Astrophysicist, cosmologist, and NASA advisor Paul Sutter explains that The Expanse is his favorite science-fiction series because of its accuracy. Many of The Expanse‘s episodes are considered masterpieces and the show as a whole is regarded as one of the best in the history of science-fiction television.
The Expanse seasons 2-5 all have a 94% or higher score on Rotten Tomatoes and the overall show has a Tomatometer score of 95%. The sci-fi series is in a class of its own and has received plenty of praise for its storytelling, but its scientific accuracy is just as impressive.
In an Insider video, Sutter explains that The Expanse is his favorite science-fiction story set in space because of the realism of its science. This includes how the show sets up its physics and what a functioning human society would look like in space. Check out his response below:
My favorite space movie/TV show is actually The Expanse. It’s a wonderful story, complex, intricate story and there are some non-realistic magical elements. But they work really hard not to just set up the physics correctly, but what society would look like in space, and I really appreciate that.
What This Means For The Expanse
It Stands Apart From Other Great Sci-Fi Shows
Some of the all-time great science-fiction shows, including Doctor Who and Stranger Things, do not have much basis in real science. What sets The Expanse apart from series like this is that its characters and storytelling are just as compelling as the real-life science utilized in the narrative.
Sutter emphasizes this by first mentioning the “wonderful” and “complex, intricate” and then touching on the accuracy of the physics and how a society in space is depicted. The show’s scientific merits are impressive in their own right, but they also elevate The Expanse‘s characters and overarching story.
At the same time, as Sutter acknowledges, The Expanse does feature some “non-realistic magical elements.” However, these elements do not undermine or overshadow the many facets of actual science that work so well in the show. Despite his expert background when it comes to space, the magical aspects of the show are not a deal-breaker for Sutter.
With The Expanse arguably being Prime Video’s Game of Thrones replacement show, the science is only one of the show’s many strengths. The political intrigue, rivalries between factions, and shocking plot twists are elements that could be fully appreciated and enjoyed without being a scientific expert.
Part of what makes The Expanse such an exceptional show is that it can be enjoyed for all those reasons, but it can be just as enjoyable because of how it depicts real-life science. The series is able to appeal to an astrophysicist and NASA advisor like Sutter just as much as it appeals to casual sci-fi fans, and that is an impressive feat in its own right.
The Expanse
10/10
- Release Date
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2015 – 2022-00-00
- Showrunner
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Naren Shankar, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby
