The writing on this series was so phenomenal, in so many ways. I've been a sci-fi fan for 50 years, and this is hand down some of the best I've ever seen.
What I loved about the sequence with Bobbie fighting the ambush on Esai was that it was a single continuous take. Kinda reminded me of the super-long shots in “Children of Men.”
Yeah when the show came out originally I heard it had people from Children of Men on production so I had to check it out. Best decision ever. And that movie still blows me away and hits hard after having seen it maybe a dozen times. Has to be my top non-space sci-fi and top apocalyptic movie of all time, or at least top 3.
21:02 And that right there is a glimpse of what Amos would have been like if he never made the choice to find good people to help check his pathological instincts. Not a mere "badass", but something truely frightening. Just the look of "My God, what have I unleashed" on Murtry's face.
I think the scene where Murtry punches Amos, and Amos turns back with that slasher smile is easily top 5 Amos moments. Ashford did, indeed, go out like a boss. He epitomizes saying, "Be wary of old men in a profession where many die young."
When I saw you crying at the end of the show, it made me just want to give you a big hug. Funny how genuine your reactions bring out a reaction me, and I imagine so many others. Your reaction videos are truly the best because you wear your heart on your sleeve and are so down to Earth. Thanks for being you and sharing your experience with others. 😊
Now you know why Ashford was MY favorite of the whole series. Whether you realize it or not, this season Ashford was treating Camina as a sort of surrogate adult daughter. Even though they were both administrators of the station and Drummer in charge, Klaes was being paternalistic. Not in a 'mansplaining way, but genuinely as guide hoping she would come more to his view of the "Belter Nation". This is why he felt so hurt during Marcos' trial. And one reason why he did not have her with on the hunt for Inaros.
I've been skimming through your channel today watching a bunch of reactions (great work, by the way), and it's so awesome to see a new fan react so well to it. I'm sure others have told you by now, but the books are incredible and I can't recommend them enough. The ending in book 9 was extremely satisfying. I hope we get the last 3 books adapted some day.
Now that you've finished this season, you can enjoy the best fan edit I've ever seen for any show, any genre. It's called "(The Expanse) Drummer and Ashford | Live as a Belter" by Zurik 23M.
@funnylilgal- Angela, thank you for taking the time to "Sit in front of us" and lay bare your feelings and humanity. We are privileged to share everything from joy to sadness. I think you absorb all the nuances in your reactions and make them come alive for us. When I see you overwhelmed with the emotion I just want to give you an enormous "Virtual Hug" (in a non-creepy way...) and let you know this show is too good to not take us someplace special. I'm looking forward to making that journey with you and the rest of the people viewing your channel. Thanks again, Best regards, Mo-
My dear Screaming Firehawk, in some way I feel remorse for the emotional distress this show can impose upon you. To see how hard you took the death of our beloved Ashford leads me to believe that The Expanse has its claws deep into your soul. It's a wonderful and terrible roller coaster ride! We warned you! This show has absolutely spoiled me. For not getting the recognition it so rightfully deserves, it's hard for other shows to compete IMO. These next sixteen episodes will fly by then you will understand what your boss was saying about being sad because there is no more to watch! An amazing heartfelt reaction to season four finale! Looking forward to season five!
21:15 Thank you. For giving Amos the Excuse. I LOVED that look and that punch. I know.. its uncomfortable that our boy Amos does these things. But when he does them to the right people.. That's what he's there for. That's our boy.
The guy that saved Marco was the guy that was in the elevator when the bomb went off on Mars in front of Bobbie Ashford got to be such a great character, even at the beginning. He was an older, more experienced man trying to impart some of his knowledge to a younger superior officer. You see it in the military a lot, A young, new Lieutenant being taken under the wing of an older grizzled Sergeant. Its what guys have as our version of a Mothers nurturing instincts. Mothers protect babies so they can become children, Fathers teach children to become adults. We try our best to pass on our knowledge so that just maybe, others won't make the same mistakes we did. Took me a long time to figure this out for myself
Ashford, we lost a great one. Drummer is going to be PISSED. Let it out, Angela. I teared up as well. The rest of the episode where they were tying up things was great. Amos testing out his new fingers. Loved that Holden had to make Amos promise not to kill him. The actor they got to play Filip is uncanny to play Naomi and Marco's son. Marco is the type of person that Chrisjen was worried about throwing rocks.
If you go back and watch the video of Mineo crashing into the ring you might notice something in the video feed that looks a lot like what Holden and Elvie saw.
I don't think anything can sum up quite so well how incredible the writing and character development is on this show than Ashford. If you think back to when he first came onto the bridge of the Behemoth till this scene it's just doesn't seem possible that a character can go from being so distrusted and largely disliked to so beloved that he is probably one of the favourites.
Get ready for S5. And Keon Alexander’s wonderful eye liner 😍 And as for Burn Gorman’s punch? That was real Btw Angela- if you ever get the chance to Cosplay- be Drummer. Channel that Ashford anger energy Mi Sitara
AShford was a good focus point for a while, he was brutal in order for people to survive his own people i understood that, and he was harsh when people messed up because lets face it Space is harsh and unrelenting in its attempt to try and kill you, and we grew to like him so much because he showed growth i believe and a good friendship with Drummer came of it.
Ashford was an amazing character. I love him from the get go. Tough old space rat, not afraid of speaking his mind and not afraid of anything :) Love him and Drummer's back and forth. So pissed when he died! Drummer is amazing. One of my favorite characters! Go to war with Dummer, Amos and Bobbie and your going to be fine! :-D
Regarding the melting moon, episode 7 starts off with Miller pushing all the buttons to see what it does. Some of those things were the waves, the swarm, fusion not working, and the melting moon. So Miller did all that just to find that strange eye of an angry God.
Requiescat in Pace Klaes Ashford, Ghost Knife of Calisto, the second most honorable pirate in the system, after Camina Drummer. I just love your reactions to this show. Thank you for sharing. 《《♡》》 BTW, Filip was the guy getting on the elevator just before the explosion that brought down the dome on Bobby.😉
For what it's worth, and what you know of Drummer- Ashford is a big domino. Her reaction to this is something coming. And Yeah, Ashford's loss hits like a truck. It set me on edge from the start that he was willing to go back to his old ways- the old days where he was a pirate. As someone who was so against going back to the simple violence of existence before and advocated building something more- "the belters embrace all of you"- seeing him reverting always had a feeling that it would be a problem. I don't know if something about Marco concerned him that much, or if he saw some twisted reflection of his younger self, but an old man in a profession where men die you is something you respect, for certain, but there's always another man. Younger, hungrier. But man I miss the old man. And I'm mad we never got the duo of Drummer and Ashford in a fight together.
Some clarifications from the books, without giving info from future books (Miller and Holden's journey through Ilus was much longer and they talked and saw much more): The entire planet was an energy mining/production facility, basically an intergalactic gas station (you could literally land ships larger than humans could produce into the spaces under the planet). The protomolecule they brought woke it back up after the "bullet", something the proto builders couldn't even perceive, killed them millions of years before. The rotating pillar they destroyed earlier in the season was used for mining, tilling the soil to get lithium and other rare resources (this is an educated assumption). So blowing it up could have caused the restart process to fail, or just being so monumentally old could be the reason. Either way, the reactor ring on the planet started back up, and one of them failed, going nuclear. The artificial moons were a defense system like the ring station, able to both physically attack, and alter local physics. When the moon destroyed the shuttle, it also started to melt down, and the whole defense system changed physics to stop just a chain reaction of system-ending explosions (by stopping nuclear fusion in the local area).
I just wanted to point out that the books for the Expanse and the actors chosen for the series were so good, that this show that started on Syfy canceled, then picked up by Amazon Prime. Has gone for 6 seasons, without any cast changes. And still providing a compelling story long after most would fall into tropes of past episodes. Each season has a very different feel and crisis that must be dealt with. And unlike Star Wars, you don’t feel like our hero crew is surviving on plot armor and a scriptwriters Devine intervention. The Expanse feels real because the characters and universe feel real.
So weeks ago I slipped up by commenting that Drummer was one of my favorite characters and that she would have a foil that would lead to great storytelling . . . thus, unintentionally spoiling for you that she would obviously live through the assassination attempt on Fred Johnson (still sorry about that). We’ll Drummer and Ashford became my favorite duo in this series, followed closely by Bobbie and Christian. Believe me, I love all the Rocinante crew to bits, but the 2 pair of Drummer, Ashford, Bobbie, and Christian are my jam. Like you, I’d want to be a belter and serve the Beltalowda with beretna Ashford and sesata Drummer. Sorry Ashford going out with his space boots on broke your heart . . . it was the best exit for such a character. Love your show!
The way we've gone from hating a character to loving him without realising is perfect, it's a travesty that this show didn't get more recognition at the time. I really wonder what Ilus' purpose was in the grand scheme, my theory is that it was a giant planet sized battery/power plant due to the concentration of Lithium and the number of massive fusion reactors.
From this comment by Wes Chatham ua-cam.com/video/ZfNJvwNZZ2k/v-deo.html it seems in the fight scene between Amos and Murtry the punch really connected. Wes was so into the scene he didn't realise at the time, only afterwards when he was being apologised to for the mistake. Now that's an actor being lost in their character!
"And her front probably too...heh...heh...heh" unlike last time I learnt my lesson, the coffee was safely next to me as I made sure not to consume anything when you do your react videos otherwise I would've had to endure hot coffee spewing out of my nostrils...again!
Now that you have seen the season, to help with the moon situation you mentioned on ilus but the moon are not really moons they are moon sized star bases ( think the deathstar). and over the billions of year's they have been there ice and such has formed around it. It is mentioned in the books in last interlude with Miller before his last good by... 😉.
Regarding the moons being artificial, basically the builders built them and also engineered the planet. Basically it was a big battery, hence all that lithium. The moons might have been part of the energy storage or transmission.
The whole planet is artificial. I am not sure if it was some sort of fuelstation or what its exact pupose was. The moon where some sort of control and security system. The planet was shut down ages ago and when the investigator tried to start it up again, some mailfunctions occured - like the reactor explosion or the melting moon. This happened because this stuff is just very very old and got no maintenance. Disabling the fusion was one of the security actions taken by the moon after the explosion. And the rotation spike at the beginning of the season was, if i remember correctly, some sort of "dust remover". The landscape we see now has been grown for thousands or missions of years. Its like dirt on a machine. The spkike cracked it up, blowed it away. This whole planet is kinda crazy.
The moons are protomolecule machines. Maybe a defense system that hasn't been maintained. In the book, Holden didn't nuke the machines. Instead, it was all triggered when the fusion reactor on the other side of the planet exploded, and after that, the protomolecule made a small change to physical constants that made fusion impossible. Solving the problem. This is a concept in physics, where a small change in the strong force will still make our reality work, but will make fusion as we know it, impossible.
Yep, and the one melting simply burnt out and got molten, if you melted a moon size ball of metal it would take decades to stop glowing. When I read it in the books the sheer scale of the energy these things manipulate was made clear.
Did you notice that Filip Inaros(Naomi's son) was the one who killed Esai and detonated the bomb on Mars? He was the one Bobbie saw in the elevator right before the bomb explode.
I was very mad and teared up when Ashford died. If you want to give the show a true villain you make that villain kill a character you love. For me, Marco is my negan and Filip may be Naomi's kid but I could never like him because of this. Get ready for season 5 it's going to get truly crazy.
Rather than trying to upstage Drummer, it seems Ashford was trying to be more like her dad, giving her the lessons she'd need for what's ahead while he still could.
Ashford is just a placeholder generic obstacle "villain" in book 3 of Expanse. Not much Character development. In the show, they added much more to him and made him (with help of excellent actor) into quite the lovable pirate! In The book 4. They explain better what Ilus is, I think it was like a "factory", or a "storage/delivery outpost", something like that. So they whole planet is a machine, and the moons are like security around it. In the show they kept it more vague, so we could feel like the protagonists feel. Season 5, is very good (obviously!) and it will answer a lot of questions and also is one of the best for some Actors to shine.
30:21 Absolutely. Keon Alexander is amazing in that role. There are only two Characters in the expanse that everytime they appeared on screen i just wanted to punch them but he's one of them. Not even Murtry or Mao.
Ilus has thirteen moons, all in the same orbit, with consistent spacing between them. i think we can be pretty sure that at least the majority of them are entirely artificial. their purpose? not sure, but you don't just build an entire planetary system for no reason.
I know Angela is done but for viewers/commenters, light spoilers up to the end of this episode - I wondered how broke up you'd be from Ashford's ending since his debut. The writers were able to wield his character like a surgeon wields a scalpel - cultivating our hatred for Marcos truly begins here
Filip gets around. He's the guy in the elevator who left that bomb on Mars for Bobbie too. And I don't think Amos was off to test his trigger finger, I think he was off to his bunk a la Jayne in Firefly.
Ashford was a great character that had a disappointing and badly handled death. He had to know if he surrendered he'd be killed. He had his weapon and was already aiming at Markos. Even if he had not wanted to kill Filip he should have gunned down Markos. There was just too much at stake not to.
The reason he didn't shoot was to try to figure out Marco's real plan and save the most people get could - since killing him wouldn't stop the plan. In the end he chose sacrifice instead of easy violence. Totally on point with his philosophy.
@@gregdesouza17 As I said... he's not an idiot and knew he'd be killed. So, to what end does he try to figure out the plan and how does he save any people? He's a seasoned fighter and you don't become that making silly mistakes like this. It was a poorly written end to an otherwise well written character. Agree to disagree... I'm not going to sit here debating it.
Burn Gorman is so type casted... But oh boy does he delivers on the bad guy registery. I really would love to have a noir type show with him as a protagonist anti-hero of some kind...
The writers and actor made Ashford so HUMAN. The song, the bond with Drummer, the song with his daughter, the song while being spaced... I never expected to care that much about him and in the end he’s the character that broke me the hardest.
@@funnylilgalreacts I couldn't agree more! When they first introduced him, I thought he was nothing more than a tool of Fred Johnson. Boy, was I wrong! We were all dreading this episode, because we knew how it would break you! 😭
I was sad when they got out some characters I liked from the book, but on the flip side, we got amazing characters like Dummer and Ashford. Overall, it's becomes twice the Expanse content and I love it.
According to Ty and that Guy, Ashford wasn't even supposed to be part of season 4, David Strathairn enjoyed the role and was available so they wrote him in. Ashford is very different in the novels. One of the best parts about this series is that the actors made themselves bigger roles by overperforming in their craft. (For instance, Drummer was also a far smaller role.) While Thomas Jane may not be a character anymore, he actually directs several episodes season 5-6.
Absolutely, David Strathairn makes an impression in every role I have seen him in but Claes Ashford whole character arch from potential "villainous" former pirate to a matured statesman is the most memorable for me. And the badass assault he led in this episode make me wish that we get a chance to see more of this side of David Strathairn.
The show's version of Drummer is actually an aggregate of several different characters. The character Michio Pa is a badass space pirate in the books, but Drummer takes on her story-line -- even though the show gives the name, "Michio," to a member of Drummer's crew. Cara Gee earned all the plaudits, for her work on that role. It's no wonder the show-runners just kept giving her more to do.
David Strathairn was quiet and unassuming on set. He was never one to ask a PA to get him snacks. He would ask if he could go and then wander to the craft table, muttering his lines or working on his Lang Belta. A few times, when he had a jacket or blanket on (one of our stages was perennially cold) I'd mistake him for crew. Just a gentle, respectful man. To me, he was "Whistler" from SNEAKERS, one of my favorite (and prescient) movies. But when the cameras were on him, he became Ashford. Magnetic, charismatic, sharp, and decisive. An old pirate with the weight of experience on his shoulders, and the wisdom to know what tragedies await the next generation. He said his lines like a pro but, on occasion, he'd make a single glance speak volumes. It was a privilege to watch that man work.
Loving the dentist’s insights into the torture scene. Ashford is a legend. He will be missed. That final shot of Inaros looking at the hologram is worth pausing on 👀. Great reaction!
RIP to the Ghostknife Klaes Ashford. That ending is sooo powerful. That ending with the stealth rocks heading towards Earth was chilling. Season 5 is awesome.
yea I cant wait for season 5 reactions...that one episode is truly something else....I already read the books so I somewhat new what to expect and still, I was literally standing on my seat with my mouth wide open the entire time.....
@@pillepalle3133 for me the 5th book had me absolutely sick with dread and horror the whole time. I don't think any book has ever made me feel that way, and the show couldn't quite get the same emotional response out of me, even though season 5 is still phenomenal. Of course, that's cause I knew what was coming with the show, but yeah, I'm really glad I had read the book first unlike S1-3 where I binged the show, then read all the books that were out at the time. On an unrelated note, writing this comment has made me feel that it's time for a reread. And now I'll stop rambling at you lol.
A less small note but often overlook: Ashford only surrendered after Marcos told him "nothing you do now will stop what's coming". He could have shoot Marcos and get shoot in turn by Philip, he knew he was dead either way, and Marcos plan would have gone on as planned already but gave up for one final talk with Marcos, one final attempt to maybe learn what Marcos was up to and hopefully help someone else stop him.
He got a really beautiful send off. Something about his hair in that final shot of his face reminds me of certain depictions of halos in classical paintings, as rays of light from behind someone's head. Rip Ashford, you had so much to teach.
I did say way back in the day that Ashford would grow on you. Fantastic character arc. And probably the best addition to the show that has no real book basis. We did finally get to see the Ghost Kinife, Ghost Knife though.
RE: 4:53 "If it ends batshit crazy, I might want to go straight into season 5" Future Angela would like to have a word with you. Fun fact: Burn Gorman actually did punch Wes Chatham in the face. Apparently they were so invested in the roles they just got caught up in the scene. Afterwards Gorman, horrified with what he did, apologised profusely to Wes and Wes' response was, "Don't be sorry, that was perfect! I hope they got it in frame!" (You're going to love the Ty and That Guy podcasts after the show"
Yep! This show is just forever battering you over the head with emotions! I genuinely think you broke down more over Ashford than any of the other characters that have died in the show! Testament to just what a great character he was!
Don't usually leave comments, but I just have to say thank you. It took me a while to get into watching The Expanse. Once I did, I was hooked. The writing, character development, concepts, visual effects, and production value are all beyond anything else out there. Hence, why I've re-watched it several times. But, getting to experience watching it with you, someone who "gets it", is like watching for the first time with a friend. Again, thank you and keep doing what you do.✌️
I loved your reaction to Ashford. He went from someone you didn’t trust to someone very lovable and someone worth the investment of time and energy. Really looking forward to your reactions for season 5. I don’t know if you’ve read the books or not but I really recommend the last three. Persepolis Rising Tiamat’s Wrath and Leviathan Falls are delights to read. Even though they will stomp on your heart in places.
RIP that badass pirate. The books discuss what happened to the 'melting' moon. The moons essentially store energy created by the planet. The moons like the planet didn't originally have all the dirt and other material over its surface, so when it fired a focused beam to destroy the shuttle, it burned through all that material. Like firing a super charged laser buried underground without clearing anything out of its way first.
The show make one allusion to what all is happening with illus and it’s moons. Fayez mentions his old refrigerator from his college days; left it off all summer, then it caught fire when he turned it back on. The ‘planet’ and its moons are a billion-year-old machine that got turned back on by the Protomolecule. Things are malfunctioning.
Also the moons are spaced out very regularly the first time they are shown, which doesn't really happen naturally (at least the statistical probability is very small) Another thing is that the scene where Holden climbs out of the tower suggest, together with the vast cavernous areas and just traveling huge distances, that Illus might also not be completely natural.
When a show can bring you to sobbing tears over the death of a character, that started out as an antagonist, it fricken deserves several Emmy awards!
It is freakishly strange how this show and its prodicers and actors did not get the recognition they deserve.
The writing on this series was so phenomenal, in so many ways. I've been a sci-fi fan for 50 years, and this is hand down some of the best I've ever seen.
💔💔💔Ashford, man. David Strathairn made such a great character that I can't see him as anyone else, now.
He is one of the most underrated character actors of our time....
What I loved about the sequence with Bobbie fighting the ambush on Esai was that it was a single continuous take. Kinda reminded me of the super-long shots in “Children of Men.”
more nice long shots in Season 5! ;)
Yeah when the show came out originally I heard it had people from Children of Men on production so I had to check it out. Best decision ever. And that movie still blows me away and hits hard after having seen it maybe a dozen times. Has to be my top non-space sci-fi and top apocalyptic movie of all time, or at least top 3.
21:02 And that right there is a glimpse of what Amos would have been like if he never made the choice to find good people to help check his pathological instincts. Not a mere "badass", but something truely frightening. Just the look of "My God, what have I unleashed" on Murtry's face.
Now that you've met Filip directly, know that you've actually seen him before. Background characters aren't always just background characters.
I think the scene where Murtry punches Amos, and Amos turns back with that slasher smile is easily top 5 Amos moments.
Ashford did, indeed, go out like a boss. He epitomizes saying, "Be wary of old men in a profession where many die young."
Here's to the fantastic David Strathairn. What a performance! That plus great writing allowed this show to pull off a truly awesome character arc.
Yeah, that Ashford scene always gets me. Straight up heartstring tug 😩
Rip Ashford 💙 I cried my heart out when I saw this the first time. He & Camina had the most beautiful relationship.
Of note; regrowth gel was mentioned in the very first ep of season 1 when the crewmember of the Cant had his arm cut off. 😲
When I saw you crying at the end of the show, it made me just want to give you a big hug. Funny how genuine your reactions bring out a reaction me, and I imagine so many others. Your reaction videos are truly the best because you wear your heart on your sleeve and are so down to Earth. Thanks for being you and sharing your experience with others. 😊
🖤🖤🖤
I don't know if you are emotionally ready for Season 5.
Now you know why Ashford was MY favorite of the whole series. Whether you realize it or not, this season Ashford was treating Camina as a sort of surrogate adult daughter. Even though they were both administrators of the station and Drummer in charge, Klaes was being paternalistic. Not in a 'mansplaining way, but genuinely as guide hoping she would come more to his view of the "Belter Nation". This is why he felt so hurt during Marcos' trial. And one reason why he did not have her with on the hunt for Inaros.
I've been skimming through your channel today watching a bunch of reactions (great work, by the way), and it's so awesome to see a new fan react so well to it. I'm sure others have told you by now, but the books are incredible and I can't recommend them enough. The ending in book 9 was extremely satisfying. I hope we get the last 3 books adapted some day.
Now that you've finished this season, you can enjoy the best fan edit I've ever seen for any show, any genre. It's called "(The Expanse) Drummer and Ashford | Live as a Belter" by Zurik 23M.
"One of us is wrong.
I think it's you.
But I hope it's me."
Brilliant!
FYI, you did notice that it was Filip on Mars who Bobbi was shooting at as the doors were closing, right?
Watching this with you is like watching it for the first time again.
Thank you for that experience!
@funnylilgal- Angela, thank you for taking the time to "Sit in front of us" and lay bare your feelings and humanity. We are privileged to share everything from joy to sadness. I think you absorb all the nuances in your reactions and make them come alive for us.
When I see you overwhelmed with the emotion I just want to give you an enormous "Virtual Hug" (in a non-creepy way...) and let you know this show is too good to not take us someplace special.
I'm looking forward to making that journey with you and the rest of the people viewing your channel.
Thanks again,
Best regards,
Mo-
My dear Screaming Firehawk, in some way I feel remorse for the emotional distress this show can impose upon you. To see how hard you took the death of our beloved Ashford leads me to believe that The Expanse has its claws deep into your soul. It's a wonderful and terrible roller coaster ride! We warned you! This show has absolutely spoiled me. For not getting the recognition it so rightfully deserves, it's hard for other shows to compete IMO.
These next sixteen episodes will fly by then you will understand what your boss was saying about being sad because there is no more to watch!
An amazing heartfelt reaction to season four finale!
Looking forward to season five!
Damn, seeing you cry so much at the end made me cry too 😭 You are so precious ❣
Thus ends the legend of the Ghost Knife of Callisto
21:15 Thank you. For giving Amos the Excuse.
I LOVED that look and that punch. I know.. its uncomfortable that our boy Amos does these things. But when he does them to the right people.. That's what he's there for. That's our boy.
The guy that saved Marco was the guy that was in the elevator when the bomb went off on Mars in front of Bobbie
Ashford got to be such a great character, even at the beginning. He was an older, more experienced man trying to impart some of his knowledge to a younger superior officer. You see it in the military a lot, A young, new Lieutenant being taken under the wing of an older grizzled Sergeant. Its what guys have as our version of a Mothers nurturing instincts. Mothers protect babies so they can become children, Fathers teach children to become adults. We try our best to pass on our knowledge so that just maybe, others won't make the same mistakes we did. Took me a long time to figure this out for myself
Ashford, we lost a great one. Drummer is going to be PISSED. Let it out, Angela. I teared up as well. The rest of the episode where they were tying up things was great. Amos testing out his new fingers. Loved that Holden had to make Amos promise not to kill him. The actor they got to play Filip is uncanny to play Naomi and Marco's son. Marco is the type of person that Chrisjen was worried about throwing rocks.
Told you to have tissue boxes handy. RIP Ashford fantastic character and development.
If you go back and watch the video of Mineo crashing into the ring you might notice something in the video feed that looks a lot like what Holden and Elvie saw.
Rest in peace Ashford. Really excellent character of this show.
I don't think anything can sum up quite so well how incredible the writing and character development is on this show than Ashford. If you think back to when he first came onto the bridge of the Behemoth till this scene it's just doesn't seem possible that a character can go from being so distrusted and largely disliked to so beloved that he is probably one of the favourites.
The Expanse, it's so good it hurts.
Get ready for S5.
And Keon Alexander’s wonderful eye liner 😍
And as for Burn Gorman’s punch? That was real
Btw Angela- if you ever get the chance to Cosplay- be Drummer. Channel that Ashford anger energy Mi Sitara
AShford was a good focus point for a while, he was brutal in order for people to survive his own people i understood that, and he was harsh when people messed up because lets face it Space is harsh and unrelenting in its attempt to try and kill you, and we grew to like him so much because he showed growth i believe and a good friendship with Drummer came of it.
Ashford was an amazing character. I love him from the get go. Tough old space rat, not afraid of speaking his mind and not afraid of anything :) Love him and Drummer's back and forth. So pissed when he died! Drummer is amazing. One of my favorite characters! Go to war with Dummer, Amos and Bobbie and your going to be fine! :-D
Regarding the melting moon, episode 7 starts off with Miller pushing all the buttons to see what it does. Some of those things were the waves, the swarm, fusion not working, and the melting moon. So Miller did all that just to find that strange eye of an angry God.
Requiescat in Pace Klaes Ashford, Ghost Knife of Calisto, the second most honorable pirate in the system, after Camina Drummer.
I just love your reactions to this show.
Thank you for sharing. 《《♡》》
BTW, Filip was the guy getting on the elevator just before the explosion that brought down the dome on Bobby.😉
For what it's worth, and what you know of Drummer- Ashford is a big domino. Her reaction to this is something coming. And Yeah, Ashford's loss hits like a truck. It set me on edge from the start that he was willing to go back to his old ways- the old days where he was a pirate. As someone who was so against going back to the simple violence of existence before and advocated building something more- "the belters embrace all of you"- seeing him reverting always had a feeling that it would be a problem. I don't know if something about Marco concerned him that much, or if he saw some twisted reflection of his younger self, but an old man in a profession where men die you is something you respect, for certain, but there's always another man. Younger, hungrier.
But man I miss the old man. And I'm mad we never got the duo of Drummer and Ashford in a fight together.
Ashford is a god damned champ. Only dude badass enough to be Drummer's sidekick.
Amos wasn't talking about his trigger finger when he said he was going to test it out
you are lucky you won't have to wait a full year to solve that cliffhanger... That one was a brutal wait.
All the hugs for you.
Some clarifications from the books, without giving info from future books (Miller and Holden's journey through Ilus was much longer and they talked and saw much more):
The entire planet was an energy mining/production facility, basically an intergalactic gas station (you could literally land ships larger than humans could produce into the spaces under the planet). The protomolecule they brought woke it back up after the "bullet", something the proto builders couldn't even perceive, killed them millions of years before. The rotating pillar they destroyed earlier in the season was used for mining, tilling the soil to get lithium and other rare resources (this is an educated assumption). So blowing it up could have caused the restart process to fail, or just being so monumentally old could be the reason. Either way, the reactor ring on the planet started back up, and one of them failed, going nuclear. The artificial moons were a defense system like the ring station, able to both physically attack, and alter local physics. When the moon destroyed the shuttle, it also started to melt down, and the whole defense system changed physics to stop just a chain reaction of system-ending explosions (by stopping nuclear fusion in the local area).
Remember what Chrisjen said back in 1x4? "I worry about people who throw rocks"
Well, Marco's throwing them
Very well, lets watch this ... prepared to cry with the girl - check. Candle lit for Ashford - check.
Oyedeng, beratna! 😢
I just wanted to point out that the books for the Expanse and the actors chosen for the series were so good, that this show that started on Syfy canceled, then picked up by Amazon Prime. Has gone for 6 seasons, without any cast changes. And still providing a compelling story long after most would fall into tropes of past episodes. Each season has a very different feel and crisis that must be dealt with. And unlike Star Wars, you don’t feel like our hero crew is surviving on plot armor and a scriptwriters Devine intervention. The Expanse feels real because the characters and universe feel real.
Angela : "What if we keep it (the protomolecule goo)?"
Yeah, put a pin on that for Season 5......
So weeks ago I slipped up by commenting that Drummer was one of my favorite characters and that she would have a foil that would lead to great storytelling . . . thus, unintentionally spoiling for you that she would obviously live through the assassination attempt on Fred Johnson (still sorry about that). We’ll Drummer and Ashford became my favorite duo in this series, followed closely by Bobbie and Christian. Believe me, I love all the Rocinante crew to bits, but the 2 pair of Drummer, Ashford, Bobbie, and Christian are my jam. Like you, I’d want to be a belter and serve the Beltalowda with beretna Ashford and sesata Drummer. Sorry Ashford going out with his space boots on broke your heart . . . it was the best exit for such a character. Love your show!
@24:18 Remember - door and corners. Doors and corners, kid. That's where they getcha.
The way we've gone from hating a character to loving him without realising is perfect, it's a travesty that this show didn't get more recognition at the time.
I really wonder what Ilus' purpose was in the grand scheme, my theory is that it was a giant planet sized battery/power plant due to the concentration of Lithium and the number of massive fusion reactors.
@funnylilgal, S04E03 MEGA intro: "I would like to see Fillip"
The Expanse, S04E10: "Wish granted"
@26:50 Awww.."sending virtual hugs"
Heyyy Angela. The dirty/curly hair look is good! Seriously it looks fantastic.
From this comment by Wes Chatham ua-cam.com/video/ZfNJvwNZZ2k/v-deo.html it seems in the fight scene between Amos and Murtry the punch really connected. Wes was so into the scene he didn't realise at the time, only afterwards when he was being apologised to for the mistake. Now that's an actor being lost in their character!
Farewell Ashford, the Ghost Knife of Callisto died the pirate warrior he lived as.
Really appreciated Ashford as a Character.
Inaros is a close second one.They really rocked the casting on that charismatic Nutjob.
in the book holden gets to take a goddamn nap in the 800 km journey through the purple tunnel
I'm pretty sure Amos was talking about handling a different sort of 'weapon' with his newly regrown fingers 🤣
“I’ll be in my bunk.”
Nah, he was talking about beating down Murtry, as he immediately set out to do.
The Expanse has characters you start hating and in half a season are your favorites. Amos, Avisarala, Ashford. One of the reasons I love this show.
"And her front probably too...heh...heh...heh" unlike last time I learnt my lesson, the coffee was safely next to me as I made sure not to consume anything when you do your react videos otherwise I would've had to endure hot coffee spewing out of my nostrils...again!
Now that you have seen the season, to help with the moon situation you mentioned on ilus but the moon are not really moons they are moon sized star bases ( think the deathstar). and over the billions of year's they have been there ice and such has formed around it.
It is mentioned in the books in last interlude with Miller before his last good by... 😉.
Thumbnail alone is breaking my heart.
Sigh.
[Presses PLAY.]
Here we go.
The actress Tipper really shines portraying Naomi in the upcoming season.
Regarding the moons being artificial, basically the builders built them and also engineered the planet. Basically it was a big battery, hence all that lithium. The moons might have been part of the energy storage or transmission.
The whole planet is artificial. I am not sure if it was some sort of fuelstation or what its exact pupose was. The moon where some sort of control and security system.
The planet was shut down ages ago and when the investigator tried to start it up again, some mailfunctions occured - like the reactor explosion or the melting moon. This happened because this stuff is just very very old and got no maintenance.
Disabling the fusion was one of the security actions taken by the moon after the explosion.
And the rotation spike at the beginning of the season was, if i remember correctly, some sort of "dust remover". The landscape we see now has been grown for thousands or missions of years. Its like dirt on a machine. The spkike cracked it up, blowed it away. This whole planet is kinda crazy.
The moons are protomolecule machines.
Maybe a defense system that hasn't been maintained.
In the book, Holden didn't nuke the machines.
Instead, it was all triggered when the fusion reactor on the other side of the planet exploded, and after that, the protomolecule made a small change to physical constants that made fusion impossible. Solving the problem.
This is a concept in physics, where a small change in the strong force will still make our reality work, but will make fusion as we know it, impossible.
Yep, and the one melting simply burnt out and got molten, if you melted a moon size ball of metal it would take decades to stop glowing. When I read it in the books the sheer scale of the energy these things manipulate was made clear.
Did you notice that Filip Inaros(Naomi's son) was the one who killed Esai and detonated the bomb on Mars? He was the one Bobbie saw in the elevator right before the bomb explode.
I was very mad and teared up when Ashford died. If you want to give the show a true villain you make that villain kill a character you love. For me, Marco is my negan and Filip may be Naomi's kid but I could never like him because of this. Get ready for season 5 it's going to get truly crazy.
20:00 that was not what I thought he meant.
Rather than trying to upstage Drummer, it seems Ashford was trying to be more like her dad, giving her the lessons she'd need for what's ahead while he still could.
Ashford is just a placeholder generic obstacle "villain" in book 3 of Expanse. Not much Character development. In the show, they added much more to him and made him (with help of excellent actor) into quite the lovable pirate!
In The book 4. They explain better what Ilus is, I think it was like a "factory", or a "storage/delivery outpost", something like that. So they whole planet is a machine, and the moons are like security around it. In the show they kept it more vague, so we could feel like the protagonists feel.
Season 5, is very good (obviously!) and it will answer a lot of questions and also is one of the best for some Actors to shine.
17:11 Yeah, they definitely got a bigger budget for this one :)
21:05 This Scene... Holy Shit Wes Chatham is amazing.
30:21 Absolutely. Keon Alexander is amazing in that role. There are only two Characters in the expanse that everytime they appeared on screen i just wanted to punch them but he's one of them. Not even Murtry or Mao.
Ilus has thirteen moons, all in the same orbit, with consistent spacing between them. i think we can be pretty sure that at least the majority of them are entirely artificial. their purpose? not sure, but you don't just build an entire planetary system for no reason.
they couldn't get out of each others way ......... R.I.P. Wei that sounded funny together ]:P
I know Angela is done but for viewers/commenters, light spoilers up to the end of this episode -
I wondered how broke up you'd be from Ashford's ending since his debut. The writers were able to wield his character like a surgeon wields a scalpel - cultivating our hatred for Marcos truly begins here
Was Philip the guy in the elevator on Mars????
Sure was
@@funnylilgalreacts Ive seen this episode about 5 times and its the first time I put that together, and I should have know but I wont tell you why
starts revving back up in 5 : ).
I read the books in between rewatching the show, but... it looks like Filip is the one leaving the bomb for Bobbie.
Filip gets around. He's the guy in the elevator who left that bomb on Mars for Bobbie too. And I don't think Amos was off to test his trigger finger, I think he was off to his bunk a la Jayne in Firefly.
Ashford was a great character that had a disappointing and badly handled death. He had to know if he surrendered he'd be killed. He had his weapon and was already aiming at Markos. Even if he had not wanted to kill Filip he should have gunned down Markos. There was just too much at stake not to.
The reason he didn't shoot was to try to figure out Marco's real plan and save the most people get could - since killing him wouldn't stop the plan.
In the end he chose sacrifice instead of easy violence. Totally on point with his philosophy.
@@gregdesouza17 As I said... he's not an idiot and knew he'd be killed. So, to what end does he try to figure out the plan and how does he save any people? He's a seasoned fighter and you don't become that making silly mistakes like this. It was a poorly written end to an otherwise well written character. Agree to disagree... I'm not going to sit here debating it.
Lets give it up for Burn Gorman who elevated what might have been a fairly ordinary villain in Murtry
Burn Gorman is so type casted... But oh boy does he delivers on the bad guy registery. I really would love to have a noir type show with him as a protagonist anti-hero of some kind...
@@gerardlacroix6015 i would watch it
RIP to The Ghost Knife, one of the best characters on a show absolutely chock full of amazing characters.
Yep, my favorite, too.
Such a great character. Always had his eye on the bigger picture for Belters.
Should've taken that shot though.
How they managed to turn Ashford from a near villain to a massive hero that we all cried for. Some great writing in this show (and books).
The writers and actor made Ashford so HUMAN. The song, the bond with Drummer, the song with his daughter, the song while being spaced... I never expected to care that much about him and in the end he’s the character that broke me the hardest.
@@funnylilgalreacts I couldn't agree more! When they first introduced him, I thought he was nothing more than a tool of Fred Johnson. Boy, was I wrong! We were all dreading this episode, because we knew how it would break you! 😭
This is something the tv show improved on. Ashfords part is smaller, and he’s basically a Bond villain
I was sad when they got out some characters I liked from the book, but on the flip side, we got amazing characters like Dummer and Ashford. Overall, it's becomes twice the Expanse content and I love it.
@@funnylilgalreacts I told you when you first saw Ashford your feelings, in the end, would shock you - and here we are.
According to Ty and that Guy, Ashford wasn't even supposed to be part of season 4, David Strathairn enjoyed the role and was available so they wrote him in. Ashford is very different in the novels. One of the best parts about this series is that the actors made themselves bigger roles by overperforming in their craft. (For instance, Drummer was also a far smaller role.) While Thomas Jane may not be a character anymore, he actually directs several episodes season 5-6.
We are so lucky to have had him
Absolutely, David Strathairn makes an impression in every role I have seen him in but Claes Ashford whole character arch from potential "villainous" former pirate to a matured statesman is the most memorable for me. And the badass assault he led in this episode make me wish that we get a chance to see more of this side of David Strathairn.
The show's version of Drummer is actually an aggregate of several different characters.
The character Michio Pa is a badass space pirate in the books, but Drummer takes on her story-line -- even though the show gives the name, "Michio," to a member of Drummer's crew.
Cara Gee earned all the plaudits, for her work on that role.
It's no wonder the show-runners just kept giving her more to do.
Anyone for GHOST KNIFE, the five-season backstory of Claes Ashford?
David Strathairn was quiet and unassuming on set. He was never one to ask a PA to get him snacks. He would ask if he could go and then wander to the craft table, muttering his lines or working on his Lang Belta.
A few times, when he had a jacket or blanket on (one of our stages was perennially cold) I'd mistake him for crew. Just a gentle, respectful man. To me, he was "Whistler" from SNEAKERS, one of my favorite (and prescient) movies.
But when the cameras were on him, he became Ashford. Magnetic, charismatic, sharp, and decisive. An old pirate with the weight of experience on his shoulders, and the wisdom to know what tragedies await the next generation. He said his lines like a pro but, on occasion, he'd make a single glance speak volumes.
It was a privilege to watch that man work.
Loving the dentist’s insights into the torture scene.
Ashford is a legend. He will be missed.
That final shot of Inaros looking at the hologram is worth pausing on 👀.
Great reaction!
A good dental torture scene is in Marathon Man with Dustin Hoffman and Laurence Olivier
@@micpta16 One of those movies with one scene that made me never watch it again. Along with Deliverance and Saving Private Ryan.
I always get excited when I come to a scene that involves teeth/the mouth now, and wonder how she'd react to it.
@@ImAlsoMerobiba It’s good to get professional insight from someone who knows their craft
RIP The Ghost Knife of Callisto, Klaes Ashford. Certified badass.
RIP to the Ghostknife Klaes Ashford. That ending is sooo powerful. That ending with the stealth rocks heading towards Earth was chilling. Season 5 is awesome.
I couldn't even concentrate on the stealth rocks. I was too busy dying inside.
@funnylilgalreacts yeah this episode hit me too
yea I cant wait for season 5 reactions...that one episode is truly something else....I already read the books so I somewhat new what to expect and still, I was literally standing on my seat with my mouth wide open the entire time.....
Do you remember how much you hates Ashford?
RIP The Ghost Knife.
He finally found his solace.
Kill faster, Drummer.
@@pillepalle3133 for me the 5th book had me absolutely sick with dread and horror the whole time. I don't think any book has ever made me feel that way, and the show couldn't quite get the same emotional response out of me, even though season 5 is still phenomenal. Of course, that's cause I knew what was coming with the show, but yeah, I'm really glad I had read the book first unlike S1-3 where I binged the show, then read all the books that were out at the time.
On an unrelated note, writing this comment has made me feel that it's time for a reread. And now I'll stop rambling at you lol.
Just a small note. When Ashford went into the room, he didn’t check the doors and corners.
Omg. That HURTS.
A less small note but often overlook: Ashford only surrendered after Marcos told him "nothing you do now will stop what's coming". He could have shoot Marcos and get shoot in turn by Philip, he knew he was dead either way, and Marcos plan would have gone on as planned already but gave up for one final talk with Marcos, one final attempt to maybe learn what Marcos was up to and hopefully help someone else stop him.
He got a really beautiful send off. Something about his hair in that final shot of his face reminds me of certain depictions of halos in classical paintings, as rays of light from behind someone's head. Rip Ashford, you had so much to teach.
Don't forget about Clint Shorter's beautiful (and very unusual for sci-fi) theme - "When I Sail"
That was Filip on Mars, by the way, leaving the bomb behind for Bobbie. It's quick, but if you look at it closely, it's him.
"I feel like Amos has the upper _hand_ ..."
TOO SOON!!!!!! 😂😂😂
Season 4 Blooper Reel Reaction: ua-cam.com/video/k-E7_GCGcOI/v-deo.html
I'm just sayin'... When Ashford turns to face the void, my heart somehow swells and breaks at the same time... RIP Ghost Knife.
I did say way back in the day that Ashford would grow on you. Fantastic character arc. And probably the best addition to the show that has no real book basis. We did finally get to see the Ghost Kinife, Ghost Knife though.
33:58 “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" - quote by Arthur C. Clake 😉
Corollary by Sir Pterry (i'm pretty sure): Technology that is distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced 😁
jep, letting Ashford go was tough ... one of the greatest characters ever seen in SciFi on screen
RE: 4:53 "If it ends batshit crazy, I might want to go straight into season 5" Future Angela would like to have a word with you.
Fun fact: Burn Gorman actually did punch Wes Chatham in the face. Apparently they were so invested in the roles they just got caught up in the scene. Afterwards Gorman, horrified with what he did, apologised profusely to Wes and Wes' response was, "Don't be sorry, that was perfect! I hope they got it in frame!" (You're going to love the Ty and That Guy podcasts after the show"
Yep! This show is just forever battering you over the head with emotions!
I genuinely think you broke down more over Ashford than any of the other characters that have died in the show! Testament to just what a great character he was!
Even more than Miller. Insane how attached I got to that guy.
No one thinks they will end in tears over Ashford just after meeting him, yet here we all are...
Don't usually leave comments, but I just have to say thank you. It took me a while to get into watching The Expanse. Once I did, I was hooked. The writing, character development, concepts, visual effects, and production value are all beyond anything else out there. Hence, why I've re-watched it several times. But, getting to experience watching it with you, someone who "gets it", is like watching for the first time with a friend. Again, thank you and keep doing what you do.✌️
I watched this show 3 times already and I STILL cried right along with you.
I loved your reaction to Ashford. He went from someone you didn’t trust to someone very lovable and someone worth the investment of time and energy.
Really looking forward to your reactions for season 5.
I don’t know if you’ve read the books or not but I really recommend the last three.
Persepolis Rising
Tiamat’s Wrath and
Leviathan Falls are delights to read. Even though they will stomp on your heart in places.
Yeah, Ashford turned into everybody's"Pampaw".. Grumpy and scary, but someone you can't help but listen to and love!
I think that of those last three, Tiamat’s Wrath was my favorite.
RIP that badass pirate.
The books discuss what happened to the 'melting' moon. The moons essentially store energy created by the planet. The moons like the planet didn't originally have all the dirt and other material over its surface, so when it fired a focused beam to destroy the shuttle, it burned through all that material. Like firing a super charged laser buried underground without clearing anything out of its way first.
The show make one allusion to what all is happening with illus and it’s moons. Fayez mentions his old refrigerator from his college days; left it off all summer, then it caught fire when he turned it back on. The ‘planet’ and its moons are a billion-year-old machine that got turned back on by the Protomolecule. Things are malfunctioning.
Also the moons are spaced out very regularly the first time they are shown, which doesn't really happen naturally (at least the statistical probability is very small)
Another thing is that the scene where Holden climbs out of the tower suggest, together with the vast cavernous areas and just traveling huge distances, that Illus might also not be completely natural.