Sounds depressing , and just what I feared. On balance is it still worth investing in?

@psl said:

Sounds depressing , and just what I feared. On balance is it still worth investing in?

It all depends where it goes from here. Amazon did the second half of season 3, which I thought was superb. So I do think they are capable of delivering. And there is still some good stuff here. Maybe give it a few episodes and see what you think. I'm still gonna give the next season a chance.

No, Season 3 was all SyFy. As far as season 4 goes, many people also considered it the worst of the books. Personally, I liked it. Yes the story was on a more focused scale (a lot of major events occur within it though), but it provided a lot of context for the characters and events to come. It also was a more interesting take on the "first explorers on a new world" than we usually get, and allowed for more personal and intimate character moments. It also sets the stage for everything that is coming next. With the next season, you can expect to see events occurring on a wider scale once again.

@Tsavo said:

No, Season 3 was all SyFy.

My bad. I coulda sworn I read multiple times back then that people were pissed off because it got canceled mid season and then the season was finished when it debuted on Amazon Prime. But I can't find anything saying that now so I don't know where I got that from. It also seemed like the second half of the season had a much higher budget and a different look so it made sense to me. Maybe I just misunderstood.

As far as season 4 goes, many people also considered it the worst of the books. Personally, I liked it. Yes the story was on a more focused scale (a lot of major events occur within it though), but it provided a lot of context for the characters and events to come. It also was a more interesting take on the "first explorers on a new world" than we usually get, and allowed for more personal and intimate character moments. It also sets the stage for everything that is coming next. With the next season, you can expect to see events occurring on a wider scale once again.

So the books get better again? i suspected/hoped that it might be laying groundwork. How many books are there? Is the story actually finished or is there danger of a Game of Thrones scenario?

My bad. I coulda sworn I read multiple times back then that people were pissed off because it got canceled mid season and then the season was finished when it debuted on Amazon Prime. But I can't find anything saying that now so I don't know where I got that from. It also seemed like the second half of the season had a much higher budget and a different look so it made sense to me. Maybe I just misunderstood.

No, you're all good. Season 3 was pretty rushed. The first season had covered roughly 2/3 of the first book, and the second season had more or less done the same for the second book after wrapping up the first. When the third season came around, they realized they might not get a fourth season, and massively compressed both the end of the second book, and the entirely of the third into the third season. Hence the sudden shift half way through.

So the books get better again? i suspected/hoped that it might be laying groundwork. How many books are there? Is the story actually finished or is there danger of a Game of Thrones scenario?

Thankfully no. No Game of Thrones scenario here. There are currently eight books in the series, the ninth (and last) will be released next year. As far as getting better, that might be a bit subjective, but most people seem to think so. It will be going back to space, and we'll get back to the more system-spanning storylines. Have you seen the trailer for the 5th season?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caLji74IIp4

@Tsavo said:

My bad. I coulda sworn I read multiple times back then that people were pissed off because it got canceled mid season and then the season was finished when it debuted on Amazon Prime. But I can't find anything saying that now so I don't know where I got that from. It also seemed like the second half of the season had a much higher budget and a different look so it made sense to me. Maybe I just misunderstood.

No, you're all good. Season 3 was pretty rushed. The first season had covered roughly 2/3 of the first book, and the second season had more or less done the same for the second book after wrapping up the first. When the third season came around, they realized they might not get a fourth season, and massively compressed both the end of the second book, and the entirely of the third into the third season. Hence the sudden shift half way through.

So the books get better again? i suspected/hoped that it might be laying groundwork. How many books are there? Is the story actually finished or is there danger of a Game of Thrones scenario?

Thankfully no. No Game of Thrones scenario here. There are currently eight books in the series, the ninth (and last) will be released next year. As far as getting better, that might be a bit subjective, but most people seem to think so. It will be going back to space, and we'll get back to the more system-spanning storylines. Have you seen the trailer for the 5th season?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caLji74IIp4

I thought season 3 was awesome. It was the season that elevated the show into my top shows currently on at the moment. But yeah, if they missed a lot out I can see how that can be disappointing and I can imagine how it would be even better if they had taken more time on it. It did feel like two different seasons joined together. But I didn't have a problem with that. There was a lot of satisfying payoffs in that season. And it had an excellent combination of the cerebral and exciting spectacle and tension.

That's good news. That does sound like I'll enjoy it more. Not that I thought that season 4 was bad. No, I haven't watched the trailer yet. I tend not to watch trailers for tv shows to avoid spoilers. But I am tempted.

Oh yeah, despite how rushed it was, which was pretty jarring at first, when I went back and re-watched it, I actually really enjoyed it. As for your earlier comments regarding character vanishing and meeting by coincidence, please try not to worry too much. Many of these characters met by chance, but generally if/when they meet again, it is less by chance, and more due to the fact that now they generally float in the same circles. Bobby hasn't quite become a member of the crew, just a really good friend they meet from time to time. Still, she's awesome.

@Tsavo said:

Oh yeah, despite how rushed it was, which was pretty jarring at first, when I went back and re-watched it, I actually really enjoyed it. As for your earlier comments regarding character vanishing and meeting by coincidence, please try not to worry too much. Many of these characters met by chance, but generally if/when they meet again, it is less by chance, and more due to the fact that now they generally float in the same circles. Bobby hasn't quite become a member of the crew, just a really good friend they meet from time to time. Still, she's awesome.

Thanks, dude. You have assuaged my fears. And I watched the trailer after. It does look cool.

@JustinJackFlash said:

@Tsavo said:

Oh yeah, despite how rushed it was, which was pretty jarring at first, when I went back and re-watched it, I actually really enjoyed it. As for your earlier comments regarding character vanishing and meeting by coincidence, please try not to worry too much. Many of these characters met by chance, but generally if/when they meet again, it is less by chance, and more due to the fact that now they generally float in the same circles. Bobby hasn't quite become a member of the crew, just a really good friend they meet from time to time. Still, she's awesome.

Thanks, dude. You have assuaged my fears. And I watched the trailer after. It does look cool.

No problem. While I was on my way back from teaching a class today, I had another thought that might help clarify season 4 a bit as well. Generally, it at least seems to work for me as a re-introduction to the world, post-gate-opening. The first season of the series was mostly just building character and setting, but the events of the following seasons radically changed the entirely of that world. Shifting back to a smaller-scale, more personal and character building story really helps to establish the new tone of the universe in the stories to follow. So in a way, it was almost like taking a moment to breath and take stock of the new "world", so to speak. Of course, that is more subjective, but the more I think about it, the more it really does help set things up for what's coming.

@Tsavo said:

@JustinJackFlash said:

@Tsavo said:

Oh yeah, despite how rushed it was, which was pretty jarring at first, when I went back and re-watched it, I actually really enjoyed it. As for your earlier comments regarding character vanishing and meeting by coincidence, please try not to worry too much. Many of these characters met by chance, but generally if/when they meet again, it is less by chance, and more due to the fact that now they generally float in the same circles. Bobby hasn't quite become a member of the crew, just a really good friend they meet from time to time. Still, she's awesome.

Thanks, dude. You have assuaged my fears. And I watched the trailer after. It does look cool.

No problem. While I was on my way back from teaching a class today, I had another thought that might help clarify season 4 a bit as well. Generally, it at least seems to work for me as a re-introduction to the world, post-gate-opening. The first season of the series was mostly just building character and setting, but the events of the following seasons radically changed the entirely of that world. Shifting back to a smaller-scale, more personal and character building story really helps to establish the new tone of the universe in the stories to follow. So in a way, it was almost like taking a moment to breath and take stock of the new "world", so to speak. Of course, that is more subjective, but the more I think about it, the more it really does help set things up for what's coming.

Yeah, I did get the impression it was kind of starting a new chapter. That said, I did still feel there was a lot more going on in season 1 than season 4. And I did enjoy it more. Season 4 felt more cliched. Season 1 had tropes, Season 4 had cliches.

Having now finished season 5 I can confirm that The Expanse is awesome again!