3-07. "Delta-V"
Written by Naren Shankar
Directed by Kenneth Fink
First aired 23 May 2018
SYNOPSIS
After emerging from Venus' atmosphere, the Protomolecule object moves out past the orbit of Uranus and forms an enormous ring. Earth, Mars and the Belt send fleets of ships to investigate it. The OPA, now a recognized Belter government led by Anderson Dawes and Fred Johnson, send the OPA Behemoth, the refitted Mormon generation ship, commanded by Camina Drummer. Representing Dawes, former pirate Klaes Ashford is sent to be Drummer's First Officer. Ashford and Drummer immediately lock horns over Belter tradition versus System law; when Drummer attempts to space a drug dealer, Ashford overrules her. Naomi, Drummer's Chief Engineer, is upset that Ashford has brought Lieutenant Diogo Harari, who was pardoned by Dawes.
Annoyed by constant news reports about the Ring, a Belter slingshot racer plots a course through it. The instant he reaches it, his ship is stopped dead and he's killed.
In exchange for paying the legal fees to keep Mars from repossessing the Rocinante, journalist Monica Stuart and her cameraman Elio "Cohen" Casti are brought aboard to produce a documentary. Alone in his quarters, Holden sees Miller.
Aboard the UNN Thomas Prince is Anna Volovodov, scientist Kolvoord, socialite Tilly Fagan, and technician Melba Koh. Melba has an implant that gives her extraordinary strength for a few moments, which she uses to kill a coworker who discovers she'd planted a bomb on the Seung Un, a small UNN support ship.
ANALYSIS
"An intelligence created it. An extremely intelligent intelligence."
I'm sorry, but the Belter slingshot racer is just waaay too over-the-top. I do appreciate the cleverness of the "Belter-ized" tunes he listens to, but, like him, they quickly become tedious. Also, his "collision" with the Ring is really gross, and impossible to unsee. Which is a shame, because these bits drag down an otherwise decent episode. The bright spot, of course, is David Strathairn's Klaes Ashford, who is right up there with Jared Harris's Anderson Dawes as an awesome, unforgettable character; his frequent clashes with Drummer simmer with delicious tension. Meanwhile, Monica is a force to be reckoned with as she pesters Holden and crew with awkward questions. Alex is the best at deflecting: he simply demolishes the camera, whereas Holden prefers wordplay. "Kind of makes me want a doughnut."
Best Scene: Klaes Ashford's introduction is perfectly menacing.
Best Line: After a testy conversation in the mess, Monica attempts to seduce Amos, but he'll have none of it. He nuzzles her ear in mock passion, then whispers, "I don't shit where I eat." Monica's reaction is golden.
SCORE: 