The Expanse isn't just a fantastic series of novels — it's also one of the best sci-fi television shows of the last decade. It's been compared favorably to shows like Battlestar Galactica, with fans of the genre saying it likely even eclipses that behemoth of classic television science fiction.
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While many of the episodes are action-packed with amazing cinematography, some still manage to stand out above the rest. Tons of fans have weighed in on sites like IMDb and have created a consensus on which ones stand out as paragons of what the series has to offer.
10 S3 Ep2: IFF – 9.0
This episode was an amazing way to get fans heavily invested in season three of the show. A surprise distress signal to track and Bobbie and Avasarala being hunted down meant this episode already came packed with two strong storylines; furthermore, seeing Alex fly a ship is always jaw-dropping and exciting.
Then came the added drama with the UN to really bring this episode up to a whole new level.
9 S3 Ep10: Dandelion Sky – 9.0
This episode had a lot of storylines that were being built up in the middle of the season while facing loads of unknowns. Some people might watch "Dandelion Sky" and say nothing happened but that's because they missed all the small moving parts finally coming together.
Plus, "Dandelion Sky" was the original name for the third book in the series, making the title itself a curious easter egg.
8 S4 Ep10: Cibola Burn – 9.1
Fresh off of the previous episode which was beyond fantastic, "Cibola Burn" had a lot to live up to as a season finale. There was no way The Expanse could keep up the action of the previous episode, but the show still found a way to keep up the momentum.
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The episode spent a lot of time setting up the plot points that would make season 5 as strong as it was. Leaving lots of new storylines hanging left fans eager to see the next season so they could see how the story unfolded. The final sequence of this episode and, by extension, season 4 is especially strong.
7 S3 Ep8: It Reaches Out – 9.2
The pace of this episode was out of this world (pun only somewhat intended) and created some seriously gripping television! The previous two episodes introduced some mysterious side-characters that were sabotaging ships and this episode brought those actions to a head.
"It Reaches Out" brought a lot of subplots together in a glorious way that made viewers all wonder why SyFy canceled the series after season 3.
6 S4 Ep9: Saeculum – 9.3
Miller and Holden returning as an iconic duo triggered a wave of nostalgia that brought fans back to season one. The episode "Saeculum" was paced perfectly as it ramped up to the two of them trying to find a kill switch of sorts for the planet.
There were many intense and gripping scenes that made it hard for the finale of season 4 to live up to the hype introduced by "Saeculum."
5 S2 Ep5: Home – 9.5
"Home" brought the series up all the way to the end of the first book in The Expanse novel series and did so with serious flair. It was like having a season finale but in the middle of season 2, which naturally left a serious impact.
Of course, it's hard to not have an asteroid plummeting towards Earth be a bit exciting, right? This episode served as a conclusion to the Miller and Julie storyline that had been running since the beginning of the show, while also setting up plenty of things for the future.
4 S3 Ep5: Triple Point – 9.5
Tensions were high as plans for mutiny came into play on the Agatha King as Erinwright was involved in a conspiracy. Just as Admiral Souther relieves Admiral Nguyen of command, the latter ends up executing Souther in an incredibly shocking twist.
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This episode could be described as a Game of Thrones in space due to its unpredictability. This episode showed just how many surprises the series still had left and set up all the intense action that would take place later in the season.
3 S3 Ep6: Immolation – 9.5
Fans were already on the edge of their seat after episode five of season 3, so it was even more mindblowing that Immolation managed to keep the action just as intense. The intense battle between Earth and Mars threatens the future of humanity itself, making the stakes higher than ever before in the series.
Plus, this was only halfway through the season, which made expectations for the rest of it astronomically high.
2 S3 Ep13: Abaddon's Gate – 9.5
Knowing that SyFy was canceling the series after season 3 felt like the biggest mistake ever with just how phenomenal the finale was. Holden's epic rush to try and save the ring from the machinations of Ashford's team created TV perfection.
"Abaddon's Gate" is ambitious, exhilarating, and splendidly acted. It left fans clamoring for more episodes and thankfully Amazon picked up the series and delivered.
1 S5 Ep4: Gaugamela – 9.6
This episode calls back to the real-world history of famous conquerors like Alexander the Great. The episode's name is after one of his greatest victories in battle and Marco essentially plays the role that Alexander did. The character does this all from his ship, the Pella.
This episode showed just how strong Marco can be as an antagonist and made him a force to be reckoned with for the rest of the season. This episode's conclusion shakes the very core of the series, serving up a perfect blend of drama and visual spectacle.