Thread by @haruspis

I have to do a bit of a 1am brain dump on #TheExpanse because that finale just... consolidated the whole thematic premise of the show.

#TheExpanse is a show that is often simplistically referred to as "Game of Thrones in space," which is a comparison that I rather hate because where GoT wallows in its grit beyond the point of self-parody, The Expanse posits something 'event television' like GoT just doesn't get:

Idealism and grit are not incompatible.

#TheExpanse is a political and violent show, it's got a lot of gruesome stuff in it because it aspires to be a viscerally realistic portrayal of its setting... but that violence is offset by the overarching point it's trying to make.

That point is that people who are set against each other (due to their agendas and complex shades of morality) CAN learn to work together and get past their knee-jerk prejudices.

No matter how futile that fight seems, it's one worth fighting.

And it CAN have a happy ending.

This began with the core group of characters: Holden and Amos (Earth), Naomi (the Belt), and Alex (Mars).

Over the course of the show, this theme has expanded across the factions and now includes what we've thought of as the main antagonist - the protomolecule itself.

#TheExpanse ultimately ends up having more in-common with the likes of Star Trek and Doctor Who as it offsets the darkness and grit with something genuinely ASPIRATIONAL, beyond being a Game of 'Who can kill a bunch of people in a Badass™ way with the most deadpan expression?'

#TheExpanse embraces the messiness and complexity of human politics and communication, but has something to actually say about it rather than "Here's another pointless short-term revenge arc."

If this were "GoT in space," Melba's story would've ended predictably differently.

All of this comes gift wrapped in one of the most diverse shows on tv, with an incredible cast, gorgeous visuals and cinematography, some of the best damn space battles ever, great music - just an overall confluence of quality that is so rare to see in 'event television.'

So, y'know, please watch #TheExpanse because it's amazing, and join me - and all our brothers and sisters and variations thereupon throughout the system - as we begin the long-ass wait for season 4.