Just binged season 3 in about 10 hours. Holy fuck that was good.
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That_GuyI don't wanna be that guyRegistered Userregular
edited February 2019
Even with season 3 swinging harder into science fiction territory, The Expanse continues to be the hardest scfi ever put to film. And I love it. Even the protomolecule isn't totally outside the realm of possibility when you realize it's just universal assembler tech. It's so rare that a scifi motion picture of any form to even realistically portray gravity in space, much less make it a major plot point on numerous occasions ad a constant concern.
Edit: Even in S03 when they spent extended periods in microgravity I bought the use of magnetic boots just to keep everything properly orientated. At any moment combat could break out and you can't have half your crew just floating around. People could get hurt worse than they already did.
I think S3 is the first time I've seen a SF show do
severe acceleration trauma. Don't change velocity without bracing, kids!
I loved that they telegraphed the hell out of what slowing down means at every junction, so when you saw that cliffhanger you were just "oh shittt....."
EDIT: Also the casualty counts are a subtle bit of awesome...
After the speed limit gets dropped they say about 1/3rd of their crew died. Why 1/3rd? Well you'd have 8 hour shifts, 3 shifts, and the people most likely to survive would've been strapped into their bunks or sitting down somewhere. The people who died would've been anyone with their head aimed in the direction of travel...
Finished season 3 over the weekend and it was amazing! I haven’t read the books but I’m still going to speculate about what’s going on:
I get the feeling that the Miller AI is using humanity like a canary in a coal mine. My guess is it’s trying to see if the big bad is still out there and if the humans don’t get annihilated then some ring builders who were hiding in stasis come back to rebuild. There was a book about an alien AI doing something very similar, but I can’t remember the title.
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"I see everything twice!"
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Ninja Snarl PMy helmet is my burden.Ninja Snarl: Gone, but not forgotten.Registered Userregular
Finished season 3 over the weekend and it was amazing! I haven’t read the books but I’m still going to speculate about what’s going on:
I get the feeling that the Miller AI is using humanity like a canary in a coal mine. My guess is it’s trying to see if the big bad is still out there and if the humans don’t get annihilated then some ring builders who were hiding in stasis come back to rebuild. There was a book about an alien AI doing something very similar, but I can’t remember the title.
The show does a decent job of getting it across that the Miller projection (and the system running him) isn't even properly a self-aware AI and the books hammer that home a lot more (they have the time for it), just a tool to get a job done. In fact, all the alien tech in general seems to be wholly lacking in proper sentience; there is a limited awareness at the very highest levels of complexity but ultimately it's the equivalent of a very complicated cell phone stuck in "looking for signal" mode.
It's possible it's all a ruse and the system has been programmed to act that way, but I think the system really is just trying to find the ring builders so it can get orders. It doesn't seem to have any basic motivation beyond that directive, and any semblance of intelligence on its part seems to be letting the Miller program run too long in a stretch.
I think S3 is the first time I've seen a SF show do
severe acceleration trauma. Don't change velocity without bracing, kids!
I loved the whole zero-g medicine angle (which I now can't remember) even more than that.
When does this come back?
They just wrapped S4 filming, and I think I read on Reddit (so it must be true) speculation that it would likely be released sometime in the late summer.
Finished season 3 over the weekend and it was amazing! I haven’t read the books but I’m still going to speculate about what’s going on:
I get the feeling that the Miller AI is using humanity like a canary in a coal mine. My guess is it’s trying to see if the big bad is still out there and if the humans don’t get annihilated then some ring builders who were hiding in stasis come back to rebuild. There was a book about an alien AI doing something very similar, but I can’t remember the title.
The show does a decent job of getting it across that the Miller projection (and the system running him) isn't even properly a self-aware AI and the books hammer that home a lot more (they have the time for it), just a tool to get a job done. In fact, all the alien tech in general seems to be wholly lacking in proper sentience; there is a limited awareness at the very highest levels of complexity but ultimately it's the equivalent of a very complicated cell phone stuck in "looking for signal" mode.
It's possible it's all a ruse and the system has been programmed to act that way, but I think the system really is just trying to find the ring builders so it can get orders. It doesn't seem to have any basic motivation beyond that directive, and any semblance of intelligence on its part seems to be letting the Miller program run too long in a stretch.
Interesting, I started reading the books today so my theories will likely change dramatically
I think S3 is the first time I've seen a SF show do
severe acceleration trauma. Don't change velocity without bracing, kids!
I loved that they telegraphed the hell out of what slowing down means at every junction, so when you saw that cliffhanger you were just "oh shittt....."
EDIT: Also the casualty counts are a subtle bit of awesome...
After the speed limit gets dropped they say about 1/3rd of their crew died. Why 1/3rd? Well you'd have 8 hour shifts, 3 shifts, and the people most likely to survive would've been strapped into their bunks or sitting down somewhere. The people who died would've been anyone with their head aimed in the direction of travel...
Since I've been streaming S3 this last week, I like that they touch on actual spaceflight concerns. But the numbers still miff me.
The show never shows that deceleration happens over any protracted length of time. The show just sort of implies the speed limit goes from 5000 m/s to 30 m/s instantly. (Apparently the books give 5 seconds? That would at least make survival remotely plausible.)
Working from that book value, 5000 m/s to 30 m/s in 5 seconds is over 100 g. That is survivable by a human...as a peak g-force. You extend that over 5 seconds and pretty much everyone is dead. You might get by with 50 g or so over a few seconds if you had proper restraints (or fancy sci-fi g force juice). Even traveling at 60% of the limit (3000 m/s) gets you 60 g over 5 seconds. Also dead.
Then Naomi goes into the Rocinate and starts manhandling everyone's head. Sure, she throws Alex in a neck brace - after she's flopped his neck all over. (For all the triage scenes, this article has some neat insight into space-based medicine and concerns over bleeding.)
Between the Melba Toast subplot, the Faux Documentary shit, and Holden's Many Constipated Faces it's just a whole lot of ughhhhhhh.
Documentary is annoying. Melba is also annoying. Everything else is solid.
The show is really trying to make me feel bad... I guess? for Clarissa. I get the impression the show's going to try throwing her on the main crew or serve as some deus ex machina. And disregard that she's basically killed thousands of people. I also get annoyed that it seems she orchestrated her entirely plan herself. Apparently she's a mastermind explosive's expert, mechanic, pilot, hacker, video editor and EVA suit operator. Able to blow up ships and fabricate videos and take over all the comms in the solar system. Her plot needs way, way, way, way more support than her and some supposedly unwitting camera man.
I'm also hoping for some Ashford + Drummer reconciliation since Ashford seems so likable. But I'm sure he'll ruin everything at some point.
I really like Cara Gee in this. I'm not sure how she manages to open her mouth so wide when shouting though.
Clarissa is a weak link in the crew. And never recovers from that state. All the problems Rex said are spot on and we're just supposed to forget about it. Or accept it, I guess. So her ultimate fate falls very flat.
Not sure what you can do about that, though. Hopefully the show improves it somehow.
Finished season 3 over the weekend and it was amazing! I haven’t read the books but I’m still going to speculate about what’s going on:
I get the feeling that the Miller AI is using humanity like a canary in a coal mine. My guess is it’s trying to see if the big bad is still out there and if the humans don’t get annihilated then some ring builders who were hiding in stasis come back to rebuild. There was a book about an alien AI doing something very similar, but I can’t remember the title.
The show does a decent job of getting it across that the Miller projection (and the system running him) isn't even properly a self-aware AI and the books hammer that home a lot more (they have the time for it), just a tool to get a job done. In fact, all the alien tech in general seems to be wholly lacking in proper sentience; there is a limited awareness at the very highest levels of complexity but ultimately it's the equivalent of a very complicated cell phone stuck in "looking for signal" mode.
It's possible it's all a ruse and the system has been programmed to act that way, but I think the system really is just trying to find the ring builders so it can get orders. It doesn't seem to have any basic motivation beyond that directive, and any semblance of intelligence on its part seems to be letting the Miller program run too long in a stretch.
Season 3, Episode 7. Naomi has adopted a thicker belter accent. This fucking show.
Pretty sure it's only on the belter ship, so I let it slide. I've had friends who slip into a different accent when they spoke with family or friends back home.
Season 3, Episode 7. Naomi has adopted a thicker belter accent. This fucking show.
Pretty sure it's only on the belter ship, so I let it slide. I've had friends who slip into a different accent when they spoke with family or friends back home.
Season 3, Episode 7. Naomi has adopted a thicker belter accent. This fucking show.
Pretty sure it's only on the belter ship, so I let it slide. I've had friends who slip into a different accent when they spoke with family or friends back home.
No no, that was a huge compliment. I am a mix of two starkly different races and I do the same thing.
I am sure I only noticed it this time cause going from Season 3 Episode 6 to Season 3 Episode 7 is such a huge skip it's very noticeable.
Went through season 3 over the weekend (and watched S1 and 2 again before that). Holy crap, what a show.
Ashford (or rather David Strathairn, who btw I just learned is already 70 years old) is just fantastic. As is Drummer. Question for the book people - why are Dawes and Johnson so out of the picture? Just because they are not near the ring?
I didn't like the Melba and Miller plots too much, especially the latter veered a bit too much from the hard SF of the rest of the show for my taste.
And do I want the Razorback in my garage.
But overall, holy crap, what a show. Haven't read the books yet, but I can't wait for season 4.
Descendant XSkyrim is my god now.Outpost 31Registered Userregular
Do yourself a favour and read the books. They’re great.
Garry: I know you gentlemen have been through a lot, but when you find the time I'd rather not spend the rest of the winter TIED TO THIS FUCKING COUCH!
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Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
Between the Melba Toast subplot, the Faux Documentary shit, and Holden's Many Constipated Faces it's just a whole lot of ughhhhhhh.
Not sure you’re going to get too many agrees there.
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
Doors and corners... doors and corners...
Edit: Even in S03 when they spent extended periods in microgravity I bought the use of magnetic boots just to keep everything properly orientated. At any moment combat could break out and you can't have half your crew just floating around. People could get hurt worse than they already did.
I loved the whole zero-g medicine angle (which I now can't remember) even more than that.
When does this come back?
I loved that they telegraphed the hell out of what slowing down means at every junction, so when you saw that cliffhanger you were just "oh shittt....."
EDIT: Also the casualty counts are a subtle bit of awesome...
It's possible it's all a ruse and the system has been programmed to act that way, but I think the system really is just trying to find the ring builders so it can get orders. It doesn't seem to have any basic motivation beyond that directive, and any semblance of intelligence on its part seems to be letting the Miller program run too long in a stretch.
They just wrapped S4 filming, and I think I read on Reddit (so it must be true) speculation that it would likely be released sometime in the late summer.
Steam: CavilatRest
I am just here to say that Wes Chatam, who plays Amos, is fucking RIPPED.
I MEAN GOD DAMN. I may have the vapors.
Everybody looks like they grew up in low g when they're standing next to Amos.
Since I've been streaming S3 this last week, I like that they touch on actual spaceflight concerns. But the numbers still miff me.
Working from that book value, 5000 m/s to 30 m/s in 5 seconds is over 100 g. That is survivable by a human...as a peak g-force. You extend that over 5 seconds and pretty much everyone is dead. You might get by with 50 g or so over a few seconds if you had proper restraints (or fancy sci-fi g force juice). Even traveling at 60% of the limit (3000 m/s) gets you 60 g over 5 seconds. Also dead.
Then Naomi goes into the Rocinate and starts manhandling everyone's head. Sure, she throws Alex in a neck brace - after she's flopped his neck all over. (For all the triage scenes, this article has some neat insight into space-based medicine and concerns over bleeding.)
Documentary is annoying. Melba is also annoying. Everything else is solid.
I'm also hoping for some Ashford + Drummer reconciliation since Ashford seems so likable. But I'm sure he'll ruin everything at some point.
I really like Cara Gee in this. I'm not sure how she manages to open her mouth so wide when shouting though.
She's also fantastic on Twitter.
Not sure what you can do about that, though. Hopefully the show improves it somehow.
yo could you mark book spoilers? thanks
Pretty sure it's only on the belter ship, so I let it slide. I've had friends who slip into a different accent when they spoke with family or friends back home.
Pretty sure that was exactly the point.
Oculus: TheBigDookie | XBL: Dook | NNID: BigDookie
No no, that was a huge compliment. I am a mix of two starkly different races and I do the same thing.
I am sure I only noticed it this time cause going from Season 3 Episode 6 to Season 3 Episode 7 is such a huge skip it's very noticeable.
I love gory horror movies and I even stopped this episode followed by a lengthy ,"What the fuck, man?"
I'm pretty surprised they allowed it on broadcast TV, it's some pretty serious gore. Brutally realistic gore, sure, but dang.
It's cable. They can do whatever they want.
It is apparently not limited to shouting:
https://goo.gl/images/cpZwFn
https://goo.gl/images/SdFPok
https://goo.gl/images/71XND7
But it is only frightening when shouting.
(Linked for possibly huge)
I didn't like the Melba and Miller plots too much, especially the latter veered a bit too much from the hard SF of the rest of the show for my taste.
And do I want the Razorback in my garage.
But overall, holy crap, what a show. Haven't read the books yet, but I can't wait for season 4.