Sci-fi shows don’t always break into the mainstream, but when The Expanse debuted in 2015, it was a huge hit with fans of the original books by James S. A. Corey. So, when Syfy canceled it in 2018, well-known figures like Wil Wheaton, George R. R. Martin, and Patton Oswalt publicly campaigned for Amazon or Netflix to save it. Fans even started fundraising and flew banners to raise awareness. Thankfully, Prime Video stepped in, allowing the show to continue for three more seasons. Even four years after it ended, The Expanse is still considered one of the greatest realistic science fiction shows ever created.
Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby adapted James S.A. Corey’s (Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck) popular novels and short stories into the series The Expanse. The show depicts a future where humans have colonized the solar system, but are still plagued by political intrigue, betrayal, and criminal activity. Frequently compared to Game of Thrones in space, The Expanse benefited from the creators’ strong science fiction background, having previously collaborated on successful projects like Children of Men, Iron Man, and the entertaining space western, Cowboys & Aliens.
What Is ‘The Expanse’ About?
At its heart, The Expanse is a space-based political thriller. The story takes place 200 years in the future and focuses on three groups heading towards conflict: Earth and Luna’s United Nations, the Martian Congressional Republic, and the Outer Planets Alliance, which is spread throughout the asteroid belt and the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. While it involves multiple groups and storylines, The Expanse is surprisingly easy to follow, as all the different plots and characters eventually connect.
What truly sets The Expanse apart is its commitment to realism in both space and science fiction. Forget fantastical elements like lightsabers or instant gravity control. This show embraces ‘hard’ sci-fi, meaning it adheres to the laws of physics. Things like momentum, G-forces, asteroid impacts, and the dangers of radiation are all realistically portrayed – and can have serious consequences. The show’s official description is as follows:
As a huge sci-fi fan, this story immediately grabbed me. It’s set centuries from now, after we’ve colonized the solar system and Mars has become this powerful, independent military force. Basically, Earth and Mars are about to go to war! The story follows a tough detective and a rebellious spaceship captain who team up to find a missing woman. What starts as a simple missing person case quickly turns into a wild chase across the solar system, and they start uncovering a massive conspiracy that could change everything we know about humanity.
What Did Critics and Fans Think of ‘The Expanse’?
From the very beginning, in 2015, fans loved The Expanse. The first season received a nearly perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, and even though some feel the show wasn’t as strong in later seasons, most people still consider it one of the best realistic science fiction shows ever made.
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When The Expanse first came out, critics were cautiously optimistic, giving Season 1 a ‘Fresh’ rating of 79%. But they really loved Season 2, awarding it a score of 95%. The show continued to impress, earning perfect 100% ratings for Seasons 3, 4, and 5, and a strong 96% for its final season. It’s rare for a show to receive consistently high praise across all its seasons, making The Expanse a must-watch on Prime Video.
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2026-02-08 17:03