The Expanse Season 1 Episode 7 Miller’s arc this week found him deciding what to do now that he’s been cut loose from Star Helix, and his choice to keep going, although not surprising, is difficult to take in given the audience’s incomplete picture of Julie Mao. Miller’s infatuation, if that’s what it is, is starting to look as pathetic as perhaps Tavi Muss thinks it is. Dawes thinks Miller has been freed from servitude to Earth’s security force, and perhaps Miller’s journey to Eros following a thin lead will transform the now ex-cop into a more interesting crusader rather than an obsessed puzzle solver. Chrisjen’s investigation into the real Jim Holden reinforces the audience’s view that the deputy secretary truly understands that everything in this escalating conflict isn’t as it seems. Her willingness to travel to Montana, where a militia-style system of landowners defend their insular existence with force, proves she’s willing to put herself into danger to learn the truth about why Holden leaves destruction in his wake. Her spy becomes a much more interesting character as a result. His part in helping the Rocinante avoid confrontation with the MCRN was impressive even though it didn’t win him much trust, which is probably for the best. More revealing was Amos’ interaction with the spy in the airlock as well as his casual disregard for Holden’s misgivings about shooting any Martian boarders. Holden’s moral code and Amos’ almost psychotic self-preservation are bound to cause some interesting problems in the future. Naomi and Alex working to get the necessary code words to call off the Mars Navy was the most enjoyable part of the episode, especially the comic relief coming from Alex’s reactions both to the stress of the situation and the eventual victory. Naomi’s MacGyver-like skill has begun to draw the attention of her crewmates, and it continues to be one of the main reasons why the engineer steals the show each week. For more speculation and discussion of The Expanse, check out Den of Geek’s new podcast, Sci Fi Fidelity! The inaugural episode contains discussion of this great show (27:08) as well as an interview with Naomi Nagata herself, Dominique Tipper (47:54). Check it out below and subscribe on SoundCloud, Stitcher, iTunes, or TuneIn.
