The WORST episodes of The Expanse

Every episode of The Expanse ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of The Expanse!

Two hundred years in the future, in a fully colonized solar system, police detective Josephus Miller is given the assignment to find a missing young woman, Julie Mao. Joining his task is James Holden, former first officer of an ice freighter who is involved in an incident caused by the tense relationship between Earth, Mars and the Belt. Far from their struggles in space, United Nations executive Chrisjen Avasarala works to prevent war between Earth and Mars. Soon the three find out that the missing woman is connected to a vast conspiracy that threatens all humanity.

Last Updated: 11/14/2024Network: Prime VideoStatus: Ended
The Big Empty
star
7.45
7511 votes

#1 - The Big Empty

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 12/15/2015

Holden and crew are trapped in a badly damaged shuttle. On Ceres, Miller uncovers clues about Julie Mao. On Earth, Chrisjen Avasarala questions a terrorist.

Directors: Terry McDonough
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Dulcinea
star
7.51
9348 votes

#2 - Dulcinea

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 12/14/2015

In the outer solar system near Saturn, James Holden and the crew of the ice freighter Canterbury investigate a distress call from a mysterious derelict ship, the Scopuli. On Ceres Station, Detective Miller begins an off-the-books investigation of a missing heiress, Julie Mao.

Directors: Terry McDonough
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Windmills
star
7.52
5971 votes

#3 - Windmills

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 1/19/2016

Holden and his crew face a Martian military blockade. Miller finds a new reason to forge ahead. Avasarala visits Holden’s family.

Directors: Bill Johnson
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Remember the Cant
star
7.52
6815 votes

#4 - Remember the Cant

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 12/22/2015

While Avasarala plays a dangerous game of politics, Holden and his crew begin to turn on one another while held captive by the Martian Navy.

Directors: Jeff Woolnough
Writer: Robin Veith
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Back to the Butcher
star
7.53
6394 votes

#5 - Back to the Butcher

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/5/2016

The crew has survived the loss of the Canturbury and the Donnager and are contacted by an unlikely ally. Miller, on Ceres, continues his investigation and his thoughts of a conspiracy grow.

Directors: Robert Lieberman
Writer: Dan Nowak
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Rock Bottom
star
7.55
6184 votes

#6 - Rock Bottom

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 1/12/2016

Holden's team makes an uneasy alliance with Fred Johnson while Miller fights for his life against Anderson Dawes' thugs.

Directors: Robert Lieberman
Writer: Jason Ning
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Strange Dogs
star
7.64
1905 votes

#7 - Strange Dogs

Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 12/10/2021

The tensions of war threaten to pull the Rocinante crew apart when they make a startling discovery on an asteroid. Avasarala and Bobbie contend with the devastration on Earth as Marco's rocks continue to rain down. In the Belt and on the run, Drummer and her family must make a heartbreaking decision. On Ceres, Marco and Filip's struggles turn inward.

Directors: Breck Eisner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Weeping Somnambulist
star
7.69
5626 votes

#8 - The Weeping Somnambulist

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 3/22/2017

Bobbie becomes a political pawn in the struggle between Earth and Mars.

Directors: Mikael Salomon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Exodus
star
7.70
2148 votes

#9 - Exodus

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 12/16/2020

Holden tries to convince Fred Johnson to destroy the last sample of protomolecule. Naomi gets an important lead to her son. On Luna, Avasarala begins to hunt for Marco Inaros.

Directors: Breck Eisner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Safe
star
7.70
6300 votes

#10 - Safe

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/1/2017

Unlikely allies Joe Miller and the crew of the Rocinante led by Jim Holden uncover more about the conspiracy to release the protomolecule on Eros station.

Directors: Breck Eisner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Redoubt
star
7.70
1794 votes

#11 - Redoubt

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/31/2021

Holden finds himself at odds with his crew when a controversial decision is uncovered. On Ceres, Avasarala struggles to contain an escalating humanitarian crisis. Drummer's growing faction stage a daring raid with dire stakes. Filip, demoted to repair skiff duty, makes an unexpected discovery.

Directors: Anya Adams
Writer: Dan Nowak
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pyre
star
7.72
5662 votes

#12 - Pyre

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/15/2017

Naomi tracks down signs of the protomolecule; Fred Johnson's control over the OPA collapses.

Directors: Kenneth Fink
Writer: Robin Veith
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Seventh Man
star
7.73
5825 votes

#13 - The Seventh Man

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 3/8/2017

Preparations for the Earth/Mars peace conference tighten the tension on Errinwright.

Directors: Kenneth Fink
Writer: Georgia Lee
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Azure Dragon
star
7.75
1804 votes

#14 - Azure Dragon

Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 12/17/2021

With an unexpected passenger aboard the Rocinante, Holden and crew undertake a dangerous mission that could shift the balance of power in the war. Drummer decides to make an uneasy alliance. Filip wrestles with his guilt.

Directors: Jeff Woolnough
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Oppressor
star
7.75
2334 votes

#15 - Oppressor

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/13/2019

As tensions on Ilus reach a boiling point, Holden reveals a secret. Avasarala debates Nancy Gao. An emergency on the Roci forces Alex and Naomi into action.

Directors: Jeff Woolnough
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Retrograde
star
7.78
2342 votes

#16 - Retrograde

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 12/13/2019

Drummer and Ashford confront a dangerous person from Naomi’s past. Murtry hunts down a target. Bobbie’s makes a life-changing confession.

Directors: David Petrarca
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Hard Vacuum
star
7.79
1970 votes

#17 - Hard Vacuum

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 1/20/2021

Amos returns to Baltimore with Clarissa. On Luna, Avasarala's alliances begin to shift. Alone and adrift, Naomi becomes a deadly lure.

Directors: Marisol Adler
Writer: Dan Nowak
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Shot in the Dark
star
7.79
2299 votes

#18 - A Shot in the Dark

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/13/2019

Naomi and Alex work to keep the Barbapiccola in orbit amidst a power outage. Avasarala faces a tough decision. Holden and Elvi race to find a cure for a disease spreading on Ilus.

Directors: Sarah Harding
Writer: Dan Nowak
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Tribes
star
7.79
2027 votes

#19 - Tribes

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 1/6/2021

Holden and the Roci go on the hunt. Amos and Clarissa seek shelter on a devastated Earth. Bobbie and Alex fight a desperate battle. Marco makes Drummer an offer she can't refuse. Avasarala returns to a position of power.

Directors: Jeff Woolnough
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Churn
star
7.82
2041 votes

#20 - Churn

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 12/16/2020

Holden and Fred deal with infiltrators on Tycho. Drummer's past comes back to haunt her. Amos returns to Baltimore. Alex and Bobbie's investigation on Mars leads to rogue soldiers.

Directors: Breck Eisner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Oyedeng
star
7.82
2029 votes

#21 - Oyedeng

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 1/13/2021

Naomi makes a desperate attempt to save her son from Marco. On the Roci, Holden battles for the last sample of protomolecule.

Directors: Marisol Adler
Writer: Dan Nowak
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Cascade
star
7.83
5546 votes

#22 - Cascade

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/29/2017

Holden leads his crew through the war-torn station on Ganymede.

Directors: Mikael Salomon
Writer: Dan Nowak
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Static
star
7.83
5974 votes

#23 - Static

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/8/2017

Holden and Miller butt heads about how the raid was handled.

Directors: Jeff Woolnough
Writer: Robin Veith
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Winnipesaukee
star
7.83
1969 votes

#24 - Winnipesaukee

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/27/2021

Amos, Clarissa, and a gang of thieves work together to leave Earth. Avasarala tries to head off a brutal military strike. Drummer's new family bonds are tested as Naomi's life hangs in the balance.

Directors: Breck Eisner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Subduction
star
7.84
2416 votes

#25 - Subduction

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 12/13/2019

New alien threats emerge on Ilus as Naomi battles health challenges on the planet. Bobbie searches for a missing person on Mars. Avasarala faces a new challenge in the UN.

Directors: David Petrarca
Writer: Dan Nowak
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV