci, after some debate, the crew vote to destroy their sample of the Protomolecule. Naomi sets up the flight path to fly the missile with the sample into the sun, but she fools Holden by showing him is a simulation of the launch. The actual missile is still right where they hid it and she’s the only one who knows.
—
Elsewhere, Alex runs into some trouble at a Tycho bar when some guy doesn’t appreciate him flirting with his woman. Alex takes a beating before Amos, out of nowhere, comes to his aid.
Later, back on board the Roci, Alex finds Amos defacing a Martian flag and confronts him. The two have some words, Alex is not mad because Amos bailed him out at the bar, he’s mad because 25 belters died in their landing pod because he was trying to protect Amos.
—
Back on board Tycho, Naomi offers to help Johnson’s second in command to hack into the recovered nuclear missiles. She tells the woman that Belters need to help Belters.
——
At Ganymede Agricultural Station, a joint U.N.+M.C.R.N. Facility, Bobby Draper and her team are patrolling the border between the Martian and U.N. zones.
After Lt. Sutton on board the Scirocco disappears behind Ganymede’s shadow for 48 minutes all hell breaks loose.
The perimeter alarm goes off on the ground and the Martian Marines see the U.N. troops heading their way guns hot. Before they can report the activity their comms are jammed.
They notice a firefight has erupted in orbit but without communications, they have no idea who is attacking whom. Bobby orders her men to form up and hold their line against the U.N. Forces.
The scene cuts to several minutes later and the aftermath of a fierce ground battle. The Martian Marines are down. Roberta Draper regains consciousness only to see something alien standing over her.
Paradigm Shift Double Take – S2E06 – The Expanse Podcast
Mar 02, 2017
Paradigm Shift Double Take – S2E06 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This season, unless otherwise mentioned, you have until Fridays at 2pm Eastern time to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the sixth episode of season 2 titled “Paradigm Shift”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) Why did Naomi lie about destroying the missile?
2) What was the purpose of Avasarala’s rant?
3) What happened to the Martian Marines at the end?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
[4:30] News [7:52] Episode Recap [13:13] My Observations [23:00] Feedback
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we continue season 2 of The Expanse with the episode titled “Home”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the double episode premiere. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Home
The episode picks up right after last week’s. Eros has dodged the Nauvoo and is now moving fast sunward.
The U.N. Council on Earth is starting to panic. The asteroid is heading in their general direction. They saw the generation ship almost collide with Eros and aren’t sure what to make of it. Fred Johnson is claiming it’s an engine test gone wrong but they believe he’s lying, plus the Mormons are saying he stole the ship from them. Either way, they don’t have an explanation as to how Eros is moving like a ship.
Mars is just as confused as Earth is and denies any knowledge of what is happening. The asteroid has once again changed trajectories and is now on a collision course with Earth. If it hits it will cause an event larger than the one that killed the dinosaurs, 7-10 billion dead plus another 10 in the aftermath.
Their only option is to launch their planetary defenses at it in the hopes of blowing it up.
After informing Mars of their intentions the Secretary General and Errinwright launch half their missile arsenal.
Almost immediately everyone looses radar contact with Eros. The rock is still there, it just can’t be seen. And if it can’t be seen the nukes have no way of hitting it.
The U.N. Council is at a loss as to what to do when they receive a message from Tycho Station. Fred Johnson has a solution. Use an OPA ship to paint a laser lock to guide in the nukes. All they need to do is give him control of their missiles.
After some debate, Avasarala decides to send a message to the OPA ship directly. To everyone’s surprise, it’s James Holden that replies. He vouches for Fred Johnson and prays they all trust each other. On Avasarala’s word that Holden can be trusted, the Secretary General concedes and they give Fred control.
When Eros speeds up again, Avasarala is surprised that the Roci try to keep up with it, even at the risk of their own lives.
—
Later, Cotyar informs Avasarala that the rest of the council has evacuated the planet but she refuses to leave. She calls her husband Arjun on Luna. After a very touching conversation she tells him that it’s her duty to stay in order to protect Earth. Arjun doesn’t expect anything less.
—–
On Eros the laws of physics are being rewritten. At the speed it maneuvered Miller should have been crushed, but he didn’t feel a thing and he still feels gravity even though the asteroid is no longer spinning.
Naomi manages to deactivate all the bombs on the surface but the damage to Miller’s bomb prevents her from accessing it.
The Roci crew notice a temperature increase from Eros and speculate it’s waste heat from what’s making it move. Without warning, it starts to speed up again. They theorize that if Miller is able to detonate his bomb where that heat is being generated they might be able to stop the asteroid in it’s tracks.
Miller agrees and takes his pet nuke for a walk while Naomi tries to figure out a way to get him off the rock. It will be dangerous but she’s determined.
The ex-detective enters the station and starts making his way to the heat source. It’s hard going. The bomb is heavy and he has to press the reset switch every 60 seconds.
He notices along the way that the Protomolecule only affected the living. It’s leaving the dead alone.
Time is running out, he needs to set the bomb and get out of there before Earth’s missiles arrive.
Whether by random chance or because of the nuclear threat, Eros speeds up again, forcing the Roci to push it’s limits to keep the target lock.
Miller realizes that he’s heading towards the Blue Falcon, the place where Julie Mao died. Along the way he starts hearing voices that are unmistakably Julie. He deduces that somehow, her conscience is still active and thinks it’s on her ship the Razorback. The Protomolecule must be using her conscience and everyone else’s to grow and power itself. But that also means that a part of Julie could still alive.
Miller believes he can reason with her but only if the Roci backs off so the missiles are no longer a treat. After some debate, Holden makes the hard decision to stop pursuing Eros.
—
Without explanation Holden contacts Fred and tells him to direct the nukes away from Eros. Johnson is between a rock and a hard place. Without knowing Holden’s plan he could jeopardize it if he doesn’t listen to the man, however, redirecting the nukes will look bad in the eyes of Mars and the U.N.
—
Miller reaches his destination and finds Julie. Or what the protomolecule has made of her. After an awkward introduction he tries to convince her to stop Eros from going to Earth. Julie can’t stop the Asteroid, the work needs to continue.
Miller tells her that he came all this way to find her because he believes in her. She’s a fighter. But all she wants to do is go home. He tells her that whatever she does, wherever she goes, she wont be alone. He’ll be with her.
The ex-detective removes his helmet and gloves, exposing himself to the Protomolecule. Whatever happens, happens to both of them. The two embrace.
His actions and words must have gotten through to her, because Eros veers off from it’s collision course with Earth and instead crashes into Venus.
Home Double Take – S2E05 – The Expanse Podcast
Feb 23, 2017
Home Double Take – S2E05 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This season, unless otherwise mentioned, you have until Fridays at 2pm Eastern time to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the fifth episode of season 2 titled “Home”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) Is that the end of the Protomolecue threat?
2) What will Fred Johnson do with his newly acquired nukes?
3) Did you tear up while watching this episode?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we continue season 2 of The Expanse with the third episode titled “Static”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the double episode premiere. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Godspeed
The episode starts with the inspection of the mysterious stealth ship Fred Johnson gave Avasarala the coordinates to. She receives confirmation that the drive on the ship came from the Bush shipyards on earth.
According to the DNA profile from all the bodies found on the stealth ship indicates that they were all last employed by Protogen Corporation then their histories just stopped. Protogen is a subsidiary of Mao-Kwikowski Mercantile. A company owned by Jules Pierre Mao.
Avasarala realizes that’s why Fred send her that information. He wants her to connect the stealth ships to Protogen and Jules Pierre Mao.
Putting two and two together she deduces that Mao and Errinwrite are working together. Knowing she can’t use this information without showing her hand, she has her guys push the derelict stealth ship into the established U.N. Shipping lanes knowing it will soon be discovered and the secret will be out.
—
Once the stealth ship is discovered, it doesn’t take long before word gets out of it’s connection to Protogen Corporation. Jules Pierre Mao isn’t happy and demands a meeting with Errinwright.
At the meeting, Avasarala questions his knowledge of the happenings at Protogen. Mao denies knowing anything. Protogen makes up only a fraction of a present of all their holdings and is very low on his radar. He suspects the company was infiltrated by OPA moles sent by Fred Johnson and they are responsible for building the stealth ships.
He claims that Protogen works autonomously. There were no red flags that would have alerted him or his team of excessive spending.
Avasarala acts amazed that these so called moles could build super-advanced stealth ships and start a war, right under their supervisor’s noses and not go over budget.
She questions Mao about Protogen, it was a biotech research company with a government contract on Phoebe station. She says the Martians were very intent on destroying Phoebe before the U.N. ship could secure it and it makes her wonder what Protogen was working on. He offers to get her that information.
Avasarala oversteps Errinwright and threatens Mao, telling him that the stealth ships were built by his company on his watch and if anything comes of it the people of Earth will hold him responsible.
Errinwright quickly steps in and comes to Mao’s defence assuring her that the man will cooperate fully with their investigation.
—
Later, Mao and Errinwright are talking. Mao suspects Avasarala knows they are working together but the Deputy Secretary assures him it’s just wild speculation on her part. Not taking any chances Mao cuts ties with Errinwright.
——
On Tycho
Holden is upset when he discovers that Fred and Miller are working together to eliminate the threat on Eros. The ban has been lifted on the station and it’s only a matter of time before someone either goes there to collect samples or gets infected.
The more he hears of their plan to commandeer the Nauvoo and use it as a battering ram and to slag the landing docks by detonating bombs the crazier he thinks they are.
Unfortunately, he can’t come up with a better idea. Simply blowing up the asteroid is too dangerous since they can’t guarantee that the protomolecule will be completely destroyed.
Reluctantly, he agrees to go along with their plan.
—
A radiation leak alarm on the Nauvoo forces everyone off the ship. Once there’s nobody on board, Fred’s team remotely launches the ship on a collision course with Eros.
—
Naomi questions Miller’s motives, whether he’s doing this for Julie. She asks if he told Fred about the Protomolecule they hid. Miller tells her he didn’t, that’s her and the Roci’s problem.
—
As they approach Eros, Alex spots U.N. and Martian ships heading their way. Holden isn’t concerned. They’ll be long done by the time they arrive. They drop their cargo, the bombs to slag the docks, and take up protective orbit around the asteroid.
They do a survey of the docks to make sure nobody but the Rocinante made it off of Eros. It doesn’t look like any other ships made it off the asteroid but whatever is still there is generating a lot of heat.
Naomi discovers a ship tethered to Eros and investigate. They send in a drone only to discover that the ship, the Marasmus, isn’t abandoned. They are hailed by the ship. The man tells them he and his crew are doctors and they came to Eros to offer aid but they’ve been unable to find an operating airlock to enter the station.
Pretending to be a Martian gunship, Holden orders them to prepare to be boarded. He hopes that the scare will cause them to leave. They can’t tell them the truth, but since they never got into Eros they’re free to go.
He orders Alex to target lock the ship and then tells them to leave Eros or they will be fired upon. The ship concedes and lifts off.
—
Aboard the Guy Molinary the detonation team make the jump to Eros. Miller is nervous, this being his first space walk but Diogo walks him through it.
Miller and the kid start placing their bombs at the predetermined position along the docks. Millers unfamiliarity with space walks is slowing them down. They’re the last team still on Eros with a couple of bombs left to deploy.
The ex-detective notices a breached airlock and investigates. Inside he finds a protomolecule infected body from the Marasmus. The doctor on the ship was lying, they had been on Eros and they’re possibly infected.
—
Holden confronts the Doctor on the Marasmus who confesses to being on Eros. The protomolecule was everywhere and attacked them. There was nothing he could do for his colleague so he got out.
The Marasmus tries to reach the other side of Eros where the doctor wants to broadcast the truth to the entire system. Holden orders them to turn around or he will fire on them but they don’t comply.
With much pain, Holden launches a missile and destroys them.
—
On the station, Miller receives Naomi’s warning that high-speed debris from the destroyed ship is heading his way. He and Diogo just manage to take cover as it passes by. However, they don’t go unscathed. Miller’s suit is breached and he looses a lot of oxygen before he’s able to patch it. And the bomb Diogo was working on got damaged. A 60-second countdown detonation timer has been activated and the only way to prevent it from blowing up is to keep pressing the reset timer button.
Knowing that if that bomb goes off before the Nauvoo hits Eros their plan could be ruined Miller decides to stay on the station and hold the button.
When the crew of the Roci discover that Miller is still on Eros they’re mortified. They want to help but Miller tells them there’s no time. The Nauvoo is almost upon them.
Miller watches his fate as the generation ship closes, only to see it miss and fly by Eros. He calls the Rocinante wondering how the heck the Nauvoo could change course like that and miss. But to everyone’s astonishment, it wasn’t the Nauvoo that moved. Eros did.
Godspeed Double Take – S2E04 – The Expanse Podcast
Feb 16, 2017
Godspeed Double Take – S2E04 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This season, unless otherwise mentioned, you have until Fridays at 2pm Eastern time to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the fourth episode of season 2 titled “Godspeed”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) What are they going to Eros do now?
2) Will Fred face any repercussions for commandeering the Nauvoo?
3) What will be Avasarala’s next move?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This week we continue season 2 of The Expanse with the third episode titled “Static”.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the double episode premiere. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Static
The episode starts with UN missiles destroying Deimos, a moon orbiting Mars. Although Mars hasn’t responded yet to the attack, the Marines aboard the M.C.R.N. Scirocco are furious and increase their training for the battle to come. There is some tension between them since Private Travis was born on Earth, but in the end, they are all Marines and they have each other’s backs.
Bobbie Draper tells her Lieutenant that all will be good once they get to Earth and can engage their enemy. But she’s shocked to learn they are not going to Earth, they’re going to Ganymede station to guard the food supplies.
—
While back on Earth Avasarala and Errinwright contemplate what would happen if Mars decided to attach Earth. Regardless which of the two powerhouses would win, the battle would be bloody.
When Cotyar brings her a secure line to Fred Johnson she sends the Colonel a message telling him he was right, She pleads with him for his help in stopping the escalation between Earth and Mars. She asks him to send any information he can.
Fred complies and sends her the location of one of the stealth ships. But what is she to do with it?
————-
On Tycho Station, while the Rocinante is undergoing repairs, her crew contemplates the events from last episode each in their own way.
Holden, visibly upset over Miller’s actions leaves with Naomi as Fred offers the ex-detective passage off the station to anywhere he wants just so long as he leaves.
Holden and Naomi discuss what transpired and they each have different interpretations of it. All James sees is that Miller killed an unarmed man, but Naomi sees a mass murderer who won’t harm anyone anymore.
To blow off steam, Naomi goes off with Fred’s second in command to play some ball and enjoy a night in the clubs.
—
While drowning his sorrows at a local bar, Amos stops by to drop off Miller’s belongings from the Roci and Miller invites the man to drink with him. Amos tells him he’s no longer welcome on their ship. Even though the two of them are pretty much a like, if Holden says Miller is no good, who is Amos to argue.
Later, Diogo and his friend show up still high on the adrenaline from the attack. They both think Miller is a hero. When they find out Miller doesn’t have a place to stay, Diogo invites him to say at his place.
Not used to having a roommate, let along a teenage misfit. Miller is shocked to discover that the awful music Diogo is listening to is actually comprised of sounds being broadcast from Eros. He tells Miller that they see it as a call to war between Earth, Mars and The Belt. But Miller tells him it’s not as glorifying as it sounds. In his contemplation, Miller sees Julie Mao.
—
Miller finds his way to a Mormon church seeking information about the Nauvoo and it’s journey. He’s told that the only thing holding the Mormons back from departing on their 100 year journey is a glitch in the environmental system. But once that’s fixed the ship will be ready to leave.
—
Alex is grieving on his own. He feels responsible for the pod of belters that was lost. If only he took out the station’s cannon on time. He punishes himself by replaying the simulation over and over trying to beet the odds but failing every time. Knowing there was nothing he could have done doesn’t ease his mind.
When Holden confronts him about it, Alex simply tells him that next time, he’s going to save them all.
—
Fred decides to interrogate the prisoners from the station, specifically the lone surviving scientists, Cortazar. He discovered that every one of them once worked for a company named Protogen but their records end two years ago.
They question Cortazar about the Protomolecule and what they were doing on the station and on Eros. The man shows no remorse. In fact, he seems pleased and eager to learn of the progress happening on Eros.
They later learn that his brain has been altered so that he doesn’t feel empathy. Cortazar no longer has the means to consider any lives but his own.
Amos, feeling akin to the man and knowing how to connect with him, goes to talk to the prisoner. He feeds Cortazar’s curiosity about what happened to Julie Mao and what’s happening on Eros.
The man opens up to Amos and starts explaining his theories. The proper way to talk to Cortazar is to feed his obsession not threaten to take it away. Amos leaves when he realizes that the Protomolecule needs to feed on a power source to live.
Later James shows him images of Phoebe and tells him about the Anubis and let him hear the sounds of Eros. The man confides that the Protomolecule learns, the more biomass you feed it the faster it grows. They let it loose to study it, to find out if they could control it. After listening to the audio feed Cortazar says that whatever is happening on Eros the Protomolecule is building something, whatever it is, they will soon find out.
Holden doesn’t know if the people on Eros are dead or not, but he knows they have to do something and he’ll need Naomi and the rest of the crew’s help.
——-
Miller arrives at Fred’s office saying he wants to go to Eros. They both know something bad is happening there and they need to destroy it. Fred agrees.
He tells Fred that he didn’t kill Dresden because he was crazy. He killed him because the man was making sense.
In order to take out Eros they’ll have to use the Nauvoo.
Static Double Take – S2E03 – The Expanse Podcast
Feb 09, 2017
Static Double Take – S2E03 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This season, unless otherwise mentioned, you have until Fridays at 12 noon Eastern time to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the third episode of season 2 titled “Static”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) How will the information about the stealth ship Fred sent, help Avasarala in her plans?
2) How do you think Holden will react when he hears Fred and Miller’s plan.
3) What do you think Mars will do about the destruction of their MCRN Deep Radar Station on the moon Deimos?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
201-202 Safe – Doors & Corners – The Expanse Podcast
Feb 04, 2017
Safe – Doors & Corners
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
What a great start to season 2 of The Expanse. The first part “Safe” was a bit slow however things really picked up during the second half “Doors & Corners”
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the double episode premiere. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.
If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible
Episode Recap
Safe
The episode starts on Mars. A team of Marines led by Bobbie Draper successfully complete a training mission before getting orders that they’re shipping out to Phoebe Station.
Later On board the M.C.R.N. Scirocco en route to Phoebe Station the Marines learn of their mission to secure Phoebe until a science team arrives to investigate
Gunny, Bobbie Draper and her team are eager to engage any U.N. Forces in the area to pay them back for what happened to the Donnager. But Lieutenant Sutton orders Draper to cool her head until they know exactly what happened.
When the U.N.N. ship Nathan Hale appears on a vector that will beat them to Phoebe Sutton orders the Marines to prepare to drop. However, the Scirocco instead fires its missiles towards their U.N. Counterpart.
——
On Earth
U.N. Undersecretary Errinwright and Jules-Pierre Mao discuss the Martians investigation of Phoebe Station. They must deter anyone from looking into it or Eros until their plans come to fruition.
Elsewhere, After deflecting questions about the stealth ships towards Fred Johnston Avasarala narrowly escapes an attack on the plane she was about to board.
Errinwright tries to get her to take a break and skip the upcoming meeting of the U.N. Assembly.
At the meeting, there is much dispute over what actions the U.N. should take. Some think they should put up a show of force while others think they should wait to see what Mars does first.
Avasaraly, still trying to figure out who all the players are in this new game she’s playing sides with those wanting to deploy the U.N. Fleet.
She later secretly meets up with a man named Coytar, an ex-black ops spy. She asks him to join her security detail. She knows she’s being set up to be a scapegoat and needs his help.
When word reaches earth that the Martian ship approaching Phoebe has fired on the U.N.N. Nathan Hale the U.N. Assembly try to decipher the action. Many want to retaliate but Avasarala convinces the Secretary-General to hold off until they know for sure what is happening. They are later told that the missiles were not intended for the Nathan Hale, their target was Phoebe Station which was destroyed and the fragments spiralled into Saturn.
Back on the M.C.R.N. Scirroco Lt.Sutton informs Drapper of why they changed their tactics. She’s upset. It’s obvious that Bobbie won’t be satisfied until she finally has the battle she’s been training for.
On the Rocinante, Holden, while undergoing medical treatment for radiation exposure envisions himself and Naomi infected by the protomolecule before waking with a start.
Both he and Miller will have to undergo regular treatments for the rest of their lives.
The two of them discuss what happened on Eros Station. Holden wants truth and justice whereas Miller just wants everyone responsible dead.
Meanwhile, Under Naomi’s supervision, Amos opens up the safe they found on the Anubis. Inside they discover frozen samples of the Protomolecule. As well as Anthony Dresden’s video lab notes of the devastation that transpired on Phoebe Station when they released the Protomolecule. And his desire to see what happens if they release it in a larger controlled environment such as Eros.
After much debate on whether or not they should destroy or hold onto the sample of the protomolecule in their possession, they decide to hide it by putting it inside a missile and parking it in an abandoned asteroid mine.
The events of the last few days finally catch up with them and Holden and Naomi finally give into the feelings they’ve been holding back for each other.
Much to Miller’s dismay, who wants to chase down those responsible for what happened on Eros, the crew of the Rocinante instead head to Tycho Station to enlist the help of Fred Johnson.
Later, Miller and Amos come to uneven blows over the shooting of Miller’s friend Semi. Amos being Amos, impassionately explains how things went down. Miller takes offence and strikes at Amos only to be laid flat by the powerful engineer. Naomi intervenes and stops Amos from killing Miller. She tries to explain Amos to him but Miller doesn’t want to hear any of it. He tells her of his thoughts and visions of Julie Mao.
While on route to Tycho. Alex prepares a meal for the crew to share. They bond with Miller over a story about contraband cheese on Cerise Station.
——
Doors & Corners
On Earth, The U.N Assembly is debating why Mars destroyed Phoebe Station. The general consensus they need to retaliate. They decide to destroy a small Mars space station as a show of force. Admiral Souther won’t hear any of it and steps down as fleet commander.
Later, Avasaraly meets him at a bar. She managed to get him his old job back, however he’s not grateful. She explains that one way or another, the U.N. had to put on a show of force against the Martians. She presses him for information on Fred Johnston and he tells her the true story of what happened on Anderson Station and how the former colonel was used.
After hearing the story, she asks Coytar to send a message to Fred Johnson saying she wants to talk. Nobody can know because talking to him could be considered an act of treason.
On Tycho Station, Fred Johnston is not happy to see the Rocinante return without Lionel Polanski or that they were missing without any communications. He’s shocked to learn that they were on Eros. They explain to him what they saw and what is happening. They ask for his help in attacking an abandoned research station where the masterminds behind the Phoebe and Eros attacks are held up. But before they can land an attack force they need to deal with a stealth ship that is guarding the place.
Holden, in his strange idealistic way, feels responsible for what is happening but he doesn’t want to put his crew at risk. Naomi shoots him down saying that she, Amos and Alex can make their own decisions and they choose to fight.
Meanwhile, Fred Johnston recruits belters to make up the ground force to attack the station. A Black Wind member challenges his OPA authority, being a human ordering belters around but Fred makes short work of him, ejecting him out an airlock.
He then inspires the belters to join the cause.
Alex runs through simulation after simulation but he can’t defeat the stealth ship. When Holden tells Miller he doesn’t want him along for the assault the ex-detective tells him he’s going to be part of the ground forces anyway. Someone has to keep the belters in line. Holden tells Miller there’s a space on the Rossi for him when they get back.
Near an unregistered Spin Station in the belt, the Freighter Guy Molinary piloted by Fred Johnson approaches the station with the Rocinante hidden in their wake. Two freight containers attached to the freighter contain the belter assault force. On board with Miller is Diogo who we last saw floating in space after being ejected by his uncle. For some reason, the Ceres degenerate takes a liking to Miller.
Once close enough to the spin station, Fred orders the Rocinante to disengage act like dislodged cargo container giving the Freighter an excuse to pursue it closer to the station.
When the Rocinante is within range Alex fires up the engines and they make a run to engage the stealth ship while the Freighter launches the two breaching pods.
The discovery of defence cannons on the station puts the pods at risk and the Rossi has to evade the stealth fighter as she takes out the cannons. They manage to destroy it but not before it takes out one of the breaching pods killing half the landing force.
Close quarter combat proves too much for the stealth ship and the Rocinante takes her out.
Meanwhile, the remaining breaching pod lands on the station and the belters encounter minimal resistance. The station security are equipped with weapons more suited to guarding prisoners than repelling a boarding party.
Searching the station they find a cluster of scientists all neurally hooked up to to a machine completely oblivious to their presence. When Miller shuts it off they all start screaming which causes the belters to open fire on them killing them all except for one.
Miller continues alone and finds Anthony Dresden.
Holden and Fred Johnson arrive to take control of the station and Dresden tries to negotiate a deal with them in order to continue his work. They discovered an organism that can repurpose other life forms and use them to evolve. They are trying to figure out how and why. He believes that they can harness that power to turn themselves the into gods and remake themselves into anything they want.
They believe the protomolecule was sent there for a purpose. Earth was its target. It intended to use humans for its own ends.
He doesn’t care who controls the project, just as long as he gets to continue his work. He pleads with Johnson. Fred agrees, providing Dresden gives him the names of everyone involved with setting up the experiments. The scientist agrees but is cut off by a bullet to the forehead. Much to Fred and Holden’s surprise, Miller shot him.
Safe + Doors & Corners Double Take – S2E01-02 The Expanse Podcast
Feb 02, 2017
Safe + Doors & Corners Double Take – S2E01-02 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
This season, unless otherwise mentioned, you have until Fridays at 12 noon Eastern time to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the season 2 premiere which includes the episodes titled “Safe” and “Doors & Corners” for the first time. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) What are the repercussions of Miller’s actions?
2) How do you think Avasarala’s actions will play out?
3) What will happen with the hidden Protomolecule?
Bonus: Did season 1 inspire you to read the books?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
111 Season 1 Finale Listener Feedback – The Expanse Podcast
Feb 29, 2016
Critical Mass, Leviathan Wakes, Feedback episode
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Welcome everyone. This is a special feedback only episode of The Expanse Podcast for the two hour finale of The Expanse which comprised of the episodes titled Critical Mass and Leviathan Wakes.
I received some wonderful feedback from some great listeners talking about what their expectations for this series were and if season 1 met them. They also talk about what they hope to see in season 2 that will air in January 2017, as well as if season 1 has enticed them to read or in some cases re-read the books the series is based on.
I want to thank my listeners for all the wonderful support and love I’ve received over the course of this season. I can’t wait to connect with you again for season 2 and beyond.
110 Leviathan Wakes – The Expanse Podcast
Feb 24, 2016
Leviathan Wakes
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Welcome everyone. What a great episode to finish off the first season of The Expanse. I can’t wait to see what happens in season 2 in January 2017.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the the 10th and final episode of the first season titled “Leviathan Wakes” which incidentally is also the name of the first novel in The Expanse series.
I start off the discussion part of this episode talking about Naomi, Amos and Alex’s plight in trying to reach the Rocinante and some of the hints we discover about our crew members.
I follow that with what’s happening on Earth and how Christen Avasarala is putting two and two together and discovering that her beloved government isn’t as innocent as she thought they were in the whole mess that’s been happening.
Next I talk about Dresden and what he discovers while examining Julie Mao’s body and what he plans on doing with the station.
And I finish off the discussion with Miller and Holden’s story. How the two of them, sickened by the radiation exposure from last episode, try to make their way to the docks in order to leave Eros.
109 Critical Mass – The Expanse Podcast
Feb 12, 2016
Critical Mass
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Welcome everyone. What a great start to the two hour season 1 finale of The Expanse. I love how all the storylines are tying together. I anticipate great things for season 2.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the the 9th episode titled “Critical Mass”.
On Earth we Avasarala visits her departed friends house in Anchorage. In it she discovers secrets that, much to her surprise, link Earth to the stealth ships that destroyed the Canterbury and Donnager.
On Tycho Station, Fred Johnson sends out a system wide broadcast proclaiming his innocence and shows proof of Earth’s involvement in the system wide hysteria.
The rest of the episode consists of flashbacks showing us what Julie Mao experienced since first setting foot on the Scopuli right up until our main characters find her dead body. As well as Miller and the Rocinante crew trying to get off a locked down station.
While Naomi, Amos and Alex try to make their way to their ship, Miller and Holden uncover a conspiracy involving something called the Proto Molecule. The same substance that killed Julie Mao. A mysterious man by the name of Dresden is experimenting on the unsuspecting citizens of Eros Station, injecting them with the substance and then exposing them to large doses of radiation. While trying to save the masses Miller and Holden are hit with a fatal dose of hard radiation.
Critical Mass & Leviathan Wakes Double Take – S1E09-10 The Expanse Podcast
Feb 04, 2016
Critical Mass & Leviathan Wakes Double Take – S1E09-10 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
You have until Thursday January 28 at 12 noon EST to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the season 1 two hour finale which includes the episodes titled “Critical Mass” & “Leviathan Wakes” for the first time. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) Did Season 1 meet your expectation?
2) What would you like to see in Season 2?
3) Has the series urged you to read (or re-read) the books?
Bonus: What happened to Diogo?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Welcome everyone. Can you believe this is the penultimate episode of Season 1 of the Expanse. I know that’s not technically true since the two hour finale consists of two episodes. So maybe I would be more accurate saying this was the penultimate week of The Expanse.
This was another great episode. We got the excitement on the Anubis and finally the meeting between Miller and the Rocinante crew.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the various storylines of the episode.
On Earth we find out that the U.N. has sent a battleship to Thycho Station to catch Fred Johnson in the act of manufacturing stealth technology. Avasarala pleads with Errinwright to cancel the black opps team sent to eliminate Holden but he wont hear of it.
On Tycho Station, Fred has his tech decode the MCRN chip from Lopez which gives him valuable insight into who is behind the stealth ships attacks.
At asteroid BA-834024112 the crew of the Roci find a stealth ship hidden in a crevasse. They board it only to find no sign of the crew. They do discover a mysterious blackish substance feeding off the reactor core. They decide to leave and destroy the ship in their wake.
On Eros station, Miller gets a lead but ends up in jail. His old friend Inspector Sematimba gets him out and tells him where he can find Julie.
Kenzo guides the Rocinante crew through Eros to the Blue Falcon, the last known location of Lionel Polanski. In the lobby, they are attacked by the U.N. Black Opps team but are saved my Miller. Together, they break into the room registered to Polanski and find Julie Mao, dead in the shower with a blackish substance, similar to what was on the Anubis covering her body.
Salvage Double Take – S1E08 The Expanse Podcast
Jan 27, 2016
Salvage Double Take – S1E08 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
You have until Thursday January 28 at 12 noon EST to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the 8th episode of season 1 titled “Salvage” for the first time. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) What is Fred Johnson hoping to find in Lopez’s files?
2) What did Miller mean when he said “I believe in her”?
3) What do you think Miller’s reaction will be to finding Julie that way?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Welcome everyone. I’m thrilled that you’ve joined me today to discuss The Expanse.
This was another great plot building episode. That was a tight call for the crew of the Rocinante there. And did we just see where Jim Holden get’s all his charm?
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the three storylines of the episode. Earth, Ceres Station, and the Rocinante.
A visit to the Holden farm by Christen Avasarala reveals some background about James Holden and why he was so far out in the belt hauling ice. I get the feeling that Avasarala is beginning to understand the man responsible for their brush with war and I think she’s growing soft on him.
On Ceres station, Miller is mourning his lost career. After doing some soul searching he decides that the Julie Mao case is all he has left and decides to pursue his leads on Eros. I’m really looking forward to see what happens there.
And one the Rocinante, the crew discover a stowaway on board and don’t know what to do with him. Things get worse when a Mars military ship wants to inspect them. I wonder what would have happened if that spy wasn’t found because it’s his plan that saves the day.
After recapping and discussing these points from the episode I finish off with some great feedback contributions from listeners.
Windmills Double Take – S1E07 The Expanse Podcast
Jan 20, 2016
Windmills Double Take – S1E07 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
You have until Thursday January 21 at 12 noon EST to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the 7th episode of season 1 titled “Windmills” for the first time. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) Why did the spy stowaway on the Rocinante?
2) What will happen with Amos going forward?
3) What will they find at Asteroid BA-834024112?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
106 Rock Bottom AKA Retrofit – The Expanse Podcast
Jan 15, 2016
Rock Bottom AKA Retrofit
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Welcome everyone. I’m thrilled that you’ve joined me today to discuss The Expanse.
This was another great world building episode. I feel bad for Miller. He was just doing his job and looks where it’s got him.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the four locations of the episode. Earth, Ceres Station, Tycho Station and the Rocinante as well as the abandoned asteroid mine.
We get a little bit of Earth in this episode with Christen Avasarala acquiring a Tycho Station spy from her old acquaintance Carlos. Not entirely convinced that the OPA is not responsible for the mysterious attacks, she wants to know what Fred Johnson is up to and she’s willing to blackmail an old friend to get the information.
At an Abandoned Asteroid Mine in the Martian Trade Zone, we see Diogo, the water thief from Ceres Station working with his uncle Matao to bring back asteroid fragments for profit. A MCRN ship arrives to inspect them and gives Matao a hard time. At wit’s end, he ejects his nephew Diogo into space in an environment suit and then retaliates against the Martians, hurtling his cargo at their ship and getting destroyed himself in the process. Leaving Diogo all alone in space.
On Tycho Station, there are several standoffs between Fred Johnson and Holden as they weight each other up. An uneasy peace is formed and the crew of the Rocinante are offered safe haven in exchange for testifying in front of the U.N. Security Council on what they saw. Fred admits that he wants to use them to gain a seat for the OPA at the table. Meanwhile, the Rocinante is retrofitted to change her appearance and make her look like a gas hauler. Fred wants to use her for a special mission but Holden and the others refuse. Instead they agree to help hime look for the last survivor of the Scopuli, the only person left alive that may know what started the whole mess.
On Ceres Station, Miller confronts his captor who turns out to be none other than Anderson Daws. Daws grills Miller for everything he knows about Julie Mao and the Scopuli. He realizes that Miller is actually in love with the missing woman and decides he’s had enough of him. He sentences Miller to death but Octavia intervenes and saves him. Miller takes what he know to Captain Shaddid thinking she’ll be able to help him, but it turns out she’s working with the OPA. She confiscates Millers’ evidence and fires him from Star Helix.
After recapping and discussing these points from the episode I finish off with some great feedback contributions from listeners.
Rock Bottom AKA Retrofit Double Take – S1E06 The Expanse Podcast
Jan 13, 2016
“Rock Bottom” AKA “Retrofit” Double Take – S1E06 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
You have until Thursday January 14 at 12 noon EST to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the 6th episode of season 1 titled “Rock Bottom” for the first time. This episode was also called “Retrofit” in some places. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
I’m so excited that the Rocinante is FINALLY part of the story, and that my podcast now has it’s namesake.
This week’s question are…
1) What was the point of the whole Uncle/Nephew storyline?
2) What are Miller’s options now that he’s been fired?
3) Who do you think Naomi is looking for?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
105 Back To The Butcher – The Expanse Podcast
Jan 09, 2016
Back To The Butcher
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Welcome everyone. I’m thrilled that you’ve joined me today to discuss The Expanse.
What a great plot moving episode. Miller seems to be getting somewhere with his investigation.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the three locations of the episode. Ceres Station, The MCRN Tachi/Rocinante as well as the flashback of Anderson Station.
We don’t get any Earth story this week which I title sad about but the Anderson Station flashback more than mead up for it. We learn the plight of Marama Brown and his people. How they’re being branded terrorists by the U.N. for standing up for their rights as human beings. The unfortunate events that transpire haunt Fred Johnston to this day and the monicker “Butcher of Anderson Station” will forever be attached to his name.
On Ceres, Havelock is alive and will recover. Although he doesn’t say it, I think Miller blames himself for what happened to his partner. Leaving him in the hospital, Miller continues his investigation into Julie Mao. He discovered a connection between her, Anderson Daws and the events surrounding the destruction of the Canterbury. Others take notice of his progress and at the end of the episode Miller is kidnapped.
On the MCRN Tachi the crew are trying to decide what to do when they receive a message from Fred Johnson offering them safe haven at Tycho Station. They are torn about the offer. Holden and Alex want to go but Naomi is against it and Amos followers her lead. They know Fred Johnson’s reputation. However, with no other options available, Naomi finally agrees and they make preparations to go to Tycho. They can’t approach the station in a stolen Mars gunship so Fred gives them instructions on how to change the transponder of the ship. Doing so requires them to rename the ship and they settle on the name Rocinante.
I finish off with some great feedback contributions from listeners.
Back To The Butcher Double Take – S1E05 The Expanse Podcast
Jan 06, 2016
“Back To The Butcher” Double Take – S1E05 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
You have until Thursday January 7 at 12 noon EST to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the 5th episode of season 1 titled “Back To The Butcher” for the first time. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
I’m so excited that the Rocinante is FINALLY part of the story, and that my podcast now has it’s namesake.
This week’s question are…
1) Who took Miller?
2) What is waiting for the crew of the Rocinante at Tycho station?
3) What is the chip Miller got from Julie Mao’s hamster?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Welcome everyone. I’m thrilled that you’ve joined me today to discuss The Expanse.
What an exciting action packed episode. It seems like the Canterbury’s survivors really know how to get themselves into the thick of it.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, including the season 2 renewal announcement, I talk about the four locations of the episode. Ceres Station, Earth and Tycho Station and the MCRN Flagship Donnager.
We don’t get a whole lot at Ceres Station this week, Miller investigates the dead body he found. The I.D. comes up as Bizi Betiko but we soon learned that it’s an assumed name and that’s pretty well it. Other than the fact that Havelock is till alive, but we’ll have to wait until next episode for his status.
On Earth we get even less this week, Avasarala has a short conversation with Admiral Souther about the battle taking place with the Donnager. And then we get a small scene with her on her roof and a one sided conversation by her grandson.
We are introduced to a new location this week. Tycho Station and the man in charge there, Fred Johnson. We learn that Tycho is building the L.D.S.S. Nauvoo, a Mormon generation ship. Because of his ties to the OPA, Fred is asked to step down as project leader but through a bit of blackmail and treats he manages to retain his job. There’s more to Fred we don’t know, as he orders the Nauvoo’s vast sensor array pointed towards the Donnager and demands a full report of what’s going on.
And now on the MCRN Donnager, Holden refuses to convict Naomi for a crime he knows she didn’t commit. The mysterious ship that the Martians think is coming for Naomi splits into 6 vessels and attacks without warning. The Donnager, the most powerful ship in the Mars NAVY is out gunned and is boarded.
The Donnager’s captain orders Officer Lopez to get Holden to MCRN Command because he’s the only one who can corroborate that Mars was not responsible for the destruction of the Canterbury. Holden refuses to leave without his crew mates and manages to get away to find them, only to discover that Shed is dead. The survivors, along with Lopez manage to work their way to the Tachi, a smaller ship and escape the attack. Right before the Donnager captan scuttles the ship.
Wow, again, what a great episode.
I finish off with some great feedback contributions from listeners.
CQB Double Take – S1E04 The Expanse Podcast
Dec 30, 2015
“CQB” Double Take – S1E04 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
You have until Friday January 1 at 12 noon EST to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the 4th episode of season 1 titled “CQB” for the first time. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) Who is the fake Bizi Betiko and how does he play into the story?
2) Why did Fred Johnson want a full report on the Donnager?
3) Who didn’t Naomi get to say buy to?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
103 Remember The Cant – The Expanse Podcast
Dec 27, 2015
Remember The Cant
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Welcome everyone. I am so happy that you’ve joined me to discuss The Expanse.
This was a good character building episode of The Expanse. We learned a lot of background on the Canterbury’s survivors.
In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse I divide my episode into three discussion areas. Ceres Station, Earth and The MCRN Flagship the Donnager.
At Ceres Station, I discuss the effects of the James Holden video and how everyone reacts to the reported act of war by Mars on the Canterbury. During all the unrest Miller just can’t let the Julie Mao case go, even when told to drop it by his captain. Miller questions Anderson Dawes, the OPA leader about Julie and is told by Dawes that he’ll look into it.
On Earth, Avasarala, believing Mars is about to start a war, turns to an old family friend Franklin Degraff, the U.N. Ambassador to Mars. She lets it spill that the U.N. captured an OPA agent with Mars stealth components and how this proves that Mars and the OPA are working together. Degraff insists that Mars wouldn’t do that but he contacts his counterpart on Mars just the same causing some panic as Mars’ High Command sends urgent communications to it’s 9 MCRN facilities, 3 more than Earth were aware of, checking their inventory for missing components. This proves to Avasarala that Mars knows nothing about the attack on the Canterbury.
On the MCRN Donnager, Holden and crew are questioned about the attack on the Canterbury as well as Phoebe station, a restricted base that they all state they’ve never been to. During the interrogations the seed is planted that Naomi is an OPA agent leading them all to question just how much they know each other. Holden is given an ultimatum, Recant his broadcast story and tell everyone that Naomi Nagata is responsible or face the consequences.
I finish off with some great feedback contributions from listeners.
Remember The Cant Double Take – S1E03 The Expanse Podcast
Dec 23, 2015
“Remember The Cant” Double Take – S1E03 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
You have until Thursday December 24 at 9am EST to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the 3rd episode of season 1 titled “Remember The Cant” for the first time. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) How do you think the situation on Ceres station will develop?
2) Do you think there’s any merit to Mars’ claim that Naomi is an OPA agent?
3) Was Holden wrong to send out the video accusing Mars of destroying the Canterbury?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
102 The Big Empty – The Expanse Podcast
Dec 19, 2015
The Big Empty
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Welcome everyone. I am so happy that you’ve joined me to discuss The Expanse.
This was a strong second episode of the series. I continued the plight of the various characters nicely and kept us wanting more.
After sharing some news from The Expanse I divide my episode into three discussion areas. Ceres Station, Earth and The shuttle Knight.
At Ceres Station, I discuss Miller’s continued pursuit of Julie Mao and how it’s almost becoming an obsession for him. We get to know more of his character as he deals with people in authority as well as low life street criminals. We also see how Havelock, being new to the station is naive to the way things work.
On Earth, I talk about how Avasarala and the U.N. Undersecretary-General Cadaver Errinwright argue about the Belter prisoner she’s interrogating. He orders her to go easy on him. And when she gets nowhere with the prisoner she transfers him to Luna. I then talk about how he kills himself on the way to Luna, to the dismay of Avasarala.
On the Shuttle Knight, I talk about Holden’s hot headiness and his desire to go after the ship that destroyed the Canterbury. I discuss Naomi’s strong character and how she is a take charge kind of woman. I go over the various trials the crew are faced with and their rescue at the hands of the Mars military.
I finish off with some great feedback contributors from listeners.
News
The Big Empty was written by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby and Directed by Terry McDonough.
If you would like to read The Expanse book series you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audio book version through Audible
Episode Discussion
In this week’s episode I talk about the mysterious woman at the beginning of the episode. I then go over the Christen Avasarala, the U.N. Deputy Undersecretary’s brief story before moving on to Miller and Holden.
In my discussion on Miller I talk about his personality and how he doesn’t really seem like a nice guy. We see how he’s not above taking a bribe to look the other way but he also has his limits. To me he seems like a lost dejected soul. The simple “Kidnap job” given to him looks to be taking hold.
I love the look of Ceres station and it’s variety of social classes. Including our first look at the Belters.
We didn’t get a whole lot of Miller but we can already tell that he will be a very deep character.
In my discussion on Holden and the crew of the Canterbury I talk about life in space. The dangers of their job and the condition of their ship. You see the toll that it takes on them, especially when we see the breakdown of the executive officer. It becomes further apparent when the Captain of the Canterbury orders the distress call they received deleted from the data base and tells the crew to get ready to head home.
I talk about how Holden, who can’t let it go, logs the distress call forcing the Canterbury to investigate. Forcing himself, along with Naomi, Amos, Alex and Shed investigate the Scopuli. Onboard the shuttle, Holden confesses to Naomi that it was he who logged the distress call. Something I think will haunt him.
I talk about how they find a planted distress beacon hidden on the Scopuli’s bridge and how they realize it’s a trap. But before they can do anything a mysterious ship appears and fires on them.
I share the grief of the shuttle crew as they see the Canterbury blown up in the nuclear blast, leaving them all alone, millions of kilometres from anywhere.
Feedback
I received three feedback submissions this week from J.P., Cain and Chad. I would love to hear from you in future episodes. Please don’t hesitate to send my your thoughts, theories and questions.
The Big Empty Double Take – S1E02 The Expanse Podcast
Dec 16, 2015
“The Big Empty” Double Take – S1E02 The Expanse Podcast
Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30 day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
You have until Thursday December 17 at 12 noon EST to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the season 1 episode titled “The Big Empty” for the first time. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) What will happen to the 5 Canterbury survivors now that Mars has them?
2) Will there be any ramifications because the Belter killed himself on the way to Luna?
3) Miller knows Julie Mao is no longer on Ceres station, so why is he still pursuing her?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Welcome everyone. I am so happy that you’ve joined me to discuss The Expanse.
What an amazing start to this series. This pilot episode blew expectations out of the sky. And with 1.5 million views online, before the TV broadcast, you know this will be a hit.
I’m producing this podcast in the same way as all the other podcasts I do here at Solo Talk Media. I start off with the news, followed by my episode discussion, and I finish off with some great feedback contributors from listeners.
News
Dulcinea was written by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby and Directed by Terry McDonough.
Syfy has already renewed The Expanse for season 2 so we’re guaranteed at least 20 episodes.
Want to take sides in the political war brewing on The Expanse? You can join one of the following allegiances and print off your very own I.D. badge.
You can read Drive, the prequel to The Expanse here.
If you would like to read The Expanse book series you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.
Or listen to the audio book version through Audible
Episode Discussion
In this week’s episode I talk about the mysterious woman at the beginning of the episode. I then go over the Christen Avasarala, the U.N. Deputy Undersecretary’s brief story before moving on to Miller and Holden.
In my discussion on Miller I talk about his personality and how he doesn’t really seem like a nice guy. We see how he’s not above taking a bribe to look the other way but he also has his limits. To me he seems like a lost dejected soul. The simple “Kidnap job” given to him looks to be taking hold.
I love the look of Ceres station and it’s variety of social classes. Including our first look at the Belters.
We didn’t get a whole lot of Miller but we can already tell that he will be a very deep character.
In my discussion on Holden and the crew of the Canterbury I talk about life in space. The dangers of their job and the condition of their ship. You see the toll that it takes on them, especially when we see the breakdown of the executive officer. It becomes further apparent when the Captain of the Canterbury orders the distress call they received deleted from the data base and tells the crew to get ready to head home.
I talk about how Holden, who can’t let it go, logs the distress call forcing the Canterbury to investigate. Forcing himself, along with Naomi, Amos, Alex and Shed investigate the Scopuli. Onboard the shuttle, Holden confesses to Naomi that it was he who logged the distress call. Something I think will haunt him.
I talk about how they find a planted distress beacon hidden on the Scopuli’s bridge and how they realize it’s a trap. But before they can do anything a mysterious ship appears and fires on them.
I share the grief of the shuttle crew as they see the Canterbury blown up in the nuclear blast, leaving them all alone, millions of kilometres from anywhere.
Feedback
I received three feedback submissions this week from J.P., Cain and Chad. I would love to hear from you in future episodes. Please don’t hesitate to send my your thoughts, theories and questions.
Dulcinea Double Take – S1E01 The Expanse Podcast
Nov 23, 2015
“Dulcinea” Double Take – S1E01 The Expanse Podcast
Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
You have until Thursday November 26 at 12 noon EST to submit your feedback.
Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the season 1 pilot titled “Dulcinea” for the first time. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.
This week’s question are…
1) What were your first impressions of The Expanse?
2) What options do you think the remaining crew of the Canterbury have?
3) Will you encourage friends and family to watch the television premier of The Expanse on Monday December 14th?
I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at feedback@solotalkmedia.com or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.
The Expanse Podcast – Introduction
Nov 19, 2015
The Expanse Podcast – Introduction
I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or feedback@solotalkmedia.com
Welcome everyone. I am so happy that you’ve joined me to discuss The Expanse.
The Expanse which has a two night premier on December 14 and 15 looks like it’s going to be an amazing series. If you are interested you can watch the first episode online starting November 23rd. Syfy decided to make the pilot episode available via online streaming three weeks before it airs on television.
I hope you get involved with the podcast by submitting your thoughts and theories each week.
You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or directly via the RSS feed. It will also soon be available on Stitcher Radio.
If you would like to read or listen to the books that inspire this series I would appreciate it if you used my Amazon affiliate links for USA or Canada. Or you can get the audiobook via Audible
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
