The end of TheExpanse it’s satisfying in the sense that it wraps up a lot of the stories and plot lines of the series’ main characters and factions. But it also leaves a good number of stories and characters unfinished. The main criticism is related to how everything related to the protomolecule turned out. And also everything that happens on the other side of the rings.
It’s not by chance. After the events of the sixth season, the books—on which the series is based (Babylon’s Ashes)— move forward 28 years in time (Persepolis Rising). That’s why they felt it was a good way to end the series.
But at the same time, it means there’s still plenty of material left — two books published in 2019 and 2021 — to use to make more seasons or a spin-off. And that’s just what explains Naren Shankar, showrunner of the series in a interview for CBR.
The ending of ‘The Expanse’ was designed to leave the door open for another season or a spin-off.
“I understand the criticism,” he explains. “Season 6 is only six episodes long and you’re wasting an entire story arc in Laconia going nowhere? That’s not an unfair comment. But in terms of logistics, we feel like we gave it all we could in the events at the end of the season. season 5. But if we didn’t bring it up in season 6, we wouldn’t even have mentioned the protomolecule.”
Shankar agrees that if they had been longer than six episodes, they would have been able to delve much deeper into the events in Laconia and everything related to the protomolecule and the rings. “With 10 episodes we would have touched on that story arc, and we would have handled it differently.”
He then explains, “It’s a balance, because we were making room for another season or a sequel or whatever you want to call it. That was the logic.” Naren Shankar remembers in the interview that there is a good amount of material that was not explored in the series, and that could be adapted for television in the future.
The six seasons of TheExpanse can be seen Prime Video. It is definitely one of the best science fiction series in recent years.