WiC Watches: The Expanse season 4

Image: Amazon/The Expanse

Episode 409: “Saeculum”

Just when Holden finally had a hold, pun intended, on things, his old ghost friend Miller returns. Though this time it’s a different Miller, one that is not controlled by the proto-molecule. And to Holden’s delight, one that doesn’t talk in riddles. He and this new Miller venture further into the ruins, hoping to find the “off” switch for the planet. Elvi, always following Holden it seems, discovers where he’s gone and proceeds to follow him, again.

Now that he can see again, Murtry puts his plan into motion to overtake Holden and claim the planet’s resource wealth for himself. He interrogates Elvi on Holden location, as she’s come back to get Amos, and she reluctantly breaks. She finds Amos and informs him of the situation. Amos isn’t surprised, obviously, though it is surprising when he calls Chandra, telling her he’s coming for Murtry. It’s rare for Amos to show any kind of mercy to those in his way. He and Elvi go after Murtry and Chandra, hoping to get to them before they get to Holden.

Back on the Rossi, Alex notices a light shuttle coming from the RCE ship, the Edward Isreal. With a heads up from a friend of Elvi’s, Alex is able to shoot down the shuttle before it hits the Rossi, but the explosion causes debris to spray inside the hull, propelling Lucia into space. Naomi acts fast. Attaching herself to a cable, she jumps into the vacuum of space and catches her.

The idea of floating through space without any way of returning, spiraling into the endless void that is the universe, really isn’t captured here. It’s shot like Lucia is falling from a plane, and Naomi has to dive after her. The shots go back and forth between close ups of each characters face and it’s hard to grasp the seriousness of the situation. Instead it feels like a lot of panic for 30 seconds, then a miraculous save.

Miller’s guidance leads Holden to a strange purple tunnel, one that gently floats him onto a platform, seemingly deep below the planet’s surface. The two banter with one another while they walk through dark corridors into a massive chamber with an endless fall below. Murtry and Chandra arrive shortly after but choose to stay and wait for Amos after listening to his message. The conflict that ensues sees Amos kill Chandra, only to be wounded by Murtry, who escapes to pursue Holden. Amos is shot like three times, which isn’t even the most we’ve seen him get shot and live. This time doesn’t feel any different. Elvi runs to find Holden before Murtry.

Somehow, Elvi navigates ancient alien underground ruins to find Holden in a smaller chamber standing in front of what seems to be a smaller version of a planet-eating black hole. Holden explains that the black hole is supposedly the thing that killed the proto-molecule’s creators. Elvi warns him of Murtry and Holden leaves to confront him. Miller suddenly begins talking through the old alien tech, and takes the physical form of said tech to attempt to touch the black hole, thus killing all proto-molecule on New Terra.

Holden confronts Murtry on one of the bridges in the massive chamber. The two exchange a few words, and both get shots off, but Holden’s finds his mark first, causing Murtry’s to only nick Holden. The whole scene has a western gunslinger showdown vibe, something that’s been brewing since these two met. Even their backgrounds resemble something you’d see in a western classic: Murtry, the good soldier gone bad, turned to greed and without mercy; Holden, the government agent, here to uphold the law and bring criminals to justice. It’s a quick but fitting end to their conflict, and since Murtry didn’t technically die, it might only be temporary.

Holden rushes back to Elvi who is trying to physically haul the near lifeless — for good this time — Miller into the black void. Elvi goes for one last tug as Miller is thrown into the void and the scene cuts. Holden is seen trying to stop her right before the end, and yet again, were left hanging from a cliff.