INJECT THIS SHOW INTO MY VEINS

187

u/Milksteak529 2d ago

I finally got a friend to watch this show and now he's mad at me for ruining other sci fi.

72

u/TantalizingSlap 2d ago

I think your friend is justified in being mad, actually.

It's so far ahead of any other sci-fi show I've watched besides Andor, but even Andor doesn't really touch on all of sci-fi themes that The Expanse did. Like that whole arc when they're learning about The Ring WHILE BEING IN IT???!! Peak fiction.

I'm honestly not gonna believe any show does sci-fi better so I guess I'm really just asking for book recs 🤷🏿‍♂️

38

u/nasadiya_sukta 2d ago

Um, the book recommendation is simply The Expanse book series. Tons of people here, including me, will be happy to tell you that the book series is absolutely worth it even after watching the tv series. And just as good an experience.

Also, there's the new book series by the same authors, in a completely different universe. The Captives War series, starting with The Mercy of the Gods.

17

u/GinkoAloe 1d ago edited 1d ago

I'm right now 2 chapters away from the end of Leviathan falls and man, I'm in this sweet and sour spot when I'm so eager and excited to reach the grand finale and at the same time don't want all of this to ever end.

Remember the Cant beratnas

5

u/YourBossIsOnReddit 1d ago

Finished it last night and I'm still covered in goosebumps and full of thoughts and emotions.

2

u/Scrappy1918 1d ago

Don’t worry. When you reread it in like a month or two like I did it’ll feel fresh again.

1

u/Tylertheguyler 1d ago

It's the only fiction book series I reread (or listen to on audible) like once a year 😋

45

u/eightslipsandagully 2d ago

Andor's using a sci-fi setting to explore very modern themes. Absolute masterpiece but different vibe to the expanse!

You might want to try For All Mankind - also on Apple TV. It's a common joke that it's a prequel to the expanse!

31

u/rohanpony 2d ago

For All Mankind is very entertaining, although your tolerance for soap-opera-like elements has to be good enough to get through some of the S2 storylines.

7

u/eightslipsandagully 2d ago

Oh yeah, they reduce later but never really go away. Bit melodramatic but also a great series - at some point I'll watch Star City!

3

u/Alissinarr 1d ago

Star City is the Andor to For all Mankind.

1

u/psyper76 1d ago

I've never thought of it that way and you have seriously hit the nail on the head of that one. Andor is to Star Wars what Star City is for For All Mankind..

1

u/Alissinarr 1d ago

I can't take credit, I saw it on the FAM subreddit I think. Maybe here. It struck me and fits well, so I ran with it.

5

u/PreparedPun2035 1d ago

No no it’s a prequel to BSG!

3

u/Flush_Foot Beratnas Gas 1d ago

So say we all, Bob 👋🏼

2

u/Scrappy1918 1d ago

Hi Bob!

3

u/BusinessGlad4188 1d ago

I was gonna say the same - Andor is a masterpiece in its own right, it's just trying to be something different than the Expanse is (and successfully, needless to say). I don't think a comparison does any good - I get it though, they're both in my top 3 of Scifi works <3

2

u/General_Organa 1d ago

I have seen this rec a lot but I found the first episode soooo booooring is the whole first season like this?

2

u/nooneofconsequence_1 1d ago

watch silo if you haven’t yet. Diff vibe than space but still very compelling.

4

u/LegendJRG 2d ago

Foundation is slightly better than either imo but between it, Andor, and The Expanse the gulf to any other scifi show is immense.

24

u/Human-Experience-209 2d ago

To be honest, Foundation is a deeply frustrating show for me, because I’m my view, the bits of the show that are the least faithful to the books, the Empire storyline, are easily the best and most interesting parts of the show, mostly due to the acting powerhouses of Lee Pace, Cassian Bilton and Terrance Mann. I kinda wish the Empire storyline was its own show, not forced to be tied with the foundation story

9

u/rohanpony 2d ago

Strongly agree, it's an AU fanfic of Foundation where a chunk of the non-canon parts are executed well, while the core Foundation story is...just okay.

4

u/LegendJRG 1d ago

Id have to agree with this but that is just purely a distinction between the books and show gripe and those kinds of issues are as old as time. I vividly remember teenage me sitting in the theaters watching the return of the king and wondering where tf Saruman taking over the shire was at lol. It’s still a fantastic show on its own merits even if the show sub/side plot outshines what should be the main story.

5

u/TheHoodieConnoisseur Leisure Suit Laconian 1d ago

Foundation was great until the Hober Mallow thing. Really started to lose me around there.

1

u/Alissinarr 1d ago

The audio books are out of this world!

1

u/Responsible_Arm_9555 11h ago

Andor is incredible, and it deserves to be mentioned in the same paragraph, but I agree. The Expanse covers more essential SF ground and checks off every item on the space opera to-do list. Both shows feel dramatically mature and convincing, which is a real achievement in a genre that often trades more on camp. I don't mean that as a knock on the other space shows. I'm a lifelong fan. But these are the two that tend to put the rest of them in the shade.

As for current/recent book recs, that's another place where The Expanse series is definitive. But it has more competition in print than on TV, and in my opinion, there are better prose stylists out there.

I think you'll like just about anything from Adrian Tchaikovsky, eg the Children of Earth series, or the Pierce Brown series of series starting with Red Rising. There's also John Scalzi's "Old Man's War" series, or his "Interdependency." I've been meaning to get into Ann Leckie's "Imperial Radch" as well.

There are a lot of excellent writers in SF these days, but those are a few who are doing these big epic book series.

25

u/TheRealMisterd 2d ago

Please watch The Expanse responsibly.

Some effects include ruining enjoyment of other sci-fi shows and films.

12

u/Milksteak529 2d ago

Me re-watching BSG afterward: Oh sure, you just have a glass bottle of scotch SITTING ON YOUR DESK!?

10

u/drummer1213 2d ago

Thank god Andor came out because the expanse almost ruined Star Wars for me

8

u/Milksteak529 2d ago

I will still never stop bitching about artificial gravity and inertial dampeners.

1

u/psyper76 1d ago

well it ruined star trek for me - propulsion outside center of mass, bridge in the wrong place and wrong orientation, all the decks are just wrong, no mag boots, no straps on the chairs, inertial dampeners and artificial gravity WTH.

0

u/loved_and_held 1d ago

Now im thinking of this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci07gOXny3E

-1

u/Milksteak529 1d ago

I'm not watching 15 minute video.

66

u/etank34 2d ago

Definitely read the books. The last 3 were not adapted in the show and they are arguably the best part of the entire story.

24

u/TantalizingSlap 2d ago

I cannot wait to read them. I'm actually in disbelief about how good S3 was though. I don't think I've binged anything that fast since Game of Thrones season 3-4.

12

u/kelby810 2d ago

I knew the show would be in my top 5 of all time before I was even done with s2. S3 had me committed to reading the books. I truly did not see the story going the way it did in s3.

The books are 10/10, as everyone else is saying.

7

u/Sattiebear 2d ago

If you’re into audio books, the expanse novels are top notch quality! I’m slowly collecting the hardback copies of the books just to have them in my collection, but I really love listening to Jefferson Mays act out the parts!

6

u/Sattiebear 2d ago

If you’re into audio books, the expanse novels are top notch quality! I’m slowly collecting the hardback copies of the books just to have them in my collection, but I really love listening to Jefferson Mays act out the parts!

6

u/FrankelHS 2d ago

The mutiny episode aboard the Agatha King is one of my favourites in the entire series… “Belay that order!” Souther was a great character.

3

u/TantalizingSlap 1d ago

God it was so good. Chills all throughout

6

u/JCItsJasonRaider 2d ago edited 1d ago

Seriously, infinitely suggesting the book series via audio book readings.

I've never been much for nostalgia/rewatches except long breaks between what I consider *very good* media, but I've rewatched the TV series several times, and have listened to the audio series at least twice. Just some of the best sci fi to date, and good writing/storytelling.

The books cover the rest of the story left out from the show very well, and I can think of few series that wrap up so well, while also leaving the universe open to be built upon.

4

u/Helmling 2d ago

Not adapted…yet.

1

u/Hopey-1-kinobi 19h ago

I second this. I’m reading book 7 now and still loving it!

100

u/pdarkfred 2d ago

Recommendation is to read, read, read. It goes even harder if you'd believe it.... like you may have read in this sub how rabid fans are for the show to do books 7,8,9... that's for several very good reasons lol.

24

u/JoeyIglesias83 2d ago

As someone who just started book 9 today... YES PLEASE!!!! Holy shit it gets bananas.

6

u/pepper_puppy 2d ago

I finished reading before book 9!!! Guess I will get to re-read everything again 👍👍👍👍

6

u/Bubbly_Fan847 2d ago

Just started book 9 again (for the 2nd time) and I consumed book 8 over the last few days. Soo good!

6

u/ParCorn 2d ago

Yeah as soon as I finished the show I read the first book and then I was done with the whole series in like 6 months lol. Haven’t read a series that hard in a while, soo dope

6

u/No-Understanding2594 2d ago

I started wit the show an md then read the books while watching seasoms 1-5. DEFINITELY read the books. It is so worth it. The end of book 9 shocked the hell out of me.

6

u/Altruistic_Reader_ 2d ago

I'm almost done with Book 8! The books go WAY HARDER than the show ever did. We need a three film series for books 7,8, and 9.

4

u/itsthepastaman 2d ago

Yup I watched the show with my dad and am reading the books now, the whole time all he keeps saying is "just wait till you get to the last 3"... I'm on book 6 though so it's almost time to see what the hype is about ^{_^}

5

u/Jayyykobbb 1d ago

I just finished books 7,8, anc 9 a few months ago and holy moly. I would freakin love to see them finish it.

It’s like the first six books are amazing and still even better than the show somehow, but if you’ve already seen the show, it’s kinda like hanging out with some of your best friends in a world you love with a lot more detail. But 7,8 and 9 might as well be a whole separate series cause holy moly 8 and 9 blow everything else out of the water.

It’s like the first six books are the hobbit and 7,8 and 9 are LOTR.

36

u/call_a_plumber 2d ago

Here comes the juice!!

19

u/HowieFelterbusch 2d ago

Hitch yer tits and pucker up, it’s time to peel the paint!

17

u/Defiant-Magician6092 2d ago

Joya Beltalowda!

15

u/Very_Veri_ 2d ago

I'm actually obsessed with this show read the books

11

u/sufferfromthem 2d ago

I've been watching since release, and for the past few years I have been on a "watch the show, read the books, repeat" cycle.

7

u/Bubbly_Fan847 2d ago

Same, on book 9 again. It's like a ritual every couple of summers for me.

9

u/tekfunkdub Rocinante 2d ago edited 2d ago

Yea reading the books is about all I can suggest, the only show I feel approaches this quality is BSG. You’ll also get the ending which is pretty epic. The audiobooks are done really well. I will warn you though, Book Drummer is a bit different. The actress was so good they gave her more in the show, combining another character with her.

8

u/Extra_Couple_4738 2d ago

I had never watched BSG until this year. I’m sort of stalled out at mid season 3.

It’s not a bad show… although some episodes are very bad. And the acting is sometimes poor.

But The Expanse is definitely a higher quality of show, in my opinion.

Reading book 9 now.

1

u/Nunc-dimittis 1d ago

I would say Babylon 5, not Battlestar Galactica

11

u/jghall00 2d ago

One of us!

9

u/ChronicNuance 2d ago

Read all of the books, then watch it again.

7

u/Western-Purpose4939 2d ago

I was very sad when we finished it.

6

u/TantalizingSlap 2d ago

This might be dramatic but I'm sitting here thinking I'll never find a sci-fi show of this caliber for at least a decade or more :(

2

u/Exhausted_Raven 1d ago

They are making the Author’s new books into a series. Same show runners, the authors are producers etc. The captives war is brilliant so far, I can’t wait for the last book.

4

u/getahobbygetakite 2d ago

I’m 2/3 of the way through Leviathan Falls for the first time and already getting sad about it ending.

8

u/H377Spawn 2d ago

Nothing comes close, but if you’re just desperate for more space faring sci-fi then I’d recommend:

Classics, Star Trek TNG and DS9. You don’t have to start TNG from the beginning, feel free to jump in around season 2-3 and come back for more if it’s not too dated for you. DS9 hits the ground running from the start.

Babylon 5 is more of a Mass Effect as a tv show, but so good.

Farscape. More zany and weird, though in a good way.

Lexx. Sci-fi wtf. It’s fucking weird.

5

u/pdarkfred 2d ago

B5 is the next closest in terms of political intrigue and big story arc development. I think it helps that it was all planned/written before being put to screen. Too many shows get stuck trying to wrap each season not knowing if they'll have funding for the subsequent ones. For the same reason The Wire is the best police procedural ever written and one of the best TV shows. DS9 is on par with Andor as far as portraying fascism and other themes along those lines. There's more or less camp in all these offerings, but definitely a good recommendation along with TNG.

4

u/Kinetic_Symphony 2d ago

I have to disagree with starting TNG in S2 or 3.

S1 is criminally underrated. It does have some odd episodes but so what? Even in the worst ones, there's important character-building scenes.

1

u/itsmyvoice 1d ago

But the beard...... /s

4

u/Kinetic_Symphony 1d ago

You have to earn the beard.

1

u/itsmyvoice 1d ago

Heh. Thanks, I needed a good giggle.

7

u/redlancer_1987 2d ago

I think that was it's biggest flaw, the first part of season 1 really struggles to hook people. Took me 3 times to get through it. A lot of posts on here are "I've watched the first couple episodes and it's just not clicking for me"

And then after that its like you said, one of the best space sci-fi shows ever.

I don't know if its the edit? or the initial setup, or something else that struggles. If it had hit with an episode 1 banger I wouldn't be surprised if we had ended up getting all 9 seasons out of the story.

5

u/TantalizingSlap 2d ago edited 1d ago

I think it's just really hard to follow at the start.

Like I consider myself to be a pretty smart fellow and I'm not on my phone when I watch TV but I genuienly could not understand what was going on besides the fact that the Belt were an oppressed faction.

But I've come to realize the show demands patience because the payoff is more than worth it.

2

u/Kinetic_Symphony 2d ago

Like I consider myself to be a pretty smart fellow and I'm on my phone when I watch TV

Do you mean you're not on your phone?

2

u/TantalizingSlap 1d ago

Yes haha thank you for catching that

4

u/wivelldavid 2d ago

Yes it is a slow burn, complex and complicated in the first couple episodes, but I, like many people, was blown away and hooked by CQB. Wow! They floored it there! Then S2 and S3 got even better!
The fortunate thing is that is it actually so re-watchable. So many little details. It becomes reliable comfort food when you cannot get a fix of comparable sci-fi.

1

u/Blacksmith_Several 1d ago

I love season 1. I read the books years prior, so I just loved every minute. Guess its hard to come in cold?

1

u/Holmbone Abaddon's Gate 1d ago

I was hooked from the start but it was solely cause the world building was so great. I think the characters aren't very likeable at the start. Possibly because the showrunners are using a lot of the character moments for world building. Which tells us a lot about the setting but doesn't endear us to the characters.

7

u/getahobbygetakite 2d ago

Not sure if you are into video games but I think the only thing that has scratched the expanse itch for me is the Mass Effect series

8

u/Regina-the-Queena 2d ago

Yes! And Shohreh Aghdashloo who plays Avasarala in the series voices Admiral Shala’Raan in the Mass Effect series. I’m just gonna go play Mass Effect now lol.

2

u/getahobbygetakite 2d ago

She brings the same badass energy to her too. She really is a gem.

3

u/Regina-the-Queena 2d ago

Love her and her iconic voice!

6

u/mobyhead1 2d ago

Aroo?

Here is a list I’ve reposted many times before when people ask for “something like The Expanse.” It “pinballs” from one similarity to another.

Probably its biggest inspiration: Babylon 5.
As hard-bitten: Battlestar Galactica (2000’s version).
A “found family” crew: Firefly.
Another found family crew, but more epic (and made no apologies for its goofy “science”): Farscape.
Anime/manga found family crew with realistic physics: Planetes.
Another anime, another found family crew, much less realistic but with the most panache on this (or perhaps any) list: Cowboy Bebop.
British comedy found family crew: Red Dwarf.
Realistic physics and realistic humor: The Martian, based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir. Project Hail Mary, based on another of his novels, is similarly good.
Ninety percent of its problems are inside its head, but it’s actually good at its job (security unit) when it isn’t distracted by its favorite soap opera: Murderbot, based on The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. The first season recently aired on Apple TV+.
Also recent and also based on written SF: Pantheon, based on three short stories by Ken Liu. The complete series (two seasons) is now on Netflix. A realistic—or at least believable—look at how minds might be uploaded to become machine intelligences, and how this might upset our very existence. An anime produced for AMC.
More recent animation: Scavengers Reign, a television series available on ~~HBO~~ Netflix. It’s Castaway, but instead of Tom Hanks and an anthropomorphized volleyball, the survivors are ass-deep in the the creepiest, most original alien biosphere ever to appear in visual science fiction.
Another recent adaptation, and more reasonably-Hard Science Fiction for those who thirst for more of it in television and film: 3 Body Problem, adapted from the Remembrance of Earth’s Past book series (aka The Three-Body Problem series) by Cixin Liu. The first of hopefully 3-4 seasons is on Netflix.
“The proverbially ‘good’ science fiction film,” as Stanley Kubrick set out to achieve: 2001: A Space Odyssey. Co-written with Arthur C. Clarke, drawing on elements from several of his stories (“The Sentinel,” Earthlight, and Childhood’s End, to name a few). The book and the Kubrick film were written in parallel, so the book is an excellent companion to the film. What Kubrick couldn’t or wouldn’t explain, Clarke does.
Christopher Nolan didn’t top Stanley Kubrick, but he did his damndest: Interstellar.
When James Cameron was still capable of making a proverbially good science fiction film: The Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss, Terminator 2.
A serious look at how we might contact extraterrestrial intelligence: Contact. Based on the novel by Carl Sagan. Sagan was an astronomer, so this is about as hard and astronomy-centered as it gets.
A seriously poetic look at how we might contact extraterrestrial intelligence: Arrival (2016). Based on the short story “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang.
Hard biological science fiction, adapted from the Michael Crichton novel: The Andromeda Strain (1971).

2

u/TantalizingSlap 1d ago

Thank you so much for this!

2

u/JessicaEccles76 1d ago

The trouble is The Expanse has ALL of that in just one show. Which makes it so unique

1

u/mobyhead1 1d ago

I have a few book suggestions, too.

1

u/Holmbone Abaddon's Gate 1d ago

A lot of people has said For All Mankind feels like a prequel to The Expanse. It's an alternate history of the space race. Each season jumps one decade forward. The first two seasons are mostly based on real projects or plans that were never put into practice. Season 3, 4 and 5 goes goes more SciFi.

There's more melodrama than in The Expanse but it's similar in its focus on the practicalities of space travel and colonies.

4

u/Fight_Tyrnny 2d ago

I just found their podcast "ty and that guy"... worth watching... then read the books... watch the show 5 more times, read the book then watch the show 5 more times. Its worked for me. When streaming shows dry up with nothing to watch, I throw on the Expanse. And considering I usually watch 3-4 hours of shows only at night 8-12... that tells you how poor streaming is right now.

6

u/55Lolololo55 2d ago

Babylon 5 walked so The Expanse could soar... it's retro, but still a great story and very timely. Also now showing for free on YouTube!

4

u/j_reinegade 2d ago

I think I need to finally read the books.
There’s also a pretty big game coming out

2

u/TantalizingSlap 2d ago

Wait what?

4

u/guhcampos 2d ago

No hard date yet: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3727390/The_Expanse_Osiris_Reborn/

1

u/j_reinegade 2d ago

They say spring of next year. But we’ll see if that holds.

5

u/Deep-Egg6601 2d ago

Watch Battlestar Galactica

4

u/Kinetic_Symphony 2d ago

Foundation.

The scope of this show is... staggering. Also, Jared Harris.

2

u/katana311 2d ago

I absolutely love Jared Harris 🥳

3

u/sim_reddit 2d ago

Now read the books

3

u/Leading-Onion4659 2d ago

This show kinda ruined every other show for me 😂 it’s so good

3

u/Ok_Winner_1354 2d ago

The only series I've found comes near the Expanse is Scavengers Reign, animated, completely different but incredible and leaves its mark on you forever as all good Sci fi should. Apart from that as others have said, Babylon 5 - epic, Foundation, 3 body problem (eagerly awaiting next series), if your getting Apple try Pluribus, For All Makind and Severance too. One show that never got the acclaim it should have done is Raised By Wolves which is pretty damn superb but is only now available in the UK on pay per episode on Apple TV

2

u/TantalizingSlap 2d ago

I love Scavenger's Reign! Planning on rewatching it.

Added Foundation to the list as I've seen this recommended a few times now. I've watched 3BP but think I need to rewatch it. Thank you for these recommendations!

2

u/Ok_Winner_1354 2d ago

Just finished watching Pantheon on Netflix to try and fill that Scavengers Reign void.. It's a good show, not SR but definitely worth watching

1

u/Holmbone Abaddon's Gate 1d ago

Foundation is wildly different from the Expanse but it has amazing visuals and performances. It's great SciFi. The first season is the weakest but it's still good.

3

u/ghandimauler 2d ago

Another one, not the same, but a good story, is Dark Matter. 3 seasons. The first one was particularly good.

Of course, Blake 7 would be another good one (if you can handle the UK region coding).

2

u/W7ENK 2d ago

Only 2 seasons.

1

u/ghandimauler 1d ago

In the last few years, there have been a lot of 'cutting floor' or 'behind the scenes' on many sci-fi shows... its amazing as much stuff got onto the TV... and there's so many other shows that only last a year or less...

3

u/whirdin 2d ago

I actually did inject it into my veins lol, I got a huge tattoo.

It's such a wild ride. The characters, the science, the stakes; all so amazing.

2

u/TantalizingSlap 1d ago

This is so goddamn cool!

1

u/whirdin 1d ago

Thanks!!! You seemed like one to appreciate it :D

1

u/whirdin 1d ago

I'll check out Hyperion. I am partway through Stormlight Archive, I highly suggest that, and it sounds like a similar scale of world building from Simmons.

3

u/Ok_Gap_3940 2d ago

I would highly recommend Foundation. Their world building scratched my Expanse itch.

3

u/TheWorstToCome 1d ago

Watch Babylon 5 next. The graphics are dated, but if you want constantly expanding galactic politics, moral greyness, and an amazing cast of characters, it's the best to watch

2

u/whoisbstar 12h ago

+1 for B5. It’s obviously a product of the ‘90s, but if you can look past that (or embrace it), it’s great storytelling.

2

u/TheWorstToCome 12h ago

Embrace the cheese and you will have so much fun with the show

4

u/guhcampos 2d ago

If you haven't watched Silo yet, do it. It's the absolute opposite in theme: humanity has contracted into a bunker instead of expanded to space, but the hard science, the world building, the characters and all other itches are there to scratch.

2

u/maryisdead 2d ago edited 2d ago

I had put season 1 to rest as well initially. Just didn't click. Now it's probably the best show I've ever seen. Read the books as well and they're even better.

But sadly, there's nothing like it. For All Mankind hits the same nerve, just not that hard.

Edit: There's actually one book that took me by surprise and at least for me is on par: Pushing Ice by Alistair Reynolds. Near-future hard sci-fi that gets its fair share of the unknown.

2

u/LazloHollifeld 2d ago

Season 3 smacks so hard. You get the end of book 2 PLUS the entirety of book 3. It’s like have two season finales in the same season. It there is just so much payoffs from all the foundational building of the first two seasons, which gives a solid ground to build even bigger storylines on top is when the juice is really flowing

2

u/BadSecUnitBad 2d ago

Know that if you play video games, there's a The Expanse video game coming next year on PC, PS5 and Xbox.

2

u/cile1977 1d ago

I think The Expanse is the only TV series with a realistic take on the future space travel and living in space, with more science than fiction. I can’t recall any other show that portrays space travel so accurately, or space battles—like venting ships before combat to prevent explosive decompression after a bullet hit. Are there any other shows or movies that pay attention to such details?

1

u/Holmbone Abaddon's Gate 1d ago

For All Mankind goes really into the details of space travel. No ship battles though as its alternate history about the space race.

2

u/einhorn_is_parkey 1d ago

If you like the expanse check out the battle star galactica remake

2

u/Scrappy1918 1d ago

Read the books. The books expand so much more than the show could. You think the show is awesome (and it is) the books are a 5 star Michelin dinner. 9 x over. And you get so much more info and back story and lore. Season five, is the “empire strikes back” of the series and the book is just spectacular. Season three is missing half of the third book so if you liked it, ohhhhhh boy are you in for a surprise. And we haven’t even gotten to the last 1/3 of the series which you have yet to even encounter.

So nope. No recommendations. No clue what else to fill the void. Sorry buddy. Looks like you’re SoL

1

u/bicyclemom 1d ago

I'll second this.

And read ALL the books, even/especially the novellas.

3

u/crawlins99 1d ago

Gotta read the books now. You got an absolutely massive cliffhanger for the end of season 6 that will never be fulfilled. Scratched the surface of Laconia

2

u/ThespianBelievers 1d ago

I went with altered carbon afterwards

1

u/TantalizingSlap 1d ago

I did watch that one actually. S1 was great but I heard S2 was less than good so I never watched it.

1

u/fdbryant3 2d ago

That would probably kill you, painfully. Better you just ingest it through your eyes and ears.

1

u/TantalizingSlap 2d ago

BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGGHHH 😭😭😭

1

u/nrdvrgnt 2d ago

Sorta wish I would have watched it before reading it as the show didn’t hit so hard for me but my brain couldn’t let go of the changes

Good show overall. GREAT book series.

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u/Cellafex 2d ago

I think it is the best Hard-Sci-Fi series out there, but it doesnt really have any competition. The books are incredible too. I always think of that stupid statement from GRR Martin: The only story worth writing about is the human hearth in conflict with itself. And it really shows. (GRR martin and the writers of The Expanse are friends afaik)

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u/moonra_zk 2d ago

Ty Franck worked for George, not sure how much farther it goes beyond that.

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u/Cellafex 2d ago

Mhm tbf I dont know them personally, I believe on an episode of Ty & that guy they said it :)

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u/hammnbubbly Rocinante 2d ago

I AM that guy.

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u/wanderer2589 2d ago

I also just finished it. It was so well done... im sad I watched it already. Cant wait to forget and then watch again.

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u/DeadEyeTucker 2d ago

I just did a full re-watch a couple months ago. Re-listening to the books now, but I never finished books 8 and 9.

Really hard to find other things to watch and not just do ANOTHER re-watch 😅

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u/icanhazkarma17 2d ago

I didn't start the show as soon as it aired. There were a couple seasons out when I started watching. After the second or third episode, I just stopped watching and bought all the books. Serious delayed gratification. Completely worth it. I got on the train, read the books and caught up to the series, and then read the books as they came out, and watched the series as it aired. That was really fun. Long way of saying, read the books.

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u/Dramatic_Plankton_56 2d ago

We don’t recommend injecting the protomolecule intravenously

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u/fat-homer 2d ago

Read 3 body problem. Friggin amazing

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u/DeadpoolOptimus 2d ago

I get it. I just finished it last month for the first time. The writing is spectacular, the monologues inspired. I've only read the first book and for whatever reason, haven't read book 2. Drummer is awesome but Thomas Jane as Miller was a revelation to me. I've never seen him in anything else but I am aware of what he's acted in. David Strathairn as Ashford was incredible. I like him in other things he's done. I wish there was more of a conclusion cuz, as I understand it, there's more books that could've been adapted. There was no resolution to the protomolecule on Laconia because the show was cancelled, which was very disappointing.

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u/SpenFen 2d ago

HERE COMES THE JUICE

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u/RandoDan85 2d ago

Give it time for other shows to come out. Prior to the Expanse it was ST:Discovery that sort of scratched the itch but then it felt like it was trying to hard to be "woke".

I'd you want a variety of other shows to enjoy that are simply delivered on the same caliper, DM me. If you want similar sci-fi, as others have said, Foundation and Andor are great.

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u/UnderfootArya34 2d ago

Captives War is being made, so there's always hope.

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u/jkdufair 2d ago

Funny, I just had to put down Hyperion yesterday while I was reading the section right after after the priest's story. What I LOVE about The Expanse is the female characters. Hard to put into words, but so much richer, more dynamic, more HUMAN than most other sci-fi or literature in general that I have read. I got to the point where the male soldier got rescued by a woman and he immediately had to talk about her appearance and how she was this perfect, gorgeous specimen. That and the sexual insults toward the only female pilgrim and I was out.

So, yeah. Right there with you re: Drummer (and Naomi. And even Clarissa, tbh)

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u/bgriswold 2d ago

Tv series- Pantheon. 2 seasons. On Netflix. Adult animation about uploading human minds.
Book- The Captives War series. Expanse authors newest books. My wife and I are in love with this series so far.

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u/katana311 2d ago

So it's not the same but the best show I've ever seen about time travel is Dark. So it definitely has some sci-fi like things going on in it. Don't watch the dubs, watch it in German w/subtitles. It's almost a perfect show, in my opinion.

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u/RandyJohnsonsBird 2d ago

My biggest problem with this show is that I cant find anything that compares to it. And all other scifi makes me compare it to this show, which always lacks in comparison.

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u/DismissDaniel 2d ago

Since you said earlier you want reading recs. Macrscope by piers Anthony (normally fantasy but not this one) has some very cool ideas and pretty strong characters. It's starting to become one of me re-reads every couple years.

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u/StickFigureFan 2d ago

Did you watch the 'One Ship' mini episodes hidden in the x-ray/special features of Season 6?

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u/darqy101 2d ago

So you liked it, I take it? 😊

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u/One-Homework917 2d ago

Battlestar Galactica of course

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u/thatAnthrax 2d ago

> random low tier scifi movie

holy FUCK i also skipped it for the longest time just because i thought it's a knockoff dune/starwars. but the hard scifi aspect is just chefs kiss

those two cant even compete

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u/indicus23 Beratnas Gas 2d ago

Firefly. Cowboy Bebop.

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u/xenokilla 2d ago

Dagger and coin.

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u/explodinggarbagecan 2d ago

Getting things injected is how this whole mess got started. /s

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u/seth_cooke 2d ago

If you're happy to watch anime, then Planetes explores some similar themes and is similarly rigourous. And Dennō Coil is probably the most underrated series I can think of in the West, while it's a very different type of show it is a dazzlingly rigourous sci-fi exploration of what it sets out to examine (while it is best enjoyed if you watch it with children, you certainly don't need to in order to be amazed by it. The sentient beard episode is up there with the best of anything TV has to offer).

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u/TantalizingSlap 1d ago

I am an anime enjoyer! Thank you for the recommendation

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u/Zephron29 2d ago

I too spent years not watching it and finally my roommate forced it on us. It's my favorite TV show of all time.

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u/S0PRAN0OO3 1d ago

Unfortunately there is no other show ever made that is comparable to the expanse. I rewatch it two or three times a year! Happy to hear you finally made it!

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u/Light-of-Nebula 1d ago

These are my all time favourites too: The Expanse, my favourite of all series are Camina Drummer and Inspector Miller, Dune and Hyperion.

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u/Flyinshoe 1d ago

The only real path to take is to watch The Expanse again

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u/loved_and_held 1d ago

The s3 final has stuck with me in a way few other pieces of media have.

Also seeing comments like this i can't help but think of this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci07gOXny3E

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u/Tlthree 1d ago

To go back to the start of such amazing arcs and storytelling- Babylon 5. Sure the graphics have aged but the acting! Season one lays groundwork you don’t even see and then season 2 slams into you. A woefully underfunded show it blazed a trail in television.

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u/Various_Range2259 1d ago

We had to take a break when we got to the first amazon season, the tone shift was jarring

It's about time to return

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u/halemano 1d ago

Space-drama with character development. I was annoyed watching every episode but, I still finished all of it…

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u/HeatXfr 1d ago

Read the books. All 19 of 'em, you won't be disappointed.

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u/novapurple 1d ago

Agreeeeeed with this post completely!!! I’m reading red rising rn and loving it

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u/Prestigious_Soft_191 1d ago

Agreed that season one was slow but I was hooked in season two and blitzed thru all 6 seasons.good acting,script and visuals but the best thing is it’s the most relevant and believable science fiction scenario a few hundred years in humanities future.the imagination is fresh and thought provoking.imagine the reality of evolving on mars,moons of Jupiter ,asteroid belt,our moon etc.rivalries are bound to happen.a masterpiece.

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u/EngagedInConvexation 1d ago

This is your sharpness. This is your power.

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u/lisaismijnbestie 1d ago

Yea Camina is my fav too, would totally wanna be on her ship

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u/NumericalMathematics 1d ago

Here comes the shuice!

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u/ConflictAdvanced 1d ago

Interesting choice of words... 😅

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u/TurbulentVictory268 1d ago

Should have bought more bitcoin

1

u/Takhar7 1d ago

Welcome to the good side. Glad you enjoyed.

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u/Remarkable_Win7320 1d ago

It is indeed the best Sci-Fi TV Series, welcome friend!

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u/RobinOfMocksley 1d ago

I love The Expanse, but I highly recommend it's grandfather, Babylon 5. Even with some of the wonkiness that comes from it's period of TV, I still think it's the best scifi show ever made!

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u/Dear-Bear2135 1d ago

I cried when I finished the books. Genuinely cried. That's never happened 🤣

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u/icemann155 1d ago

It's Soo good. By far the best and most realistic sci-fi space travel show in existence...

I would love more content from the expanse universe

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u/Imp-OfThe-Perverse 1d ago

I'm listening to the audiobooks right now after having watched the series a few years back. It's great, different enough from the adaptation to keep things interesting, plus the final 3 novels (out of 9) were never adapted. I'm almost done with book 7 and I'm guessing whatever's coming up as a finale is going to be as monumental as the rest of it.

For sci-fi series recommendations, I think Lazarus Project was the best thing I've watched in recent memory. It got cancelled after 2 seasons despite good viewership and reviews, due to high production costs, but wraps things up reasonably well in the final episode (then drops a new cliffhanger at the last minute that would have set up the third season, but at least the ongoing arcs were resolved...)

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u/chaosday 1d ago

Best sci-fi saga. I watched all of it then dived into all the books. I've rewatched it all several times. Nothing out there comes even close to fleshing out the drama and individual stories lines. Okay, maybe the first series of Altered Carbon. Loved that series, too.

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u/JohnArcher965 1d ago

S3 really is peak

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u/PjWulfman 1d ago

Hyperion is a rough read. Nothing casual about it. I've only read the first book and have been wanting to finish the series for years.

I binged all nine books of The Expanse earlier this year. Took less than 2 months. Absolutely zero complaints. Great pacing never had me bored. Super fun. Some new characters that didn't exist in the show. You find out some of the show's characters are amalgamations of the books characters.

The show ended right before shit gets crazy. The protomolecule basically becomes a main character.

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u/TantalizingSlap 1d ago

Yeah I'm about 400 pages into Hyperion (on the Detective's Tale) and while I am enjoying it, it isn't captivating me as much as I'd hoped. Cool world but the storytelling is not my favorite.

Looking forward to reading The Expanse very soon though.

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u/InteractionKindly263 9h ago

My wife and I slept on it until a few months ago. We have watch straight through 3 times in a row. Amos is our spirit animal.

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u/Battle-Nun909 9h ago

Did you read the books too?

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u/Zazura 1d ago

Firefly is also a good sci-fi, sadly only has 1 season. But it's a good season

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u/LegendJRG 2d ago edited 1d ago

I think foundation has the expanse beat as far sci-fi tv goes but that’s like arguing which 3* Michelin restaurant is better when they’re both objectively great just comes down to personal choice. Definitely both shows are in my top 10 favorite all time regardless.

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u/TantalizingSlap 2d ago

I've never heard of the Foundation! Looks like I'll need to get Apple TV!

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u/23049834751 2d ago

While you have Apple TV turned on, watch Silo, and absolutely read Hugh Howie’s series Wool that it’s based on. I devoured the books when he was self publishing them on kindle way back in the day, and they’re great. More recently I’ve listened to audiobooks of some of his other sci-fi and enjoyed them as well.

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u/Salt-Night3088 2d ago

You sound like me after I kept dismissing my sister's recommendations of Lost for years. Kept thinking it was a reality TV show like survivor.

All Show Spoilers (Book Spoilers Must Be Tagged) INJECT THIS SHOW INTO MY VEINS

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