The Expanse Season 4 Is Better (Thanks To Amazon Prime)
The Expanse is better off on Amazon Prime after the streaming service saved it from cancellation ahead of season 4. Already boasting a strong following thanks to the popular original series of novels, The Expanse TV adaptation built a loyal, passionate fan base through its first 3 seasons of space exploration and Protomolecule mischief, but that core audience evidently wasn't as sizable as what the Syfy network had in mind, and The Expanse was duly cancelled.
Huge backlash followed, along with a hefty social media campaign requesting that The Expanse be brought back in some capacity, and it was Amazon who seized the opportunity first, saving the modern science fiction series from an abrupt, inconclusive ending and renewing it for a further 2 seasons. With the highly anticipated fourth season of The Expanse now available for streaming, it's clear that the change of home hasn't had a detrimental impact on the show. There's certainly no Amazon-branded drones dropping discount furniture to the Rocinante on next-day delivery.
The Expanse season 4 largely deals with the fallout of the Ring Gate opening seen at the end of season 3, touching upon the chaos this paradigm shift causes for the Sol system. The bulk of the action, however, takes place on Ilus, otherwise known as New Terra, an Earth like planet beyond the gates where Belters have laid their hats. With such a massive opportunity staring Inners and Belters in the face, it's hardly surprising that the fragile new peace between each faction comes under threat. And the Ring Gates aren't the only huge change in the world of The Expanse - the series is also far better for traversing to Amazon Prime.
The Expanse showrunner, Naren Shankar, has previously detailed in interviews the added freedom that came with the Amazon deal, revealing lifted restrictions on swearing, nudity, episode length and violence, and while The Expanse certainly hasn't turned into an R-rated gore-fest between seasons, those expanded boundaries are put to fantastic use. More frequent dropping of previously banned language punctuates emotional scenes in a way that feels real and raw, adding more fire to conflicts between characters. Tasteful use of sex scenes adds to the human relationships of the Rocinante crew and those around them, creating new layers to their personalities. Meanwhile, each episode takes advantage of a more natural flow, inviting the audience back for more without necessarily always leaving them on a cliffhanger.
Essentially, The Expanse no longer feels like regular cable television and for a story that has consistently attempted to exist on the more realistic edge of the science fiction genre, being allowed to now show the harsher realities of life is a huge bonus. Perhaps of more benefit is the complete lack of filler in The Expanse season 4. In truth, this has never been a series known for its extra padding, but more so than previously, every scene in The Expanse season 4 adds something vital to the plot, never taking detours or dwelling on the unnecessary.
Undoubtedly the most immediate and obvious improvement to The Expanse in season 4 is its visuals, both in terms of the cinematography and the special effects. The Expanse has always been a visually impressive property, and has excelled in building a scientifically believable futuristic world through reality-based set design, props that feel futuristic while still being recognizable to a modern audience and largely convincing effects. Nevertheless, it would perhaps be fair to say that The Expanse's CG hasn't always been as slick as the likes of Star Trek: Discovery over on CBS. The space scenes in particular could be inconsistent in past seasons, with some of the dogfights looking stunning and other moments looking a little rudimentary in comparison.
That kink has been ironed out in The Expanse season 4, with a noticeable upturn in the sheen and style of each shot. Every scene set in space now ranks alongside television's best, but even more impressive is the depiction of Ilus. From beautiful aerial shots of alien landscapes to the mind-blowing tsunami sequence that crashes upon the Belter camp in episode 6, The Expanse looks better than ever. Production values feel bumped up, the direction is more artistic and, most importantly, the illusion of the brand new planet of New Terra is utterly believable.
The first two seasons of The Expanse offered a fairly slow-build narrative. Many questions were posed regarding the Earth and Mars alliance, the Protomolecule and Jules-Pierre Mao, and information was provided at a steady but gradual pace. Those early seasons took the time to properly explore each facet of The Expanse's world, from its deeply flawed cast to the politics of 24th century Earth. These topics might not have always delivered gung-ho, alien-shooting action, but they did help build the human heart of The Expanse that has resonated so strongly with viewers. This approach was altered significantly in The Expanse season 3.
Whether under pressure due to flagging ratings or because cancellation was half-expected, The Expanse's last season on Syfy rockets through its material in comparison to past efforts, utilizing several time skips in order to fast-forward to key events. The audience also get answers to The Expanse's mysteries in rapid succession thanks to a string of major occurrences. The Protomolecule reveals its intention, the entire Mao storyline is put to bed, the war between Earth and Mars comes to an end and Errinwright's treachery is finally outed. Where seasons 1 and 2 were gradual in their approach, leading to a bigger pay off when big moments did transpire, season 3 was a rapid-fire, no-holds barred sprint to the finish.
Thankfully, The Expanse season 4 resumes the show's natural state. The first 5 episodes are largely dedicated to exploring the bubbling resentment on Ilus, slowly generating a powder keg of anger that the audience know will inevitably explode at the least convenient moment. Key Protomolecule events are dropped more sparingly, making each one feel more significant, and plenty of scenes are spent simply delving deeper into the personalities of the Rocinante crew.
There is a world of difference between a TV series designed for weekly episodes and one made with the intention of being viewed in larger chunks, or binged as a whole. During The Expanse's former life on Syfy, the show would be later streamed on Netflix, an arrangement made prior to Amazon's involvement. Watching The Expanse's early seasons in one big hit was arguably a far more rewarding experience, especially for new viewers. Part of The Expanse's appeal is its rich and detailed world, but the sheer amount of stations, ships factions and political leaders can be dense to navigate, especially for new viewers. Even worse, extended gaps between seasons meant that a refresher session was mandatory before picking the show back up if all of the nuances were to be understood.
Now on Amazon Prime, The Expanse season 4 isn't only able to be streamed from the off, but has been written and filmed with that very format in mind, meaning viewers will enjoy an even greater experience when settling in for a marathon session. For those who used to watch week-on-week, the new format will mean less time is spent trying to recall which factions hate who and which side owns what spaceship and more can be dedicated to simply immersing oneself into the story. Perhaps more important, The Expanse's slow burn approach lends itself far better to binge-watching than it does regular TV where each installment is expected to hit a certain level of viewership.
The Expanse season 4 is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.