The Expanse - 3.01: Fight or Flight

[ctg]

Spoiler: S03E01 - Fight or Flight

The episode begins with a spectacular flight through the solar system as they show humans at their best, fighting each other. The war never changes. It's incredible to think all of us spreading from planet to planet and then, bringing all of it to the brink of existence. Humanity should learn from its mistakes, but it never will. Warring is in our blood as much is the exploration.

Strangely, what's happening at the small screen feels so surreal when all out war with the Russians is looming at the media headlines. It's the similar lies and similarly foolish leaders that fuel the conflict, while Rosinata's crew fix the ship in deep space.

I don't really understand how the alien being became so strong in zero-gravity. It's especially scary, because if you compare us to the protomolecule alien, humans are so weak. Without the machines, we are nothing. Without the technology we couldn't even think about living over there. But the protomolecule survives the most hostile encounters, things that would bring the extinction to humans and all the other living beings - as we know them. If aliens made it, who were/are they and what is that damn thing doing in our system?

In a way I've started to think it as an invasion weapon. That someone, something made it and purposely distributed around the galaxy. And I've only made it to half through the book 3, so I know not much more then anyone else who has made it to this point at the season 3.

The episode title mostly relates to the conflict that Bobby and Avasarala are going through at Mao's ship or should I call as a flying palace. Compared to any other vessel we've seen so far it's a thing of beauty. A true marvel that I would personally love to take around our solar system, while sipping pan galactic gargle blasters. If it would come equipped with Martian power armours, that flying palace would be a truly excellent tourist vessel.

I don't know why Avasarala didn't think that at the aftermath. She could commanded Bobby to take somewhere nice and forget about everything. It would have been easier solution then fleeing the missile storm. Why is it that we like to fight against overwhelming odds?

Why don't we just give up but actually admire heroics, like the one Bobby did to give them all a chance to survive? To be honest, the power armour can make anyone a superhero. It is a super technology and most likely one that we are going to need in the future. Not just to make a war, but to do all sorts of things that needs to be done in the deep cold space, where no-one can come to your aid.

As an episode highlight Razorback is the most beautiful thing. Just look at it. That vessel is meant for the speed freaks. I wonder what Jeremy Clarkson would think about it?

Seeing it going towards the unknown made me cry.

 

[Droflet]

And it is.

 

[Cli-Fi]

And it is.

So say we all. Wait...
Donkey Balls, sorry wrong show.

 

[clovis-man]

Spoiler: S03E01 - Fight or Flight

As an episode highlight Razorback is the most beautiful thing. Just look at it. That vessel is meant for the speed freaks. I wonder what Jeremy Clarkson would think about it?

Spoiler

In the book, only two passengers could fit in the little ship. Same rationale in this episode. However, the inside of the pinnace didn't match the Spartan look of the exterior. Could have squeezed a platoon inside. But that's my only quibble. The rest of the episode was well done. And I'm convinced that the portrayal of Bobbie's character by SyFy is spot on.

 

[ctg]

Spoiler

In the book, only two passengers could fit in the little ship. Same rationale in this episode. However, the inside of the pinnace didn't match the Spartan look of the exterior. Could have squeezed a platoon inside.

It might be hard to see it but they made Razorback quite big. The cabin section could have fitted Bobby's armour in it as well. She didn't needed to leave it at the airlock. I had no problem suspending my disbelief with it. I hope we get to see more of it soon.

 

[REBerg]

Spoiler

the protomolecule survives the most hostile encounters, things that would bring the extinction to humans and all the other living beings - as we know them. If aliens made it, who were/are they and what is that damn thing doing in our system?

In a way I've started to think it as an invasion weapon

Spoiler

Damn straight. The Protomolecule: All three factions now have this ultimate weapon, but I haven't seen any evidence that anyone has been able to control it. Nobody seems to think Venus is on track to be the new solar system superpower.
My favorite moment of this episode: Bobbie advising Chrisjen to remove her earrings because the Gs that were about grab them when she lit up Mao's crotchrocket would likely rip her head off.

 

[REBerg]

Spoiler

I found it incredulous that the crew burned all Protomolecule remnants off the ship's exterior, yet failed to thoroughly inspect the hole the creature had put in the deck before patching it up.
Does the blue juice need a human body to develop? If so, I wonder which member of the crew is doomed to become its host.

 

[ctg]

Spoiler

Does the blue juice need a human body to develop?

No. It feeds on radiation and possibly other nasty things. In the case of Venus I think it's feeding itself on the planetary body rather than sun driven radiation as those clouds has to act as some sort of barrier. We don't know if it needs human bodies to do Caliban transformation. Whoever will eventually overhaul Rosinante, they're going to either have a jackpot or the biggest scare of their life.

 

[Gnrevolution]

Spoiler

In the book, only two passengers could fit in the little ship. Same rationale in this episode. However, the inside of the pinnace didn't match the Spartan look of the exterior. Could have squeezed a platoon inside. But that's my only quibble. The rest of the episode was well done. And I'm convinced that the portrayal of Bobbie's character by SyFy is spot on.

Spoiler

Well they probably could have fit more than two into the Pinnace, but there were only two acceleration couches (awesome ones by the way!), so any serious acceleration and they'd be in trouble, no to mention if they start bouncing around the inside of the Pinnace, could end up looking like a blender in space!

Spoiler

Damn straight. The Protomolecule: All three factions now have this ultimate weapon, but I haven't seen any evidence that anyone has been able to control it. Nobody seems to think Venus is on track to be the new solar system superpower.
My favorite moment of this episode: Bobbie advising Chrisjen to remove her earrings because the Gs that were about grab them when she lit up Mao's crotchrocket would likely rip her head off.

Spoiler

I think the Inners are too busy in a shooting war right now, but it will only be a matter of time (and episodes) before the attention switches back to whatever is happening on Venus. It didn't make it clear as to whether the crew of the Arboghast were still alive, I'm assuming not.

Spoiler

I found it incredulous that the crew burned all Protomolecule remnants off the ship's exterior, yet failed to thoroughly inspect the hole the creature had put in the deck before patching it up.
Does the blue juice need a human body to develop? If so, I wonder which member of the crew is doomed to become its host.

Spoiler

It was left a little unclear, I gathered that the remnants of the Protomolecule were not visible from the panel section they had replaced, and that they were interrupted by Naomi and her "Let's all go to Tycho!" moment, so I'm prepared to overlook it. Bet they'll wish they had been more thorough before long though!

As to what the protomolecule feeds on, my understanding is that it feeds off of energy of any sort. Hence when the reactor was taken offline in S2E13 the protomonster immediately started looking for another source and made a beeline for Holden, presumably his bioenergy was the best energy source around...