As this shortened season of The Expanse marches on towards the finale, there are many plot points and storylines that need to be addressed. However, in “Force Projection,“ while some of these are addressed, a key battle, and the lack of one, are the big moments that will help shape the remaining episodes.
The joint fleet of the United Nations arrives at Ceres Station, asking for its unconditional surrender. However, upon boarding, they find no Free Navy forces, no Marco, only a million people with only three weeks of supplies left. Marco (Keon Alexander) knew he couldn’t hold Ceres, and never intended to, as it was just another pawn in his game. Avasarala (Shohreh Aghdashloo) is now stuck taking care of a million people that she knows she cannot adequately supply, and Marco’s trap is sprung, even if he has lost some Belter support with this move.
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Meanwhile, the Rocinante, headed to Ceres Station, is spotted by Marco and against advice, decides to go after them and destroy them. As always, his ego overrides his better judgment and the Rocinante cripples his ship, firing a missile to destroy it, and Marco, once and for all. However, upon seeing that Filip (Jasai Chase-Owens) is on board, Holden (Steven Strait) makes one of ‘those’ decisions and disarms the missile at the last minute, saving Filip but also letting Marco escape. It is one of the choices that could come back to haunt him before this season is over.
Filip and Marco go head-to-head again, building on an earlier argument about abandoning Ceres and all the people Marco promised to protect. Filip is still torn between two worlds but is beginning to get a much clearer picture of just what his father is all about. Filip calls him out on a few things and to no one’s surprise, Marco is not amused and Filip is told to leave the command deck. Nothing bothers Marco more than failures, and here he has failed his crew and his son. However, as we soon find out, Marco has another ace up his sleeve.
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There are lots of small but significant interactions between the characters this week, building on some relationships, and beginning new ones. Holden and Peaches (Nadine Nicole) have an important discussion; the bond between Bobbi (Frankie Adams) and Amos (Wes Chatham) grows; and Avarsarala continues to show why her character, in limited moments, is so important to this fight and this show. Laconia still has its moment this week, continuing what is up until now a completely different plot thread that has yet to play itself out in the big picture of this season.
The battle between the Pella and Rocinante was great stuff, realistic and tense, showing off the great care the show takes in making all the space battles look epic. Inside the ships, the atmosphere is filled with tension and suspense, as it should be.
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As with the previous two episodes, “Force Projection” is tight, fast-paced, and full of interesting and important moments. The forty-plus minute run for this episode flew by, and we are now halfway through the final season with no clear picture yet as to how things will end. One thing is for certain, the consequences of certain choices will definitely be felt by many by the time this season, and the series, are over.
