This 95% Rotten Tomatoes Show Is Your Game of Thrones Replacement That Is Actually Better

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Everyone was captivated by Game of Thrones, and many wondered if another show could ever create the same level of excitement. What viewers didn’t realize was that a similar phenomenon was already happening, but in the science fiction genre. Though it wasn’t on a major network like HBO, this new sci-fi series proved to be a worthy successor to the popular fantasy show.

Inspired by the book series by James S.A. Corey, The Expanse is often compared to Battlestar Galactica. Both shows fall into the same science fiction genre and center around a determined, resourceful crew traveling through space. While The Expanse successfully followed in the footsteps of a classic sci-fi series, it also shared similarities with Game of Thrones, and many viewers consider it to have a more satisfying conclusion.

The Expanse Was a Series About Political Intrigue

At first glance, The Expanse seemed like a typical adventure featuring a mismatched team facing extraordinary challenges, and it quickly gained a dedicated following. But a closer look revealed that the show was far more than just a fun group of characters with witty dialogue.

The series introduces a compelling future where humans have mastered faster-than-light travel. This allowed for the colonization of Mars, which ultimately led to a new Cold War mirroring the one on Earth. The conflict centered around control of the Asteroid Belt, a struggle as familiar as time itself.

The people who originally lived in the Belt, called Belters, didn’t have any say over their own lives. They were often forced to mine resources for the benefit of Mars and Earth. This unfair situation was the root of the conflict in The Expanse, much like power struggles shaped everything in Game of Thrones.

James Holden was living a simple life as the second-in-command on the ice hauler Canterbury. He was content with his job, but everything changed when the ship received a distress signal. Soon after, the Canterbury and a Martian vessel, the Donnager, were destroyed by two hidden ships, leaving Holden and a few others as the sole survivors: an engineer named Naomi, the pilot Alex, the mechanic Amos, and the medic Shed.

The crew found themselves captured by Martians and realized they were caught up in something much larger than themselves. Simultaneously, a detective named Miller, working in the asteroid belt, began investigating the vanishing of wealthy heiress Julie Mao, who had seemingly disappeared. The first season of The Expanse cleverly wove these two storylines together to solve a central mystery. The show shared a similar level of political intrigue and complex structure with Game of Thrones.

Similar to how Ned investigated the death of Jon Arryn, Holden became entangled in the mystery surrounding Julie Mau. And, like The Expanse, the story featured compelling characters facing dangerous, season-long challenges.

The Expanse Characters Were Put Through Trying Times

While the former crew of the Canterbury was generally safer than others, they still faced dangerous enemies. To emphasize how much was at stake, The Expanse introduced a character who appeared nearly immortal. Though she didn’t survive an attack by a Martian ship, her death forced Holden to step up as a leader.

The crew of the Rocinante, though initially not close, gradually learned to work well together as they uncovered a massive conspiracy while under Holden’s leadership. They hadn’t been friends back on the Canterbury – they were simply brought together by fate, and now…

Holden was a straightforward officer born on Earth, haunted by a hidden past. Naomi Nagata, originally from the Belt, was incredibly intelligent but guarded about her own history. She served as a connection to the OPA, or Outer Planets Alliance – a group fighting for independence from Earth and Mars, and often labeled as terrorists. Close to Naomi was Amos, a skilled engineer who was fiercely loyal to her, but battled his own inner demons. Completing the team was Alex, a former Martian Navy officer.

The crew grew closer over time, eventually trusting only each other. They soon realized the threat they needed to escape wasn’t external, but their own government. This complex situation was revealed through the character of Chrisjen Avasarala, brilliantly portrayed by Shohreh Aghdashloo.

The UN Deputy Undersecretary for Earth was a tough and uncompromising leader who dismissed the OPA’s concerns and conspiracy theories. Despite her harsh methods and political ruthlessness, she always acted with good intentions. Her investigation was central to the story, revealing that Earth was behind the destruction of the Canterbury and Donnager, and also uncovering the truth about Julie Mao’s fate.

Chrisjen Avasarala unexpectedly became a key supporter of the Rocinante crew as they evaded powerful enemies. New characters, such as the determined Belter, Camina Drummer, kept the show exciting. Each season’s events had lasting effects, building momentum for what came next. Despite its excellent writing and compelling narrative, The Expanse unfortunately never received the widespread recognition it deserved.

Originally airing for three seasons on SyFy, The Expanse was canceled, but luckily Amazon Prime stepped in to allow it to complete its planned six seasons. Unlike Game of Thrones, which many felt declined in quality, The Expanse remained a consistently strong show that faced an uphill battle for recognition. Ultimately, The Expanse was the more successful series, especially considering its satisfying conclusion.

The Expanse Had the Benefit of a Concluded Book Series

Unfortunately, Game of Thrones will likely be remembered for its controversial ending. The HBO series began with five published books by George R.R. Martin, and it finished the same way – before the complete book series was available. Showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff had expected Martin to finish the books by the time the show ended, but they ultimately had to create their own conclusion to the story.

The Expanse was truly unique. James S.A. Corey not only wrote the novels but also played a key role in shaping the television series. The first book, Leviathan Wakes, came out in 2011, and the TV show premiered in 2015, largely staying true to the source material.

The Expanse book series was quite extensive, providing ample content for the television show to reach a satisfying conclusion. The main change made by the SyFy adaptation was leaving out the final three books, primarily because those stories were set thirty years after the main events.

Despite being canceled before it could finish its planned story, the series still delivered a satisfying ending. Over its six seasons, The Expanse consistently earned high praise from critics, who particularly appreciated its realistic portrayal of technology and space travel.

Fans were particularly captivated by how the characters developed. James Holden’s transformation from a simple transport pilot to a hero who saved the solar system was compelling, and it was fun to watch him navigate unfamiliar situations. His connection with Naomi Nagata was also a highlight.

People born on Earth and those from the Belt had strong reasons to dislike each other, but Holden and Naomi developed a close, loving relationship while traveling together. The television series also expanded on the original story, notably with the character of Drummer. Drummer was created by combining several characters from the book, and ultimately became a unique and significant figure in the show, differing greatly from her source material.

The recent finale brought all the main characters together for an ending that closely followed the source material and felt truly satisfying. This contrasts sharply with Game of Thrones, which unfortunately didn’t receive a similar conclusion and lost many fans as a result. The Expanse, on the other hand, has largely maintained its strong reputation and remains highly regarded.

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2025-11-26 03:38