TV Recap & Review: ‘The Expanse’ Season 5, Episode 10 – “Nemesis Games”

February 3, 2021

the expanse season 5 recap — Courtesy of Amazon Studios

*MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD*

With so many things coming to a head this week, the season five finale of The Expanse, “Nemesis Games,” brought us victory and defeat in so many ways, and made the viewer fully aware of how wonderfully constructed this show really is. How it all plays out in the sixth and final season remains to be seen but for now, let’s talk about how season five ended.

It may be a good thing for Naomi (Dominique Tipper) to stay inside the ships she’s on going forward. Realizing Alex (Cas Anvar) and Bobbie (Frankie Adams) are going to reach her before she can figure out a way to diffuse the bomb she is traveling on, Naomi leaps out into space in hopes that they will spot her and bring her aboard. It was successful, but once again, the cold emptiness of space almost took her life. One has to wonder if everything she has endured over the past few episodes has not damaged her physically beyond repair but for now, she is alive.

There was a cost though, that being the death of Alex Kamal. He died of a stroke, probably one too many high speed burns, something Holden (Steven Strait) points out is a risk they all take. He got in one last line of dialogue before dying, and I think it was not just relevant to the character but to the actor playing him. All things considered, it was a good death, and as Amos (Wes Chatham) points out, he died trying to protect his family.

Speaking of family, Drummer (Cara Gee) and the Belters see the family unit they so love to preach about and are proud of being torn apart by divided loyalties surrounding Marco (Keon Alexander). To be fair, this is what someone like Marco does best, divide and conquer and use whoever he needs to use to get what he wants. However, Drummer has reached her limits, pulls a gun on Karal (Olunike Adeliyi), and takes back her ship, but not before a struggle leaves Karal dead. This also puts a target on their backs from both the Rocinante and Marco.

Marco, upon finding out what happens, shows Drummer and the crew the price for disloyalty, something Drummer knew was going to happen. In turn, this causes some of her crew to leave. Being in command demands making hard choices and while this one will haunt her, Drummer knew she had no choice. The family unit that Drummer had put together is now gone, split by circumstances beyond their control, and a perfect representation of what faces Belters everywhere.

Meanwhile, everyone meets up on Luna and wraps themselves up in a false sense of security. It doesn’t take long for Chrisjen Avasarala (Shohreh Aghdashloo) to be called away to an urgent meeting, and with Holden, Bobbie, etc. looking on, they see just how much they have misjudged Marco. It seems he has made an alliance with Admiral Sauveterre (Tim DeKay) and his Mars warships, most thought destroyed or lost. The endgame? Through the ring they go and the plan is revealed, setting the stage for a confrontation that will have to wait until next season.

Season five tested all the major characters, splitting them apart and sending them on personal journeys that would have long term effects on not only them but those they cared about. We got to know the characters better, some surprised us, some disappointed us, but now these people are more fleshed out, which makes you appreciate them even more, flaws and all.

There were a lot of tears, people died. While storylines came to a head, some big questions were left hanging out there. However, as far as season finales go, “Nemesis Games” gave us many things to be thankful for and many things to look forward to, and really, that is all you can hope for.