Alex is at his best when piloting, and besides confirming with Bobbie that the Martian military has been selling frigates to the Belters (something we kind of already knew), it was nice to see the Razorback in action. Not that we would wish for them to dump their core and be drifting in space, but their storyline was in danger of becoming too procedural and expository. In the case of Alex and Bobbie, it was a desperately needed boost. In this way, the show is able to maintain tension in the background even as drama unfolds on Earth and aboard Marco’s ship. Naomi and Amos take center stage in “Down and Out,” but the episode also expertly foreshadows future confrontations and highlights the consequences for going after conspirators, whether with Holden’s aborted pursuit of the Zmeya or Alex’s narrow escape from the Barkeith.

There’s a sense in The Expanse season 5 that with all of the characters separated, each one is going to get their chance to shine.

This The Expanse review contains spoilers.

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