4-02. "Jetsam"
Written by Laura Marks
Directed by Breck Eisner
First aired 12 December 2019
SYNOPSIS
Avasarala invites Bobbie to attend a state banquet on Mars. Feeling "used" by Avasarala, Bobbie rejects an offer to work for her. Bobbie then discovers her nephew David is working for a gang producing illicit drugs; she beats up the gang and trashes the drug lab.
On Ilus, Holden and crew discover the bugs are Protomolecule in origin. With Amos' help, Murtry determines the shuttle's destruction was deliberate, and shoots a Belter during a standoff. Led by Miller, Holden enters an alien structure and finds a root growing through a piece of machinery; removing it activates the structure and triggers a series of massive lightning strike across the planet's surface. Amos begins sleeping with Murtry's second-in-command, Chandra Wei, and Naomi starts to realize her gravity drug treatment didn't work.
Investigating the disappearance of the UN colony ship Sojourner, Ashford and Drummer learn it was stolen by Marco Inaros, an OPA radical and Naomi's former lover.
ANALYSIS
"Careful, Earther. Day ain't over yet."
We knew just from the set of his jaw that Murtry was probably dangerous; now we see just how dangerous he really is. Meanwhile, we get to see just how (unintentionally) dangerous Holden is, as he fumbles along blindly after Miller, triggering all manner of Protomolecule badness. It's just a little sad that some of his "hero" reputation comes from rescuing people from problems he himself creates.
Having been primed to accept Amos' sexual orientation as ambiguous at best, it was interesting, even a little startling, to see him in bed with a woman; of course, it might simply mean he's pan-sexual or whatever, but it does create interesting issues later on. But then we have Alex, who starts making a move on the colonists' doctor, until her husband and daughter show up. Ew.
Best Scene: Murtry's cold-blooded murder of the Belter is sudden and arresting.
Best Line: An exhausted Holden groans, "I desperately need a shower." Naomi follows with, "Yes, you do."
Hard Media "After Show": Steven Strait; Executive Producer Naren Shankar; Co-Executive Producer/Writer Ty Franck; Frankie Adams (Bobbie Draper); Cas Anvar (Alex Kamal).
SCORE: 