41: "Babylon's Ashes"

We did it, everybody. The entire team reunites to celebrate a solid end (for now) to a great series. We check in on family dinners, missing (or not missing) pilots, when it’s time to turn down a job, and our hopes for the video future of the franchise. Chip makes one last Babylon 5 comparison (spoilers for a quarter-decade-old series). And, oh, yeah, we make plans to read some books. Hosts Chip Sudderth, Warren Frey, Kayti Burt, and Jen Burt.

Just in time for (Chip looks at his calendar) the last episode to air, we check in for the penultimate episode, the calm before the storm, as Chip, Jen, and Warren dread the prospect of life without The Expanse or, worse, life without proper closure to The Expanse. Will we have to—gasp—read the books…? Hosts Chip Sudderth, Warren Frey, Kayti Burt, and Jen Burt.

Yo ho ho, a pirate’s life for Drummer! Manager of the Year Marco Inaros has a series of bad days, James Holden has a series of tough conversations, stuff is happening on Laconia—and we’ve only got TWO episodes left to resolve everything and get to a satisfying TV conclusion…? Hosts Chip Sudderth, Warren Frey, Kayti Burt, and Jen Burt.

“Marco, a narcissist says what?” After unexpectedly invoking the reappearance of two old characters, your hosts engage in a second Cavalcade of Cameos, explore the bro-nemies relationship between Amos and Bobbie, examine Chekhov’s Vegetable, and evaluate whether the season’s heading for a properly impactful conclusion to the series. Hosts Chip Sudderth, Warren Frey, Kayti Burt, and Jen Burt.

Over six seasons of protomolecular weirdness, intrasystem politics, and character conflict, it’s possible that The Expanse’s bread and butter has remained “pew pew pew” space combat. “Azure Dragon” returns to the show’s roots. Your hosts think about privateers, piracy, and whether the newest member of the Roci crew is Peaches or Poochie. Hosts Chip Sudderth, Warren Frey, Kayti Burt, and Jen Burt.

We’re back, and Warren’s in rare form: “[Marco’s] totally that guy who works for a startup in crypto.” Hear your cohosts come to terms with the shortness of the series, unpack the new Roci team structure, and contemplate the Belters’ monstrous new status quo. Hosts Chip Sudderth, Warren Frey, Kayti Burt, and Jen Burt.

The end of the season signals a shift back to ancient protomoleculish weirdness in Season 6, but before that a character walks into an open elevator shaft, Naomi’s story has the best possible payoff and the best sequence of the season, and we celebrate “beautiful purple ribbons of death.” And, yes, The Expanse IS feminist media. Hosts Chip Sudderth, Warren Frey, Kayti Burt, and Jen Burt.

As we gear up for the finale, Episode 9 features some of the most enthusiastic nitpicking your panel has indulged in for quite a while—and we still LIKED this one! But which character do we compare to Dr. Pulaski? What do we think of Marco’s 1980s Thriller look? How about one of the fastest political transitions in TV history? Who coins the regrettable phrases “tready-watery-ish” and “emotional manipulation bellgrande”? Seriously, we liked this one. Hosts Chip Sudderth, Warren Frey, Kayti Burt, and Jen Burt.

Being a discussion of the collective genius of Dominique Tipper and Cara Gee, a rumination of the finer points of Flock of Seagulls hair, a meditation on a fast apocalypse vs. a slow breakdown of society, and an exploration of the intersection of The Expanse and Kim’s Convenience. Hosts Chip Sudderth, Warren Frey, Kayti Burt, and Jen Burt.

We will mince no words in this podcast description: welcome to our favorite episode of the season. Hosts Chip Sudderth, Warren Frey, Kayti Burt, and Jen Burt.