The Expanse season 5 has the potential to be the strongest run of the entire series. The Expanse novels by James S.A. Corey had developed a strong following even before the story of James Holden and the Rocinante crew was turned into a live-action TV series, but The Expanse's popularity has increased exponentially since the show began. Though it may not currently bother the mainstream too much, The Expanse was saved from cancellation following its third season in part due to a hefty and passionate fan campaign. As a result, The Expanse season 4 streamed on Amazon and season 5 will soon follow suit.
Season 4 of The Expanse was generally well-received, with the usual blend of strong characterization, science fiction intrigue and political drama. However, there were also some notable improvements that came purely due to the switch from Syfy to Amazon. With looser restrictions on language, characters could better express themselves, and there was a noticeable uptick in terms of visuals. In terms of story, The Expanse season 4 felt far less rushed than the previous season, with the certainty over the show's future clearly playing a part in that. Nevertheless, some viewers did criticize The Expanse's fourth season for a slower pace. Others might argue this was a strength rather than a drawback, but whatever the case, season 4's action was set primarily on a single planet.
Fortunately, The Expanse season 5 should offer the best of both worlds. On one hand, all the advantages that come from being on Amazon Prime will still be in effect, but where season 4 was based on Cibola Burn, and therefore set firmly on Ilus, season 5 is likely to use Nemesis Games as its foundation. Not only is this book considered one of the strongest in The Expanse's canon, but the story takes place across the solar system, with the Rocinante crew splitting up to take care of their own business before reuniting in the face of a major new villain. Consequently, The Expanse season 5 will likely mix the show's new and improved streaming service style with the more space-faring, expansive stories of earlier seasons.
Another reason The Expanse season 5 could be a belter is the addition of that aforementioned big villain. Marco Inaros loomed in The Expanse's shadows in season 4, only coming to the fore in the finale episode, and this sets him up nicely as the big bad of season 5. The Expanse has featured numerous villains before, but Inaros is a more unique, intense and personal adversary. Murtry was a localized military thug that clashed with the show's protagonists, Ashford redeemed himself, the likes of Errinwright and Mao were more political villains, and the protomolecule is an amoral alien threat. Inaros, on the other hand, is a political revolutionary with powerful unknown backing and a magnetism to rival James Holden's. He's already dealt a crippling blow to Earth and intends to damage the Inners further in season 5. As a captain of the Free Navy, Inaros represents an exciting new threat to the Rocinante crew - one that leads from the front rather than manipulating from the shadows.
Perhaps more importantly, Inaros has a direct link to Holden's crew. While previous villains have usually seen the Roci as a hindrance or a scapegoat, Marco is Naomi's former lover and the pair's child currently stands by his father's side as part of the Free Navy. Whereas the crew so often try not to get involved, Naomi's connection to Marco Inaros is sure to fire up Holden and his team. Exes can be troublesome enough, but when one of them is a violent revolutionary, Holden's struggle for peace in the Sol system is sure to take on a harder edge.
While many viewers enjoyed The Expanse season 4's tighter focus and slow-burn style, the measured pace perhaps wasn't to everyone's taste. With more diverse material and the show's best villain tying everything together, The Expanse season 5 should please fans across the board, and perhaps even attract a new audience who can go back and binge the journey so far.
The Expanse season 5 is currently without a release date.