Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.5

The Expanse: Season Six Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Justin Dekker January 19, 2024

'The Expanse: Season Six' arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Universal. The season's six episodes are spread across two Blu-ray discs, with three episodes found on each disc. An English DTS HD-Master Audio 5.1 track accompanies the 1080p image, but no special features are included. Neither a slipcover nor a Digital Code are included.

The Expanse survived its initial cancellation after season three and reemerged on Amazon Prime without any real perceptible dip in quality or production value. It's a feat few other similarly situated series have been able to accomplish. When its time seemingly finally expired, it was granted this final, though truncated, season to wrap up major plot lines and provide a satisfying conclusion that still allows room for more tales of the Inners and the Belters. In the modern streaming era, that's also a feat that many programs cannot match, often being unceremoniously canceled without the opportunity to deliver a proper conclusion. The Expanse: Season Six

While this season is shorter, only six episodes in total, and there is a clear push to resolve a number of open issues, The Expanse still sees fit to add character depth and complexity. Marco Inaros is a chief beneficiary. In previous seasons he was portrayed as a person with a rather singular focus; make Earth pay for its previous transgressions and transform the Belt into a force to be reckoned with. Here, at last, we are able to spend enough time with him to discover what lies beneath that "idealistic" surface and we find a person who is as calculating, petty, arrogant, and self-important as any other, regardless of what his stated lofty goals may be. Holden briefly regains focus as he makes a decision that is kind and self-serving that will no doubt have significant ramifications, and later as the final battle plan is devised. The seriously conflicted Drummer (Cara Gee) also again makes choices that will have a dramatic impact not only on herself and her family but also on the lives of everyone in the Solar System. And, as the war rages and acts of terrorism abound, the focus again swings back to the relationship between Naomi and Filip. But lest we get bogged down in all of the death and the dire stakes of the season, humor finds a way to seep in offering momentary relief, particularly with Amos as he gets glassy-eyed when confronted with some voluminous technobabble, and as he and Bobbie have a brief moment to sing along with "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry".

This final push also extends to adding new characters and storylines. New members of Marco's crew are introduced. While their screen time is limited, they do serve to ratchet up tension between Filip and his father in a manner both organic and effective. Other characters characters, Cara and her brother Xen, the children of researchers from Laconia, receive a very impressive amount of screen time to advance a new storyline, and for me, they are a bit more problematic. We take extended breaks from the political machinations of Avasarala and Inaros to watch Cara explore the forest and interact with the strange creatures there. She even makes a startingly discovery after one of them dies. It's undeniably visually interesting and a departure from much of what has come before. While this later group and their storyline may have broader implications for the future of The Expanse if more seasons are ever to come, these new characters and elements also have the effect of further dividing the focus of a short season that already has a crowded universe of characters to contend with. As the camera shifts from group to group and location to location, principal players can be cast off for extended periods of time, and tension diminishes as a result. And no matter how interesting Cara's situation is, there simply isn't much tension there. This particular complaint is rendered moot if The Expanse returns to the big or small screen and allows these moments and ideas to pay off. If it doesn't, regardless of the source material and what remains in the characters' printed futures, I will continue to prefer to have spent those moments with Holden, Drummer, Naomi, and Avasarala instead.

The following six episodes comprise The Expanse: Season Six and are spread over two discs. The summaries found below are reproduced from the interior art and may contain spoilers, so proceed with all due caution.

Disc One:

Strange Dogs: The tensions of war threaten to pull the Rocinante apart when they make a startling discovery on an asteroid. Avasarala and Bobbie contend with devastation on Earth as Marco's rocks continue to rain down. In the Belt and on the run, Drummer and her family must make a heartbreaking decision. On Ciris, Marco and Filip's struggles turn inward.

Azure Dragon: With an unexpected passenger aboard the Rocinante, Holden and the crew undertake a dangerous mission that could shift the balance of power in the war. Drummer decides to make an uneasy alliance. Filip wrestles with his guilt.

Force Projection: Avasarala with the Combined Fleet of Earth and Mars takes the war to Marco. Filip and Marco's relationship is tested. The war becomes more perilous and personal for Holden and Naomi when the Rocinante is suddenly forced into a battle.

Disc Two:

Redoubt: Holden finds himself at odds with his crew when a controversial decision is uncovered. On Ceres, Avasarala struggles to contain an escalating humanitarian crisis. Drummer's growing faction stages a daring raid with dire stakes. Filip, demoted to skiff repair duty, makes an unexpected discovery.

Why We Fight: Paths converge on Ceres when Drummer and her fleet arrive to aid the relief effort. Holden tries to convince Avasarala to release crucial information that might avert catastrophe, but she has her own request of him. As Amos and Bobbie get a little R&R at the station, Naomi has a difficult and long-awaited reunion.

Babylon's Ashes: In the thrilling season finale, Inners and Belters fight side by side with the crew of the Rocinante in a last, desperate battle with Marco and his Free Navy, with the fate of the Solar System, the Ring Gates, and all humanity hanging in the balance.

The Expanse: Season Six Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Expanse: Season Six remains very dark in terms of both its tone and lighting. We spend a great deal of time in space where the empty void is satisfyingly inky and deep. Most ship and station interiors also stay consistently dimly lit and shadows are allowed to propagate in every corner and at the end of every corridor. While all of this darkness does fit well with the tone of the series, it never really crushes detail. Colors are generally cooler but are stable and consistent and skin tones are perfectly acceptable within the parameters of the palette. The only colors that ever really get an opportunity to pop are those from the various technological gadgets, displays, and engine flares, and those burst forth very convincingly and noticeably. Detail levels are extremely high on fabrics, faces, and environmental particulars, and lending a great deal of realism to the show's many CGI elements. Slight banding is occasionally evident, but it doesn't persist long enough to be particularly distracting. No other video defects or issues were detected.

The Expanse: Season Six Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As is the standard for the series, The Expanse: Season Six also comes equipped with an English DTS HD-Master Audio 5.1 track that does not disappoint. Engines rumble as they come to explosive life and gunfire erupts with percussive depth thanks to an aggressive bass presence that creates impressive realism and depth to larger action pieces, and more mundane elements as well such as closing doors, footfalls, and various musical transitions. Dialogue is clear and properly prioritized, resting nicely on top the score in all situations as appropriate. The surrounds are used with excellent effect and create numerous immersive moments both large and small, from placing us in the middle of battles to more delicate moments with alien flora and fauna. Directionality is also quite good, allowing the viewer many opportunities to track ships, drones, and the like through the soundfield. English SDH subtitles are also available.

The Expanse: Season Six Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

No special features are included with this release.

The Expanse: Season Six Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Is The Expanse: Season Six the end for the Roci and its crew? As of this writing, there aren't any indications that the remaining books of the series will grace the screen any time soon. Given the high production costs for The Expanse in general, and the 30-year time jump coming in the next novel's material that would likely require a complete recasting, it may well be. If that is the case this final season is a more than fitting capstone to an excellent series. Dominque Tipper again does a wonderful job as Naomi, and Cara Gee delivers a breakout performance as the increasingly important and influential Drummer. With a top-notch video transfer and a terrific audio track, The Expanse: Season Six comes Highly Recommended to fans of the series.