The Expanseisn’t just a fantastic series of novels — it’s also one of the best sci-fi television shows of the last decade. It’s been compared favorably to shows likeBattlestar Galactica, with fans of the genre saying it likely even eclipses that behemoth of classic television science fiction.
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While many of the episodes are action-packed with amazing cinematography, some still manage to stand out above the rest. Tons of fans have weighed in on sites like IMDb and have created a consensus on which ones stand out as paragons of what the series has to offer.
10S3 Ep2: IFF – 9.0
This episode was an amazing way to get fans heavily invested in season three of the show. A surprise distress signal to track andBobbie and Avasaralabeing hunted down meant this episode already came packed with two strong storylines; furthermore, seeing Alex fly a ship is always jaw-dropping and exciting.
Then came the added drama with the UN to really bring this episode up to a whole new level.
9S3 Ep10: Dandelion Sky – 9.0
This episode had a lot of storylines that were being built up in the middle of the season while facing loads of unknowns. Some people might watch “Dandelion Sky” and say nothing happened but that’s because they missed all the small moving parts finally coming together.
Plus, “Dandelion Sky” was the original name forthe third book in the series, making the title itself a curious easter egg.
8S4 Ep10: Cibola Burn – 9.1
Fresh off of the previous episode which was beyond fantastic, “Cibola Burn” had a lot to live up to as a season finale. There was no wayThe Expansecould keep up the action of the previous episode, but the show still found a way to keep up the momentum.
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The episode spent a lot of timesetting up the plot pointsthat would makeseason 5 as strong as it was. Leaving lots of new storylines hanging left fans eager to see the next season so they could see how the story unfolded. The final sequence of this episode and, by extension, season 4 is especially strong.
7S3 Ep8: It Reaches Out – 9.2
The pace of this episode was out of this world (pun only somewhat intended) and created some seriously gripping television! The previous two episodes introduced some mysterious side-characters that were sabotaging ships and this episode brought those actions to a head.
“It Reaches Out” brought a lot of subplots together in a glorious way that made viewers all wonder whySyFy canceled the series after season 3.
6S4 Ep9: Saeculum – 9.3
Miller and Holden returning as an iconic duo triggered a wave of nostalgia that brought fans back to season one. The episode “Saeculum” was paced perfectly as it ramped up to the two of them trying to find a kill switch of sorts for the planet.
There were many intense and gripping scenes that made it hard forthe finale of season 4to live up to the hype introduced by “Saeculum.”
5S2 Ep5: Home – 9.5
“Home” brought the series up all the way to theend of the first bookinThe Expansenovel series and did so with serious flair. It was like having a season finale but in the middle of season 2, which naturally left a serious impact.
Of course, it’s hard to not have an asteroid plummeting towards Earth be a bit exciting, right? This episode served as a conclusion to the Miller and Julie storyline that had been running since the beginning of the show, while also setting up plenty of things for the future.
4S3 Ep5: Triple Point – 9.5
Tensions were high as plans for mutiny came into play on the Agatha King as Erinwright was involved in a conspiracy. Just as Admiral Souther relieves Admiral Nguyen of command, the latter ends up executing Souther in an incredibly shocking twist.
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This episode could be described as aGame of Thronesin spacedue to its unpredictability. This episode showed just how many surprises the series still had left and set up all the intense action that would take place later in the season.
3S3 Ep6: Immolation – 9.5
Fans were already on the edge of their seat after episode five of season 3, so it was even more mindblowing that Immolation managed to keep the action just as intense. The intense battlebetween Earth and Marsthreatens the future of humanity itself, making the stakes higher than ever before in the series.
Plus, this was only halfway through the season, which made expectations for the rest of it astronomically high.
2S3 Ep13: Abaddon’s Gate – 9.5
Knowing that SyFy was canceling the series after season 3 felt like the biggest mistake ever with just how phenomenal the finale was. Holden’s epic rush to try and save the ring from the machinations of Ashford’s team created TV perfection.
“Abaddon’s Gate” is ambitious, exhilarating, and splendidly acted. It left fans clamoring for more episodes and thankfullyAmazon picked up the series and delivered.
1S5 Ep4: Gaugamela – 9.6
This episode calls back to the real-world history of famous conquerors like Alexander the Great. The episode’s name is after one of his greatest victories in battle and Marco essentially plays the role that Alexander did. The character does this all from his ship, the Pella.
This episode showed justhow strong Marco can be as an antagonistand made him a force to be reckoned with for the rest of the season. This episode’s conclusion shakes the very core of the series, serving up a perfect blend of drama and visual spectacle.
