User Reviews

Strong season opener. More often than not, a series can lose it's edge season to season, but this was as stalwart as ever. I honestly had a few laugh out loud moments due to this fine sci-fi drama having well written, witty dialogue.

The opening episode of the third series sees the story continue to push forward cohesively and decisively.

In fact. this episode is one of the densest to date... So much happens in the 40 odd minutes that a full review's length would become unwieldily.

Each and every character still in play gives their best in this episode.

First off, Errinwright is fabulous and plays his role as the foil to the protagonists with panache and utterly annoying suavity. He is so effective in his role that I personally wanted to flush his head down the nearest privy... He is James Bond villain level cool! So glad they decided to mash several character together to expand his role.

The thrust of the plot this episode focusses on Mao's luxury barge and the prisoners' attempt to escape.

We see the relationship between Avasarala and Cotyar become more and more complex as we catch a few precious glimpses into their storied pasts and realise that they share a lot more that was at first thought.

Draper continues to inspire the prisoners with her bravery and courage and we see her resourcefulness come to the fore several times this episode. She is clearly to become a central character.

On Tycho, we feel tension as Johnson attempts to get into bed with Dawes who abducted the lead scientist on the PM project.

And the indomitable Drummer steals every single second she is on screen with a scintillating performance as Johnson's second... She is an amalgamation of several characters from the book so it's clear, that like Errinwright's role, they were super happy with the actor's screen time. I'm secretly hoping she manages to find that someone special to look after her... Maybe even shipping her with someone from the former Roci.

Speaking of the Roci, Ironically, this episode, it's the crew of the former Rocinante that actually takes a back seat in this episode as their relationships continue to disintegrate due to Naomi's subterfuge last season...

Summary: What a rip-roaring start to the new season... But for me, standout performances by Shawn Doyle as Errinwright and Cara Gee as Drummer made the episode. They were startlingly effective in their roles, dominating their screen time and shaping the episode.

Beginning the third season, we have each of the significant characters come forth and display their wares. I know this could be to address those who have not been watching the series til now, but it does a nice job of progressing the plot and reminding us of the events so far. It is skillfully done with some nice writing.

So... In the middle of space, while doing some EVA... There is drag, you need magnetic clamps, and a hatch emits sound and falls heavy? You know, without gravity or atmosphere? Pretty sloppy in a production like this.

This show is already great but during this episode, not only was it well thought out, it also has great humor inserted.

So the quality of the series has taken a real nosedive. Season one was binge-worthy and the overall plot was engaging enough to cover up any unflattering scrips and acting related aspects. Season two started a bit slower and revealed some cracks in the facade and only got worse the longer it progressed. The dialogue ranges from sappy attempts at emotional interactions to sarcastic zingers that just feel out of place and awkward. Seriously, does every damn bit of dialogue have to end with the characters roasting each other? Also, some of the main characters developments reveal some pretty shoddy acting. Stait could make Holden work as an unwilling, troubled leader but as a gruffy, jaw-clinching dictator he's miles from pulling it off. Aghdashloo plays an iron-lady with gravitas but is extremely wooden when displaying any emotion that isn't stone cold seriousness.

I suppose the show is still watchworthy as there are characters that make up for the obvious weak spots and the general plot still holds water. Still disappointed that the show went from great to meh so fast.

Reviewing episode one, "Fight or Flight" as well as all of season 3. Throughout the series has made caricatures of the book characters. The ones for television have taken on a life of their own which while recognizable are simultaneously profoundly different. Holden's bumbling naivete and blundering goodwill gave him a likeable and understandable earnestness in the books. His character here grows even weaker, and it strains belief to accept that the people he interacts with would trust or follow him. Alex and Amos differ from the book versions but their television personalities are at least entertaining and convincing. Prax and Draper's are close enough to accept (I always imagined Draper as the shape and size of a rugby player from one of the Pacific islands. The Draper here is cast to be attractive, and Prax is far too social competent and strong-willed). Avasarala and Naomi are perhaps the most believable and similar to their book counterparts.

The particular season is the best of the three. It hits its high points after the second half but not close enough to the end for a remarkable finale. The writing is better. There's a lot of scenes where the substance is conveyed through looks or hints and suggestions. The editing as a whole has gotten better, the shifting perspectives and stories well put together. The Belter patois is excellent, and one of my favorite characters on the television show so far gets a lot of screen time. Unfortunately this came at the expense of what was one of the best characters from this particular book. The television show collapses two characters into one, saving the life of someone who died in the books and putting her in his place on the television show. TV viewers will not know what they missed, but book readers recognize this for that terrible thing that television shows do - combining diverse people and abilities into a single character involved in all the action. This season streamlines a lot from the books as well, changing the details, timeline, and participants in ways that do not make the show any better, just simpler.

There's some great characters and tension that I do not recall from the book. I don't mind at all when the series adds more, but the revisions and changes are an affront. Not in this particular episode, but in the later ones where Belters are more frequent, the casting again becomes a problem. The Belters are supposed to look physically different - Skinnies they're called pejoratively in the book and season. To do a good job the actors cast as Belters - at least great numbers of them - needed to tall and lanky. Occasionally we see such a Belter. It should have been swapped. The majority of Belters should have looked distinct. This was laziness on the part of those in charge of casting.

The rest continues to be good science fiction. Compared to seasons one and two, this was by far the smartest and most exciting. Compared to its book, this was by far the worst adaptation.