This episode Timestamps

[2:56] Episode Recaps
[13:12] Feedback

Azure Dragon

Here is the full discussion episode about The Expanse season 6 episode 2 titled Azure Dragon.

Episode Recap

The episode opens on Laconia, with the little girl, Cara, running to her home with the sick mother bird, asking her mother and father to save it, but it’s too late. The mother bird is dead. Cara is guilt stricken when she is reminded that Laconia has a different chemistry than Earth, and realizes the crumb from her protein bar likely killed the bird. As her parents leave for a required meeting called by “the soldiers,” Cara decides to bury the bird and return the three baby birds to their nest. She returns to the forest, and uses her parents’ drone to successfully return one baby bird to the nest, but then it crashes. Devastated, she begins to dig a grave for the dead bird. The strange purring dog comes up behind her, picks up the dead bird in its mouth and disappears into the forest, as Cara cries out in dismay.
In the Belt, the Rocinante is replenishing its supplies courtesy of a UNN ship. As Jim Holden prepares to disconnect, he is informed that a mission specialist ordered by the Secretary-General will be boarding, and he’s surprised to see Bobbie Draper. Later, Bobbie informs Holden, Naomi, and Amos that their plans to destroy the Azure Dragon have changed, and Avasarala wants them to capture it because she wants its data – and the UN needs a “win” for morale. The Roci crew is not pleased that they will be placed at risk in this mission, and Bobbie is not pleased to learn that Clarissa Mao, a convicted felon, is on the Roci. Holden shows Bobbie the strange footage of the Barkeith entering The Ring, and asks her to obtain information about any Martian ships that might have slipped through.
The Roci crew catches up with the Azure Dragon, but it spots them and rabbits. Bobbie orders Holden not to fire, and as the ships draw aside, she jumps on the Azure and plants a device which shuts down its drive. Naomi prepares to jump but has flashbacks of her space leap to the Chezemoka and freezes, unable to jump and join Bobbie as precious seconds tick by. Clarissa takes the equipment from Naomi’s hand and joins Bobbie, but doesn’t know which wire to disconnect to bypass power and kill the reactor on the Azure. From the Roci, Naomi tells Clarissa which feed line to pull. Amos and Holden are waiting for the shutdown before they breach, and the delay enables two of the Azure’s crew to attack Bobbie and Clarissa, which Bobbie dispatches with her armor. A third man appears and Clarissa activates her mods to kill him, saving Bobbie, but suffering the mod’s effects in the process. Bobbie takes her back to the Roci as Holden and Amos disable the remaining Belter, and Naomi cracks the ship’s encryption from the Roci, but she’s not ready to talk about what happened when she froze. Amos and Holden view the data. It’s the mother load. With the mission over, Holden tells Clarissa that as long as she’s part of the crew, she must do what he says. She smiles – it’s the first time Holden’s called her part of the crew.
Meanwhile, Filip is being held in custody in a Ceres Station cell, when his father, Marco, tells the acting station head, Nico, to release him – this is a Free Navy matter and he will deal with it. Marco tells Filip that Yoan assaulted a superior officer and that Filip killed him to defend himself. Filip is stunned that there are no further consequences, and Marco precedes to berate him, telling him he has become an embarrassment, that Marco and Cyn had partied hard in their youth, but always reported for duty the next day because they didn’t have anyone to bail them out – they only had each other.
Later, Rosenfeld approaches Marco about Filip, and offers a punishment based on her own experience. Marco continues to blame Filip for his problems, beginning when he brought Naomi aboard their ship. Marco claims he loves Filip, and says he needs him – he needs him to be the man he should be, while Rosenfeld reminds him that the war is more important to worry about – rather than Filip. Marco tells her that everyone else is afraid of him, but she’s unfazed. Filip seeks out Rosenfeld to ask for compensation for Yoan’s family, and she tells him that had Yoan lived, he would have been punished and discharged, then she concedes that Filip is being gracious and offers to send them a small tribute. Filip struggles to record a message for Yoan’s family, then his countenance changes and he records a formal message ending with “He died honorably serving Marco Inaros and the Belt.”
In the Belt, Drummer prepares to dock the Tynan with the ship, Inazami, captained by former smuggler and thief, Liang Walker, a member of Golden Bough and now part of Marco’s Free Navy. Some Golden Bough members broke away from the Free Navy, ...

This episode Timestamps

[4:28] Episode Recaps
[17:50] Feedback

Links mentioned in this episode

Could Bobby really hold 2 spaceships together?

Cara Gee talks about Polyamorous and LGBTYQ+ representation on the show.

The Expanse opening credits song lyrics.

Episode Recap

Winnipesaukee

The episode opens with Marco receiving an update on their war efforts detailing victories won and loss. Many Belters died in these conflicts but he says it was worth the price.

He becomes furious when he receives news from Karal about the Chetzemoka distress call changing. It can only mean Naomi is still alive.

He later confronts Filip. The two apologize for their previous actions. Filip for bringing Naomi there, and the death of Cyn. When Marco tells his son Naomi is alive, he can’t believe it. His mother didn’t walk into that airlock out of sadness, despair or remorse. She wasn’t trying to kill herself. She was trying to escape. To leave them, again. Filip lashes out in anger and unbelief, crying.

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Both the Razorback and the Rocinante also pick up the altered distress call. The crews of both ships try to understand the meaning behind this strange new message. Confused, the two ships decide to increase speed towards the Chetzemoka with the Razorback in the lead.

—

On the Dewalt, Oksana and Karal talk privately about the Chetzemoka. Oksana doesn’t want to keep this news from Drummer but Karal tells her Marco will tell them what to do. And if she informs Drummer, whatever happens after will be her fault Oksana agrees to keep silent.

Later, Drummer questions their new orders to rendezvous with other Free Navy ships and engage and destroy the Rocinante. Why pick a fight with a ship that is already heading to a trap with the Chetzemoka? When Karal questions her loyalty to Marco, Drummer says if it needs to be done, it will be done.

After this short standoff, Oksana asks Drummer to relinquish her gun. She’s worried Camina may start something. Drummer reluctantly hands it over.

Later, Drummer confronts Oksana about what’s going on. She knows her friend is keeping something from her. Marco killed Ashford and Naomi. Two people she loved. And now he wants them to murder Naomi’s friends? She’s gone along for the sake of her crew. But demands some respect.

Oksana question’s Drummer’s love for them. Does she love them as much as she loved Naomi? Drummer says yes. Oksana gives in and tells her about Naomi and why Marco is sending them against the Rocinante. She pleads with Drummer to think rationally. If she acts out it’s not just her Marco will have killed, but all of them.

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On Earth, the Baltimore crew arrive at Lake Winnipesaukee and find an estate with an orbital shuttle still in the hanger. They enter the building only to find some of the house staff hiding there. They’ve been barely surviving since the rocks fell. They inform Amos and the rest that the shuttle has a reactor problem and hasn’t flown in over two years.

Amos, Clarissa and Erich get to work trying to figure out what the problem is. The ship’s batteries are charged and it’s full of fuel. But something is tripping every time they try to turn on the reactor.

With the temperature dropping and food supplies running low, Erich questions whether they should abandon their plan and take the helicopter and leave. But Amos isn’t ready to give up. If they put their heads together they should be able to figure out the problem.

When the winter staff from nearby estates arrive thinking they’re a relief team, Erich wants to send them away. But Clarissa steps in and offers them space on the shuttle if they want to go to Luna. Amos and Erich are not happy with this. It’s a small ship, and what if more people show up? But Clarissa stands her ground. If they want her help fixing the ship, they don’t leave anyone behind who wants to come. Erich is ready to leave her and the others behind, but Amos gives in and tells them they can come.

While working on the ship, Erich calls Amos to meet him outside. They have trouble. A group of island security officers want to move all their food and essential supplies to a central location for efficient distribution. Knowing the business, Erich says it’s the most pathetic shakedown he’s ever seen.

When the security officer asks for their helicopter as well, tensions rise, guns are drawn. Once again, Clarissa steps in and ask...

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Welcome to The Expanse Podcast Double Take. In this episode, I give you my first impressions right after seeing the fifth episode of season 5 titled “Down And Out.” I’m creating these short posts to encourage listener feedback by asking questions about the episode.

This week’s questions are...

1) Who will Holden go after, Naomi or the Zmeya?

2) What are Drummer’s intentions for meeting Marco Inaros?

3) Will Amos ever see his Timmy mug again?

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 on Apple Podcasts.

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This episode Timestamps

[6:45] Episode Recaps
[19:00] Feedback

Links mentioned in the show

The Expanse After Show on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mTpb_w6KlVk

The Expanse Comic Book: https://amzn.to/387MXHc

The Expanse Comic Book Paperback Anthology (Available Aug 2021): https://amzn.to/3pEmdUu

The Expanse Comic Book on Kindle or Comixology: https://amzn.to/3nf4EIV

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

This week we discuss the tenth and final episode of season 4 of The Expanse titled “Cibola Burn”.

You can purchase The Expanse books via Amazon. USA or Canada or the UK

Or listen to the audiobook version through Audible

Episode Recap

Down And Out

The episode opens on board Drummer’s ship. The crew is watching the news reports on Earth.

Drummer is taking it hard. She feels guilty for having let Marco live. If she had killed him like was epxected, Ashford’s and Fred’s death and the destruction on Earth would have never happened.

However, Oksana reminds her that if Marco hand’t done it, someone else eventually would have.

Even through her grief, she’s worried about Naomi and how this will affect her.

Drummer’s crew is concerned for their future. Even though Marco is only one small faction, the innards will see all Belters as a threat. And with increased vigilance, it will make their role as pirates much more difficult.

Drummer informs them that she’s agreed to a meeting with Marco Inaros.

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On Earth, with all communications to the rest of the prison cut off, Amos convinces security guard Rona that their best option is to try and leave the place. She reluctantly agrees to allow Amos to bring Clarissa along.

With the elevators down and the stairway blocked, their only option of escape is to find the elevator’s maintenance ladder. However, with the doors jammed there’s no way to access the elevator shaft. Until security guard Sully comes up with a crazy plan.

At gunpoint, they release Konecheck, an inmate who’s mods give him superhuman strength, and get him to pry the doors open. But there’s no maintenance latter to be seen.

However, Clarissa spots a wall panel with a hinge. Amos get’s one of the guards to shoot two holes in the panel and then get’s Konecheck, who he’s calling Tiny, much to the big inmate’s distaste, to pry open the panel, revealing the much needed ladder.

The plan is to send up one guard to make holes in the subsequent panels for Tiny to pry open. It will be slow going, but it’s their only way out.

They draw lots, and Sullivan is chosen to go up with Konecheck.

A while later, the ones waiting below hear a scream as Sullivan’s body comes crashing down.

Konecheck claims the guard lost his grip and fell.

He’s almost at the top so Rona, refusing to split up again, goes up to complete the job with the others trailing behind on the ladder.

They start to get the feel for their situation when they see daylight at the top of the shaft where a whole building should be.

When they reach the top they see the devastation. The entire prison building has been destroyed.

While everyone is distracted, Konecheck kills the guard Morris and disarms Rona, tossing her gun down the elevator shaft.

Amos tries to fight the inmate, but the mans mods make him no match for Amos.

Clarissa tries to activate her mods to help but the blockers she’s on are still in effect.

As Konecheck walks Amos over to the shaft, Rona uses Morris’ gun, still clutched in his dead hand so the override the biolock and shoots the big inmate allowing Amos to throw Konecheck down the elevator shaft.

Rona, still in shock can only think of her daughter. Amos tells her to leave and go find her kid.

Left alone, Amos and Clarissa have nothing left to do but find their way out of there.

———————

On board the Razorback AKA the ScreamingFirehawk, Alex is torn between his loyalty to Mars and his loyalty to Holden. He wan’t to help Jim find the Protomolecule, but Bobbie reminds him that there’s nothing they can do from where they are. However, there is something they can do to help Mars.

When the Barkeith and her escorts kill their transponders and alter their direction, Alex and Bobbie try to covertly find out where they’re heading.

By their trajectory, it looks like they’re going to intersect w...

The Expanse Season 5 Recap

Time Stamps

[09:20] Ep 1: Exodus

[13:16] Ep 2: Churn

[19:31] Ep 3: Mother

[26:03] Ep 4: Guagamela

[33:37] Ep 5: Down and Out

[41:40] Ep 6: Tribes

[52:59] Ep 7: Oyedeng

[1:03:22] Ep 8: Hard Vacuum

[1:11:56] Ep 9: Winnipesaukee

[1:22:03] Ep 10: Nemesis Games

I’ve combined all ten of my season 5 recaps into one episode. In just about an hour of listening, you can be back up to speed on where things stand in The Expanse before the premiere of season 6 on Friday, December 10.

Want to listen to The Expanse series? Get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial at solotalkmedia.com/audible. Over 200,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player. Leviathan Wakes amongst them.

Do you prefer reading a physical book? You can pick your copies of the Expanse series on Amazon or eBay.

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 on Apple Podcasts.

You can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook