The Expanse season 5 represents a seismic shift both for the fictional Sol system and the show itself, and the finale is packed with standout moments - here's our deep dive into the dramatic conclusion. Heading into The Expanse's fifth season (and second on Amazon Prime), Marco Inaros was primed as the next major antagonist after Earth, Mars and The Belt finally struck common ground in the wake of the Protomolecule Ring Gate opening.
Marco proves his capabilities in no uncertain terms in The Expanse season 5, attacking Earth with stealth-clad asteroids that devastate the planet to the brink of collapse. The leader of the Free Navy also swipes Fred Johnson's Protomolecule sample, has the outward face of the OPA assassinated, takes Naomi Nagata hostage, and politely forces other Belters to join him or be destroyed. Accompanied by Fred's loyal crew from Tycho, Holden sets out to rescue Naomi and halt Marco's ascension, and is quickly joined by Alex and Bobbie in the Razorback (now dubbed the Screaming Firehawk). Little do the pair know they're heading into a trap, as Naomi's vessel is rigged to blow. Meanwhile, Chrisjen Avasarala has been reinstated as the UN Secretary General, as Earth's leaders finally realize she's the only politician with her heart and her head in the right place.
With the stakes higher than ever before, The Expanse season 5's finale had plenty to answer for. Viewers have noted the season's slower pace, and were expecting a big pay off at the end of the road. Would Naomi escape from the Chetzemoka? Can the Rocinante survive Marco's ambush? Whose side will Camina Drummer ultimately land on? And are these evil aliens ever going to reveal themselves?
Alex's Death & Expanse Book Changes Explained
Mercifully, The Expanse season 5 finished filming shortly before lockdown measures were implemented, but several months later, allegations emerged accusing Cas Anvar (the actor behind Alex Kamal) of sexual misconduct. Following an investigation by The Expanse's production company, Alcon Entertainment confirmed Alex would not be returning for the sixth and final season. Even so, it's impossible not to be shocked when Alex's death scene arrives in The Expanse season 5's finale.
Naomi valiantly attempts to warn the Screaming Firehawk that they're flying into a trap by sending the Chetzemoka into a spin that'll make the ship impossible to board, but Alex keeps flying towards danger, determined not to let Holden down. In a moment of foreshadowing, Alex's flying partner, Bobbie Draper, warns that the pair are already "juiced to the gills" and could "stroke out" if the high burn to reach Naomi is maintained.
In a desperate final gambit, Naomi puts on a VAC suit and jumps into the void of space, using her body to mime out a warning message. Alex and Bobbie finally understand what Naomi Nagata has been trying to tell them, but still they refuse to concede. Bobbie dons a suit of her own and physically drags Naomi safely into the Razorback. Unfortunately, they return to find Alex has died of a stroke. In the semi-realistic world of The Expanse, entering a hard burn during space travel requires a cocktail of drugs that are shot through a ship's seats directly into the passenger. Viewers have been told before that relying too heavily on this technique can trigger a stroke, and by pursuing Naomi's ship so ferociously, Alex's body has given out.
There remains no confirmation either way, but it seems highly unlikely that The Expanse would've killed off Alex Kamal had concerning allegations not been raised. The pilot remains a key character in later books, and his death doesn't drive the narrative forward whatsoever. Additional dialogue (such as Bobbie's "stroke out" line) and reshoots could've covered up the hastily altered ending effectively enough. Alex may not die in the source material, but his demise mirrors that of Fred Johnson in the original books. Fred suffers a stroke on the Rocinante during a dogfight with the Free Navy, but the live-action character departed earlier this season courtesy of Sakai.
Drummer's Crew & Story In The Expanse Season 6
Buying Alex and Bobbie time to rescue Naomi in the Razorback, James Holden takes the Rocinante to combat the Marco Inaros' ambush. Though they initially have no expectations of victory, surprise allies appear in the form of old friend, Camina Drummer. For the good of her crew, Drummer aligned with Marco Inaros earlier in The Expanse season 5, but burning resentment over Ashford's murder, the near-death of Naomi, and the obvious attempt to undermine her authority meant it was only a matter of time before Camina stopped drumming to the Free Navy's beat. The mutiny divides Drummer's polyamorous crew, and only Michio and Josep remain loyal to her. With Drummer in control of one ship and Josep another, the Roci suddenly has two allies. Together, they put Marco's ships firmly out of commission.
By the end of the episode, Drummer has taken Michio and Josep to form a spin-off crew, and Avasarala publicly declares that Earth is not at war with regular, law-abiding Belters. This sets up Drummer to become the legitimate leader of good Belters in The Expanse season 6. Those who want war with the Inners can flock to Marco, everyone else can rally under Drummer's banner, as she honors the wishes of Fred Johnson and Klaes Ashford. Drummer's TV mutiny is inspired by Michio Pa's arc in the original Expanse books. Where the TV show's "Michio" is a side character, she's supposed to be the one who instigates a Free Navy rebellion instead of Drummer. Using Michio Pa as a guide, Drummer will formally align with Earth and the Rocinante in The Expanse season 6, opposing the brutal rule of Marco Inaros and representing all peaceful residents of the Belt.
The New Rocinante Crew
The audience already knew the Rocinante would be one member down when Alex's exit was confirmed ahead of time, but The Expanse's season 5 finale sets up a three new additions to Holden's crew. Directly replacing Alex is Bull - Fred Johnson's former right-hand man on Tycho. When Holden takes off to rescue Naomi, Bull assumes driving duties on the Rocinante, performing admirably while shooting up the Zmeya and Marco's ambush vessels. Bull more than proves himself as a pilot, and his brash demeanor brings a refreshing counter to Holden's idealism. The final episode more or less confirms Bull will replace Alex as the Roci's pilot in The Expanse season 6, as he sits in the driver's seat and sips coffee from a cup marked "Kamal."
And the new members don't end there. Having declared his intention to show Clarissa Mao that her life still has meaning, Amos uses some brilliant logic manipulation to convince Holden that "Peaches" can join the crew. Amos has previously spoken highly of Clarissa's mechanical skill, so she'll likely serve as an assistant taking care of the Roci. Bobbie Draper has been an on-and-off Rocinante regular since her debut, but finally seems to have joined on a full-time basis ahead of The Expanse season 6. When Avasarala addresses Holden's group on Luna and declares them an example of harmony between Earth, Mars and Belt, Bobbie is the Red Planet's sole representative. Avasarala's words, combined with Alex's departure, mean Frankie Adams surely has to become the Roci's resident Martian.
The Expanse Season 6's New Villains: Laconia Explained
As far back as The Expanse season 4, Bobbie Draper believed Marco Inaros was being supplied by powerful figures within the Martian military, and while she and Alex never quite get to the bottom of the conspiracy, the truth is revealed in the final moments of The Expanse season 5.
Undeterred by his failure to blow up the Rocinante and get one over on his ex-girlfriend's new man, Marco instigates the next phase of his plan - occupy the Ring Gate. The Free Navy assaults the Earth ships protecting entry to the Slow Zone, and from within the gate's metaphysical lobby, Medina Station (the Belt's former Behemoth, now occupying the Slow Zone within) is revealed to have sided with Marco Inaros. The Free Navy now effectively controls the Sol system's Protomolecule portal. Watching the attack unfold, Avasarala is delighted when Martian vessels appear, but rather than helping their Earth cousins fend off Marco's assault, they join him. Unfortunately, these are not official representatives of Mars, but the enigmatic defectors Marco has been working with all along.
As Bobbie Draper long suspected, Admiral Sauveterre was behind the operation from the very beginning. Along with many others in the Martian military, Sauveterre watched in horror as Mars decayed after the opening of the Ring Gate, becoming lawless and barren, just like Earth. He and his cohorts now seek to build a new, purer Mars in one of the habitable systems that lay beyond the Protomolecule's galactic highway - Laconia. Sauveterre mentions an Admiral Duarte, who appears to have assumed leadership of the new faction, and Paolo Cortázar (seemingly the only Protomolecule expert in The Expanse) is already on Laconia. Many suspected the Protomolecule was ejected from the Zmeya before the ship detonated, and the finale proves this theory correct. In exchange for Martian ships, Marco gave Sauveterre's faction the Belt's Protomolecule sample and Cortazar, who was whisked away from Ceres. The Laconia colonists are using the blue stuff to construct a new Empire from scratch in a faraway system. As per the agreement, Marco gets Sol, the renegade Martians get Laconia, and both go their separate ways... for now.
What Is The Protomolecule Building?
As Cortazar checks in to update Sauveterre on Laconia's progress, The Expanse season 5 reveals a massive Protomolecule structure orbiting the new planet. It's not exactly clear what the monstrosity is supposed to be, but viewers can take an educated guess based on why Sauveterre's rebel Martians wanted the Protomolecule in the first place. The Laconian colonists seek to kick-start their new militaristic civilization using the Protomolecule machinery already on Laconia (similar to Ilus in season 4) and activate the planet with Fred's sample. The construction in the sky appears to be some kind of vessel left behind by the Protomolecule's creators. Using futuristic ships based on alien technology, the Laconians gain a distinct advantage over Earth, Mars, the Free Navy, and any other opponent from the Sol system, but only The Expanse season 6 can confirm exactly how far the Protomolecule will be implemented on Laconia.
Expanse Season 5's Final Scene Explained
Sauvaterre seems to emerge from The Expanse season 5 smelling of roses at first. He's starting an entirely new civilization based upon the purest Martian morals, while simultaneously sticking a big middle finger up to Mars and Earth. But as his ship passes through the Ring Gate to Laconia, time stands still and dark shadows rush around Sauveterre and Lt. Babbage on the bridge. This is the very sensation Holden described to Fred Johnson earlier in season 5. Although everyone else seems to be oblivious to their presence, Holden and Elvi Okoye claim to feel a terrible alien presence whenever they pass through a Ring Gate. The Expanse season 5's final scene ups the stakes with that phenomenon. Sauveterre's ship is simply removed from existence by these villains, marking the first time the aliens have directly attacked in The Expanse. The scene reminds viewers that these Unknown Aggressors who wiped out the Protomolecule creators are growing bolder from the background, getting angrier and angrier each time a ship passes through the Protomolecule's junction.
As the Expanse book series heads into its final volume, the true nature of this alien race hasn't been completely revealed. Amazon's The Expanse only has one more season in the tank, so it'll be interesting to see whether the story behind this dark God-like presence will be revealed properly in season 6, or whether The Expanse will keep faithful to the source material, and the villains will never be fully revealed.