The Expanse at New York Comic Con: What to look forward to in season two

How close did George R.R. Martin get to writing <i>The Expanse</i>? Hint: not very.

Read the whole story

 

[punkstatikseven]

Bobbie Draper is a woman btw.

 

[preinheimer]

They made Bobbie a MAN!? Roberta Draper is a lady in the books.

Also: "The group dropped some hints for season two, which will introduce one of the prominent characters in the book, Bobby Draper (a Martian), who we didn't meet until the end of the second book. "

We meet Roberta Draper in Chapter 1 Page 1 in Book 2, not the end.

 

[amardeus]

Can't wait for season 2. Definitely the best space opera currently on TV.

 

[varcher75]

preinheimer[/url]":3849kx04]They made Bobbie a MAN!? Roberta Draper is a lady in the books.

In the show as well.

http://www.syfy.com/sites/syfy/files/st ... k=WDGoAqWI

 

[jahahn]

preinheimer[/url]":3pvi5pbi]They made Bobbie a MAN!? Roberta Draper is a lady in the books.

Also: "The group dropped some hints for season two, which will introduce one of the prominent characters in the book, Bobby Draper (a Martian), who we didn't meet until the end of the second book. "

We meet Roberta Draper in Chapter 1 Page 1 in Book 2, not the end.

She is a she in the show as well, this was an editing error which has been corrected. Thanks!

 

[arcite]

I'm hoping the new season doesn't become the 'millennial farscape'; they need to keep the dark edginess, engage in political and social commentary, without giving in to crowd pleasing sentimentality and ironic humor.

 

[Hydrargyrum]

Are there any online services which offer this show in Australia? I really enjoyed the first season and would be happy to fork over some dollars (but not cable-subscription-level money) to see Season 2 with a high quality legit source.

 

[MojoSlim]

This is one of the best shows on television right now. It avoids many of the classic tv sci-fi tropes and tries to create what could be considered a "realistic" future where we are living in space, right down to the grittiness and hard nature of what that life would be like due to scarcity of resources. The character development is fantastic. The source material in the books is a must read.

Can't wait to see more of what happens to the Roci

 

[Hydrargyrum]

I'm pretty interested to hear that the genesis of The Expanse is from an RPG. I would love to know what ruleset it was run with! "Eclipse Phase" has an incredible sci fi setting with lots of the same themes and some of the feel of The Expanse, but with a hefty dose of Ghost In The Shell, Cowboy Bebop, and a little Terminator thrown in the mix... but I find its rules get in the way of the setting a bit.

I keep thinking that some kind of Savage Worlds take on Eclipse Phase would be pretty awesome. But something would need to be done to balance out the morph stats vs ego skills/rep part of Eclipse Phase.

 

[lazybratsche]

Huh, I didn't realize that the book series was based on a RPG campaign, but it makes a lot of sense. I'm on the 3rd book in the series right now, and I'm having a hard time buying various plot contrivances that have no purpose besides setting up an action scene.

In the first season, it only takes four episodes for a group of lovable misfits to stumble into possession of their very own military warship. Later in the books, there are plenty of other examples that make a lot more sense when framed as a game: "Here, take control of some NPC marines/warships so your civilian PCs can fight in GIANT EPIC SPACE BATTLES!"

Still, there's a lot of fascinating world building that makes up for the contrived action scenes, so I wholeheartedly recommend the TV series and books.

 

[wangstramedeous]

Getting a bit confused. They are mixing elements from both book 1 & 2? If Miller is joining the crew - that's still Leviathan Wakes...he's long gone in every sense of the word before Bobbie joins the picture.

 

[daishi]

lazybratsche[/url]":37avpkx7]Huh, I didn't realize that the book series was based on a RPG campaign, but it makes a lot of sense. I'm on the 3rd book in the series right now, and I'm having a hard time buying various plot contrivances that have no purpose besides setting up an action scene.

In the first season, it only takes four episodes for a group of lovable misfits to stumble into possession of their very own military warship. Later in the books, there are plenty of other examples that make a lot more sense when framed as a game: "Here, take control of some NPC marines/warships so your civilian PCs can fight in GIANT EPIC SPACE BATTLES!"

Still, there's a lot of fascinating world building that makes up for the contrived action scenes, so I wholeheartedly recommend the TV series and books.

huh, guess that explains what I didn't like from the books. Also explains the characters as well I suppose.

Note to self: be really careful about cliches when converting from RPG to novel

 

[Ajar]

The original RPG was a modified version of d20 Future. (I was one of the players.)

 

[MNP]

punkstatikseven[/url]":2wzjup4m]Bobbie Draper is a woman btw.

Descendant of Don Draper?

 

[motytrah]

It kills me how few comments this story has. The expanse is the best show Sci-Fi channel has produced since Battle Star Galactica.

 

[Kon-Tiki]

wangstramedeous[/url]":2hwasu5q]Getting a bit confused. They are mixing elements from both book 1 & 2? If Miller is joining the crew - that's still Leviathan Wakes...he's long gone in every sense of the word before Bobbie joins the picture.

This is one of those times he's not gone in "every sense of the word." Only some senses of the word

 

[Anyluser]

Hydrargyrum[/url]":3bdvy4qx]Are there any online services which offer this show in Australia? I really enjoyed the first season and would be happy to fork over some dollars (but not cable-subscription-level money) to see Season 2 with a high quality legit source.

This might help you find a (legit) place to watch this.

https://www.wheretowatch.com/

 

[MaHawkma]

Very, very much looking forward to this shows return and the new book in December.

 

[runnerd00d]

I just finished book 5 a few days ago. So far I'm enjoying the book series quite a bit. (space opera is my fancy, to be fair)

Although it's been several months since I started book one, I don't recall the friction between Amos and Holden that was portrayed in Season 1 of Expanse. Maybe I'm simply forgetting, but it's hard seeing Amos as anything other than the most loyal of crew who will put his life on the line without hesitation to save any of his crew.

With that said, I'm looking forward to season 2.

 

[Shmerl]

amardeus[/url]":2068obt2]Can't wait for season 2. Definitely the best space opera currently on TV.

It's actually less of a space opera, and more of serious science fiction. Space opera is something like Star Wars. Here they actually care more about science background of things.

 

[rhvarona]

I have really enjoyed the first three books of The Expanse series, even though the type of story being told definitely changed starting on the third.

Another, in my opinion, excellent SF series that was originally based on an (abandoned) game is:
Armada Wars by R. Curtis Venture

According to their wiki:

Armada Wars started as a project to put together a realistic browser-based space combat game, with a variety of elements including politics, espionage, research, colonisation [sic], and of course combat. The game was to take place in a richly developed universe with a detailed back story. Due to the development team all going their separate ways prior to completing the project, the game was never launched. Now, the creative lead on the game has transformed the back story into a series of fictional novels.

The first arc in the Armada Wars universe begins in the year 3745, and chronicles an unprecedented war which threatens to reshape the entire Milky Way galaxy. This arc, the Great War of the Shaeld, will contain five volumes.

I wonder if, in general, failed RPG sci-fi settings tend to lead to good sci-fi books?

 

[wangstramedeous]

Kon-Tiki[/url]":2sgjvncy]

wangstramedeous[/url]":2sgjvncy]Getting a bit confused. They are mixing elements from both book 1 & 2? If Miller is joining the crew - that's still Leviathan Wakes...he's long gone in every sense of the word before Bobbie joins the picture.

This is one of those times he's not gone in "every sense of the word." Only some senses of the word

Sure but that's even further into the series ;p. I don't mind if the transition to the screen ends up with changes just noting that fitting in Miller joining the crew, Naomi briefly (?) leaving the crew and bringing in Bobbie into the picture covers a ton of ground.

If its still 10 episodes, that might feel cramped.

 

[wangstramedeous]

runnerd00d[/url]":1t4fcsz9]I just finished book 5 a few days ago. So far I'm enjoying the book series quite a bit. (space opera is my fancy, to be fair)

Although it's been several months since I started book one, I don't recall the friction between Amos and Holden that was portrayed in Season 1 of Expanse. Maybe I'm simply forgetting, but it's hard seeing Amos as anything other than the most loyal of crew who will put his life on the line without hesitation to save any of his crew.

With that said, I'm looking forward to season 2.

That's because it never happened in the books. Tension for TV drama I suppose?

 

[QuidNYC]

From 5:55-6:02, Ty refers to The Martian and a second film/story... what was the second film/story he referred to? I can't make it out.

 

[Dr Gitlin]

wangstramedeous[/url]":r6z2sx1a]Getting a bit confused. They are mixing elements from both book 1 & 2? If Miller is joining the crew - that's still Leviathan Wakes...he's long gone in every sense of the word before Bobbie joins the picture.

Forget the order of the books! As the writers explain in the video, they're telling the same basic story, but in the format of a TV show over fewer series than a 9-installment book.

It annoyed me at first as detailed in this piece: http://meincmagazine.com/the-multiverse/2 ... elevision/ but I got over it. You will too!

 

[Anadromous]

Hydrargyrum[/url]":2nlvfxkz]Are there any online services which offer this show in Australia? I really enjoyed the first season and would be happy to fork over some dollars (but not cable-subscription-level money) to see Season 2 with a high quality legit source.

Not that it necessarily helps you, but I am probably moving to NZ fairly soon, and I am planning to maintain my US bank account and billing so I can buy Season Two on iTunes. That's the plan at least.

And then I am going to be thankful that I can get fibre in NZ. Can't get it here...

Is The Expanse available via the Australian iTunes Store? Google Play?

 

[Crop27]

I'm a fan of the show, but one thing I would have loved to see was the cramped quarters on the ships (they spend so much time on gravity issues but make ships Star Trek-like in terms of interior volume). In the books, the Roci offers little personal space, and Alex isn't even part of the main crew area when piloting. I get they wanted to show crew interaction, but I think claustrophobic spaces would have made it even better.

PS I remember taking my kids on a tour of a Navy Arleigh Burke destroyer that looked huge at anchor in the harbor, but everyone was a bit freaked out about how enclosed the corridors were.

 

[Bash]

I like the premise of a "SciFi" channel. The utter crap (including pro wrestling) that was appearing on SyFy was a factor that contributed to my cord cutting. This sounds like it might be worth checking out, maybe I'll pick it up on iTunes sometime. Even better, maybe I should wait until the series is over just in case they decide to cancel the show half way through the story arc.

 

[JohnSpirko]

Enjoyed the book series very much. I pre-ordered the next book (#6), “Babylon's Ashes,” due near the end of this month.

Didn't much like the TV series. Not having a TV, (or cable), I ordered it on DVD. Unless our local library gets the 2nd season, I won't bother ordering it.

 

[wangstramedeous]

Dr Gitlin[/url]":9fir9wgc]

wangstramedeous[/url]":9fir9wgc]Getting a bit confused. They are mixing elements from both book 1 & 2? If Miller is joining the crew - that's still Leviathan Wakes...he's long gone in every sense of the word before Bobbie joins the picture.

Forget the order of the books! As the writers explain in the video, they're telling the same basic story, but in the format of a TV show over fewer series than a 9-installment book.

It annoyed me at first as detailed in this piece: http://meincmagazine.com/the-multiverse/2 ... elevision/ but I got over it. You will too!

You're right . I jumped the gun. It's true, first season held up as a cohesive whole without feeling it was blindly following the books.

 

[LeaderlessByChoice]

Hydrargyrum[/url]":kqaywqt3]I'm pretty interested to hear that the genesis of The Expanse is from an RPG. I would love to know what ruleset it was run with! "Eclipse Phase" has an incredible sci fi setting with lots of the same themes and some of the feel of The Expanse, but with a hefty dose of Ghost In The Shell, Cowboy Bebop, and a little Terminator thrown in the mix... but I find its rules get in the way of the setting a bit.

I keep thinking that some kind of Savage Worlds take on Eclipse Phase would be pretty awesome. But something would need to be done to balance out the morph stats vs ego skills/rep part of Eclipse Phase.

I keep thinking it was the Traveler series RPG. I could be wrong.

 

[LeaderlessByChoice]

Ajar[/url]":35lm6vyy]The original RPG was a modified version of d20 Future. (I was one of the players.)

Ah. I had heard it was a modified version of Traveler (great for it's time but way to procedural) d20 Future actually makes sense as a better foundation.

 

[aaronspink]

Crop27[/url]":104bw5t9]I'm a fan of the show, but one thing I would have loved to see was the cramped quarters on the ships (they spend so much time on gravity issues but make ships Star Trek-like in terms of interior volume). In the books, the Roci offers little personal space, and Alex isn't even part of the main crew area when piloting. I get they wanted to show crew interaction, but I think claustrophobic spaces would have made it even better.

PS I remember taking my kids on a tour of a Navy Arleigh Burke destroyer that looked huge at anchor in the harbor, but everyone was a bit freaked out about how enclosed the corridors were.

Definitely agree. A cramped and segmented ship would of added a lot. The massive open space of the TV Roci is just so unrealistic. No one would design a warship where basically the whole thing is open so that any damage will vent the entire ship.

 

[SixDegrees]

wangstramedeous[/url]":1fk28jr1]Getting a bit confused. They are mixing elements from both book 1 & 2? If Miller is joining the crew - that's still Leviathan Wakes...he's long gone in every sense of the word before Bobbie joins the picture.

They've been reaching forward through the book series throughout season 1. The whole Avasarala/UN subplot doesn't happen until book 2, for example.

The book's authors have been pretty clear that the TV series is based on the books, but doesn't slavishly follow them. Same universe, same basic story, different telling.

 

[SixDegrees]

Kon-Tiki[/url]":3z0dyf60]

wangstramedeous[/url]":3z0dyf60]Getting a bit confused. They are mixing elements from both book 1 & 2? If Miller is joining the crew - that's still Leviathan Wakes...he's long gone in every sense of the word before Bobbie joins the picture.

This is one of those times he's not gone in "every sense of the word." Only some senses of the word

Indeed.

Just finished book 4, which left me bemused and a little sad about Miller.

 

[SixDegrees]

wangstramedeous[/url]":20j6a9n2]

Kon-Tiki[/url]":20j6a9n2]

wangstramedeous[/url]":20j6a9n2]Getting a bit confused. They are mixing elements from both book 1 & 2? If Miller is joining the crew - that's still Leviathan Wakes...he's long gone in every sense of the word before Bobbie joins the picture.

This is one of those times he's not gone in "every sense of the word." Only some senses of the word

Sure but that's even further into the series ;p. I don't mind if the transition to the screen ends up with changes just noting that fitting in Miller joining the crew, Naomi briefly (?) leaving the crew and bringing in Bobbie into the picture covers a ton of ground.

If its still 10 episodes, that might feel cramped.

Season 2 will be 13 episodes, I believe.

They're not following the order of events in the books. Same story, different telling.

 

[SLOcal]

And Netflix just scooped up The Expanse from Syfy. So hyped.

 

[SixDegrees]

SLOcal[/url]":2aew1mck]And Netflix just scooped up The Expanse from Syfy. So hyped.

It looks like they acquired global distribution rights (which answers some posters outside the US looking for ways to stream it) but I don't think they've taken over production, which remains with SyFy as far as I can tell.

 

[aaronspink]

wangstramedeous[/url]":85mox0o3]

Dr Gitlin[/url]":85mox0o3]

wangstramedeous[/url]":85mox0o3]Getting a bit confused. They are mixing elements from both book 1 & 2? If Miller is joining the crew - that's still Leviathan Wakes...he's long gone in every sense of the word before Bobbie joins the picture.

Forget the order of the books! As the writers explain in the video, they're telling the same basic story, but in the format of a TV show over fewer series than a 9-installment book.

It annoyed me at first as detailed in this piece: http://meincmagazine.com/the-multiverse/2 ... elevision/ but I got over it. You will too!

You're right . I jumped the gun. It's true, first season held up as a cohesive whole without feeling it was blindly following the books.

The first season hold up because the overarching plot line is basically the first half of the first book. My fear going forward is that they'll jump the shark by jumbling up the plot lines either between the books or bypass them completely. GoT for instance ended up rushing things, dropping plots, etc, and I think the show is much worse for it. I liked that Expanse only did the first half of the book given the number of episodes they had and think it worked well but am worried that they'll rush the plot to bring Bobbie in. Still a shame that it is pretty much impossible to find 6'10+" 220lb female actors to play the part (consider that the WNBA pretty much tops out at 6'8"). And unfortunately because the rest of the cast is reasonably tall (Wes Chatham at 6', Thomas Jane at 5'11"), it will be impossible to get the towering and imposing Sgt Draper of the books.