Let me know if you have questions about the Investigator or the Protomolecule. Check out the first two videos in the series below. I didn't mention anything from books 7 & 8, so if you want to talk about that make sure you use a Book Spoilers warning and use line breaks to hide the comment. Thanks! The Protomolecule explained - Protomolecule series Part 1 - th-cam.com/video/20M3rR2pVWo/w-d-xo.html The Ring Gates and Builders - Protomolecule series Part 2 - th-cam.com/video/HcwL5YCfIv0/w-d-xo.html
Apart from being a prime number, anything significant with 113? Were the builders minds able to easily compute things in a base 113 number system? Mathematicians, I want answers!
Miller was the only one who voluntarily submitted to the Protomolecule, and as a result, unlike the others, he wasn't completely consumed by it, but was left with the capacity for independent thought, ie. think outside the Protomolecule. Exactly what you need in an Investigator.
Naw, he was completely consumed. Miller's atoms were incorporated into the mass of the new construct the PM built with the organic material it had. The only reason why the investigator appeared to Holden is because Miller was a screw driver that had a head to fit into the shaped grove Holden had.
No, the other people of Eros are being simulated the same way he is. Eros WAS consumed, including Miller, but they were also recorded and saved in case they'd be useful. The investigator talks about it, about how he can hear the screams of every person the PM had assimilated. Their screams and pleas for death. They are just not being actively used to meet some need. He sought out the "bullet" on Ilus specifically to try and use it end theirs, and his own, suffering. The protomolecule tech itself doesn't think, though it's powerful enough to integrate components that do, like human beings. It looked at Miller and found a use for the "software" that was his mind. But he couldn't complete the assigned task, and so went off to find a way to end his existence rather suffer eternity. Similar to how it used Julie, she was a pilot, so it used her to fly Eros around. It never deletes anything, just grows and grows, gathering resources and putting together whatever it needs from whatever it has to do whatever task it's assigned.
No. He declared his purpose to the proto molecule's seed crystal (Julie Mao)- so it knew he was a detective. A finder of things. The proto molecule needed some things answered- so it pulled the ONLY tool it had to solve mysteries- Miller. But they kept deleting him until he found a way to overrule to seed and kill off the Ellis machine programming. This was all explained in the series and books, so... Watch or read the series? Maybe the fact that most died screaming- meant that was at the forefront of their mind when they died. Julie was the other exception (plus the only sentient being in the hive mind) so she kept her conscience as the hive queen of sorts.
peters colosimo , la collana delle sue eplorazioni ,i racconti xxxx alcuni di essi non sono staty publicati per motivi xxxxxx is so in situescion di stai bay for is,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, tutto e solo per archeologia
Pretty sure the "Unknown Aggressors" are extra dimensional. If the Protomolecule Builders were similar to the Forerunners, then the Aggressors are probably something akin to the Combine. If Holden feels their presence each time he passes through the ring, its probably because the slow zone exists outside space. So the builders likely built into the Aggressors realm and that made them angry.
This was exactly my feeling. Haven’t read the books yet, but it seems like they were wiped out by something so beyond their understanding and even perceiving is that all they could do was relate what it felt like to them. Whole systems gone in an instant. I believe “the aggressors” likely weren’t even doing it aggressively, more like a routine response or part of whatever they normally are trying to accomplish on their plane of existence.
The ring network is described is something like an open wound in their space, and the more its used the more that wound gets irritated and hurts them, which is why they start eating ships when the energy load passing thru the rings gets to high - its to establish a limit on their usage as a kind of peace treaty. If you read the books you'll see how this balance of power gets completely disrupted but thats the gist of the situation.
@@makhnovite Thanks, that's cool. I knew about the "irritated" part with the rings. I guess in my mind that could mean anything from potentially killing aggressors eventually to just a minor nuisance to them. Possibly something they deal with from time to time; a Civ operating in lower dimensions messing with technology that briefly makes them known to a higher dimension Civ. When that happens they basically give the lower Civ two choices; be wiped out or knock it off. The ship-eating Etch-A--Sketch tech could just be one of many ways they deal with these problems. Though, while I like that concept, I'd guess it's simpler than that in the books. I just got the first couple on Audible so we shall see.
Yep, that’s cool. I did know about the “irritated” part. I guess I took that to mean anything from injuring or even possibly killing the unknown aggressors to literally just a minor inconvenience. If the aggressors are operating in a higher dimension, a lower dimension Civ building some tech allowing them to momentarily access and effect in some way a higher dimension may just be something that happens from time to time. In fact, the whole molecule dissolver Etch a Sketch weapon may just be sort of like the pro-mol, just a tool they built to deal with these kind of things while they go about their normal business. There may be reasons why they don’t just wipe out everything in the lower dimension, and instead choose to just sorta fire warning shots and “neutralize” the ring gates when they appear. That being said, I’m sure it’s simpler and cleaner in the books. I just got the first two on audible so we shall see. And I do know from seeing a video that the aggressors get pissed off again due to some kind of ring builder super weapon being developed (I think?). Which does seem to indicate that whatever it does to the aggressors when we mess with that kind of tech is at least enough that they don’t put up with it for long.
I always thought that The Investigator/Miller’s last little conversation with whatever was left of Julie before he goes into the bullet was a really sweet detail. Was kind of bummed when the show didn’t include that detail.
If you don’t mind me asking what did the investigator say to Julie and how? I thought the miller consciousness was separated from the rest of the Protomolecule in the chamber?
@@Cal-Mac BOOK SPOILERS: it’s been a while since I last read the book, but the basic gist is that the protomolecule incorporated the consciousness of everybody it ate on Eros, including Julie. The protomolecule isn’t conscious, but parts of it are. The conscious parts are the people of Eros it incorporated. You get a few hints of this during the investigator POV chapters in cibola burn - the investigator makes passing note of a few individuals (something like a child crying for their mother, etc, like I said, it’s been a while). His last conversation before jumping into the bullet is with Julie. I think he even says “I’m driving this bus,” which is a direct call back to when he told her she was driving the bus, I.e controlling Eros
Way too many book spoilers following: It wasn't Julie but someone who lived and died on Eros. The main clues of this being that Julie wasn't actually mentioned in that final interlude and earlier it was also mentioned that she was dead in every sense of the word. The Investigator also specifically stated that Julie isn't coming back. This also makes sense because she was "patient zero" or the core construct within the gate building mechanism, everything else was saved and she's the only one who died, which is naturally another allusion to Jesus Christ which are quite frequent the story of JAM & JAM (Josephus Aloisus Miller & Julie Andromeda Mao). Someone dying so that everyone else can live. Essentially in that final interlude, The Investigator is following the example of someone he admired, doing what she did to help the other consciousnesses in that part of the protomolecule. However, everyone and everything the protomolecule ever did anywhere saved in that diamond construct as stated by the two 'resurrected' kids imprisoned by Cortazar. The protomolecule has quantum entanglement onto itself, every part of it is connected to every other part of it and as The Investigator connected to 'the network', 'a backup' was saved. Although as Duarte was busy poking the bear, 'the angry beings inside the ring gates' seemed to have stopped or snoozed the protomolecule somewhat which might cause problems for future information retrieval from the construct. It's amusing now that Amos is part of the black eyed resurrected gang, he also has access to that diamond archive and can 'remember' every small detail about the protomolecule tech if questioned. Although, no one wants to know what the meat head knows as he has always been just the muscle.
Miller was an awe-inspiring character. His impact on the story is lessened if the character returns. Just like anyone in reality, their return is diminished when they become overused. Out of respect for the character, and the story alike - Miller is dead, and needs to remain that way. I don't like it anymore than you. But it's the correct choice to ensure the show progresses.
I enjoy this format a lot, explaining things from the books without giving additional spoilers. It makes me wonder if the protomolecule has access to the other personalities it's consumed, and could just choose the face of someone else when interacting with other people. Or is Miller's personality just so strong that it assumes that form because it's easiest? Maybe it jived with the investigator's purpose so he was the logical choice. THIS is how you build mystery in an alien race! Their intentions and their thoughts are just so far beyond us we can't even fathom them.
He would have been one of the last consciousnesses it consumed. All the people it used to do the work should be in there though. I suppose if it could make Holden see him, it would be able to make other similar tools.
I think if it needed a mechanic or a certain type of scientist or another type of profession it would’ve selected a different person that it had consumed but help Miller was a true detective investigator by nature .....,.
My understanding is that Miller’s persona was chosen as the Investigator because the small remaining bit of the protomolecule residue existed on the Rosi where it had access to Holden. Holden was chosen from the crew because Miller liked him.
I still tear up every time I reread the last of the interludes. God those were so well written, I’m so glad we got the dreamer interludes in the last book.
I'd like to thank you for these excellent videos. I have not read the books and your explanations have been very helpful indeed. What a fantastic show this is! How sad I am that the show will end after season 6.
It is a great service you do here for the The Expanse as a saga Pete. Thank you for loving it so much. From myself and hopefully everyone who recognizes its greatness.
That was fantastic. Channels like this remind me of my sons. I don't like to go into a movie or series cold, I like when my sons explain the plot and what is going on (sometimes I have trouble following). I loved when they walked me through the Matrix. It made watching it so much better. Now after watching your videos I feel I will understand this series when I watch it. Thank you.
Another great video. I remember discovering your channel while watching Twin Peaks season 3 and now through the years with Westworld and Expanse. Always highly enjoyable and on point. Keep on the great work 😁
I was attracted to The Expanse because it dealt with the early days of space travel with no faster-than-light technology. Earth, Mars and the Belters, each with different agendas, strengths and weaknesses. The protomolecule is far more interesting concept than simply ripping up the space/time fabric of the universe with FTL. Thanks for your explanation.
12:29 “The Library Vaults where the old ones had lived” I’m rewatching this after finishing the entire series and this small line of yours answers a giant question from Leviathan Falls . The library, the BFE, is more than just a library of information, the collective consciousness of the old ones lived here. It was suggested, but this line confirms it!
The Investigator POV chapters were my favorite part of Cibola Burn ( book 4) which was actually my least favorite book out of the entire series. I also really enjoyed the back & forth conversations between Holden & Miller. Their little jaunt together had some very humorous moments. I had such high expectations for Robot Miller & the visual depiction of Illus & its flora/ fauna plus the alien ruins which I pictured much more organic & insect- like, more like termite mounds or something. I was somewhat disappointed there.The whole hive mind thing & biotech aspect of The Builders culture just didn't come across imo in the show. But I did love what the show did with the human drama by scaling it back from what was in the book & giving Murtry more realistic motivations. And I mean c'mon, those scenes with Murtry & Amos were just soooooo good.
I've not read any of the books, but I have a theory that the wormhole tech involves passing through another dimension in some way and that dimension is not uninhabited; so every single wormhole transit risks interacting with or even harming the occupants of that space - the Unknown Aggressors are much like the Unbidden and are disturbed by this constant intrusion into their' realm and eventually they decide to fight back and wipe out the Ring Builders.
It just seems a bit too cut and dry. Especially considering they clearly were able to attack the ring builders, which means they can enter our space or at least send attacks into it, which is why the station destroyed stars and cut off the connection to them. That would also mean they could destroy the station, since the station itself really doesn't exist in normal space. On top of that, it makes zero sense that they wouldn't just destroy every single ship that passes through the gate system. The fact that they were basically able to immediately destroy the barkeith, means they would have to be ever present in the wormhole domain, which again begs the question as to why they don't just destroy every ship that passes through in order to keep people from using it, because people would definitely stop using it if the only result is the destruction of the ship. I think what is more likely is these beings aren't benevolent, and that they want to find a way into our space, but need the builders tech to do it. The builders also clearly used that technology for a long time without a problem, and it would seem more logical that if this was just an attack on their domain, they would have attacked almost as soon as the builders started using the technology. It's also clear that they can attack anything going through the gate, which again poses a problem, because they can clearly survive the interactions with matter from our universe, so clearly this is not harmful to them. So it's probably less of a case of us doing them harm, and instead, them wanting to do our universe harm. Compared to their space and existence, the universe probably offers ton of wonders and resources, and most importantly, energy that they do not have in their dimension. They're not just extra dimensional though, they're clearly in a completely different layer of space, otherwise they would exist in our dimension too. I think they simply want to get out of their layer of space and into ours, but due to the fundamental nature of their existence, it's a boundary that they cannot scientifically reconcile to make happen, because the aggressors are more like a force, they don't use technology to do what they do, it's just part of their physics. The reason why they attacked the builders is because the builders were likely the only ones with the capability to eventually stop them. For all we know the aggressors might already be doing tons of stuff in our universe that we just contribute to natural things happening. For example, maybe some stars going super nova is actually a symptom of them extracting power from our universe or trying to get into our universe. They've been at it for billions of years, but they're searching for some way to get into our universe so they can consume it. Even the space they exist in could be the result of them coming in like locusts and consuming everything. My guess is they aren't really a civilization, but more like worms in the soil of space, looking to consume everything and anything, and have been around since the beginning of the universe. That scene where they attack the ship wasn't just them attacking it, they were literally feeding on it, absorbing its matter. And that's what they want to do to the entire universe until nothing is left. So you have wormholes, but they're created by worms eating through a layer of space, and this is how wormholes are even possible, because of the layer of space they are eating. That might even be why the universe even exists. They basically ate space until it all condensed down into a singularity, then it exploded into the universe, with the energy being released creating more space, but at the same time, locked in their layer of space. So in essence, the creation of the universe was a byproduct of their never ending consumption in their layer of space, and now they see the result of that as a new crop to farm for their never ending consumption, but they just haven't cracked how to cross the barrier into our space yet.
I can't wait until Leviathan Falls (Book 9) drops to see if we learn more of the story of the gate builders and what managed to disappear them. That's one hell of a backstory for all that we've seen so far.
Honestly I feel that Amazon has kinda dropped the ball, since they picked up the show and started with season 4. Season 4 was good, and 5 was...it was alright. 1-3 were just phenomenal.
@@TibetanHusky8 I thought the end of S5 was actually pretty exciting, but God, the middle was just such a slow burn. 1-3 had so much passion and substance. Even if an episode was fast paced, I feel that I got more out of it in 1-3. Amazon just seems kinda...meh. I do hope that the series gets a reboot for 7-9 though. Season 6 should not be the end, by any means.
I think Julie was more like the first facilitator/host for the protomolecule. She was absorbed by it and unaware of her actual circumstances before Miller "woke her up" and convinced her to aim Eros at Venus instead of Earth. Post Venus Miller to Holden was kinda like a troubleshooter subroutine of the protomolecule that was trying to figure out why it couldn't connect with the rest of the system.
@@DartLuke Before he found her infected body in the hotel room she was his fantasy. In that he imagined his connection to her. But she was real when he found her in the chamber when she was a glowy and naked and absorbed by the protomolecule.
Love your videos man! It would be amazing if you discussed what we learn about the protomolecule and its creators in the last books. All the different theories about their destruction and what hope does humanity have to survive in the middle of that cosmic battle!
Another great series that is most definitely inspired by Aliens with the Engineers and the Xenomorphs. What I find interesting is how new technology that is created is quite often the cause of that civilisation's destruction
"Holden tells him that every time he passes through a ring, he sees their world. [The world of unknown beings that annihilated the RingBuilder species aeons ago] And every time he sees them, he thinks they look angrier. He worries that humans are waking them up. And that's probably not something that humans want to do." That's identical to what happens in the novel "Starsight", when Sensa travels through the "Nowhere" dimension, the "space between the spaces" that immediately connects far distant places of our universe, and Sensa "sees many eyes staring at her, and she feels the eyes get angrier at each of Sensa's passages through the Nowhere." Those passages through a short cut in space time were not a good idea in "Starsight" either... I highly recommend reading the novels "Skyward" and "Starsight". Funny, thrilling sci-fi adventures with strong "Mass Effect" vibes.
@@PetePeppers1 Same!! We already have the first wave of actors that have arrived and are arriving for S6 shoot. So super excited about that as well. Just knowing they are shooting now is such a relief.
I wish the TV show would have shown the ring builder's during Holden's flashbacks. I missed the part where Miller had a disagreement with the protomolecule
potential SPOILER... As book reader, do you think Miller could reappear book 9? I know that Holden relieved himself of the protomolecule that was hosting Miller, but I have to assume that any future encounter with the protomolecule could tap into Holden's psyche again. And Amos appears to be a possible carrier at the end of book 8.
I really enjoyed this! Thank you. A thought: If you added the book lines from the parts you’re reading from, it would make the video much more enjoyable as well as easier to follow along with. Cheers ✌️
This was one of the best arcs in an already arc heavy series, and Thomas Jane was a weirdly perfect choice. I had never read the books so the show was all new to me, but Miller rang a huge Raymond Chandler bell in my head and is probably why he became my favourite character. I had kinda figured out it wasn't Miller after a few meetings with the Investigator but rather a facsimile of him made up of Holden's and Miller's memories. But then I questioned whether Holden had ever seen Miller wearing his beloved hat and convinced myself he hadn't, meaning the Investigator was all Miller, or rather a mix of Miller and the proto-molecule. Then later on when the suavely dressed, hat-less Miller showed up it hit me what was really going on and I felt so sad for both versions. One had been created and sent on a journey, the other was craving to be no longer in existence partly due to all the thousands of dead souls he constantly had to hear. I guess part of the sadness was also realising this was the end of Miller in the show and also that Holden wasn't the one who got to be there with him in his final moments. I kinda resent Dr. Okoye for having had so little to do with interacting with Miller yet being there for his ending. PS I was absolutely stunned at just how little time was given both to Alexs' death and how brief Holden's description of it to Naomi was. I initially thought that he must have pissed off the writers/director and gotten such a scrub ending. It niggled at me so much that a week later I googled it and wow. I never expected that to be the reason. I guess I had believed his character so much I really did see him as a caring, almost motherly person in reality, too. PPS Worst character ever = Marco Inaros. Not because of his stupidity but because it seemed like every time he showed up they kept tying to make him look more and more like a Duran Duran/80s glam popstar. I don't care what your ideology is, I ain't buying into it if the leader looks like he was just kicked out of Spandau Ballet for being too glam.
And there he saw what he hoped hed see, the slouch, the apologetic basset hound look, the hat..... "Oh this cant be good" "Hey miller, we need to talk"
Thank you for clearing things so much also can you explain more about gate builders and the plp that destroyed them etc is there any more mention of them...
From watching the video the artifact does seem like an unexploded bomb, like the ones found in modern Europe that were dropped during WW2. The gate builders encountered a civilization in their process of interstellar road building that constructed a weapon to hunt down and destroy the gate builders but they themselves were wiped out by the gate builder's ring system. Two people met and were incapable of coexistence nor adaptation and so they destroyed each other.
I like to think that in the books, The Investigator had glowing eyes that sent a thin line of light from his irises like a flashlight, and that he primarily stayed in shadows.
I haven't read the books but after this one I feel like the gates pass into another universe and the gate builders didn't know this (or maybe did and didn't care). It took time but where every they go before coming out the other side doesn't like this and figured out a way to kill off those that are coming into their space. So all we know traveling using the gates could be hurting whatever we are moving between and they are just pushing back or they could be evil like the wrap in 40k.
Amazing! I have a thought tho so the ring gates are essentially Einstein-Rosen BRIDGES right? So to us the are seamless connections between two different points in spacetime but what if the bridges in order to connect rip through another dimension, one that is home of these beings. Idk if I remember correctly but I think Holden mentions something In the lines of “the space between spaces” so that prompted me to think about this in terms of dimensions.
Hey Pete - thanks for the videos. They’re very useful. I do have a question for you re: how your vids are made though: towards the end of the Investigator episode, as you’re winding down, you say rip to the investigator, rip to Miller, etc, etc. Are you saying RIP, as in Rest in Peace? If so, why do you actually say “rip”? Is your narration AI? Did anybody else catch this? Just being curious, not a critic. Thanks again for the helpful videos. Love The Expanse
Ever since I heard about the other civilisation, that wiped out the builders, I wondered if it is a case that transiting the wormholes hurts them in some way. I wonder if an agreement can be reached ( like in DS9 , or Masters of The vortex, the last lensman book )
the dimension the gates use to bypass normal space is where the aggressor originates from, each time a gate is built or when something passes through them, it damages their dimension or hurts them in some way, maybe they retaliated
It seems the proto tech is an ultra advanced operating system created by the gate builders that also has a trouble shooting form of AI or simulated intelligence that uses its surroundings to fix the systems problems, basically is what you are saying....
Basically it's not even an OS, just a bootloader of it. To build a gate they need to send a builder on subluminar speed, and the less its mass is the closer to the speed of light it can go, so they stripped everything from it to the bare minimum - that is a protomolecule. Like, protomolecule is not even a nanomachine builder it's uses carbon life as that (which essentially is if you think about it - our DNA replication mechanism is a nanomachine), by taking control of it. Just note that almost every gate is leading to a life-supporting world, it is a requirement to build a gate. Creators of protomolecule determine a world with a life on it, send protomolecule on a speed close to light, protomolecule arrive, hijack a life and build a gate which granted a FTL travel adding another world and nearby systems to their civilization. So protomolecule had not much to itself, it's uses whatever it find. I think that idea to investigate what's gone wrong was never put into protomolecule, that was entirely from Miller's conscious and protomolecule just used it after absorbing Miller, because that was aligned with its sole purpose - to build and connect, to reach out.
@@ke5uq1we8h Right-o its similar to the omega particle, beyond or level of scientific knowledge. Maybe it was a collection of civilizations that unlocked the protomolecule when they each advanced to a certain point of technology and the protomolecule is a test to determine if that civilization is ready to join, and part of the process is to send samples to other star systems seeding the galaxy to repeat itself. But eventually encountered something even more advanced that interfered with it somehow....?
Not all the systems have habitable planets, some seem to never have had them to begin with. They are referred to as Dead Systems and creep a lot of the characters out. One has a planet sized diamond if I remember correctly.
@@DrGreenthumbPhd well i think so, those ring gates had to be somehow strategically placed, i doubt its totaly random, they had to have some universe maping
Unless I misremember, the network connects to systems only in the Milky Way galaxy. I'm pretty sure it is briefly mentioned somewhere in the later books.
@@miloddvoranak8900 - I believe it's possible to identify their true positions studying the stars they can see from each planet. But the reason for choosing to open the gates to those particular planets is that they were discovered to be suited for biological life.
Because you understand the books better than anyone else, you give a much better understanding to the tv series The Expanse than anyone else. Can you do Quantum Field Theory?
The investigator is not dead in the books. He is still in the New Tara computers becoming self aware. I wonder if we will get to see him in book 9 but after book 4 he disappeared after Holden got rid of the bit of the protomocule from the Rosi.
The Expanse is one of those shows where you pick up more and more each time you watch, and you like it better and better. Miller was one of the best characters in the whole first 4 seasons--sorry we did not get more of him. His human death and his Investigator death were both beautifully done. And both done to save others, even though he seemed like a total cynical hard-*ss when we first meet him, who could not care less about anyone. Just another of the show's great if unlikely heroes.
I wonder if the show is going to come back to all of this plot line before the series ends. Humans are waking "The Dragon" that wiped out a highly advanced civilization. What will be the consequences?
Thanks when this season ends I will pick up the books. But do you ever think about making a video in the books ? This show is like halo with little bit SG1 lol I am wondering do ever get any Aliens
@@PetePeppers1 I see. I haven't read the books. I was just thinking that from the scene in the show, where he is on a planet, he's looking up at a bunch of ring gates, which would seem to imply that that planet is within the ring space, right? Unless there are other ring spaces and the one we have seen isn't the only one.
Aggressors are probably native to dimension when Rings and Hub are located. And either they don't like trespassers, or ring travels has some harmful side effects on them.
This is the only true example of a highly intelligent AI in The Expanse. That's one of the few critique points I have about this show: It is said to play in the 23rd century, but it lacks any kind of AI that would be more sophisticated than, say, a voice interface. While Miller is an uploaded consciousness, basically, it's still based in an artifical neural network to emulate his personality, or what the protomolecule could derive off of the physical human-Miller. And it did so close enough that this upload seems to be an accurate representation of the former Miller. That in itself is not all too remarkable, because if strong AI (which is a turing-grade, sophont- or human-level AI) is possible, mind upload will be too. And it's not centuries we're talking about, maybe just 60 years or so until this will be possible (if it is possible... and from all we know, it really isn't a big if). So, The Expanse lacks strong AI, and that is rather unrealistic. If strong AI is possible, then super-turings (more intelligent than an average human) will also be possible. Their grade of intelligence will be... unfathomably large. There is this concept of a Matrioshka Brain, a Dyson Swarm of computational nodes that encompasses an entire star - a computer of this size could be trillions of times more intelligent than a human... literally a "god in a machine", just not methaphysical but rather substantially real. So, while a Dyson Swarm of this size wouldn't be all too likely in the 23rd cenutry, turing-grade and superturings can be expected (supertrings might even be as big as a moon - a so called "moon-brain", there is also the "Jupiter-Brain", the "Asteroid-Brain" and others... these classifications only signify the mass that is used for computation; the larger the brain, the more problematic light lag will be in the end - so while a moon-brain might still "think" at realtime speeds, a Jupiter-brain might tone it down to half this speed, and a Matrioshka-Brain might even be much, much slower. This will get more impractical with size). And these highly intelligent AIs are entirely left out in The Expanse. I understand that this show is about the human characters, and that's fine, but saying The Expanse is totally realistic, isn't really the case when we look at the details (not just about the very dubious Epstein Drive, that is based on a pellet reactor, which isn't actually viable for direct exhaust, rather than on a Tokamak). I mean a bit of artificial turing-grade machine would have make for an expansion of the story. The problem with AIs of this grade is: They tend to overtake the entire story, so that might be the reason of their omission, which is understandable. Still, we can expect them to have better AI in 300 years than we have today - but apparently in The Expanse they haven't, and that's a shame actually.
Amazing video man. Really awesome. So sad we wasted 3 episodes on Naomi's story (that is almost irrelevant in the grand scheme of things) instead of moving the story forward. I've heard they skipped big things from the books just to waste so much time on her. It was not necessary!
I don´t think it was wasted - I rather think that the Gatebuilder story is largely over (as someone else commented here - both species wiped each other out). We may see artifact stuff over and over again which IS maybe part of the story. If you played or heard of the Traveller RPG - effectively what the Ancients were there. Things to wonder about, trying to understand something that couldn´t be understood by humans. Naomi´s story fits much more with the main story which is the conflict between the, current, three human main factions.
@@ronin47-ThorstenFrank good point there. but when you write a book, if you have a big "mistery" you should finish it. I am just dissappointed. it dragged a lot. I just hope they finish the season properly.
@@cactusfloydx5d I understand your objections but it would end up like a variation of the Babylon 5 theme - two elder races fighting each other over aeons and using younger races (in this case humanity) as a tool. We had that story already (and if you haven´t watched Babylon 5 yet I highly recommend it). However, going the "Traveller" way the writers can end up with an equally interesting scenario - like the human factions fighting over the artifacts which in turn pose a danger to everything in themselves. But I don´t know. The books already surprised me several times and we may get something completely different (like a Mass Effect type of scenario. But I rather doubt that.).
@@ronin47-ThorstenFrank yes, I am not giving up at all, some people have, but not me. I just hope they don't waste any more precious time. Naomi story could have been done in 1 or 2 episodes. And I hope we get some answers about the protomolecule and these two races, it is still very interesting
I'm watching this, and the thought occurs to me that the "enemy" might be bothered by the gates because it invades their space? Thus they become irritated by human usage, but decimated those that thought to control it? Perhaps they're intradimensional in form, which would explain the nature of existence and attack. I mean, we don't really get to see either the builders, or the enemy. I did get the sense that the builders were of this galaxy, or of this universe. Or perhaps the level of existence is that the builders were galaxy-wide species, but the enemy might be universe-wide--thus the level of existence, and technology. We're just simpletons to the builders, specks to the enemy....
Why would the bullet be located in the middle of where the gate builders habituated? Seems like an unlikely place for such a weapon, if it is even a weapon.
Let me know if you have questions about the Investigator or the Protomolecule. Check out the first two videos in the series below. I didn't mention anything from books 7 & 8, so if you want to talk about that make sure you use a Book Spoilers warning and use line breaks to hide the comment. Thanks!
The Protomolecule explained - Protomolecule series Part 1 - th-cam.com/video/20M3rR2pVWo/w-d-xo.html
The Ring Gates and Builders - Protomolecule series Part 2 - th-cam.com/video/HcwL5YCfIv0/w-d-xo.html
It reaches out, reaches out, reaches out.
@@espalier one hundred thirteen times a second
Apart from being a prime number, anything significant with 113? Were the builders minds able to easily compute things in a base 113 number system? Mathematicians, I want answers!
Please, those ring gates conect diferent solar systems within one and the same galaxy ??or are they even conecting different galaxies together?
@@miloddvoranak8900 - Only one galaxy, our galaxy,
I miss Miller who's brilliantly played by Thomas Jane. This character attracted me to The Expanse.
Same!!
Never took Thomas Jane as a serious character actor until his portrayal of Miller.
Same
Miller was the only one who voluntarily submitted to the Protomolecule, and as a result, unlike the others, he wasn't completely consumed by it, but was left with the capacity for independent thought, ie. think outside the Protomolecule. Exactly what you need in an Investigator.
Naw, he was completely consumed. Miller's atoms were incorporated into the mass of the new construct the PM built with the organic material it had. The only reason why the investigator appeared to Holden is because Miller was a screw driver that had a head to fit into the shaped grove Holden had.
No, the other people of Eros are being simulated the same way he is. Eros WAS consumed, including Miller, but they were also recorded and saved in case they'd be useful. The investigator talks about it, about how he can hear the screams of every person the PM had assimilated. Their screams and pleas for death. They are just not being actively used to meet some need. He sought out the "bullet" on Ilus specifically to try and use it end theirs, and his own, suffering. The protomolecule tech itself doesn't think, though it's powerful enough to integrate components that do, like human beings. It looked at Miller and found a use for the "software" that was his mind. But he couldn't complete the assigned task, and so went off to find a way to end his existence rather suffer eternity.
Similar to how it used Julie, she was a pilot, so it used her to fly Eros around. It never deletes anything, just grows and grows, gathering resources and putting together whatever it needs from whatever it has to do whatever task it's assigned.
Tell us you haven’t read the books (or paid attention to the show for that matter) without telling us
Love you analogy "think outside the box" :)
No. He declared his purpose to the proto molecule's seed crystal (Julie Mao)- so it knew he was a detective. A finder of things. The proto molecule needed some things answered- so it pulled the ONLY tool it had to solve mysteries- Miller. But they kept deleting him until he found a way to overrule to seed and kill off the Ellis machine programming. This was all explained in the series and books, so... Watch or read the series? Maybe the fact that most died screaming- meant that was at the forefront of their mind when they died. Julie was the other exception (plus the only sentient being in the hive mind) so she kept her conscience as the hive queen of sorts.
Miller is the best part of The Expanse.
*a few minutes later*
Actually, it's Avasalara. Or Bobbie. Or Naomi. nah it's Amos.
You all missed the boat, it'd Drummer!
No, it's Camina, damn it!
peters colosimo , la collana delle sue eplorazioni ,i racconti xxxx alcuni di essi non sono staty publicati per motivi xxxxxx is so in situescion di stai bay for is,, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, tutto e solo per archeologia
Best is yet to come, but that's long out, vuf vuf 🐶
nah, its Millers rookie security trainee from the Hostel movie
Season 1 & 2: Joe Miller, the rent-a-cop
Season 3 & 4: Miller, The Investigator
Season 5: *_Miller, The Episode Director_*
Beyond season 5: Miller, your own, personal, life narrator.
Pretty sure the "Unknown Aggressors" are extra dimensional. If the Protomolecule Builders were similar to the Forerunners, then the Aggressors are probably something akin to the Combine.
If Holden feels their presence each time he passes through the ring, its probably because the slow zone exists outside space. So the builders likely built into the Aggressors realm and that made them angry.
They are extra dimensional! It was stated in book 8 or 9.
This was exactly my feeling. Haven’t read the books yet, but it seems like they were wiped out by something so beyond their understanding and even perceiving is that all they could do was relate what it felt like to them. Whole systems gone in an instant. I believe “the aggressors” likely weren’t even doing it aggressively, more like a routine response or part of whatever they normally are trying to accomplish on their plane of existence.
The ring network is described is something like an open wound in their space, and the more its used the more that wound gets irritated and hurts them, which is why they start eating ships when the energy load passing thru the rings gets to high - its to establish a limit on their usage as a kind of peace treaty. If you read the books you'll see how this balance of power gets completely disrupted but thats the gist of the situation.
@@makhnovite Thanks, that's cool. I knew about the "irritated" part with the rings. I guess in my mind that could mean anything from potentially killing aggressors eventually to just a minor nuisance to them. Possibly something they deal with from time to time; a Civ operating in lower dimensions messing with technology that briefly makes them known to a higher dimension Civ. When that happens they basically give the lower Civ two choices; be wiped out or knock it off. The ship-eating Etch-A--Sketch tech could just be one of many ways they deal with these problems.
Though, while I like that concept, I'd guess it's simpler than that in the books. I just got the first couple on Audible so we shall see.
Yep, that’s cool. I did know about the “irritated” part. I guess I took that to mean anything from injuring or even possibly killing the unknown aggressors to literally just a minor inconvenience. If the aggressors are operating in a higher dimension, a lower dimension Civ building some tech allowing them to momentarily access and effect in some way a higher dimension may just be something that happens from time to time. In fact, the whole molecule dissolver Etch a Sketch weapon may just be sort of like the pro-mol, just a tool they built to deal with these kind of things while they go about their normal business. There may be reasons why they don’t just wipe out everything in the lower dimension, and instead choose to just sorta fire warning shots and “neutralize” the ring gates when they appear.
That being said, I’m sure it’s simpler and cleaner in the books. I just got the first two on audible so we shall see. And I do know from seeing a video that the aggressors get pissed off again due to some kind of ring builder super weapon being developed (I think?). Which does seem to indicate that whatever it does to the aggressors when we mess with that kind of tech is at least enough that they don’t put up with it for long.
I always thought that The Investigator/Miller’s last little conversation with whatever was left of Julie before he goes into the bullet was a really sweet detail. Was kind of bummed when the show didn’t include that detail.
If you don’t mind me asking what did the investigator say to Julie and how? I thought the miller consciousness was separated from the rest of the Protomolecule in the chamber?
@@Cal-Mac BOOK SPOILERS:
it’s been a while since I last read the book, but the basic gist is that the protomolecule incorporated the consciousness of everybody it ate on Eros, including Julie. The protomolecule isn’t conscious, but parts of it are. The conscious parts are the people of Eros it incorporated. You get a few hints of this during the investigator POV chapters in cibola burn - the investigator makes passing note of a few individuals (something like a child crying for their mother, etc, like I said, it’s been a while). His last conversation before jumping into the bullet is with Julie. I think he even says “I’m driving this bus,” which is a direct call back to when he told her she was driving the bus, I.e controlling Eros
@@andresdiaz6090 Thanks man, I will no doubt read the books at some stage. The Expanse is such a massive and immersive world. It deserves attention.
@@andresdiaz6090 yep, this is good description. Can't remember whether he made the statement about the bus though. Not at home so can't check.
Way too many book spoilers following:
It wasn't Julie but someone who lived and died on Eros. The main clues of this being that Julie wasn't actually mentioned in that final interlude and earlier it was also mentioned that she was dead in every sense of the word. The Investigator also specifically stated that Julie isn't coming back. This also makes sense because she was "patient zero" or the core construct within the gate building mechanism, everything else was saved and she's the only one who died, which is naturally another allusion to Jesus Christ which are quite frequent the story of JAM & JAM (Josephus Aloisus Miller & Julie Andromeda Mao). Someone dying so that everyone else can live. Essentially in that final interlude, The Investigator is following the example of someone he admired, doing what she did to help the other consciousnesses in that part of the protomolecule.
However, everyone and everything the protomolecule ever did anywhere saved in that diamond construct as stated by the two 'resurrected' kids imprisoned by Cortazar. The protomolecule has quantum entanglement onto itself, every part of it is connected to every other part of it and as The Investigator connected to 'the network', 'a backup' was saved. Although as Duarte was busy poking the bear, 'the angry beings inside the ring gates' seemed to have stopped or snoozed the protomolecule somewhat which might cause problems for future information retrieval from the construct.
It's amusing now that Amos is part of the black eyed resurrected gang, he also has access to that diamond archive and can 'remember' every small detail about the protomolecule tech if questioned. Although, no one wants to know what the meat head knows as he has always been just the muscle.
I miss Miller, wish he would come back
The actor who played Miller is a director this season
Best actor and character in the TV show. Was happy that he reappear in season 3 and 4
Miller was an awe-inspiring character. His impact on the story is lessened if the character returns. Just like anyone in reality, their return is diminished when they become overused. Out of respect for the character, and the story alike - Miller is dead, and needs to remain that way. I don't like it anymore than you. But it's the correct choice to ensure the show progresses.
@@johnathanhenley2251 Well.. I didn´t read the books yet so I have no idea. But technicaly he still can appear as an investigator.
Yea.....Thomas Jane is good in whatever he acts in. The Miller character was one of the best on the Show
I enjoy this format a lot, explaining things from the books without giving additional spoilers. It makes me wonder if the protomolecule has access to the other personalities it's consumed, and could just choose the face of someone else when interacting with other people. Or is Miller's personality just so strong that it assumes that form because it's easiest? Maybe it jived with the investigator's purpose so he was the logical choice. THIS is how you build mystery in an alien race! Their intentions and their thoughts are just so far beyond us we can't even fathom them.
He would have been one of the last consciousnesses it consumed. All the people it used to do the work should be in there though. I suppose if it could make Holden see him, it would be able to make other similar tools.
@@PetePeppers1 but I don’t think anyone eles was a true investigator a so-called detective. So I feel that’s why it chose him
I think if it needed a mechanic or a certain type of scientist or another type of profession it would’ve selected a different person that it had consumed but help Miller was a true detective investigator by nature .....,.
@@PetePeppers1 Miller says that he can still hear all the people from Eros in the TV version
My understanding is that Miller’s persona was chosen as the Investigator because the small remaining bit of the protomolecule residue existed on the Rosi where it had access to Holden. Holden was chosen from the crew because Miller liked him.
Glad you cited "It reaches out". This explained the Investigator's modus operandi so we'll to me.
I still tear up every time I reread the last of the interludes. God those were so well written, I’m so glad we got the dreamer interludes in the last book.
I'd like to thank you for these excellent videos. I have not read the books and your explanations have been very helpful indeed. What a fantastic show this is! How sad I am that the show will end after season 6.
but the books go on kopeng. And as good as the show is, the books are better. After season 6 completes highly recommend you read the series.
Actually an long pause after 6 is gona be very natural, in the spirit of the books, without Spoiling to much 😉
It is a great service you do here for the The Expanse as a saga Pete. Thank you for loving it so much. From myself and hopefully everyone who recognizes its greatness.
Now let’s talk about episode 10. It was crazy good
Doors and corners....
Thanks for the video!
That was fantastic. Channels like this remind me of my sons. I don't like to go into a movie or series cold, I like when my sons explain the plot and what is going on (sometimes I have trouble following). I loved when they walked me through the Matrix. It made watching it so much better. Now after watching your videos I feel I will understand this series when I watch it. Thank you.
Another great video. I remember discovering your channel while watching Twin Peaks season 3 and now through the years with Westworld and Expanse. Always highly enjoyable and on point. Keep on the great work 😁
Such a great show.
I was attracted to The Expanse because it dealt with the early days of space travel with no faster-than-light technology. Earth, Mars and the Belters, each with different agendas, strengths and weaknesses. The protomolecule is far more interesting concept than simply ripping up the space/time fabric of the universe with FTL. Thanks for your explanation.
12:29 “The Library Vaults where the old ones had lived” I’m rewatching this after finishing the entire series and this small line of yours answers a giant question from Leviathan Falls . The library, the BFE, is more than just a library of information, the collective consciousness of the old ones lived here. It was suggested, but this line confirms it!
The Investigator POV chapters were my favorite part of Cibola Burn ( book 4) which was actually my least favorite book out of the entire series. I also really enjoyed the back & forth conversations between Holden & Miller. Their little jaunt together had some very humorous moments. I had such high expectations for Robot Miller & the visual depiction of Illus & its flora/ fauna plus the alien ruins which I pictured much more organic & insect- like, more like termite mounds or something. I was somewhat disappointed there.The whole hive mind thing & biotech aspect of The Builders culture just didn't come across imo in the show. But I did love what the show did with the human drama by scaling it back from what was in the book & giving Murtry more realistic motivations. And I mean c'mon, those scenes with Murtry & Amos were just soooooo good.
I've not read any of the books, but I have a theory that the wormhole tech involves passing through another dimension in some way and that dimension is not uninhabited; so every single wormhole transit risks interacting with or even harming the occupants of that space - the Unknown Aggressors are much like the Unbidden and are disturbed by this constant intrusion into their' realm and eventually they decide to fight back and wipe out the Ring Builders.
That is exactly what it is!
It just seems a bit too cut and dry. Especially considering they clearly were able to attack the ring builders, which means they can enter our space or at least send attacks into it, which is why the station destroyed stars and cut off the connection to them. That would also mean they could destroy the station, since the station itself really doesn't exist in normal space. On top of that, it makes zero sense that they wouldn't just destroy every single ship that passes through the gate system.
The fact that they were basically able to immediately destroy the barkeith, means they would have to be ever present in the wormhole domain, which again begs the question as to why they don't just destroy every ship that passes through in order to keep people from using it, because people would definitely stop using it if the only result is the destruction of the ship.
I think what is more likely is these beings aren't benevolent, and that they want to find a way into our space, but need the builders tech to do it. The builders also clearly used that technology for a long time without a problem, and it would seem more logical that if this was just an attack on their domain, they would have attacked almost as soon as the builders started using the technology. It's also clear that they can attack anything going through the gate, which again poses a problem, because they can clearly survive the interactions with matter from our universe, so clearly this is not harmful to them.
So it's probably less of a case of us doing them harm, and instead, them wanting to do our universe harm. Compared to their space and existence, the universe probably offers ton of wonders and resources, and most importantly, energy that they do not have in their dimension. They're not just extra dimensional though, they're clearly in a completely different layer of space, otherwise they would exist in our dimension too.
I think they simply want to get out of their layer of space and into ours, but due to the fundamental nature of their existence, it's a boundary that they cannot scientifically reconcile to make happen, because the aggressors are more like a force, they don't use technology to do what they do, it's just part of their physics. The reason why they attacked the builders is because the builders were likely the only ones with the capability to eventually stop them.
For all we know the aggressors might already be doing tons of stuff in our universe that we just contribute to natural things happening. For example, maybe some stars going super nova is actually a symptom of them extracting power from our universe or trying to get into our universe. They've been at it for billions of years, but they're searching for some way to get into our universe so they can consume it. Even the space they exist in could be the result of them coming in like locusts and consuming everything.
My guess is they aren't really a civilization, but more like worms in the soil of space, looking to consume everything and anything, and have been around since the beginning of the universe. That scene where they attack the ship wasn't just them attacking it, they were literally feeding on it, absorbing its matter. And that's what they want to do to the entire universe until nothing is left. So you have wormholes, but they're created by worms eating through a layer of space, and this is how wormholes are even possible, because of the layer of space they are eating.
That might even be why the universe even exists. They basically ate space until it all condensed down into a singularity, then it exploded into the universe, with the energy being released creating more space, but at the same time, locked in their layer of space. So in essence, the creation of the universe was a byproduct of their never ending consumption in their layer of space, and now they see the result of that as a new crop to farm for their never ending consumption, but they just haven't cracked how to cross the barrier into our space yet.
I can't wait until Leviathan Falls (Book 9) drops to see if we learn more of the story of the gate builders and what managed to disappear them. That's one hell of a backstory for all that we've seen so far.
I know what you mean. Can't wait for the book.
I kinda love how anti-climatic the protomolecule's answer was as to why it chose Holden.
Thanks for this. The Investigator could have been explained better in the show. I want more Miller.
Honestly I feel that Amazon has kinda dropped the ball, since they picked up the show and started with season 4. Season 4 was good, and 5 was...it was alright. 1-3 were just phenomenal.
@@RAMMSTEIN4HIMMER Yeah, I expected much better with Amazon's deep pockets. With the end of S5, I can say that S1-3 were the best for me.
@@TibetanHusky8 I thought the end of S5 was actually pretty exciting, but God, the middle was just such a slow burn. 1-3 had so much passion and substance. Even if an episode was fast paced, I feel that I got more out of it in 1-3. Amazon just seems kinda...meh. I do hope that the series gets a reboot for 7-9 though. Season 6 should not be the end, by any means.
Great explanation! I didn't really understand the investigator's role before. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful
I was wondering a little about Julie since she was to Miller as Miller was to Holden?...she was like the first investigator.
It needed a pilot
Actually-no. Miller's Julie was his pure fantasy
Adam & Eve. Ying and Yang. Balance
I think Julie was more like the first facilitator/host for the protomolecule. She was absorbed by it and unaware of her actual circumstances before Miller "woke her up" and convinced her to aim Eros at Venus instead of Earth. Post Venus Miller to Holden was kinda like a troubleshooter subroutine of the protomolecule that was trying to figure out why it couldn't connect with the rest of the system.
@@DartLuke Before he found her infected body in the hotel room she was his fantasy. In that he imagined his connection to her. But she was real when he found her in the chamber when she was a glowy and naked and absorbed by the protomolecule.
Love your videos man! It would be amazing if you discussed what we learn about the protomolecule and its creators in the last books. All the different theories about their destruction and what hope does humanity have to survive in the middle of that cosmic battle!
This 3-part series is fantastic! I'm _very_ selective abt whom I watch regularly. Ur now in a group of *only 4* for SciFi/Fantasy genre. GG & TYVM 👏😃
I cannot wait for the next season of the Expanse. This stuff is compelling af!
Another great series that is most definitely inspired by Aliens with the Engineers and the Xenomorphs. What I find interesting is how new technology that is created is quite often the cause of that civilisation's destruction
No clue why, but I've immensely enjoyed Thomas Jane as Miller and The Investigator. For some reason he's like the best character in the show.
really loving your content having not read the books i appreciate your level of detail and ability to inform without spoilers bless you
Glad to be of service
So excited to get to the investigator's POV in the books
BRAVO! BRAVO! BRAVO!
*Fantastic video good sir!*
"Holden tells him that every time he passes through a ring, he sees their world. [The world of unknown beings that annihilated the RingBuilder species aeons ago] And every time he sees them, he thinks they look angrier. He worries that humans are waking them up. And that's probably not something that humans want to do."
That's identical to what happens in the novel "Starsight", when Sensa travels through the "Nowhere" dimension, the "space between the spaces" that immediately connects far distant places of our universe, and Sensa "sees many eyes staring at her, and she feels the eyes get angrier at each of Sensa's passages through the Nowhere." Those passages through a short cut in space time were not a good idea in "Starsight" either...
I highly recommend reading the novels "Skyward" and "Starsight". Funny, thrilling sci-fi adventures with strong "Mass Effect" vibes.
Dude im SO HAPPY I stumbled across one of your videos. I love exploring every nook and cranny of these world building shows and books.
The best show everrr. The part when the ring gates open - woww. Imagine if this was real.
Thanks Pete!
So pumped for the finale!
@@PetePeppers1
Same!!
We already have the first wave of actors that have arrived and are arriving for S6 shoot.
So super excited about that as well.
Just knowing they are shooting now is such a relief.
This feeds the dark forest theory of the universe, good content just re-watching the series that for me lost it's way past season 4.
I am going to rewatch from episode one.
Beautiful!
Thanks for the explanation. That helped.
I wish the TV show would have shown the ring builder's during Holden's flashbacks. I missed the part where Miller had a disagreement with the protomolecule
isnt that the whole point, to not see it? :)
potential SPOILER...
As book reader, do you think Miller could reappear book 9? I know that Holden relieved himself of the protomolecule that was hosting Miller, but I have to assume that any future encounter with the protomolecule could tap into Holden's psyche again. And Amos appears to be a possible carrier at the end of book 8.
Bro... love your videos... my favorite show and started the books... amazing series...
Enjoy the books!
Thanx for explaining all these things... I've been confused for years. ✌🏻😎
I really enjoyed this! Thank you.
A thought: If you added the book lines from the parts you’re reading from, it would make the video much more enjoyable as well as easier to follow along with.
Cheers ✌️
This was one of the best arcs in an already arc heavy series, and Thomas Jane was a weirdly perfect choice. I had never read the books so the show was all new to me, but Miller rang a huge Raymond Chandler bell in my head and is probably why he became my favourite character. I had kinda figured out it wasn't Miller after a few meetings with the Investigator but rather a facsimile of him made up of Holden's and Miller's memories. But then I questioned whether Holden had ever seen Miller wearing his beloved hat and convinced myself he hadn't, meaning the Investigator was all Miller, or rather a mix of Miller and the proto-molecule.
Then later on when the suavely dressed, hat-less Miller showed up it hit me what was really going on and I felt so sad for both versions. One had been created and sent on a journey, the other was craving to be no longer in existence partly due to all the thousands of dead souls he constantly had to hear. I guess part of the sadness was also realising this was the end of Miller in the show and also that Holden wasn't the one who got to be there with him in his final moments. I kinda resent Dr. Okoye for having had so little to do with interacting with Miller yet being there for his ending.
PS I was absolutely stunned at just how little time was given both to Alexs' death and how brief Holden's description of it to Naomi was. I initially thought that he must have pissed off the writers/director and gotten such a scrub ending. It niggled at me so much that a week later I googled it and wow. I never expected that to be the reason. I guess I had believed his character so much I really did see him as a caring, almost motherly person in reality, too.
PPS Worst character ever = Marco Inaros. Not because of his stupidity but because it seemed like every time he showed up they kept tying to make him look more and more like a Duran Duran/80s glam popstar. I don't care what your ideology is, I ain't buying into it if the leader looks like he was just kicked out of Spandau Ballet for being too glam.
fantastic video thanks
Glad you enjoyed it
That was very informative thx.
I see a a semblance between our current situation in understanding the leftover technology from aeon past... The Expanse is intriguing.
And there he saw what he hoped hed see, the slouch, the apologetic basset hound look, the hat.....
"Oh this cant be good"
"Hey miller, we need to talk"
this video has really opened my eyes
Thank you for clearing things so much also can you explain more about gate builders and the plp that destroyed them etc is there any more mention of them...
Part 2 was about the builders th-cam.com/video/HcwL5YCfIv0/w-d-xo.html
Thank you brooo❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
No problem
When your desktop fails to ping the server....4 packets sent, 0 packets received, can’t connect to the network.
Windows troubleshooting wizard incarnate. Fixes fuck all, but sometimes help...
From watching the video the artifact does seem like an unexploded bomb, like the ones found in modern Europe that were dropped during WW2. The gate builders encountered a civilization in their process of interstellar road building that constructed a weapon to hunt down and destroy the gate builders but they themselves were wiped out by the gate builder's ring system. Two people met and were incapable of coexistence nor adaptation and so they destroyed each other.
I was angry when muller died tbh, he was such a good person in the show tbh. We need more shows like this
Road to 100k. Loved the video, pretty straight forward lo
I like to think that in the books, The Investigator had glowing eyes that sent a thin line of light from his irises like a flashlight, and that he primarily stayed in shadows.
I haven't read the books but after this one I feel like the gates pass into another universe and the gate builders didn't know this (or maybe did and didn't care). It took time but where every they go before coming out the other side doesn't like this and figured out a way to kill off those that are coming into their space. So all we know traveling using the gates could be hurting whatever we are moving between and they are just pushing back or they could be evil like the wrap in 40k.
Amazing! I have a thought tho so the ring gates are essentially Einstein-Rosen BRIDGES right? So to us the are seamless connections between two different points in spacetime but what if the bridges in order to connect rip through another dimension, one that is home of these beings. Idk if I remember correctly but I think Holden mentions something In the lines of “the space between spaces” so that prompted me to think about this in terms of dimensions.
I like the belter's mohawks, like in Larry Niven's books. And Tom Jane's homage to Tom Waits.
Like Shakespeare said, only steal the best.
love your synopsis
Hey Pete - thanks for the videos. They’re very useful. I do have a question for you re: how your vids are made though: towards the end of the Investigator episode, as you’re winding down, you say rip to the investigator, rip to Miller, etc, etc. Are you saying RIP, as in Rest in Peace? If so, why do you actually say “rip”? Is your narration AI? Did anybody else catch this? Just being curious, not a critic. Thanks again for the helpful videos. Love The Expanse
PLEASE DO A VIDEO(S) ON THE LAST THREE BOOKS!!! 🙏🙏🙏
In the books, you can really tell Miller is a great detective
He was my favorite character
You da man, Pete!
Ever since I heard about the other civilisation, that wiped out the builders, I wondered if it is a case that transiting the wormholes hurts them in some way. I wonder if an agreement can be reached ( like in DS9 , or Masters of The vortex, the last lensman book )
Great stuff! I'm reading Nemesis Games right now and your videos help give some extra insight into everything.
3 videos on the expanse.. direct sub! i need moreee
Please do a breakdown of the space battles in S5 E10.
the dimension the gates use to bypass normal space is where the aggressor originates from, each time a gate is built or when something passes through them, it damages their dimension or hurts them in some way, maybe they retaliated
Great video.
Glad you enjoyed it
It’s sad we didn’t get more miller
It seems the proto tech is an ultra advanced operating system created by the gate builders that also has a trouble shooting form of AI or simulated intelligence that uses its surroundings to fix the systems problems, basically is what you are saying....
Basically it's not even an OS, just a bootloader of it. To build a gate they need to send a builder on subluminar speed, and the less its mass is the closer to the speed of light it can go, so they stripped everything from it to the bare minimum - that is a protomolecule. Like, protomolecule is not even a nanomachine builder it's uses carbon life as that (which essentially is if you think about it - our DNA replication mechanism is a nanomachine), by taking control of it. Just note that almost every gate is leading to a life-supporting world, it is a requirement to build a gate. Creators of protomolecule determine a world with a life on it, send protomolecule on a speed close to light, protomolecule arrive, hijack a life and build a gate which granted a FTL travel adding another world and nearby systems to their civilization. So protomolecule had not much to itself, it's uses whatever it find. I think that idea to investigate what's gone wrong was never put into protomolecule, that was entirely from Miller's conscious and protomolecule just used it after absorbing Miller, because that was aligned with its sole purpose - to build and connect, to reach out.
@@ke5uq1we8h Right-o its similar to the omega particle, beyond or level of scientific knowledge. Maybe it was a collection of civilizations that unlocked the protomolecule when they each advanced to a certain point of technology and the protomolecule is a test to determine if that civilization is ready to join, and part of the process is to send samples to other star systems seeding the galaxy to repeat itself. But eventually encountered something even more advanced that interfered with it somehow....?
I'm miss the perspective that Miller gave the books and the show.
Not all the systems have habitable planets, some seem to never have had them to begin with. They are referred to as Dead Systems and creep a lot of the characters out. One has a planet sized diamond if I remember correctly.
Great video, I really enjoyed it. Can the protomolecule make a builder like it made an investigator?
Please, those ring gates conect diferent solar systems within one and the same galaxy ??or are they even conecting different galaxies together?
I've wondered about that. Do the explorers have an idea of what their position is in space when they cross through a gate?
@@DrGreenthumbPhd well i think so, those ring gates had to be somehow strategically placed, i doubt its totaly random, they had to have some universe maping
Unless I misremember, the network connects to systems only in the Milky Way galaxy. I'm pretty sure it is briefly mentioned somewhere in the later books.
All ring gate systems are located within Milky Way, also quite close to each other - a "bubble" of 1000 light years in diameter.
@@miloddvoranak8900 - I believe it's possible to identify their true positions studying the stars they can see from each planet. But the reason for choosing to open the gates to those particular planets is that they were discovered to be suited for biological life.
Because you understand the books better than anyone else, you give a much better understanding to the tv series The Expanse than anyone else. Can you do Quantum Field Theory?
The investigator is not dead in the books. He is still in the New Tara computers becoming self aware. I wonder if we will get to see him in book 9 but after book 4 he disappeared after Holden got rid of the bit of the protomocule from the Rosi.
The Expanse is one of those shows where you pick up more and more each time you watch, and you like it better and better. Miller was one of the best characters in the whole first 4 seasons--sorry we did not get more of him. His human death and his Investigator death were both beautifully done. And both done to save others, even though he seemed like a total cynical hard-*ss when we first meet him, who could not care less about anyone. Just another of the show's great if unlikely heroes.
I wonder if the show is going to come back to all of this plot line before the series ends. Humans are waking "The Dragon" that wiped out a highly advanced civilization. What will be the consequences?
I’m dying for your E10 synopsis!!! There were a couple confusing things for me - not least of which being the final scene.
What do you not understand of the scene?
Thanks when this season ends I will pick up the books. But do you ever think about making a video in the books ? This show is like halo with little bit SG1 lol I am wondering do ever get any Aliens
Do you really want to know? 😉
@@PluckySmurf yes ! ...... no! Maybe lol
In Holden's vision, is the planet that he's standing on supposed to also be (what will eventually be) the ring station?
In the book, he told Holden he picked a planet that was similar to Earth so that he'd feel comfortable.
@@PetePeppers1 I see. I haven't read the books. I was just thinking that from the scene in the show, where he is on a planet, he's looking up at a bunch of ring gates, which would seem to imply that that planet is within the ring space, right? Unless there are other ring spaces and the one we have seen isn't the only one.
Aggressors are probably native to dimension when Rings and Hub are located. And either they don't like trespassers, or ring travels has some harmful side effects on them.
@Marshall Dre Haven't read last 2 books yet. Spoiler alert :-) But i don't really care for spoilers.
This is the only true example of a highly intelligent AI in The Expanse. That's one of the few critique points I have about this show: It is said to play in the 23rd century, but it lacks any kind of AI that would be more sophisticated than, say, a voice interface. While Miller is an uploaded consciousness, basically, it's still based in an artifical neural network to emulate his personality, or what the protomolecule could derive off of the physical human-Miller. And it did so close enough that this upload seems to be an accurate representation of the former Miller. That in itself is not all too remarkable, because if strong AI (which is a turing-grade, sophont- or human-level AI) is possible, mind upload will be too. And it's not centuries we're talking about, maybe just 60 years or so until this will be possible (if it is possible... and from all we know, it really isn't a big if). So, The Expanse lacks strong AI, and that is rather unrealistic. If strong AI is possible, then super-turings (more intelligent than an average human) will also be possible. Their grade of intelligence will be... unfathomably large. There is this concept of a Matrioshka Brain, a Dyson Swarm of computational nodes that encompasses an entire star - a computer of this size could be trillions of times more intelligent than a human... literally a "god in a machine", just not methaphysical but rather substantially real.
So, while a Dyson Swarm of this size wouldn't be all too likely in the 23rd cenutry, turing-grade and superturings can be expected (supertrings might even be as big as a moon - a so called "moon-brain", there is also the "Jupiter-Brain", the "Asteroid-Brain" and others... these classifications only signify the mass that is used for computation; the larger the brain, the more problematic light lag will be in the end - so while a moon-brain might still "think" at realtime speeds, a Jupiter-brain might tone it down to half this speed, and a Matrioshka-Brain might even be much, much slower. This will get more impractical with size). And these highly intelligent AIs are entirely left out in The Expanse. I understand that this show is about the human characters, and that's fine, but saying The Expanse is totally realistic, isn't really the case when we look at the details (not just about the very dubious Epstein Drive, that is based on a pellet reactor, which isn't actually viable for direct exhaust, rather than on a Tokamak). I mean a bit of artificial turing-grade machine would have make for an expansion of the story. The problem with AIs of this grade is: They tend to overtake the entire story, so that might be the reason of their omission, which is understandable. Still, we can expect them to have better AI in 300 years than we have today - but apparently in The Expanse they haven't, and that's a shame actually.
It seems that there is a plot beneath the plot we watch play out in each season. I hope they make the show long enough to get to the sub/main plot
Amazing video man. Really awesome.
So sad we wasted 3 episodes on Naomi's story (that is almost irrelevant in the grand scheme of things) instead of moving the story forward. I've heard they skipped big things from the books just to waste so much time on her. It was not necessary!
I don´t think it was wasted - I rather think that the Gatebuilder story is largely over (as someone else commented here - both species wiped each other out). We may see artifact stuff over and over again which IS maybe part of the story. If you played or heard of the Traveller RPG - effectively what the Ancients were there. Things to wonder about, trying to understand something that couldn´t be understood by humans.
Naomi´s story fits much more with the main story which is the conflict between the, current, three human main factions.
@@ronin47-ThorstenFrank good point there. but when you write a book, if you have a big "mistery" you should finish it. I am just dissappointed. it dragged a lot. I just hope they finish the season properly.
I agree, it felt like filler to pad out the time.
@@cactusfloydx5d I understand your objections but it would end up like a variation of the Babylon 5 theme - two elder races fighting each other over aeons and using younger races (in this case humanity) as a tool. We had that story already (and if you haven´t watched Babylon 5 yet I highly recommend it).
However, going the "Traveller" way the writers can end up with an equally interesting scenario - like the human factions fighting over the artifacts which in turn pose a danger to everything in themselves.
But I don´t know. The books already surprised me several times and we may get something completely different (like a Mass Effect type of scenario. But I rather doubt that.).
@@ronin47-ThorstenFrank yes, I am not giving up at all, some people have, but not me. I just hope they don't waste any more precious time. Naomi story could have been done in 1 or 2 episodes.
And I hope we get some answers about the protomolecule and these two races, it is still very interesting
2:58 Nobody can tell me that the thing docked to this space station is not a Tie-Fighter from Star Wars
Tom Eliots / Janes ... a really good actor he was great in this.
I'm watching this, and the thought occurs to me that the "enemy" might be bothered by the gates because it invades their space? Thus they become irritated by human usage, but decimated those that thought to control it? Perhaps they're intradimensional in form, which would explain the nature of existence and attack. I mean, we don't really get to see either the builders, or the enemy. I did get the sense that the builders were of this galaxy, or of this universe. Or perhaps the level of existence is that the builders were galaxy-wide species, but the enemy might be universe-wide--thus the level of existence, and technology. We're just simpletons to the builders, specks to the enemy....
Learn the rules, break the rules, make up new rules, break the new rules.
Why would the bullet be located in the middle of where the gate builders habituated? Seems like an unlikely place for such a weapon, if it is even a weapon.
I liked Miller, hope to see him again.
4:15 Maneo's slingshotter is pronounced EEE ke. Google translate "And what" to spanish to see. I think maneo also pronounces it.
I need to know what the unknown aggressor is