Murtry & Co open fire on Belters plotting to cause trouble; no questions, no trial. Bobbie tries to come clean about her role in the parts theft only to find herself pulled deeper into the smuggling ring. Drummer and Ashford get their hands on the elusive Marco Inaros.

Things I Love

Amos takes one for the team: Murder Snuggles getting his ass kicked willingly so Naomi and Lucia can escape to the Roci. That is both a flex and, possibly, the sweetest little brother move of the century.

Mister Captain Rational Holden threatens to kill Murtry if he hurts Naomi. Not that she needs his protection but he usually trips on trouble rather than purposely igniting it. But he’d do it for her. I think he’d do it for Alex and Amos as well. That is a goddamned family.

James Holden, the man who ran away from everything, loves hard and so well. His relationship with Naomi hasn’t always been easy, not a straight road to the horizon, but I think that’s part of the reason it’s so important to him. Real relationships, good relationships, are work, and theirs is one of the best on television.

Avasarala leaving a message at the beep: “James, my dear boy… Carve a few moments out of your busy schedule to tell me exactly what the fuck is going on down there.”

This may sound a little weird, but I appreciate that Amos will protect his people against all comers regardless of gender or… relationship status. There’s something very pure in that.

Ashford’s character development. He started as a foil for Drummer but has grown into something so much more. He’s more politically savvy, more patient, and still absolutely hilarious.

The Belter faction trial scene. Especially Ashford’s side eye and Drummer’s savvy politicking.

I was Proud When

Bobbie opened up to a fellow veteran about how upsetting the changes on Mars are.

Bobbie told her nephew off.

Drummer wanted nothing more than to rip Inaros’ head off but, instead, she does what’s right for the collective instead of what would bring her the most personal satisfaction.

 Most Relatable Moment

The Lady Squad: There’s a not-so-subtle implication in Season 3 that Naomi and Drummer were more than friends while Naomi was on hiatus from the Roci. Drummer is clearly hurt when Naomi decides to return to “her Inners,” but she isn’t going to let it get in the way of supporting her girl. “I’m a friend of Naomi Nagata,” she tells Marco Inaros, “and there’s only one way you’re getting out of here.” So often in sci-fi, women are constructs, tropes, or plot devices; in The Expanse, they’re whole-ass people who can feel more than one thing at a time, and ladies who would never, ever let their squad down.

Naomi, when Alex is prepping the Roci to go back up the well: “I just wanted to have the choice,” she tells Holden, grieving the chance to visit the surface of all the planets they’ll find on their journey – her options taken away because of an accident of physiology. How often do we look at our options and think something similar? Get hit by the fallout of other people’s decisions? How often are we forced to make decisions without having all the information, either because its unavailable or because someone is withholding it from us? How often do larger circumstances shape what we do?

Serious Talk

The genocidal maniacs always talk pretty. Inaros is handsome, well-spoken, knows the buzzwords, and can think on his feet – all dangerous qualities in a revolutionary with no regard for civilian lives. Cults of personality, as we’ve seen in the last three years, are one of the most dangerous kinds. Take note, this is going to be important really, really soon.

Next up is “Oppressor.”