The Expanse S05E02 continues the new season of this scifi space opera drama streaming TV series. The opening episode revealed that the Rocinante was undergoing repairs and thus its crew was undertaking a valuable furlough to take care of unfinished business. The Expanse S05E02 picks up on some of these plot treads but not all of them.
Fan-favourites Camina Drummer (Cara Gee) and Chrisjen Avasarala (Shohreh Aghdashloo) play crucial roles – though separately – in addressing the underlying plot of Season 5 – OPA rogue operative Marco Inaros’ (Keon Alexander) diabolical scheme to attack Earth with long-ranging asteroids.
Drummer is now commanding the ship Medina Station which acts as the hub between all the Ring network gates, while investigating Inaros’ grand plan. Avasarala is working with ex-Martian Marine Bobby Draper to also investigate the purchase of various deadly weapons from Mars by Inaros. Something is obviously afoot and once more, the story is setting up this ominous event perfectly.
Over at Tycho, Jim Holden (Steven Strait) has been approached by journalist film-maker Monica Stuart (Anna Watkins) regarding a rumour that someone is planning to steal the protomolecule from the OPA. Before a skeptical Holden can find out more, Stuart is kidnapped and he has to find her.
On Earth, Amos Burton (Wes Chatham) returns to Baltimore to check on his estranged mother and needs to take action to close that chapter of his life. Again, this plot line provides insight into Burton’s character and background, which helps the audience understand how and why he became the man he is now.
To be honest, The Expanse S05E02 was not an exciting instalment and leaned too much into the same holding pattern expressed in the previous episode. Perhaps the fact that the Rocinante crew is scattered demands separate stories being told and that is somewhat slowing down the overall progress of the plot. Hopefully things pick up in the next episode.
… still there’s more …