The Expanse Podcast - Tales From The Rocinante

Welcome to The Expanse Podcast – Tales From The Rocinante. I’m Mark Des Cotes, host of the podcast and I hope you join me each week as I discuss my thoughts and theories on this amazing show.

This episode of the podcast is comprised of my thirteen episode recaps from season 2. I thought it would be an easy way for you to refresh yourself on what happened last season if you don’t have a chance to watch all thirteen episodes again.

The Expanse Podcast is a spoiler-free podcast. I have read the books the series is based upon, listened actually since I prefer audiobooks, but unlike some of the other podcasts, I do not spoil anything from the books for those who haven’t read them yet or for those who simply want to enjoy the TV show for what it is. Whenever I feel strongly about something book related I save it for the end of the podcast once all the TV Talk is over and I give you ample warning to turn off the podcast before diving in with my fellow readers.

I encourage listener feedback for the podcast. I want to hear your thought and theories. If you are not sure what to submit I make it easy for you by putting out a short Double Take episode soon after each week’s TV airing. The Double Take episodes contain my brief impression after my first viewing but most importantly, I share three questions about the episode I want to hear your thoughts on. You can submit your feed by calling 1-805-910-7656. You can email me an audio file at [email protected].  Or you can leave a voicemail directly on the website by clicking the “Send Voicemail” tab on the right-hand side of the site. I can’t wait to hear from you.

This episode Timestamps

[0:00] Intro

Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.

You can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook

This episode Timestamps

[3:37] News

I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or [email protected]

This week we finish season 2 of The Expanse with the episode titled “Caliban’s War”.

In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.

If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.

Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible

The University of Toronto holds Modle UN “Crisis Conference!” based on The Expanse.

Science and Tech in The Expanse

Adam Savage gets 3D scanned for The Expanse.

The episode opens with the standoff on Jules-Pierre Mao’s ship. Neither side willing to stand down.

Bobbie finds a way out for them but Cotyar is shot and too hurt to make the climb. He tells Bobbie that they brought her power armour with them. If she can get to the skiff she can save them so the marine heads off.

She encounters some resistance along the way but manages to make her way to where their skiff is docked. One of Mao’s men stands between her and her armour but she convinces him that dying for Mao isn’t what he wants to do. He agrees and steps aside.

After exchanging fire, Mao’s men ask Cotyar to negotiate. Avasarala coaches him what to say but the conversation is going nowhere. Then Mao’s men offer safe passage to Cotyar if he hands over the Under-Secretary.

Avasarala thinks he’s going to give in to them but he tells her he’s doing what he’s doing because he owes it to her son to keep his mother safe.

Wanting to keep Cotyar safe Chrisjen surrenders to Mao’s men, who receive orders to kill her.

Before they can follow through, Bobbie, dressed in full power armour arrives and takes them out.

——

After making arrangements for the Somnambulist, Naomi and Amos are back on board the Rocinante.

While evaluating the damage sustained by the missile explosion they discover they have a stowaway on board. The monster from Ganymede is in their cargo bay.

Prax is still convinced he can talk to the creature but Holden won’t hear it. Their only course of action is to destroy the monster.

Holden and Amos enter the cargo bay intending to shoot it. They watch as the creature digs out and discards a failsafe device that was implanted in its chest. Not taking any chances they open fire spraying the monster with bullets but they have little effect on it.

In retaliation, the monster rips a magnetic cargo container off the floor and throws it at them hitting Holden and pinning him to the wall.

Amos tries to help his captain but his suit is loosing air so Holden orders him to leave.

The rest of the crew are arguing what to do. Prax still wants to try communicating with the creature but the rest just want it destroyed. Holden calls their attention to the monster’s actions. It’s ignoring Holden and trying to dig its way through a bulkhead.

They realize that it’s looking for food and trying to dig its way to their reactor. If it succeeds they’re all dead.

Every solution they come up with to destroy the creature would also be fatal to Holden.

Amos comes up with the idea to pressurize the compartments around the cargo bay and then blow the hatch. The result will be like a balloon deflating, blowing the creature off the ship. Holden will probably be torn apart if they try but he orders them to get started anyway.

Time is tight so Alex shuts down their drive figuring if it’s off it won’t be as attractive to the creature. It works, but with its food source off it turns it’s attention back on Holden so Alex starts the drive up again.

Figuring he’s a goner, Holden opens up to Naomi but she refuses to see the inevitable.

On his way to help Amos, Prax being the botanist he notices the plants growing on the Roci and comes up with a new plan. Just like the way plants search for water. If they give the creature an easier food source to reach it may leave the reactor alone.

Using one of their nuclear warheads as bait. Naomi and Prax take it outside the Rocinante to attract the creature. It works, sensing an easier meal, the Monster exits the cargo hold and chases them down.

After a slight hesitation, Prax tosses the nuclear core into space and the monster jumps for it. Alex immediately fires up the Roci’s drive frying the creature in its wake.

They manage to free Holden who will need some time to heal.

Knowing he’s safe, Naomi doesn’t want to hold any more secrets from Holden and confesses to hiding their Protomolecule sample. She truly believes that since Earth and Mars have their samples, that the Belt should have one as well. Thinking she was about to die on the Somnambulist she sent a message to Fred Johnson telling where to find it.

——

Around Venus, The Aborgast starts descending to the planet to get better readings. Not to be outdone, the Martian ship also descends at a much higher rate than the science ship.

Suddenly, their descent is halted and everything calms down. The Protomolecule invades the ship and then tears it apart seam by seam, bolt by bolt until every single individual part of it is separated from the next. Killing everyone on board.

——

The season ends with Dr. Strickland loading Mei into some kind of sleeping pod and storing her away.

Twitter: @solotalkmedia

Facebook: facebook.com/solotalkmedia

Email: [email protected]

Voice Feedback: 1-805-910-7656

Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.

Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or [email protected]

Deadline to submit your feedback is Monday, April 24 at 9 am Eastern time to submit your feedback.

Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the season 2 finale titled “Caliban’s War”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.

This week’s question are…

1) How did season 2 compare to season 1?

2) What would you like to see in season 3?

3) Has watching both season 1 and 2 made you want to read or re-read the books?

I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at [email protected] or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.

You can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook

This episode Timestamps

[3:28] News

I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or [email protected]

This week we continue season 2 of The Expanse with the episode titled “The Monster And The Rocket”.

In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.

If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.

Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible

The episode opens with Errinwright contemplating his past actions. He has a heart to heart conversation with his son but fails to tell the boy what he really means to say.

Later, before the Eros hearings are about to begin, he’s talking to Avasarala as if he’s already been convicted. She won’t hear any of it and reminds him of all the good he’s done. When she mentions that she’s going to meet with Jules-Pierre Mao he looks hopeful. He begs her to hear the man out and try to convince him that selling the Protomolecule to the Martians in not in Earth’s best interest.

—

Later, Cotyar escorts Bobbie to the jump ship that will take them and Avasarala to Jules-Pierre Mao’s ship. With the marine off the planet, she can’t be used as a bargaining chip by the Martian delegation.

Their ship arrives at the UN-MCR Neutral Zone where it docks with Mao’s ship. They are greeted by Captain Malik but Avasarala forgoes any small talk until Mao arrives.

The mogul offers them an ultimatum. In exchange for freeing his family, he will, in time offer the Protomolecule research to Earth, just like Mars, for the benefit of the system. The fact that he plans on profiting from both sides isn’t lost to him.

—

Back on earth, Errinwright writes a letter to his love, Jodie before a meeting with the head of the Martian delegation.

Errinwright makes nice with his Martian counterpart discussing both their peoples and the conflicts facing both of them and how the Protomolecule could be the solution to their problems. The meeting is proceeding nicely when Korshunov suddenly collapses and dies. Errinwright poisoned him as part of a larger plan.

—

On Jules-Pierre Mao’s ship, he and Avasarala receive a transmission from Errinwright. He informs them that Korshunov is dead and the MCRN Karakum, the ship on it’s way to Ganymede to pick up the Protomolecule has been destroyed by his orders.

He sees Avasarala’s actions as a betrayal of their friendship.

Errinwright gives Mao his own ultimatum. Clean up the mess he made for him, Return to Earth alone and wait for further instructions before getting back to work.

With tensions high on Mao’s ship, guns are drawn as the two sides face off and Mao makes his exit.

—

On the Rocinante, Holden, Alex and Prax are hunting the Protomolecule monster on the surface of Ganymede.

Prax doesn’t understand Holden’s motives and tries to convince him to take a less lethal approach.

They follow the monster into one of the destroyed agro domes. It’s a tight fit and when Alex wants to pull out Holden overrides him. They spot the monster and Holden opens fire but Prax stops him, still thinking it could be a transformed Mei.

They hold up when they intercept a transmission that the MCRN Karakum, a black ops ship that was coming to collect the Protomolecule suddenly blew up.

—–

At the Ganymede loading docks, Melissa is getting ready to evacuate refugees aboard the Somnambulist. She refuses Naomi’s offers to repair the ship before departure but the engineer doesn’t take no for an answer.

With the station’s power failing there’s not much time to get the ship operational and under way.

The refugees are getting restless. There are no other ships for them to seek passage on. When they try to force their way on board Amos and Melissa seal the doors.

To make matters worse, the Ganymede’s air refill stations have been shut down so the Somnambulist has to make due with just the air it has left which is only enough to take 52 of the hundreds of people waiting for passage. If they found out there would surely be a riot.

Naomi is upset at the notion of leaving the refugees behind. Amos concedes that they have no choice. It’s too dangerous to open the doors.

When it comes time to depart. Naomi wants to go talk to the refugees. Amos tries to stop her but she injects him with a paralytic drug and opens the airlock doors.

As expected the crowd panics and tries to rush in. Naomi offers her spot on the ship if the big Belter helps her calm the people down so they can at least save 52 women and children.

The big Belter calms the crowd down and addresses them. He explains the situation and appeals to their Belter pride. 52 people board the ship in an orderly fashion.

When Naomi thanks the big Belter and offers her spot, he turns her down and puts her back on the ship saying she’s not done yet.

As the ship takes off the MCRN forces threaten to destroy the Somnambulist if they don’t return to the docks.

They broadcast that they are a refugee ship and beg them not to fire but their plea falls on deaf ears. The MCRN Valkyrie fires a torpedo at them.

——

Back on the Rocinante, they have the monster in their sights when they hear the MCRN threatening to blow up the Somnambulist.

Holden is reluctant to end their pursuit but Alex makes him come to his senses. Their family needs their help.

They arrive just in time to shoot down the missile aimed at the Somnambulist. Holden orders Alex to target lock every MCRN ship in range and then opens a channel.

He orders the Martian navy to stand down as they escort the refugees away from Ganymede. If any of them shoots he threatens to unleash all their firepower upon them. Even if it means they all die.

The Martians comply. As they clear the area we see that the Rocinante’s airlock has been torn open and a blue glowing monster is hiding on board.

Twitter: @solotalkmedia

Facebook: facebook.com/solotalkmedia

Email: [email protected]

Voice Feedback: 1-805-910-7656

Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.

Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or [email protected]

Deadline to submit your feedback is Friday at 2pm Eastern time to submit your feedback.

Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the twelfth episode of season 2 titled “The Monster And The Rocket”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.

This week’s question are…

1) What is Errinwright up to?

2) What will it take for Prax to understand?

3) How will Amos react?

I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at [email protected] or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.

You can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook

This episode Timestamps

[1:54] News

I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or [email protected]

This week we continue season 2 of The Expanse with the episode titled “Here There Be Dragons”.

In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.

Let’s Do The Science

Loosing Science In Drama

The Scientist who keeps science fiction real

A planet of their own? Mormons’ spaceship finally comes in – on TV

If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.

Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible

The episode opens with a flashback on Ganymede Station before the mirrors fell. Dr. Strickland and an accomplice escort May to an isolated part of the station.

They make it to their destination right as the orbital battle begins.

Strickland straps Mei down along side other children in order to include her in the experiment he’s performing on the other kids.

—–

Back in present day. Holden and crew are following the same path that Strickland and Mei took. They venture into the old part of the station where nobody lives anymore.

Naomi tries to prepare Prax for what they might find ahead but he blurts out that she has no idea what he’s going through. To his surprise, she tells him she does understand. Her son was taken from her and she tried very hard to get him back but she failed. It took her a long time to accept that it wasn’t her fault.

They find a clue showing they’re on the right track to find Mei and make their way to a room where a group of scientists and their security force are eating a meal. One of the guards flinches and a firefight breaks out. During the chaos, the scientists escape out a back door and Amos takes a bullet.

In a side room, Prax discovers the body of a young child infected with the Protomolecule. Not taking any chances, Holden incinerates the body to prevent another Eros incident.

The back door to the room they’re in opens and a grenade is tossed in. A quick thinking Amos grabs it up and tosses it back through the door where it explodes. In the aftermaths of the explosion, they hear a large commotion including screaming and gunfire and the brief sound of an alarm before it shuts off.

When everything settles down the team goes in to investigate. Everyone is dead. They find some kind of cell. Whatever was inside it obviously broke out. The alarm they heard was caused when something tore right through the outer airlock door.

One of the scientists isn’t dead but is barely holding on. Before she dies she tells them they succeeded in making the Protomolecule into their image and there’s a lot more where it came from.

—

Meanwhile, aboard the Rocinante Alex is trying to figure out how he’s going to circumvent the no-fly zone to get his people. He intercepts an MCRN communication clearing a landing path down to a remote section of Ganymede. He figures it’s a black ops mission and decides to get down there before the Mars ship does.

After doing some calculations Alex decides to use a slingshot manoeuvre in a gravity assisted path to Ganymede. He has a close call and is almost discovered by an MCRN ship but he makes it to the surface unobserved.

He finds his team just in the nick of time to rescue them. Before leaving, Naomi informs Holden that she’s staying behind to help the people of Ganymede. He’s reluctant to let her go but does give in and asks Amos to go with her.

Alex calls their attention to someone or something walking on the surface of Ganymede without a vac suit. Holden orders Prax to suit up, they’re going hunting.

——–

On Earth, Errinwright has a way to get to Jules-Pierre Mao. He suggests putting pressure on his family and then using the man’s kids to plead with him to talk.

Avasarala informs Errinwright that because of his connections with Jules-Pierre Mao the U.N. Security Council plans on targeting him during their investigation into the Eros incident. He’s not surprised. She tells him to come clean and atone for his sins.

—

Meanwhile, Bobbie is reprimanded by Sgt. Martens for her recent escapades. She tries to get the truth out of him about Ganymede but he won’t comply. Instead, he tells her that she’s a disgrace to her uniform and that when she gets back to Mars she will not be a soldier anymore.

When the time comes to depart they are informed that due to an OPA threat their shuttle has been postponed until further notice.

Later, Bobbie requests an audience with Martens. She presses him again for the truth but when he refuses to answer she assaults him. To stop the beating he gives in and shows her Project Caliban.

Knowing the truth and feeling betrayed, Bobbie makes a run for U.N. zone outside the Martian Embassy and seeks political asylum on Earth.

—

Bobbie later informs Avasarala that she was correct about the monster. It was a weapons test for something Mars badly wants to acquire. She provides the U.N. with the data she took from Martens for them to study.

After Bobbie leaves, Avasarala receives a message from Jules-Pierre Mao asking her to meet him. He wants to explain his side to her in the hopes they can come to an accommodation. Cotyar tells her it’s a trap and she shouldn’t go but it’s too late, she already accepted Mao’s invitation.

——

In orbit above Venus, the U.N.S. Arboghast tries to launch probes to investigate the Eros crash site but the atmosphere is so corrosive that the probes are destroyed before they can send back any data.

They decide to cannibalise one of their two remaining probes to reinforce the last one in the hopes it wakes the surface.

Their plan succeeds and the probe makes it to the surface. It only survives for a few seconds, but it’s enough time to send back a strange image of a blue glowing crystalline structure growing on the surface.

Twitter: @solotalkmedia

Facebook: facebook.com/solotalkmedia

Email: [email protected]

Voice Feedback: 1-805-910-7656

Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.

Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or [email protected]

Deadline to submit your feedback is Friday at 2pm Eastern time to submit your feedback.

Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the eleventh episode of season 2 titled “Here There Be Dragons”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.

This week’s question are…

1) What is Mei’s fate?

2) Is Jules-Pierre Mao’s invitation a trap?

3) What will happen to Bobbie now?

Bonus) Naomi has a son! Thoughts?

I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at [email protected] or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.

You can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook

This episode Timestamps

[0:50] News

I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or [email protected]

This week we continue season 2 of The Expanse with the episode titled “Cascade”.

In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.

Sci-Fi Show ‘The Expanse’ Preps Us For The Future

Why Is Earth’s Unemployment Rate So High On ‘The Expanse’?

Why Are There So Many Mormons On ‘The Expanse’?

Why Can’t The People Of Mars Handle Earth’s Atmosphere On ‘The Expanse’?

Only You Can Stop The Expanse From Becoming the Next Canceled Sci-Fi Classic

If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.

Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible

The episode opens on Ganymede. While Alex is passing away the time aboard the Rocinante, Holden and crew start looking for Doctor Strickland and Mae, Prax’s daughter. The botanist is questioning his decision of following the group in the aftermath of the shootout on the Weeping Somnambulist but he sticks with them.

There’s a gleam of hope in that Mae and Strickland are not listed amongst the dead or missing on Ganymede. They track down some of Strickland’s co-workers from the paediatric clinic to ask for his whereabouts but nobody seems to know where he is.

Holden and Naomi are questioning whether or not the events on Ganymede are linked to the Protomolecule. So far there’s no evidence to say they are.

Prax recognizes someone he knows. A friend who’s missing son Katoa is suffering from the same disorder Mae has. The man directs them to Roma, a man with eyes and ears all over Ganymede and their best chance of finding the missing children.

On their way to see Roma they notice how dire the situation is on the station. With a lack of food, people have taken to eating the plants intended for air purifications even though they have no nutritional value.

They find Roma, the belter wants to extort them for his own gains. He doesn’t care about finding a sick girl but he’ll do it in exchange for food, particularly chicken. No chicken, no girl.

Amos snaps and attacks Roma. Prax pleads with the big man to stop. Roma can’t help them find Mae if Amos bashes his head in. Terrified, Roma agrees to help them.

Amos tries to justify his actions to Prax by telling him about bullies where he came from and what they did to children.

Prax in turn, confesses that a small part of him was relieved when he thought Mae was dead. Because of her genetic disorder, he feels helpless in caring for her.

The botanist goes for a walk and discovers that Ganymede is dying. He explains to Amos that in any artificial ecosystem there are only so many pathways to compensate when something goes wrong. As they become over stressed and begin to fail there are fewer and fewer pathways to take over. He calls it the cascade. It’s already begun on Ganymede. The station is already dead, they just don’t know it yet.

Roma manages to track down Mae and Stickland to an old part of the station that doesn’t have camera feeds. None of them knows what’s down there but it’s where they need to go to find the girl.

——

On Earth, the U.N. delegation has deemed Bobbie Draper’s testimony as a lie but they see no point in questioning her again since she was just following orders. The Mars delegation just wants to get things over with and leave the planet.

Afterwards, Errinwright reviews the report on Bobbie Draper’s armour. By all accounts, the suit corroborates the story put forth by the Martians. Unsatisfied, he orders the analysis team to go over the armour again looking for any biological agents that shouldn’t be on Ganymede.

—

Later Errinwright confesses to Avasarala his involvement with Jules-Pierre Mao but she already knew. He’s had no recent contact with the man but he was aware of Mao’s weapon’s research. It all started out as a quest for peace but had he known what the protomolecule was capable of he would have put a stop to it and Jules-Pierre Mao.

He realizes his career is over but he wants to help put and end to it all before what happed on Ganymede spreads and becomes unstoppable.

Later when questioned by Cotyar as to why she hasn’t turned Errinwright in she says the man is more useful to her where he is, for now.

—

In her quarters, Bobbie get’s reprimanded by Sgt. Martens and starts questioning if what she saw on Ganymede was real or not. She wants to see the ocean before she heads back to Mars but Martens informs her she’s under restrictions and will be shipped out the day after tomorrow.

Left on her own, Bobbie manages to disengage the glass pane from the window and escapes from her quarters.

Earth isn’t what she thought it was. As she makes her way towards the ocean she sees the poverty the citizens are forced to live in.

She encounters an Earther who recognizes her as a Martian. In exchange for her bone density drugs, he’ll direct her to the ocean. He tells her how he put his name on the vocational training list to become a doctor when he was 17 years old. He’s 52 now and he’s still waiting for his slot. In the meantime, they do what they do to survive.

Bobbie makes her way to the ocean and steps in it fulfilling a lifelong dream.

——–

When Cotyar informs Avasarala about Bobbie’s disappearance they make a point to find her before the Mars embassy does.

They track her down to the ocean’s edge.

Avasarala shows Bobbie proof that what she saw on Ganymede was real. It was a new type of weapon being tested by Mars.

Bobbie is upset at the thought and doesn’t believe the woman.

Avasarala presses saying she needs Bobbie’s help if she’s going to get to the bottom of what’s really going on and who is doing it. They can’t afford to be enemies anymore.

Before Bobbie can respond. Avasarala and Cotyar are forced to leave before the Martians arrive for Bobbie.

Twitter: @solotalkmedia

Facebook: facebook.com/solotalkmedia

Email: [email protected]

Voice Feedback: 1-805-910-7656

Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.

Send me your feedback 1-805-910-7656 or [email protected]

Deadline to submit your feedback is Friday at 2pm Eastern time to submit your feedback.

Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. This is where I give you my first impressions right after seeing the tenth episode of season 2 titled “Cascade”. I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.

This week’s question are…

1) Will Avasarala eventually expose Errinwright?

2) Is someone deliberately killing Ganymede?

3) Will Bobbie believe Avasarala?

I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to this podcast and encourage you to join the discussion by sending in your feedback by calling +1-805-910-7656 or by e-mailing me at [email protected] or visiting the website at solotalkmedia.com. If you are enjoying this podcast please consider leaving me a review in iTunes.

You can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook

This episode Timestamps

[4:36] News

I want to hear from you! Send me your feedback at 1-805-910-7656 or [email protected]

This week we continue season 2 of The Expanse with the episode titled “The Weeping Somnambulist “.

In this week’s podcast after sharing some news from The Expanse, I talk about the most recent episode. I end the podcast with some great listener feedback.

“The Expanse” Actress Shohreh Aghdashloo Is On A Mission

The Mouldy Filters – Songs

Screencaps from Fred showing Drummer and Fred interaction in S2E08

If you would like to read The Expanse book series or order season 1 on DVD or Blue-ray you can purchase them via Amazon. USA or Canada.

Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible

The episode starts with the Weeping Somnabulist, a relief ship on route to Ganymede, being boarded by Mars inspectors who turn out to be Holden and Amos.

Later on board the Roci, Praxidike tries to send a condolence message to Dorris’ family back on Mars but his transmission is blocked. He’s told he’s not a prisoner so he demands to know what is going on. Amos obliges and tells him about the Protomolecule and their mission.

The commandeer the ship to take them to Ganymede. The Rocinante, being of Mars origin would cause too much commotion if they tried to approach with it. The plan is for Alex to hide behind a nearby moon in case they need a quick getaway. If it comes to that he will rendezvous with them at one of Ganymede’s surface airlocks.

The crew of the Somnbulist are sceptical of the Roci’s crew’s intentions but have no choice but to go along.

During their mission briefing, Holden is upset that Amos told Prax about the Protomolecule but there’s nothing he can do now so they bring the man in.

Prax informs them that Strickland was treating his daughter for a very rare genetic disorder. Without his help, Mae would be dead. However, they still can’t figure out the connection between the girl and the Protomolecule.

—

The Somnabulist lands on Ganymede. The crew tells Holden and gang that once they land they will be boarded by “inspectors” who will take 10% of their cargo. It’s just the way things work. Holden, Amos, Naomi and Prax debark but Holden and Amos notice some thugs boarding the Somnabulist and go back.

The thugs are demanding all the cargo and the ship, not the normal 10%. Holden and Amos heard enough and come in firing. They eliminate the threat but in the process, one of the Somnabulist crew is shot and killed. They offer to help but Melissa, the survivor screams at them to get off her ship.

———

On Earth, an MCRN drop ship containing the Mars delegation for the peace talks lands. Through flashbacks we see Sargent Martens preparing Bobbie for her visit to Earth. The Martians are visibly weekend by their visit to the planet.

With forced niceties out of the way, the proceedings get underway.

Marine Gunnery Sargent Roberta Draper is brought in to recount what happened on the ground. She recounts the events telling everyone that her squad mistook a training exercise as and act of engagement and opened fire first. Placing the blame on Mars.

The Mars delegation offers Private Travis, and Earth-born, Martian Marine as the one who opened fire. They think he was trying to prove his loyalty to Mars by taking out some Earthers. Mars is willing to take the blame and discuss reparations in order to get Ganymede back up and running as soon as possible. During the briefing, Avasarala takes an interest in Bobbie.

—

Back in her room Bobbi is outraged. She was blindsided with the information about Private Travis which she knows is false but Sgt. Martens informs her it was for the good of Mars.

—

Elsewhere, Avasarala and Errinwright discuss the convenient blame placed on an Earth-born Martian.

—

Back at the talks, things are wrapping up when Avasarala demands to talk with Sgt. Draper one more time.

Bobbie is brought in. Avasarala warms her up a bit with some small talk before bombarding her with quick questions to entice a response. Bobbie let’s slip that there was an enemy attacker not wearing a vac-suite. When things calm down and she’s asked to clarify, Bobbie sticks to the original story that Travis opened fire first.

———-

Elsewhere, Errinwright updates Avasarala on the progress of the Arboghast, the research ship they sent to Venus. He tells her that nothing important has been found. When asked to be kept in the loop he tells her her focus would be better spent on other matters. Luckily she has and inside man to keep her informed.

After Errinwright departs, Cotyar informs Avasarala that he’s found no indication that the under-secretary has had any communications with Jules Pierre-Mao.

——–

On board the Arboghast, Dr. Iturbi and Colonel Janus are at odds, both thinking the other will interfere with their mission.

On their approach to Venus, they discover a MCRN ship waiting for them. The ship doesn’t respond to any hails. Colonel Janus broadcasts on all frequencies that they are an unarmed scientific research ship and any acts of aggression against them will be considered an act of war.

The Martians and not interfering but they are matching every move the Arboghast makes.

While examining the planet they discover the Eros impact crater and signs of life where none should be possible.

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