The Expanse Season 6 Episode 2 Review: Azure Dragon

| December 17, 2021 |

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Steven Strait as Holden in The Expanse — *Photo: Shane Mahood / Prime Video*

This review contains spoilers for The Expanse .

The Expanse Season 6 Episode two

What a departure a week makes! If Prime number Video had released the final season of The Expanse all at once, viewers would have seen the premiere as nothing more than than the preamble to episode 2, but on its own "Azure Dragon" stands out every bit an action-packed but besides emotionally powerful installment that deserves its ain week of appreciation. Although information technology's withal piece of cake to wonder how the story can perhaps wrap up in 4 more episodes, things are definitely on a practiced track.

Fifty-fifty small moments similar Naomi freezing upwards during the mission to capture the Azure Dragon had its ain almost completely unspoken impact. Even for a Belter born making ship-to-ship jumps like this one, Naomi is clearly feeling the trauma of her suitless escape through the void in The Expanse flavor v. There was something very sweet most her commutation with Holden saying she was okay, merely non ready to talk near it.

And of course her hesitance left the door open for Clarissa to salvage the day, even though Naomi still had to coach her through unhooking the enemy's reactor. Bobbie's calm efficiency in her Marine power suit was badass, only possibly a bit of overconfidence led to a flanking maneuver that would accept succeeded if not for Clarissa's debilitating superpower. Holden may accept chastised Peaches for going off-book, just her quick thinking saving a life and earning her a spot on the crew brought us the episode'south most touching moment.

Simply the emotional impact of this calendar week's The Expanse goes beyond poignant moments like the in a higher place. Watching Drummer slowly hatch a strategy for rebellion with the Golden Bough clan was really something to behold. What began as a uncomplicated rendezvous to drop off Michio became an intelligence gathering mission to raid the Gratis Navy'southward supply depot. While the scenes were not overtly action-packed, Drummer's ability to project authority and hint at a coming battle is worth every second of Cara Gee's screen fourth dimension.

Although the same can't exist said for Marco Inaros and his family bug, the scenes that followed the Gratuitous Navy intrigue were still much improved this week. This is mostly thanks to Rosenfeld'south brutally honest counsel, which puts a voice to the audience's own frustration trying to empathize with poor Filip. And despite our realization that the Rocinante has removed one of the Costless Navy's well-nigh powerful weapons against Earth, the promise of yet another approaching conflict is as welcome as Marco suggests.

In fact, the scenes between Marco and Rosenfeld are almost more effective than those betwixt Avasarala and Monica. Not that the Secretary's General'south initial abrasiveness and later ophidian-similar charm aren't enjoyable to witness. But the PR campaign to brand the Belters see the pain they've caused is posturing that is hard to communicate on screen. While I'g sure more than sympathetic Belters are bound to ascent up against Marco's tyranny, this plotline seems designed just to give Avasarala something to do.

Meanwhile, the drama unfolding on Laconia betwixt the young girl and her family of scientists has its own appeal, peculiarly given what Holden discovered about the unorthodox gate transition of some of the Martian defectors who presumably colonized that planet. Larger forces are at play, and the little girl trying to force the alien wild fauna to fit her Earthly views with tragic consequences feels just like what humanity is doing with the protomolecule technology. An effective metaphor!

So now fans of The Expanse anxiously await the side by side episode, but different with the premiere it's not because the current installment left them wanting. This time, the excitement of the edifice tension and the wonderfully executed infinite chase have united states of america all on the edge of our seats, waiting to see what's going to happen. The merely question that remains is that, with a six episode flavor, when will events reach their climax? If nosotros're lucky, it will attain a peak soon and not permit up until the concluding mantle falls.