Summary
Episode 3 marks the halfway point of the final season and thus raises stakes as we continue to venture towards a potential grand finale.
This recap of Amazon’s The Expanse season 6, episode 3, “Force Projection,” contains spoilers.
Read the recap of the previous episode.
This is more like it. Episode 3 brings the final season to life as we experience the brewing tensions of war and a Holden versus Marco face-off. With only four episodes remaining, we are still unsure of how this is all going to end. We are all nervous.
The Expanse season 6, episode 3 recap
Episode 3 opens in Laconia. A class of students is taught how they are all “Laconians” from different places in the universe. The young girl from the previous episodes (Kara) is distracted, researching the animal from the jungle. She checks out the jungle and finds her broken drone. It’s fixed, which surprises her. The creature she keeps finding shows up, so she walks towards it slowly. She then sees that the creature has revived the dead bird. However, when she returns home, the family is weeping; it looks like her brother is heavily wounded and possibly dead.
And then episode 3 flits to the Combined Fleet of Earth and Mars, led by Avasarala; they ask the Ceres Station to surrender, but it looks abandoned. They are taking the war to Marco Inaros. When they check out the station, there are no heartbeats to detect at first; they find the Chief Administrator of the station and her people, but no Marco Inaros and his Free Navy. Avasarala speaks to the Chief Administrator and asks where Marco Inaros is, but she does not appear to know. Avasarala senses that Marco Inaros abandoned them. She learns that the Station needs supplying and refuelling so the people survive. Marco has left it to the Combined Fleet to look after them; Avasarala feels they have no choice but to give aid.
And then episode 3 flits to the Pella, Lauber and Granicus in the Belt. Marco is not concerned about the enemy forces that is growing in the Inners. The commander however, has concerns. Filip asks for a word with his father Marco; he’s heard on the news that they are calling the Free Navy “cowards.” Marco is furious that Filip is concerned with news reporting and claims they were never able to protect Ceres. But he does compliment his son for his care and concern. He tells Filip that they are meant to be out in the darkness, in the fight. Father and son hug it out. It seems Monica’s media reporting is working.
Episode 3 then moves to the Tynan & Inazami in the Belt. Drummer is still working with Walker to obtain Free Navy supply depots. Walker believes there will be ten of them. Drummer wonders why Marco would hide supplies like this. She’s also ready for a fight.
Marco and the Free Navy learn that the Rocinante is on its way to Ceres Station. Marco believes they can destroy them while they are off guard. The commander does not agree to attack them, but Marco doesn’t want to miss an opportunity. Filip is asked to take charge of the weapons, but you can tell he’s emotionally conflicted. On the Rocinante, Naomi finds a pattern with the ship disappearances with the rings. But they haven’t got time to discuss it as Holden is alerted of Free Navy ships heading their way.
Marco asks Filip to take the shot at the Rocinante, so he does. Holden and their team have to fend off the torpedoes as Filip keeps firing. Bobbie wants the opportunity to take a shot, so Holden gives her the order. She managed to hit Marco’s fleet and disable their systems. Bobbie wants to end them, but Holden wants Marco Inaros as a prisoner and not a martyr.
The ending
Marco video links to Holden. Holden gives him a chance to surrender. Naomi can see her son in the background. Marco refuses to surrender, and Naomi takes a gasp of breath, knowing what it means. Bobbie, realizing that Marco will not surrender, fires a missile. However, the missile turns out to be a dud — it appears Holden secretly changed the torpedo configuration before it hit. Marco and his crew escape and decide not to pursue the Rocinante. On Holden’s visor, it’s revealed he disarmed the missile.
Marco is disappointed and tells Filip that he failed. Filip returns the statement and tells his father that he failed. Marco is furious and relieves Filip of his duty. As the episode ends, Marco receives an update on the testing at the rings. It’s a positive update, and he smiles.
Episode 3 marks the halfway point of the final season and thus raises stakes as we continue to venture towards a potential grand finale.
Navigation logs
- On Ceres Station, Monica carries out her reporting. Suddenly, there’s multiple explosions as the station is ripped apart by an attack.
- Peaches is struggling to get used to life without mods as she’s still flushing them out; she tells Holden she originally got them because of him, but she isn’t blaming him, and she takes responsibility for who she has hurt. Holden reminds her that everyone on the ship has something that they regret.
- Holden then catches up with Naomi. The pair have an earnest conversation. Naomi admits she froze in the last mission, which put her in danger. The couple kiss in what feels like calm before the storm.
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