Summary
“Tribes” is certainly not as ferocious and energy-pumping as the first half of the season, but there’s definitely a will to reach an objective in the story; there’s a sense that audiences are in for another formidable twist.
This recap of Amazon’s The Expanse season 5, episode 6, “Tribes” contains significant spoilers.
We will be recapping this season weekly — check out the archive.
The opening
After a ferocious and almost whiplash-inducing first half of Season 5, “Tribes” gives the audience a cooler episode.
It opens with David Pastor meeting Avasarala; he is the new Acting Secretary-General after Earth’s disaster. Noticeably, he isn’t used to the gravity yet, and he’s still getting accustomed to the job. He describes to Avasarala what he saw on the Earth, and he wants her to join his cabinet. Avasarala accepts the offer immediately. You can feel the inexperience coming from David’s body language as he talks.
Finding shelter for Amos and Clarissa
As for Amos and Clarissa; they are trying to find refuge and shelter. Clarissa is scared of being shot or returning to prison. Amos suggests going to Baltimore as a safer place but warns that it’s a long way. Clarissa agrees to join him. While working throw snowy forests, Amos finds a dead body. While sorting out the body, he asks Clarissa about her father, who is rumoured to be dead. Clarissa is not sure. Amos believes he may have a father somewhere that he’s never met.
Monica wants to join the fight
Monica joins Holden on his military operation to find the Zmeya. She reckons it will be useful for her. Bull is not happy with her joining, but she’s adamant. Holden accepts and gives her certain guest privileges on the ship. This is the end of this story for “Tribes” as it goes into the background.
Filip and Cyn want to spare Naomi’s life
Marcos is furious that Naomi has betrayed them and wants them to throw her off the ship; this is in the aftermath of Naomi warning Roci of the planted reactor overload. Cyn gets angry and asks Marcos to throw Naomi off himself. He would prefer to show mercy. Filip supports Cyn and wants Marcos to spare Naomi’s life. After this argument, Filip meets his mother Naomi, and he’s angry at her — he questions who her family is. Filip calls Marcos a visionary, but Naomi disagrees, calling him a murderer who has destroyed millions of lives. Season 5 has done a consistent job of making the villain feel justified in their actions.
Amos is wary
Amos becomes paranoid that he’s being followed by a man that offered them a campfire. Clarissa thinks he’s paranoid, but Amos knows it’s the “end of times”, and people become tribal. Amos finds fresh blood near a fence; someone has tried to escape a property nearby. Clarissa begins to struggle; the journey and her conditions starting to compound her.
Marcos offer to Drummer
On the Medina Station, a few of the crew are getting twitchy over Camino Drummer’s decision making, especially Oksana and Josep. What takes the crew by surprise is the Free Navy accepting them all to the Pillar. Drummer faces Marcos, and she’s upset by his murders. Marcos gives his usual spiel about his vision and what’s necessary. He talks about the Belt having Earth’s agricultural levels in 10 years and being free of colonial control. Marcos invites Drummer to the Free Navy — he gives her the option to leave in peace. Drummer reminds Marcos that he’s made peace impossible. There’s a strong bitterness emanating from Drummer’s body — it’s almost like she can strike at any moment. Ashford still playing on her mind.
Desperate times for Amos and Clarissa
Amos asks Clarissa to sit down and rest as he approaches the property; he asks a man for a trade and puts his hand up. A man comes out with a rifle. Amos wants equipment to help him hunt. The man asks him to strip down in the cold as evidence that he has no weapons. As he strips, Clarissa kills the man. Amos takes her inside and puts her next to the fire; she throws up and falls asleep. This escalated quickly but also showed the true test of having Clarissa under Amos’ wing.
Drummer and her people make a decision
Drummer and the crew talk about Marcos’ offer. Bertold tells them all that the only choice they have is to join him because he’s making the Belters into one nation — something no other leader has been able to do. Bertold feels the alternative is to die. They join Marcos, and he introduces Camino Drummer to his son Filip. Although they’ve decided to join Marco, Drummer does not look happy.
The ending
When Clarissa wakes up, she tells Amos of a poem she wrote about how she isn’t a killer, because monsters are not afraid. She feels afraid all the time and references what she’s done in the past, and how she is scared of how right it felt. Amos has an epiphany and tells Clarissa he needs to get back to his crew.
The Expanse season 5, episode 6 is certainly not as ferocious and energy-pumping as the first half of the season, but there’s definitely a will to reach an objective in the story; there’s a sense that audiences are in for another formidable twist.
Additional points
- After surviving an onslaught, Alex and Bobbie are enjoying themselves; blowing up enemy ships before fleeing.
