The Expanse and the Art of the Long Game

By Michael Ahr

The Expanse season 5 premiere is approaching, but there are already details about the story to come that have been set up in earlier seasons.

The James S. A. Corey novels have helped with the show’s worldbuilding, but the characters and themes transcend the books and the sci-fi genre that spawned them.

As a result, fans of The Expanse tend to pay close attention to hints that are dropped along the way about where their favorite characters might be headed.

For example, Naomi Nagata requested a future favor from Fred Johnson back in season one, a debt that will be paid in season five.

NAREN SHANKAR,  showrunner

At the end of season 4, the message she sent to Fred Johnson was... ‘I'm calling in that favor. I really need to find my son, because I'm afraid that his father is going to get him killed.

Sharp-eyed viewers may have even spotted Naomi’s son Filip at the Martian supply depot attack in the season four finale, the consequences of which will certainly play out this year.

Bobbie Draper’s investigations on Mars will also reach fruition as the season 4 finale makes clear where the stolen stealth technology ended up.

The backstory of Amos Burton has also been teased in previous seasons of The Expanse, but his return to Earth may finally shed light on his mysterious past.

There's a lot of mystery attached to Amos' backstory around Baltimore. Without telling specifically why he heads back… the audience is going to get to go with Amos to experience it.

NAREN SHANKAR,  showrunner

It remains to be seen which of our theories will play out in The Expanse season 5, but our clues go beyond what readers of the books know.

 In the meantime, we’ll have to wait for the December 16th premiere of The Expanse season 5 to witness the ultimate fate of Earth, Mars, and the Belt.