Television Review: The Big Empty (The Expanse, S01X02, 2015)

The Big Empty (S01E02)

Airdate: December 15th 2015

Written by: Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby
Directed by: Terry McDonough

Running Time: 46 minutes

The second episode of The Expanse, aptly titled The Big Empty, presents an intriguing, albeit not always successful, compromise between action-packed suspense and world-building exposition. This delicate balance is a hallmark of the series, and The Big Empty is no exception, as it weaves together multiple storylines that gradually converge, setting the stage for the events that will unfold throughout the series.

The first storyline picks up from the cliffhanger that concluded the pilot episode. The surviving crew members of the Canterbury find themselves stranded aboard the shuttle Knight after their ship's destruction. Holden, as the second officer, is thrust into a leadership role; however, he struggles to manage the crisis effectively due to his trauma from losing his lover, Ade. This emotional turmoil is poignantly illustrated in a brief prologue where Ade's memory haunts him. It is Naomi Nagata, the engineering officer, who emerges as the de facto leader in this dire situation. When debris from the explosion damages their shuttle, leading to a critical loss of air supply and a malfunctioning radio antenna, Naomi makes a pivotal decision: she sacrifices some of their remaining air to allow Holden and Amos to repair the antenna. As Alex and Shed nearly suffocate due to dwindling air reserves, tension mounts until Holden and Amos successfully repair the antenna and send out a distress signal. However, when Knight receives a response, the crew is horrified to learn that they will be boarded by the Donnager, a formidable battleship belonging to Mars Congressional Navy—a vessel they suspect may have been involved in their ship's destruction. With no viable options left, they brace for an encounter with Martian forces.

Meanwhile, on Ceres, Detective Miller continues his relentless pursuit of Julie Mao. His investigation leads him to uncover that she likely boarded the ill-fated Scopuli. Compounding his challenges are issues surrounding water supply on Ceres; regular shortages force many residents into black market dealings for essential resources. Miller and his partner Havelock are tasked with addressing these burgeoning criminal activities. They stumble upon a group of small-time criminals engaged in siphoning water supplies. Although Miller apprehends their young leader Diogo (portrayed by Andrew Rotillo), he ultimately decides to release him with a warning about the dangers posed by more powerful gangs operating in Ceres' shadows.

On Earth, Chrisjen Avasarala faces her own set of challenges as she discusses stolen stealth technology with Sadavir Errinwright (played by Shawn Doyle), Deputy General Secretary of the United Nations. Errinwright expresses his discontent regarding reports of torture inflicted on Heikki Sabong (played by Joe Delfin), an OPA militant suspected of theft. As Chrisjen delves continues her investigation, she grows increasingly convinced that Mars and Belter separatists are conspiring against Earth—a notion that suggests an impending escalation in hostilities between these factions. The situation is further complicated when Heikki commits suicide during transport to Luna for further interrogation.

The Big Empty, particularly through its subplot involving the misadventures aboard Knight, bears resemblance to classic Star Trek episodes wherein spacecraft crews find themselves embroiled in perilous situations that are predictably resolved by episode's end. Despite this familiar structure, it remains an engaging and well-crafted episode that serves an essential purpose: it vividly illustrates the inherent dangers and limitations of space travel in the 23rd century. The scarcity of vital resources such as air and water becomes a central theme—elements often taken for granted by those on Earth but which are critical for survival in space.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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