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The Expanse (2015)

2015 · Drama,Mystery,Sci-Fi · sci-fi-speculative, political-drama

The Expanse poster

The Expanse is a hard sci-fi prestige drama set several centuries in the future, when humanity has colonized the solar system and fractured into three power blocs — Earth, Mars, and the exploited asteroid Belters — on the brink of war. Built on meticulous world-building, rigorous physical realism, and a distributed ensemble of morally complex characters, it rewards patient viewers with one of TV's most credible and politically resonant science fiction universes. Tone sits between gritty noir and epic space opera; it shares DNA with Battlestar Galactica in its seriousness but is distinctly its own thing. The show is the rare case where reviewer consensus holds that quality improves steadily across seasons.

From the reviewers

the world-building richly detailed and always credible, and the patient viewer who doesn't demand everything be explained within the first episodes is rewarded with a thrilling, mysterious tale of adventure and discovery
the writing manages the astounding feat to elegantly lead us through a very complex world and complicated story without ever feeling forced or weighed down by expository dialogue
The architecture is spectacular and importantly grounded. Not the fantasy (apologies to fans) that is served up in Star Wars but a grounded realism that hooks one to the possibility.
The special effects are top notch with some incredible gorgeous shots, and an incredible attention to detail. That shows in how smartly they use real physics in a way that is almost a character and plot in itself.
Thomas Jane, who simply nails it in a way that makes Miller one of the most compelling and charismatic characters in TV in a long time.

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