Naomi was super annoying in this episode...it’s like writer of her lines thought he/she was gods gift to the universe & wanted to preach through Naomi’s lines/scenes.
Previous episodes made me think there was a clear-cut definition of who the "bad guy" is, which kinda disappointed me as I expected The Expanse to have more nuanced characters. This episode proves my suspicion was wrong - and The Expanse is still The Expanse.
It's a little bit harder to pinpoint Murtry as the bad guy here, as he seems only want to maintain order - and exacting revenge while at that - though in a rather megalomaniacal, self-centered way. "Now you know," he said to Holden, "This is the shit I have to deal with," sounds exactly just like authoritarian personalities when they rationalize their doing. On the other hand, the other party is not completely innocent at all, since here we are reminded of the O.P.A. strain that holds nothing but contempt to Earthers by their ploy to damage the RCEA. Even as far as to new solar system, they can't get out of their old political squabbles - "playing their old games".
The scene with Lucia's husband depict this best. Whereas Lucia insisted her husband to fight, to be someone strong in her place, he angrily retorted, "am I not strong enough, because I don't want to bring killing to this planet?" The husband reminds me of the scene from earlier season with Maneo Jung-Espinoza - whereas others would fight for their pride, identity, and live for future generations, the ordinary men just survive to live for today.
And identity is the focus of this episode. Belters think once they got taken away, they wouldn't be able to return. It's a result of years of oppression - they became paranoid because that's what the Inner always did in the past. Earthers, meanwhile, thinks that they're some universe-wide police which can regulate what can and can't people do. They're not merely arguing over some territory on the planet for the resource. They're arguing about who can claim the identity planet. A planet to call home.
All that under the backdrop of political campaigning back home, where politicians argue about colonization. Which makes the situation on Ilus actually more delicate - the majority of marginalized Earthers themselves are in crisis, but intergenerational suffering by Belters render the same marginals invisible in their eyes. Which made me recall a great review on Parasite: "the marginalized can look very heartless, even to each other. They don't have enough privilege to blur such social cannibalism with sweetener or perfume."
The episode benefits from its focus to Ilus and Earth's arc; relying only to subtle connection to other subplots they have developed in earlier episodes: the deal with Marcos Inaros (which I suspect will be connected to Bobbie's arc as well).
The action on the planet was good. The political campaigning back home? Not so much.
A slow episode but given the plot of the novel things will pick up pretty quickly.
This fight for Ilus doesn't make sense.
It's an entire planet but they are killing each other over less than an acre for fucks sake.
One side take the western hemisphere and the other side take the eastern hemisphere.
I still can't get over the fact that Avaserala's code name is Archangel. That's so badass.
The writing on this show has gotten so incompetent I wonder if its even the same show anymore. IDK what Amazon did to it, but it would have been better off with how it ended on the third season. What a dumpster fire
She tries to commit suicide even though her daughter is still out there and she had one argument with her husband? Maybe because she thought her daughter was dead (unconfirmed) and was feeling guilt about what she did and her possible impending prison sentence, but i don't buy it enough.
Why are they trying to control the belters, they don't want to leave, just pack up and go, then no deaths and everyone is happy enough. Trying to force them to leave may lead to deaths and resentment. At least Naomi seems to recognize this.
I like Murtry trying to get more on Holden's side this episode. I'm getting interested in the earth debate storyline, and even a little in the Ilos storyline about what's going to happen next.
Why did they lengthen the series? This season is absurd, and Naomi is insufferable
Naomi's "speech" to Elvi was so emotional. I really liked that, especially the last part where she said that there's a path from Elvi's current life to the happy life that Naomi is living now and that she found a new family.
The nuke-like explosion at the end seemed concerning though.
"We've given you more time, it's up to you to decide what to do with him." Despair makes you do dishonorable things
Ending music theme kinda reminded me of The Dark Knight theme
Shout by Sunny SenpaiBlockedParentSpoilers2019-12-13T18:21:38Z
Alex stopped the bleeding as if he was gunning down asteroids with the Roci lol