Will Clarissa Mao join the main Rocinante crew in The Expanse season 6? Throughout the entire story of The Expanse, the show's main ship has comprised of four key crew members. Gradually growing into his role as captain of the Rocinante is Earth's James Holden - a man who always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Roci's engineer is a Belter with a dark past, the level-headed Naomi Nagata, played by Dominique Tipper. Keeping the Roci flying and sending enemies packing is Amos Burton, also hailing from Earth, and driving the bus is Alex Kamal of Martian origin. Temporary crew mates have come and gone along the way, including the ill-fated Shed Garvey, Prax the botanist, and current friend of the crew, Bobbie Draper. However, The Expanse always reverts back to the same core quartet.
In The Expanse season 5, Amos returns to Earth and visits the imprisoned Clarissa Mao with the intention of saving her. Amos' promise is put to the test almost immediately when the prison is destroyed during the Marco Inaros asteroid attack. The duo escape, and Amos takes Clarissa on the run, now referring to her as Peaches, but it remains to be seen how the character will develop in the coming episodes. Could Amos' new friend join the Rocinante on a full-time basis?
Clarissa began as an enemy to Holden, but redeemed herself during the climax of The Expanse season 3. Her path to the Rocinante begins in the following season's premiere, when Amos acknowledges Clarissa's skills as a mechanic, setting up a potential future role on Holden's ship. Clarissa also fits the typical mold of a Rocinante crew member - a lost soul searching for direction and meaning after taking one too many wrong turns in life. The Expanse season 5 makes Clarissa joining the Rocinante look even more likely. After emerging from The Pit with Amos, the convict is effectively on the run from the UN. Amos will be wanting to leave Earth as soon as possible to rendezvous with his crew, and Clarissa can't stay behind as a wanted woman. She has little choice but to accompany Amos into space, and with the influence of Avasarala (or Chrissy), the runaways might be able to leave Earth without raising the alarm.
As things stand, it makes little sense for Clarissa's story to end on Earth, with Amos leaving her behind. When the Roci mechanic spoke about "saving" Clarissa, he meant more than just a jailbreak - Amos wanted to give her a new purpose and a future to strive for. To achieve this, and for Clarissa to complete her character redemption, she needs to stay by Amos' side a little longer and join the Rocinante. Confronting Holden face-to-face is the best way for Clarissa to shake off her past and move forward as Peaches. Arguably, earning Holden's forgiveness is the only way Clarissa's sins can be absolved.
Adding Clarissa Mao to the Rocinante crew could become even more important for The Expanse season 6. Due to allegations of misconduct, Cas Anvar will not be returning as Alex in The Expanse's final season, leaving the Roci one person light. Clarissa's presence could help address that imbalance, and while she may not be a skilled pilot (yet), she can at least maintain the four-person dynamic between The Expanse's central cast.