I’m binging the podcast now, just starting on season 2, so these are my thoughts so far. I’m coming to the pod after having watched all six seasons of The Expanse twice-through already, and looking for further insight/discussion. (I’ve also since read books 7, 8, and 9 — the ones that the show never got to cover.)
I’m a big fan of movies-by-minute podcasts, which tend to be a bit more comedic, so at first I found the “Solo Talk" format a bit odd. But I’ve come to appreciate host Mark Des Cotes’ approach to breaking down the show. The podcast’s strengths are Mark's methodical step-through of each episode and his thoughtful commentary. I also enjoy hearing the feedback from Mark’s community of listeners, particularly regular commentators like "J.P. from Brooklyn”!
It’s a Canada-based podcast, and it feels very much so (whatever that means!), which seems appropriate given how many Canadian actors appeared on The Expanse.
One thing the podcast lacks is that there’s really very little discussion of the actor’s performances, which is so important to every dramatization. Nor is there much analysis of the show’s larger themes, particularly those related to its portrayal of 23rd-century socioeconomics and interplanetary politics. I do wish the podcast had a bit more inherent humor, especially as a counterpoint to the often-grim tone of The Expanse itself. But these are just nitpicks — if you’re a fan of The Expanse TV series and books, and are looking for hours and hours of deep-dive analysis, this is the podcast for you!
