PStyles
Joined Feb 2009
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Ratings1.2K
PStyles's rating
Reviews34
PStyles's rating
I love alien invasions and end of world narratives, so this seemed right up my alley and I have to say that I'm surprised by the low overall score. However, this is a slow burn in the sense that the first several episodes are used for character building with the occasional reveal - just enough to remind you that there is indeed something unsettling going on. There are 4 distinct character threads occurring simultaneously which may seem superfluous at first, but watch on; there is a purpose.
The way the show progresses reminds me of Independence Day (1996) in the sense that, for the first hour or so or the film, characters were introduced while tensions built; things start escalating around the 80 minute mark. For this show, that happens around episode 6, which is undoubtably longer than many want to wait, but I found the payoff to be worth it.
I personally enjoyed the core cast in the show and felt they did a great job; their reactions and emotions seemed, for the most part, believable given the circumstances (with one notable exception). The character threads span across 4 international regions, too, which I found refreshing as alien invasions don't just affect the United States.
Apart from the characters, special effects were generally good throughout which is a requirement for me to enjoy a show like this. Apple clearly put a solid budget behind this.
Give it at least 4 episodes before writing it off; if you aren't at least intrigued by that point then chances are it's not your type of show. There are also quite a few subtitles to read, so something to keep in mind if you aren't a fan of reading while watching a show or movie (worth mentioning - season 2 has far fewer).
I'm glad Apple renewed it for a second season which I just started watching - unlike the first season, it ramps up almost immediately, so take solace in that if you're the impatient type.
Reflections After Season 2:
I knocked a star off after completing season 2 as it felt directionless at times, with somewhat dubious deviations in character development. There are still intense moments, but the plot became more erratic. The ending was interesting, though - hopefully season 3 (confirmed) can improve.
The way the show progresses reminds me of Independence Day (1996) in the sense that, for the first hour or so or the film, characters were introduced while tensions built; things start escalating around the 80 minute mark. For this show, that happens around episode 6, which is undoubtably longer than many want to wait, but I found the payoff to be worth it.
I personally enjoyed the core cast in the show and felt they did a great job; their reactions and emotions seemed, for the most part, believable given the circumstances (with one notable exception). The character threads span across 4 international regions, too, which I found refreshing as alien invasions don't just affect the United States.
Apart from the characters, special effects were generally good throughout which is a requirement for me to enjoy a show like this. Apple clearly put a solid budget behind this.
Give it at least 4 episodes before writing it off; if you aren't at least intrigued by that point then chances are it's not your type of show. There are also quite a few subtitles to read, so something to keep in mind if you aren't a fan of reading while watching a show or movie (worth mentioning - season 2 has far fewer).
I'm glad Apple renewed it for a second season which I just started watching - unlike the first season, it ramps up almost immediately, so take solace in that if you're the impatient type.
Reflections After Season 2:
I knocked a star off after completing season 2 as it felt directionless at times, with somewhat dubious deviations in character development. There are still intense moments, but the plot became more erratic. The ending was interesting, though - hopefully season 3 (confirmed) can improve.
This is one of the most well shot, well written miniseries I have ever seen, and yet nobody I talk to has ever heard of it (I myself heard of it from a podcast completely unrelated to tv/movies). Amazon definitely needed to promote this better.
To me, this felt like one really long film rather than a miniseries, and I mean that in the best way possible; there is very little discontinuity or downtime as each episode rolls on. The story itself is a tightly woven tale of 3 parties from 3 different countries involved in an international cocaine shipment, and it is executed wonderfully. The suspense is high and action nearly constant after the first episode, which admittedly takes a minute to get going, so be sure to give it a chance as it has to set the rather complicated story up.
The thing that shocked me the most was the production quality; Amazon must have spent a fortune on this because the set pieces, camera work, cinematography, acting etc. Are all top notch, and each episode feels like a film production. There are some rather breathtaking hover shots over exotic landscapes, and the locations felt authentic.
The show utilizes a "rewind" cinematic technique throughout that I thought was rather unique and well executed. At certain points the story will seemingly jump forward in time, and as things begin to converge and confusion sets in (as in, "what the hell did I miss?"), the timeline will rewind and you are given the missing details from a different character's perspective. It's executed extremely well, and adds additional suspense to an already wild show. You'll know these moments are about to happen because the camera slows and cued music begins to play for great effect.
If you don't mind reading a lot of subtitles (roughly 2/3 of the show) and this sounds interesting, definitely check it out. It's the best kept secret on Amazon.
To me, this felt like one really long film rather than a miniseries, and I mean that in the best way possible; there is very little discontinuity or downtime as each episode rolls on. The story itself is a tightly woven tale of 3 parties from 3 different countries involved in an international cocaine shipment, and it is executed wonderfully. The suspense is high and action nearly constant after the first episode, which admittedly takes a minute to get going, so be sure to give it a chance as it has to set the rather complicated story up.
The thing that shocked me the most was the production quality; Amazon must have spent a fortune on this because the set pieces, camera work, cinematography, acting etc. Are all top notch, and each episode feels like a film production. There are some rather breathtaking hover shots over exotic landscapes, and the locations felt authentic.
The show utilizes a "rewind" cinematic technique throughout that I thought was rather unique and well executed. At certain points the story will seemingly jump forward in time, and as things begin to converge and confusion sets in (as in, "what the hell did I miss?"), the timeline will rewind and you are given the missing details from a different character's perspective. It's executed extremely well, and adds additional suspense to an already wild show. You'll know these moments are about to happen because the camera slows and cued music begins to play for great effect.
If you don't mind reading a lot of subtitles (roughly 2/3 of the show) and this sounds interesting, definitely check it out. It's the best kept secret on Amazon.
Overall, "The Expanse" is an excellent show. I had reservations about it after 2 seasons, but after finishing the 4th recently, I have to say I'm really excited for the 5th season coming to Amazon in December.
The premise is excellent, and the world building aspect is executed flawlessly. Set roughly 200-300 years in the future (I can't remember exactly), Mars and the Kuiper belt have been colonized, and Earth is run by the UN. Earth and Mars are in a cold war over the resources provided by the belt, and the whole scenario sets up a really interesting political and social dynamic between the three entities. This is one of the areas where the show really shines, and I found myself completely immersed in the struggle across 4 seasons.
Unfortunately, the first 2 seasons are not the best the show has to offer, and I found myself struggling to get through it at times. The first season takes a while to get going, but at times it's necessary to set up the broader aspects of the plot. The second season was pretty good overall, but occasionally felt like it lost direction with regard to the plot. Luckily, things improve substantially in the 3rd and 4th seasons; I literally tore through the episodes as the intensity ramped up. I also felt like the narrative became much more interesting, and the show really found its stride.
Unfortunately, the acting is not always the best, and there is one particular culprit I have in mind. Cas Anvar, who plays Alex Kamal, is hard to stomach most of the time, and is by far my least favorite character in the show. The writing for his character is not particularily good, either; everytime he said "hoss" in this weird pseudo Texan accent, I cringed. With that rant out of the way, I found the rest of the central cast to be quite good. Amos, played by Wes Chattam, was my favorite overall, and his arc felt realistic as the show progressed. Thomas Jane was also tremendous as the hard boiled Joe Miller; some of my favorite moments were with him on screen. Honorable mention goes to Cara Gee's Camina Drummer; I really enjoyed her pessimistic, fiery attitude.
Special effects aren't the best through the first 2 seasons, but that can be forgiven as CGI is expensive, and this show has a lot of it. With that being said, it gets much better with the start of the 3rd season and continues to improve. Costume design, however, is fantastic from start to finish, and I was especially fond of the Martian space suits.
Overall, I'd give the first 2 seasons a 6/10, and the following 2 a 9/10, which amounts to a total of 7.5/10. Considering how captivated I was by the show's final two seasons, I felt a round up was in order. If you are a fan of the sci-fi genre, definitely check this one out. if you enjoy the world and atmosphere but aren't a fan of the first few seasons, trudge on; it gets a lot better.
The premise is excellent, and the world building aspect is executed flawlessly. Set roughly 200-300 years in the future (I can't remember exactly), Mars and the Kuiper belt have been colonized, and Earth is run by the UN. Earth and Mars are in a cold war over the resources provided by the belt, and the whole scenario sets up a really interesting political and social dynamic between the three entities. This is one of the areas where the show really shines, and I found myself completely immersed in the struggle across 4 seasons.
Unfortunately, the first 2 seasons are not the best the show has to offer, and I found myself struggling to get through it at times. The first season takes a while to get going, but at times it's necessary to set up the broader aspects of the plot. The second season was pretty good overall, but occasionally felt like it lost direction with regard to the plot. Luckily, things improve substantially in the 3rd and 4th seasons; I literally tore through the episodes as the intensity ramped up. I also felt like the narrative became much more interesting, and the show really found its stride.
Unfortunately, the acting is not always the best, and there is one particular culprit I have in mind. Cas Anvar, who plays Alex Kamal, is hard to stomach most of the time, and is by far my least favorite character in the show. The writing for his character is not particularily good, either; everytime he said "hoss" in this weird pseudo Texan accent, I cringed. With that rant out of the way, I found the rest of the central cast to be quite good. Amos, played by Wes Chattam, was my favorite overall, and his arc felt realistic as the show progressed. Thomas Jane was also tremendous as the hard boiled Joe Miller; some of my favorite moments were with him on screen. Honorable mention goes to Cara Gee's Camina Drummer; I really enjoyed her pessimistic, fiery attitude.
Special effects aren't the best through the first 2 seasons, but that can be forgiven as CGI is expensive, and this show has a lot of it. With that being said, it gets much better with the start of the 3rd season and continues to improve. Costume design, however, is fantastic from start to finish, and I was especially fond of the Martian space suits.
Overall, I'd give the first 2 seasons a 6/10, and the following 2 a 9/10, which amounts to a total of 7.5/10. Considering how captivated I was by the show's final two seasons, I felt a round up was in order. If you are a fan of the sci-fi genre, definitely check this one out. if you enjoy the world and atmosphere but aren't a fan of the first few seasons, trudge on; it gets a lot better.