1-09. "Critical Mass"
Written by Robin Veith & Dan Nowak and Naren Shankar
Directed by Terry McDonough
First aired 2 February 2016
SYNOPSIS
A flashback reveals the events leading up to Julie's arrival at the Blue Falcon and her infection by an unknown biohazard.
On Tycho Station, Fred Johnson broadcasts a message to the System announcing the data from the chip retrieved from the Donnager proves the stealth ship engines were manufactured on Earth.
As Miller and Holden's crew leave the Blue Falcon, a team arrives to study Julie's body. A scientist working for Jules-Pierre Mao informs him of her death. Mao orders the project proceed, and the scientist begins harvesting Julie's blood.
Mercenaries hired by Mao stage an explosion on the docks in order to lock down the Station, and they begin injecting the impoverished citizens of Eros with Julie's infected blood and exposing them to radiation.
While Holden follows Miller as he pursues the science team, Miller's friend Sematimba and the rest of the Rocinante crew head back to the ship. In the process of discovering the fate of Eros' inhabitants, Miller and Holden are exposed to a lethal dose of radiation.
ANALYSIS
My least-favorite episode of the entire series earns its low score principally for the night-of-the-living-dead blue-barnacled zombie apocalypse bits. I'm quite certain there were vastly superior alternative approaches they could have taken to convey the same information, perhaps in ways that would elicit more sympathy for the Belters—it was challenging to pity a bunch of extras wearing bad Halloween costumes. Sorry, but I calls 'em likes I sees 'em.
You'll also notice no "Best Scene" or "Best Line." In truth, I simply couldn't come up with any, although I could cite an unintentionally amusing scene with zombies crawling along the ground. I'm sure the extras were having a ball!
SCORE: 