THE EXPANSE "Congregation" 3x12 Reaction

[@gazzamanazza4pm]

Regarding Ashford acting in a similar way to how he criticised Drummer for acting earlier - part of it might be the influence he and Drummer have had on one another, but mostly I think it's the difference in situations between then and now. Before, he wanted Drummer to act "with greatness, like the great nations of Earth and Mars" to paraphrase Ashford's words. Now though they're in crisis mode, and there is *no* room for error. I think it highlights an interesting difference between Drummer and Ashford. Ashford - the optimist - wanted Drummer to act less harshly in hope of creating a better future for their people and only turned harsh when push came to shove, while Drummer - who takes a more realistic/pessimistic view on the Belt growing into a Nation of its own - was in that harsh crisis mode from the beginning.

[@adamwells9352]

Ashford was trying his best to differentiate "regular" times from "emergency" times and move past the habit of going immediately to the most drastic step. He fought Drummer on spacing the dealer because he was trying so hard. But make no mistakes: he has seen emergency times, and what it takes to survive them, and you can't say that he has forgotten. He goes to war, you'll see something.

[@rogertemple7193]

the Expanse is one of the best sci-fi series in a long while thanks Meg. 🎵🎶🎼💯💯🎼🎶🎵

[@lyn1.6]

This show is so amazing. Also, the Asian guy with the ponytail was in another space show called "Killjoys". His character's name was "Fancy". It's nothing like the Expanse, but it's pretty good.

[@Yesquire0]

Drummer in prior scenes has given us some clues that she would like to have something more with Naomi than just a nice friendship, but I'll agree it's a bit subtle and maybe not so easy to catch.

[@kirkdarling4120]

I'm an old Boomer, and I caught it easily enough. I think some people are in denial.

[@invaderliz]

Might just be a coincidence, but the lady and queer reactors I’ve seen pick up on the Drummer/Naomi crush vibes and of polyamory being normal in belter culture, while the dude-bro reactors seem to think Drummer and Naomi are best friends and don’t pick up on the poly relationships (season 5 especially).

[@Sinewmire]

@@invaderliz I'm a straight man, I picked up on it! Especially when Drummer was badmouthing Holden in season... 2? That's not dislike, that's jealousy.

[@wagnarokkr]

@@invaderliz this is something I've noticed as well - and I think in the case of people who don't see it, a lot of them would see it just fine if either Drummer or Naomi were a man. a lot of people just aren't used to seeing queer relationships presented in this way

[@ashcole223]

I never get tired of this show. So wonderful! Things are gonna get wild!!!!

[@AngeloBarovierSD]

Anna is hands-down my second favourite guest character (behind the hero-spy himself, Cotyar Ghazi). I can quote her as easily as I can Gandalf, or Ben Kenobi. Having a moral or ethical dilemma? WWAD? What Would Anna Do?

[@nrran6835]

Yes. Anna is SUCH an example of what we COULD be. You can be bold, and adventurous and faithful and audacious, all of it. And you could nice and kind AND strong. I dont know if you've read the books and the last short story, but its an amazing story and showcases how the way she lived has ramifications galaxy wide, and I love that for her. Shes my second favorite character in the series after Naomi I think.

[@SyrosAlex]

14:05 That's a wonderful little scene. Simple, yet so poignant! Great writing and perfectly acted.

[@jamesholland5761]

Slicing through the ring will save everyone in the solar system, not a bad way to die.

[@dylanmonaghan3342]

Gosh I love your analysis! Its like I am watching for the first time again, but I am not lol in fact I think I have seen this series at least 7 times haha

[@Sir_AlexxTv]

Cara Gee is extraordinary in her role, I've watched some interviews with her and she is the opposite of Drummer, she is very fun and calm.

[@Adanu191]

I can believe it. Most women do not enjoy being stern and serious all the time.

[@kirkdarling4120]

In the first seconds of the episode, the Roci's autodoc screen gave us the technical report on Clarissa Mao's mods. I do agree that Ashford is really an older version of Drummer. We saw at the end of the second season that Belters are able to understand the "cold equations" of space and sometimes the need for sacrifice for the good of others. Well, they could kill everyone off. I read an SF detective-thriller novel long, long ago in which the main characters were killed early on by the terrorist they were chasing...but neither they nor the readers knew they were dead until the conclusion. It was a very good story. Maybe it could happen here.

[@jarvisfowlkes3200]

Love you Meg

[@fluffy_walrus]

Yeah, I think sacrifice is what Ashford came to first not just due to his personal life experience, but...culturally, as a belter, you would learn to sacrifice for your people. You would have enough scrapes with death to have dealt with your mortality to a significant degree. Look at last season, with Naomi and Champa on Ganymede, how quickly everyone settled down and made their peace with their situation. Look at the prioritization of practicality, of community. The more you share, "the more your bowl will be plentiful" isn't an empty saying in this world.

[@garethlawton5278]

It's been mentioned so I won't hammer the point but I agree that although Ashford may look like a hypocrite there, but he wasn't. It wasn't yet the time for such discipline in his judgement. Everyone's life counted on everyone doing their job effectively and safely when Ashford made the same actions, it went far beyond the risk of losing a crewmate in a work skiff because they were high on drugs. Everyone could die and our Solar system would be none the wiser it seems.

[@pssthpok]

Your comment about Amos' "moral compass" surprised me for a second. He is well known as a person who lacks a moral compass, and so, in an effort to be a bad person acting as a good person, uses someone else as his moral guide star. But yes, he does have to pick the person to follow, and THAT is his real compass, and he is good at it, as we can see by his choices. Nice comment!

[@RocketSurgn_]

That’s definitely the surface level of his characters but I’ve always taken it more that he doesn’t _trust_ his own moral compass (or maybe think he has one himself) so he looks for others as a guide. He has a lot of trauma in his past and grew up/developed his ideas of what is morally/ethically right or (separately) acceptable so he does have a lot of cold self focused (including people he considers his tribe) decision making but the fact that he values people who take a more altruistic direction shows that does matter to him on some level. He just had to bury that so deep to survive his past and to mentally survive the things he’s likely done for that survival that the he doesn’t believe he can choose the right thing so when he’s left without that external guiding star he falls back to what became so much easier for self preservation.

[@deadhead8323]

The situation of threatening diogo with being spaced was different than what drummer did. During a time of peace she could round up the drug dealers and user and could've given them to the authority of the O.P.A to face charges. She just went for the threat of killing them instead and that was severe. This was a justifiable threat because it's during an catastrophic emergency and someone was stealing blood supply. Drummer is great but she still needs to show restraint and learn leadership.

[@djin81]

The weirdness you see in the Drummer/Naomi relationship is because Drummer is two book characters merged into one, Drummer and her girlfriend. The TV writers have had to bring Naomi into the Drummer/Ashford story to hit a couple of needed story beats were Drummer was interacting with her girlfriend.

[@TetsuoVI]

I love how much nuance you're picking up on from the show which others miss. As far as we know, Ashford is doing what he believes is right based on the information he has and his personal experience; right or wrong in his decisions, he has been portrayed with tremendous integrity. So I feel you should have zero reservations about your positive view of Ashford. We currently really don't know what love means as a Belter beyond tribalism, but what you're picking up from Drummer is not nothing either. Amazing reaction and discussion as usual.

[@Gabriel-br4qe]

Imagine being in a pocket universe made by some ancient alien technology, meeting the guy that you were trying to kill for the first time right in another cell near you and he's just like "oh hey I'm Jim"

[@MegMageReacts]

LMAO

[@TetsuoVI]

While Anna might bring out the best in others, Amos does also but with a very different toolset. Anna inspires to connect more with the divine nature she believes is within each of us; ok maybe not Clarissa. j/k We know deep down she wants salvation for Clarissa. Amos however, serves as an extension of the universe; a force to be reconned with; neither good nor bad, but powerful and scary if you don't respect it/him. His motivations are based on cause and effect not unlike the universe. A relationship with Amos forces us to determine what we really value as has been shown with Naomi, Jim, Alex, and especially Prax. I love this show so much!

[@johnpittsii7524]

Hi Meg hope you are having an great and awesome day ❤

[@Korica]

I think there is unspoken romanticism between Naomi and Drummer. But that jealousy or possessiveness doesn't have to be romantic. To paraphrase a great quote from Boston Legal, "The idea that jealousy or fidelity is reserved only for romance, that's stupid." You can love somebody in a purely platonic way and feel upset when they choose to spend time with someone other than you.

[@bigyetter]

I can't wait until you see the series finale in 2025 (probably).

[@TheDreadSpartan]

😁♾ A💜 👏

[@Drummer4President]

I love him, but Ashford was absolutely being a hypocrite. It doesn’t matter if they’re now in the middle of an emergency. It would be just as easy for him to arrest/detain anyone who’s doing anything wrong and deal with them later, as it would have been for Drummer to do with the dealers. He reacted like that because he’s in a crisis and reverted to Belter Bosmang mode.

[@wagnarokkr]

9:16 ironically not all of that was acting - she said on twitter once that that box had some sharp edge on it that slashed up her leg when she pulled it down, so that pained reaction was real

[@AnthonySmith-bj9mo]

hi Meg

[@Wampor]

[@bajasmancer]

If in doubt, chew out Diogo.

[@whtz9000]

Drum drum is a be. As a lot of beltters.