The Expanse - 3x12 Congregation - Group Reaction

Hello All! and Happy Friday! The crew is back from Electric Forest all nice and tan ready to watch this season finale. Wow has this first half of the finale left us at the edge of our seats. Sit back and watch with us as we lose our minds to the first half. The Second half will be up shortly guys!
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[@paratus04]

So guys the Protomolecule is whats called a Von Neumann Probe. A type of self replicating probe that we’ve theorized could be used to explore the galaxy. You send it out to another solar system, it takes materials it finds there to create another probe and then sends the new one on its way to explore another solar system. It’s way to explore the entire galaxy in a relatively short time (millions of years) In the story the protomolecule was sent at sublight speeds to prospective solar systems where it would co-op any life it found to make more of itself. Once it had had enough mass it would produce a ring that would link the new system by the faster than light ring to the station. What Holden was saying about it being a road builder was true. Since this is a hard sci-fi show nothing goes faster than light with the exception of wormholes (Einstein-Rosen Bridges) which at least have some support in General Relativity. I think we are supposed to assume the rings are wormholes for instantaneous travel. The protomolecule builders send the protomolecule probes out, wait several 1000 years and then when a ring gets built they have instantaneous travel to the new system. However in season one I think they said the protomolecule they found was on an interstellar asteroid that was very very old. Once the protomolecule did it’s thing on Eros and Venus it tried to call home but found nothing except the station on lock down. It needs to find out where it’s builders are to complete it’s mission. So it creates the Investigator (Miller) to investigate what the hell happened. Holden’s vision show us the protomolecule builders encountered something in one of the solar systems they connected their ring system to. They treated it like an infection - trying to burn it out but whatever it was spread from system to system, leaving us where we are today. The protomolecule builders missing, their ring station on lock down, and an unknown entity or faction more dangerous than the protomolecule.

[@lyrilljackson]

so which is it, very very old or just several 1000 year old, and if the thing can make a wormhole from where it is back to pinpoint where it was precisely shot from to the same fucking place also pinpointly somehow, why can't it just use the same guidance system that shot it "sublight" speed with "out " a wormhole, to make the same wormhole right then and there to whatever coordinates you want bypassing the thousand years wait? you are trying to tell me that it HAS to physically exist on the portal endings first to establish such a wormhole?? then how did it all open up in the end ? that the other rings weren't destroyed? they still be floating around waiting to be turned on again? and what shut them down and why?? ({"{{we know that when it's just inactive like before manuel space hopped at it, it DOES have both sides, and when it IS active, it STILL has both sides, just one side is opaque now instead of both sides see through. see the weird and stupid thing is, normal wormholes(presumbly none artificial) don't have such a thing as multiple ports, and in interstellar it's a see through scenario, you basically look through a scope from one side to another, there is no veil on one side at the lens and veil on anything but the lenses on the other side, do we even know if they physically exist in double copies, also on the ring station? like where the fuck is this station in space anyways???it's certainly not belong to any of the solar system it connects to, and it's not a solar system itself either, it's just one dead space one artificial station.....a cannon station at that, which shoots star destroying beams of.....massive amount of protomolecules or what? because they do infest the stars blue don't it? I thought nukes could sanitize these things last we checked?? now it destroys fucking stars in seconds?.. I think the see through thing might be that the milky surface are all giant wormholes, but I don't know why it has to be opaque on one side and clear on the other yet you can pass both ways freely anyways, because I see no reason why this couldn't just be in any random fucking none place in space, just looking all chilled like dead space, because looking from the inside most of the thing is opaque, that means whatever's on the other side(we saw things disappear when touching the inner surface) is clear as the dead space sky, so, all that the ring station "shows" in outside presence is only the rings, and only when they activate, looking opaque on the entrance side , because if they don't then the connection is literally closed, and the rings are only by themselves, got nothing to do with the station, none tracable or anything by others, see through both sides

[@paratus04]

L Y R I L L generically a new system would be available to the builders in however long it took the protomolecule probe travel to the new system, co-opt the local biosphere, and make a new ring. For distances of a few light years and speeds of less than 0.1C that’s roughly 1000’s of years. From what I remember in the first book/first season Phoebe,where they originally found the protomolecule, had been an interstellar asteroid that ended up trapped in Saturns orbit for millions or billions of years. Humans got lucky the protomolecule never reached Earth and gave us time to evolve. For the builders the Earth system would have been a probe that failed in it’s task. Obviously something happened to them before they tried again.

[@Dennisvdveen]

Good summary

[@tdog790]

damn didnt know all this

[@marcc1830]

Good summary. I think the road reference kind of confuses some of the Normies because it's more like a transport gate hub. An analogy would be if we were able to use nano machine to basically mind control ants to build road or dig tunnel for us. We wouldn't think that we are doing something amoral. For the "ring builders" they were just sending a probe that uses some base lifeforms and minerals in a system to build a "galactic highway exit ramp" to Sol ; )

[@SultanOfAwesomeness]

"Okay I'm gonna need that gun back" Best line of the entire episode.

[@andrewcook6608]

Guns are a part of his religion

[@_zurr]

Lol every time a show is like "this is how it be" Nahid is like "nope actually my interpretation is that it's this whole other thing"

[@syngyne]

The station isn't necessarily made out of protomolecule, it's more likely just based around a similar tech. The protomolecule itself is just an automated construction tool. It just takes whatever organic materials it can find and builds a ring with them to connect up to the rest of the network, and then phones home to say "job done." It got sent here billions of years ago but got stuck in Saturn's orbit, and sat there until we found it. So instead of the organic goop it was expecting, it found itself surrounded by complex organic life, but basically just shrugged and said "whatevs, I'll just use this instead."

[@sparrowlt]

i think its clear the ring builders sent Phoebe (the saturn moon where it was found) to a system wich they considered it was pretty young and surelly without sentient life.. there was no ill intention or blatant disregard however it puzzles why they didnt program any kind of failsafe for the protomolecule in the unlikelly case it encountered sentient life.. after all reaching a wrong target or at a wrong time had to be definitilly an option

[@allyourmoney]

sparrowJLT Maybe if that happened then an actual team of PM builders were supposed to physically go to the station & check things out, but they got killed off so everything got stuck in limbo.

[@johanwittens7712]

My theory is that the protomolecule is a smart tool with learning capabilities, but was never meant to "assimilate" intelligent life. It was an accident that allowed it to assimilate and learn from intelligent consious life (humans). So i think the protomolecule learned from us and became partially or fully consious, even though it was never intended to. And when it built the gate to connect "home" it found out it's creators were gone. Then it created miller, as an investigator "template", to figure out what happened to it's creators.

[@richardthecowardlylion5289]

The protomolocule was created by the civilization that created those rings and that station, the protomolocule was like nanobots in Star Trek or Stargate (replicators), they are just a reprogrammed bio-engineered 'smart' nano-tech that uses local resources to create the gates to reconnect to the network for future colonization.

[@1aler67]

yes - protomolecule is an automated biological machine (nano cyborg) designed to create a galactic highway with wormholes - but the creators are dead

[@johanwittens7712]

My theory is that it was a smart tool, designed to build gates in alien environments. But it was never meant to repurpose intelligent life. Because of luck and accidents, the molecule got stuck in our solar system when there was no intelligent life, and was discovered by us bilions of years later after humans evolved. The protomolecule then "assimilated" intelligent life and learned from consious beings. This made the protomolecule semi consious even though it was never supposed to be. So when it built the gate and conencted to the hub, and when it noticed in it's consious state that it's creators were gone, it created miller to figure out what the hell happened to the aliens that built it. I think it is a lucky accident that the molecule got stuck until we humans encountered it, allowing it to become partially or fully concious. But i might also be completely wrong... :D

[@S.E.Walker]

This has got to be the best single season of any TV show. When I think back on all that happened since 3x01, I am astonished.

[@ScorpiusDX]

Damn guys, you really need to know the difference between "universe" and "star system"

[@NozomuYume]

Rewatching these reactions getting ready for season 4, and this keeps nagging me. It's like they get told over and over again that they don't know what "universe" means, but they never learn. xD It's like someone keeps talking about their little country town and calling it "the planet". And someone from the next town over is "from another planet".

[@mikek9297]

@@NozomuYume " It's like someone keeps talking about their little country town and calling it "the planet". And someone from the next town over is "from another planet". Humanity in a nutshell.

[@gpaje]

What's the protomolecule thinking? It's thinking "Hey, where is everyone?"

[@arpeggioblue]

gpage aww, now I feel kinda sad for the protomolecule. I’m just picturing it sad and alone in an empty playground going “guys, come back”

[@SETHthegodofchaos]

19:25 he didnt just saw. he was implanted memories. just like the station made him see Miller, it manipulated his brain cells in order to create these new memories. Which is basically a introduction text to what the station's function is.

[@lyrilljackson]

don't you mean RAM?

[@SETHthegodofchaos]

yeah, you could it that, even thought a brain would work slightly different compared to a random-access memory :P

[@mksongbird]

guessing that you've all seen the half hour BTS video Cas Anvar uploaded with a lot of great footage of them filming the finale. definitely worth checking out for anyone who is a fan and hasn't yet seen it.

[@chronos1111]

oooh thanks for the heads up , mk. def gonna check that out

[@alexiscardarella]

Yeah, I’m glad you guys enjoyed your vaycay. That whole first scene with Ashford and Holden gave me chills.

[@thequietlion3553]

The fist bump at 22:35 was the best part of this one for me. Haha Great video as always, guys! Glad you're back! What an amazing finale!!! OMG

[@ManUtdVen]

Micky was spot on.

[@nhjproxy]

This dropped in between World Cup games..perfect timing.

[@swagattttt]

N H It's coming home mate

[@AM-cs2vz]

@@swagattttt unlucky

[@swagattttt]

@@AM-cs2vz 😆😆

[@markleal16]

Every time Suraj says "AmOs" instead of "AmUs" I think “It's leviOsa, not levioSA!”

[@Takhar7]

Ive never been so excited for a Normies video. What. A. Finale.

[@ConspiracytardHunter420]

Thank god you guys have subtitles, Suraj doesn't stop yapping.

[@allyourmoney]

Which is why Suraj gets everything so spectacularly WRONG.

[@orGAZmic]

IKR lol

[@KenLinx]

they're a reaction channel. I didn't come here to watch the episode.

[@ProvidenceNL]

YES FINALLY! Thanks normies, been waiting for this the entire week!

[@0xDiegoR]

Protomolecule: Protheans Something that killed them: Reapers Holden's visions: Shepard after touching the beacon in Eden Prime

[@Takhar7]

Diego R. Love it. My thoughts exactly.

[@AKABoondock19]

"The Second half will be up shortly guys" Praying this means today Nahid "You giving us blue balls" Anowar edit: Its up. In Amos and Nahid we trust

[@Thenormies]

Boondock it will be today! I’m working on it bud. - Nahid

[@reactionjunkie7891]

Missed watching Normies- Expanse crew!! Wb guys and looking forward to seeing u guys lose ur shit hahah :D

[@17thknight]

The Normies you hurry your ass up, Nahid, you're the only reactors who give us our Expanse fix!!

[@AKABoondock19]

I love you sexually for this, Nahid

[@SETHthegodofchaos]

still waiting...

[@pepps779]

I have been waiting all week for this reaction!

[@mksongbird]

no more commercials!

[@aznthy]

You better put the other part today because I am no waiting a week for the ending when it's shown 2 episodes in one day.

[@lilly4380]

Okay, so, it hurts the stuff you're getting wrong. The Builders, or whatever you want to call them, were an advanced civilisation who engineered the protomolecule as a tool to make rings leading to those star systems we saw in Holden's vision. The Ring Station, the one Holden was on? That's not protomolecule, but it was made by the same civilisation that made the protomolecule. Also, it's not other universes. I just... ugh. They were other star systems, not other universes. That's a huge distinction. Whatever happened to those star systems before the station destroyed them left the station on lock down. That's why every ship going over the speed limit gets stopped, the station is spooked. Then those Martian arseholes set off a grenade, and the station realises that just stopping the spacecraft wasn't enough, because even things (like a grenade) going a few metres per second can damage it. As for the question of leaving, they were taling about it in the context of sending a dropship, or skiff, or shuttle, that isn't being groped by the slow zone field. The purple glow on the ships (and the nuke explosion) means a craft is being stopped. Which does make me wonder what would happen if they cut off the front of the Behemoth where the purple glow is, but whatever. Sorry. /Rantover. Oh, and I really hope you binge the books between seasons. Seriously, the first three books are a lot better at explaining the details and science than the show is, although some of the characters are less interesting in the books.

[@tomw4955]

honestly I get your pet peeve of the Universe/Solar system like soooo much but I do think they mean the correct thing just to them the distinction isnt that clear. XD Just tell yourself that,.... it eases the pain. ^^

[@supersop]

MyBlog1 still a bit wrong. Holden misinterpreted what he saw. The other star systems weren't destroyed. The were being revieled in reverse. It was never the end of everything.... only the end of us and our star system..... provided they stop fucking up by trying to destroy it. If they do things right, the other systems will be revieled. That central station that is protecting itself is nothing more than the control unit for a Waystation to other star systems..... but it will protect itself against idiot's by killing their star. The End

[@lilly4380]

I've read the books. Yes, I'm aware of exactly what the rings and the 1300 worlds beyond them are, but I didn't mention that to avoid spoilers. Good job. And no, several, or perhaps even thousands of, systems were destroyed in both book and show versions of Holden's vision.

[@supersop]

MyBlog1 not s book reader. I've been saying since the episode where Holden saw the vision that he was seeing things in reverse and totally misinterpreted the vision. Sorry if I typed a spoiler.... I'm Just guessing over here .... and correctly I guess 😁

[@knowyourhistory]

The writing on the show is much better than the books.

[@richardthecowardlylion5289]

Woot woot, it's finally here! Enjoy! Can't wait to see you're reactions to the ending!

[@Mayhemm007]

They're in a graveyard, Micky, because the species that created the space they're in (Forerunners) has been completely wiped out (by the Flood). The protomolecule is all that's left of them.

[@lullhabit6292]

Thanks for the subtitles ! Keep them coming ! It's easier for us who can't hear shit, and non english-speakers :)

[@LeeCarlson]

After surviving all that he had, Diogo developed the idea that he was invulnerable and would survive anything.

[@Cdtjj577]

This is basically Mass Effect 1. Protheans left technology behind that humans (and other species) found, but no one knew who wiped out the Protheans. Reapers in season 3!

[@_zurr]

*This* is season 3!

[@Cdtjj577]

Zurrdroid ha! You’re right. Season 4 here we come!

[@17thknight]

Mass Effect directly stole its entire story from the Revelation Space book series by Alastair Reynolds, which came out 5 years before it was even begun at Bioware. In his series the Inhibitors are the Reapers, the investigation if a long dead civilization summons them, it turns out they're doing it for "good" reasons, etc. Mass Effect literally plagiarized his books

[@Coff1nf33der]

Yeah and I would recommend Reynolds books to everyone, they are fantastic, based on real science taken to the extreme and his prose is great too, not just for a sci fi writer.

[@Ghal-ht2um]

@@17thknight Depends on what you mean by "stealing". Every single story has elements that previous similar stories had. Mass Effect is not direct copy from Revelation. Or does it have the equivalence of Shepard, Alliance, Turians, Asari, Krogan, Salarian, and every tech, organization, race, character, and companion? If yes, then it's "literally plagiarized". But there are plenty of differences. Or do you think every time travel story is "stolen" from someone who first had time travel elements in their story. Is Star Wars just copy of Star Trek and every Space Opera? Is every post-apocalyptic story just copies of the original? I guess that means Fallout, Wasteland, and others just stole the idea of Nuclear apocalypse from previous stories. I guess we should just stop making new stories all together because everything has been done already. Ban all books, movies and video games. Anything that even remotely resembles something someone already did. Not to mention the fact that it's perfectly possible for two people to separately come out with the same idea. But I guess it's easier to automatically assume malice in everything.

[@grandfathergeek]

Thank goodness, I been jonesing for you guys!

[@makeitmodded]

That dude on the right always makes so much unnecessary noise man.

[@orGAZmic]

Lol. That's why he always gets the story wrong

[@ezrawyrd9275]

"lesser mao" lmao

[@RandomVideoApparatus]

Clarissa is a lv. 26 rogue while Julie is a lv. 99 cleric

[@NoWuvDeep]

Was waiting for this!!

[@sallyshipwreck4315]

Gotta love the look on Amos' face when Pastor Anna slaps Clarissa. Like, oooooooooooh, didn't know you had that in you!

[@tsogobauggi8721]

18:41 Listen to Rana you guys. :)

[@iz723]

is she married?

[@tsogobauggi8721]

She is married to The Normies. :)

[@iz723]

she wearing a wedding ring no?

[@tsogobauggi8721]

She organize things, cleans, and makes food for The Normies, that's sort of like being married. :) Nahid (next to her) is her boyfriend now.

[@AKABoondock19]

FINALLY!!!!!

[@millsrome]

YES! Finally!!!!!

[@DemitriX.]

And there it is!

[@blueskybelyr]

HELLOOOO I HOPE YOU GUYS HAD A GOOD HOLIDAY

[@Jerry113]

I've been edging myself for this upload.

[@gpaje]

Yes!!! Couldn't click so fast.

[@TrinidadBatman]

Wait so does Mikey drive all the way to Indiana to watch expanse with you guys or was this recorded before rana and nahid moved back

[@Ebosan87]

Dude, the episode just came out a week ago, lol, and they clearly stated it was recorded this week. So no, it wasn't recorded before they moved and yes, I guess Mikey drives to them.

[@TrinidadBatman]

Ebosan87 I don’t follow expanse at all, and I don’t even watch all the normies expanse videos, I only tune in sometimes and it’s usually for them and not the expanse so I’m very unaware of what’s happening with the show

[@Shibo77]

Stannis Baratheon You should give it a try, it's well worth the time!

[@PHHorlock]

finally!!!

[@doommuffinz5276]

such a fascinating series

[@alexiscardarella]

That laser beam shit was the hastiest shit I’ve ever seen on a series with this much intelligence.

[@LeeCarlson]

The writers have referred to the civilization who created the protomolecule as "the Romans" or "the Road Builders." The nucleus and the space around it is part of that road.

[@elizabethlockhart2103]

I like calling them "The Architects". I think its more poetic.

[@LeeCarlson]

@@elizabethlockhart2103 However, it does not take into account their lack of concern when it comes to "paving over" any other species that might be in their way.

[@elizabethlockhart2103]

@@LeeCarlson I don't know, I've met some pretty careless architects. They can be real dicks. XD

[@LeeCarlson]

@@elizabethlockhart2103 While that may be, Architects are not constructing a communication/transportation mechanism.

[@elizabethlockhart2103]

@@LeeCarlson I said it was more poetic, not more accurate lol. Agree to disagree.

[@johnathan3373]

The proto-molecule used the portals to cauterize galaxies because there is a MORE dangerous threat than the proto-molecule the station is the orb that is charging.

[@tomw4955]

FINALLLY!

[@barshank15]

It's the Reapers!!!!!... We just need a Commander Shepard.

[@andykoegelenberg6376]

The ring near Uranus really really hated something exploding in there

[@clem1257]

Yeah!

[@gerher9416]

the thing is if you really want to travel the stars you should put a ring on it... :v

[@ponfed]

Ashford was a straight up villain in the books. Straight up, petty, power hungry, tyrannical asshole. What they did with Ashford in the show is really wonderful. And they got an A list character actor to play him. That's fucking cool.

[@sallyshipwreck4315]

Yes, a shout out to David Strathairn who played Ashford. He's in most of John Sayles' movies.

[@ponfed]

@@sallyshipwreck4315 It's like : "Oh God, we got Strathairn? Oh shit we gotta give him something better to do!" Bamm .. new Ashford...

[@AUTO6]

Finally! :D

[@fferreira6197]

fucking finally!!!!

[@davidlericain]

Someone needs to explain the difference between a solar system and a universe to some of you guys. This keeps happening. it's basic astronomy. Like, really basic.

[@wishray1589]

150.000!

[@oleyullah]

Funny how their predictions are so off except for few from that Mark/Mac black chubby dude few episodes ago and the girl's few 2 eps ago

[@chimmychim1013]

I am so early I don't know what to say but also sooooo exciiteeeeddd........

[@KlooKloo]

Suraj drops about 75 IQ points every time he's in a room with Pat or Mikey. it's fucking weird

[@2nd3rd1st]

Did you guys watch it live or is that not necessary anymore? I was expecting commercial breaks.

[@tofumar]

Odd for the internet....but I like all of these people.

[@matthewcronin2325]

Suraj sneezed into his hand and it really bothered me

[@dwnkaomwn3953]

So, who's SYFY going to give the series to? Amazon? Netflix?

[@steriopticon2687]

Amazon

[@dwnkaomwn3953]

Steri Opticon Thank you.

[@Takhar7]

Amazon already confirmed. Buckle up. Incredible show, but now with an even higher budget

[@arpeggioblue]

TickTak77 So. Fuckin. Ready.

[@chronos1111]

How can you not love the belters after watching this 2 part episode The only good side to the break between seasons is that i can hopefully catch up on the books! Edit: Oh hey, it's Fancy!

[@philnorfleet1371]

I know you guys (and gal) have indicated strong dislike for Melba/Clarissa, but the book ("Abaddon's Gate") actually did a much better job of getting her motivations across. Despite all of the death she left in her wake, by the end of the book, you really feel bad for her. Somehow, she became one of my favorite characters. All though to be fair, the show's version of Ashford is like a billion times better than the book version...

[@Agentt4777]

Finally!

[@wraith1701]

Fuck YES! :-D

[@_zurr]

Man imma be so mad if the second part isn't up today...

[@M3A7]

not goin to lie, pointless discussion on this one. Just watch the next episode.... ;p

[@pachecodias03]

Won't you watch episode 13?

[@Takhar7]

pachecodias03 they watched it right after, but for the sake of uploads they broke it up into 2 - it allows them to get past the fair use timer

[@alexiscardarella]

I love Diogo, I loved his backstory, and I found myself calling him a little shit sycophant this past half season. I’m disappointed where his storyline went. Was hoping to see more. Plus, he was really hott.

[@mscheese000]

3:57 loool

[@johnjungkook2721]

Is the guy in the middle narcoleptic? He's falling asleep mid-conversation, and it happened on other videos too. No hate, just confused.

[@Karl_Drogo55]

lmao I seen him nodding off in other reactions too..I do think he was driving to them at this point in the series of the show they reacted to..So maybe it was just a long drive and he's tired lol idk

[@emwungarand]

WHY DOES PINK SHIRT GUY TALK SO MUCH......

[@Agentt4777]

Dude in the middle is creepin out the girl.

[@dark3rthanshadows]

so this show is going legit mass effect 1 a bit too much for my liking

[@illusiveman1613]

Your episode is in the wrong order I think

[@Itzy91]

It's not.

[@Takhar7]

The one you watched was the wrong order - did you watch online the night of the finale?

[@Itzy91]

TickTak77 - I DID! That's how I know the normies weren't watching the one in the wrong order LOL! I knew something was off that night till I realized what's wrong.

[@CosmicDreamz139]

Finally! :D