"The Expanse" by Amazon [Formerly by Syfy]

[Khaldun]

The problem is that in the books, she pretty well drops out for an entire book's worth of narrative and when she reappears after the shit that's going down next season she's in a different situation. So they kept her in the mix--she's a popular character--and tried to give her more of a dramatic arc that frames her upcoming actions. I think that's fine. They're already looking ahead not just to the new situation next season but the big status quo changes to come further down the line, assuming they get to do S6 and beyond.

[lamaros]

The problem is that in the books, she pretty well drops out for an entire book's worth of narrative and when she reappears after the shit that's going down next season she's in a different situation. So they kept her in the mix--she's a popular character--and tried to give her more of a dramatic arc that frames her upcoming actions. I think that's fine. They're already looking ahead not just to the new situation next season but the big status quo changes to come further down the line, assuming they get to do S6 and beyond.

I agree its a difficult situation to connect through. I just thought tension with cliche focus groups blah blah stuff was pretty boring. And the whole husband personality change they thought they needed to throw in to sell it.

Im not sure half the Bobbie stuff did much service to her character or the plot points it was trying to round out.

[Bokonon]

Season 5 drops December 16th. Three episodes, than weekly episodes after that. 10 episodes this season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caLji74IIp4

Not much Alex in the trailer, for obvious reasons.

[Khaldun]

Looks great.

I think this will end up surprising anyone who has watched the series and not read the books. Not quite at Red Wedding levels but sort of close, at least for me.

[Abagadro]

Ya, I saw some comment on twitter like "where is all the protomolecule stuff?" and I'm like AHAHAHAHAHHAA.

[HaemishM]

That trailer certainly leads me to believe it's a pretty important part of this season, but I only just finished reading the 2nd book.

[MahrinSkel]

For the book this season is based on, the proto molecule (and the alien remnants associated with it) are on the back burner. It's still gonna be pretty 

--Dave (there may be an alien surprise, depending on how far ahead they decide to compress things. But it won't be protomolecule related)

[Tale]

With season 5 about to launch, it's been announced that season 6 will be the last: read all about it.

Amazon Studios today announced it has ordered a sixth and final season of the fan-favorite Amazon Original series The Expanse, based on James S.A. Corey's best-selling books. Renewal of The Expanse for a final season comes in advance of the anticipated fifth season, which will premiere December 16th on Amazon Prime Video

[Abagadro]

They are going to have to basically jettison the late-arriving plot from the last 3 books, which is probably okay since they wouldn't really transfer all that well to TV anyways IMO.  Be interesting to see how they wrap it up (and what they do with Anvar).

EDIT: So reading around, they shitcanned Anvar, so the question I guess is what they do with the character.

[Threash]

EDIT: So reading around, they shitcanned Anvar, so the question I guess is what they do with the character.

Besides the obvious?

[Abagadro]

Well there are 3 possibilities: 1) recast; 2) kill him off and replace with a new character; 3) kill him off any have an existing character backfill his spot. 

My guess is #3 with a couple of possibilities I already have in mind.

[Tale]

4) Introduce a character played by a Weinstein accuser (Ashley Judd, Rosanna Arquette, etc) who ends Alex Kamal.

[Khaldun]

It's interesting. They can't really get into the next big plot arc of the series at all, I'd almost say, unless they skip some of the set-up to it and go straight to the end, more or less. They may just have reckoned that it would be extremely expensive to do all of it if they went to a season seven. But I'm sort of not sure what they'll actually do in a season six, really, if this season is about Earth and Marco Inaros, which seems like a single-season storyline.

[Abagadro]

I just think they couldn't do any of the Laconia stuff in the timeframe they were looking at for the show so they are going to ditch everything past the time jump other than some major big theme issues with the gate-builders/destroyers. 

[Khaldun]

It's too bad: I really like the Laconia material, actually.

[Bokonon]

Tomorrow is the day! Only 3 episodes to start, and the previews have been solid.

[Tale]

It has just dropped early.

See Amazon Prime Video. I can see first three episodes live.

Edit: James SA Corey twitter account confirms.

[Chimpy]

It has just dropped early.

See Amazon Prime Video. I can see first three episodes live.

Edit: James SA Corey twitter account confirms.

Amazon's "release date/time" stuff for Prime is always midnight UTC.

[Abagadro]

Blazed through all 3 episodes. They are going through A LOT of plot in a hurry and did some of what I speculated about above.

[MahrinSkel]

Somebody needs to bump this when they finish the season and I can binge it.

--Dave

[Tale]

Somebody needs to bump this when they finish the season and I can binge it.

--Dave

That's February 3.

Watched episodes 1-3 and had a good time. Haven't read beyond book 3 so this is unknown territory to me, but I'm actually finding it slow.

[Abagadro]

The last two things become very important and tie into big developments.

[Khaldun]

Yeah, though I'm wondering now if they actually do, with only one season left? Maybe they're planning something after the last season that is a wrap-up? It's plain that they're not going to touch any of the territory that the last book and the forthcoming conclusion deal with.

[Abagadro]

LATER BOOK SPOILERS:

[Bokonon]

Based on what I've read, the show is "on pause". There is also a lot of vague insinuation by Daniel and Ty that Alcon Entertainment, who they sold the tv/film rights to, is still dreaming up ways to continue the story in some way. I would not be surprised if we saw a couple or three of films covering books 7-9.

The pause would also help deal with the Cas Anvar situation, as they could even recast the whole crew if they wanted.

Also, I think anyone expecting book 9 to neatly tie things of is probably going to be at least somewhat disappointed. One of the biggest series themes is that humanity is Holden writ large.

[Abagadro]

Interesting big change from the books concerning one major character in this week's ep.

[Bokonon]

Interesting big change from the books concerning one major character in this week's ep.

Yup. They do this enough that it keeps us book readers entertained.

[Tale]

Good episode. Not slow.

[Abagadro]

Despite how split up the narratives are in this book, they are doing a really good job of adapting it this season. The last two episodes were great.

[Khaldun]

Yeah. I have really enjoyed it and my non-book reading spouse is riveted. The changes to the book stuff are really smart.

I'm just super-invested at this point at whether  is at all a thing or not.

[Tale]

I loved this week's episode. Dominique Tipper's acting in the Naomi scenes was outstanding.

[Khaldun]

It was fucking great. She completely sold "flinging yourself through vacuum and barely surviving into a stripped-out bomb of a ship is PAINFUL and AWFUL and not recommended". It was all done so so well.

[Bokonon]

Yeah. I have really enjoyed it and my non-book reading spouse is riveted. The changes to the book stuff are really smart.

I'm just super-invested at this point at whether  is at all a thing or not.

it's a thing. It's in the opening credits if you look for it. Not sure if it will be a major thing though.

[Khaldun]

Yeah, I saw that, but I'm just trying to figure out how they handle the pacing with only a season left. I almost wonder if they're going to (as per earlier discussion)

[Bokonon]

Yeah, I saw that, but I'm just trying to figure out how they handle the pacing with only a season left. I almost wonder if they're going to (as per earlier discussion)

Your spoiler seems to be a leading candidate, based on info from cast and crew. Ty and Daniel have ben pretty clear they aren't going to ram books 6-9 into season 6... And Wes and Ty on twitter and in their post-episode shows have been pretty coy. The term "pause" has been used repeatedly. And there was one interview I saw, with Wes, where there was definitely a pause when he had to think about what he could say, post season 6.