4-07. "A Shot In The Dark"
Written by Dan Nowak
Directed by Sarah Harding
First aired 12 December 2019
SYNOPSIS
On Ilus, Murtry's team and the Belters set up separate camps inside the Protomolecule structure. Except for Holden, who appears to be immune, everyone is infected by parasites in their eyes, threatening blindness. Later, deadly slugs emerging from the the seawater occupy the walls and ceilings of the encampments, and fall on people. Murtry begins plotting Holden's murder so that he can lay claim to the planet and all of its resources.
In orbit, the fusion shutdown is causing the Barbapiccola's orbit to decay, owing to the mined lithium it contains. Lucia devises a plan to to keep the ship in orbit by tethering it to the Rocinante.
On Earth, Avasarala's poll numbers are dwindling. When she receives intelligence that Inaros is aboard the Pizzouza, she orders a team of UN Marines to board the ship. Inaros is not to be found, but a firefight erupts, and the ship explodes, killing many innocent citizens and all of the UN Marines.
ANALYSIS
"They're... everywhere."
Things continue to deteriorate on all fronts. Everyone inside the Protomolecule structure is under multiple threats: parasites take up residence in their eyes, slowly blinding them; poisonous slugs crawling up the walls drop on them and kill them; and if that's not bad enough, they have only a few days of fresh water remaining, whereas the tsunami will take considerably longer to retreat. Things in orbit are decaying as well—pun intended—as the Barbapiccolazzouzante starts skimming Ilus' atmosphere (honestly, I had a tough time keeping track of which ship was being discussed). And on Earth, Avasarala's bungled pursuit of Inaros blows up in her face.
Best Scene: As Holden shines his UV flashlight on the walls surrounding them, illuminating a bazillion slug trails, we share that sinking feeling with the characters.
Best Line: Avasarala is furious over having made a public "confession" about the Pizzouza incident. Arjun tries to calm her down, but she explodes. "Fucking stop! If I did the right thing, then why is Nancy fucking Gao within three fucking points?" Okay, Chrisjen, tell us how you really feel!
Technobabble Alert: The technobabble threats do not stop once our settlers are "safe" inside a giant Protomolecule elephant tusk. I will say, however, that the biothreats to the settlers are plausible—at least they're not morphing man-eating alien monsters or telepathic lumpy-foreheaded English-speaking humanoids.
Hard Media "After Show": Steven Strait; Executive Producer Naren Shankar; Dominique Tipper (Naomi Nagata); Wes Chatham (Amos Burton); Cas Anvar (Alex Kamal).
SCORE: 