The Expanse season 6, episode 6 recap – the finale and ending explained

This recap of Amazon’s The Expanse season 6, episode 6, “Babylon’s Ashes,” — the finale and ending explained — contains spoilers.

Read the recap of the previous episode.

Is this the last ever episode? For now, let’s pretend that this series will not continue. It feels crazy that we are ending here. Also, the finale’s ending was not exactly concrete, was it? The writers definitely left a few crumbs remaining so it can be revisited. Let’s hope so. Anyway, let’s recap the last ever episode of The Expanse. As an FYI, I’ve not read the books, so if I’ve missed anything crucial, holla at me in the comments.

The Expanse season 6, episode 6 recap – the finale and ending explained

On a planet in the Laconia system, Cara reveals that the dogs “fixed” her brother. Her brother comes through the door, and the parents are spooked. The father slashes the boy’s hand, and he heals instantly. There is something not right with the boy. The father locks the boy in a cabinet. Cara fools her parents and frees her brother. In space, Duarte’s plans are coming to fruition near the Ring.

Avasarala leads a war strategy meeting for their fight against the Free Navy. They need to take Marco Inaros head-on. Holden has a plan B to capture Marco’s railguns at the Ring Station using an assault team — the Rocinante will act as a distraction. This is their best chance to disarm and defeat Marco Inaros. The writers were saving everything for the finale.

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The finale then flits to The Free Navy en route to The Ring. Filip is wondering why his authority has been reinstated, but it’s clear his father needs him in the war efforts. Marco appears to have something up his sleeve.

While preparing for the war efforts, Peaches is struggling badly; she runs a diagnosis on herself and learns she is suffering from “Compex Endocrine Collapse Syndrome (CECS),” which causes fatigue, dizziness, salt craving, seizures, and weight loss. This results from using mods and then no longer relying on them. There is no treatment, and the condition means a life expectancy of five more years, which brings a sad undertone to the last ever episode. However, she acts normal around her crewmates. Naomi recognizes that Peaches is trying to “wash the blood off her hands.” She wanted Filip to do the same.

But the feeling is that this feels like the end: family… one last time before one last fight.

And war efforts begin; Drummer’s Battle Group is ready — they’ve located The Pella. The attack on the Free Navy begins with Drummer ordering her team to “fire.” The Pella is hurt, and the navy falls back. Avasarala figures out that it wasn’t The Pella. It was a decoy.

Marco and his team fight back at Drummer’s Battle Group. Drummer is briefly hurt, and there’s a large hole in the side of her ship. She asks the other ships to disengage and leave The Pella to her. One of her ships slams into The Pella, and Commander Rosenfield is hurt badly. Filip tends to her aid. Drummer feels they’ve done all they can for now.

Meanwhile, Plan B is in action with the Rocinante heading to the Ring Station. They empty cargo containers towards the ring station, so the rail guns have more to aim at; Bobbie, Amos, and other squad members are concealed in the containers. The rail gun activates, and the Rocinante losers power. The reactor is in trouble, so Peaches offers to fix it. She manages to bring the reactor back online.

Bobbie and Amos are released from their containers with their squad, with the plan working well. Naomi heads down to the reactor to find Peaches almost unconscious; she hurt herself to save the mission. Bobbie and Amos land on the Ring Station safely with their squad. They are immediately drawn into a gun firefight from enemy forces. There are casualties immediately. Holden cannot help them from the air as they have to stay behind the Medina Station until the rail guns are under control.

Amos and Bobbie decided to be brave and face the fight ahead of them. Bobbie goes full-on assault to fight the enemy. She manages to bring some assault systems down, but the enemy soon shoots her relentlessly. Amos heads out to protect her, but they have to endure plenty of bullets. The Rocinante arrives to help out from the air in a timely fashion. They had no choice, and they had to take out the rail guns to help them.

Meanwhile, Duarte video messages Marco Inaros; he thanks him for his help but makes him aware that the Ring to the Laconia system is closed and that he no longer needs him. Filip asks Marco about those they’ve lost in the fight and if he feels anything within his conscience. Marco is shocked that his son still cannot see what he’s been given in life. Marco turns back into leader mode and reinvigorates his team — he talks about their incoming moment of victory and the struggle to be over. He calls it the end of The Inners and their beginning. Filip does not seem convinced, and he looks away from the commotion. It’s like the penny has dropped — his father will always fight, even if it means being a martyr. It’s like he finally saw the ideology for what it truly is.

The Rocinante crew regroup — they refuse to give up in their fight. Naomi believes they can trigger the Ring entities by pushing as much mass and energy at once in a timely fashion as Marco and his crew head into it. She believes this could end Marco Inaros “once and for all.” As Marco and his crew head through the Ring, Naomi sets up her plans, but she knows that doing so will kill her son. They put enough energy into the Ring to trigger the entities by triggering the reactor in one of their ships. Marco and his team are decimated as they go through the Ring.

It’s finally the end of Marco Inaros. The war is over. My only wish is that we got more time with this aftermath; seeing Naomi cry in Holden’s arms in a one-off scene is not enough.

The ending

However, with plenty of finale left, The Expanse season 6 divulges into politics and the future to conclude the series.

With the war seemingly over, Avasarala wants to find a way to have old enemies, new friends, as she holds an important meeting. She wants to ensure the entities inside the Rings do not obliterate them all. Drummer wants a promise of a voice and a future — she’s struggling to contain herself. She wants to be rewarded for the help provided to the Inners. Avasarala promises that they will be represented. Holden says Inaros isn’t all wrong, but he was evil. He understands that not trusting each other will bring another Marco Inaros.

Avasarala proposes having an independent agency with someone who is apolitical and sits above them; someone that has never taken sides — James Holden. Holden is shocked, but it’s evident that he’s the right person in the room. He wants assurances in writing.

The Transport Union is formed, and one of Holden’s first statements is about using the Ring safely. He announces himself as the First President of the Transport Union. Camina Drummer is the Vice President. His first official act is to resign as President to give Belters a voice, allowing Camina Drummer to be the President. Avasarala is furious, knowing that they did this behind her back. Holden insists this is the only way they secure peace. Avasarala smiles and states that she hopes he is right.

Naomi tells Holden that he followed his conscience and that the universe never tells them if they did right and wrong. As Naomi speaks about the way of life, the scene flits to Filip; he flies off before Marco, and his crew is obliterated. He survived. Holden talks about how many ships will be going through the Ring, but Naomi wants to hug and take in the moment. At this point, all fans will be absorbing this moment. Peace at last. The Expanse season 6, episode 6 has a sweet ending.

But is it over? While everything suggests this is the end due to a thrilling final chapter of war, The Expanse decided to leave some hope that the story will be continued.

What did you think of The Expanse season 6, episode 6 (finale), and the ending? Comment below.