5-04. "Gaugamela"
Written by Dan Nowak
Directed by Nick Gomez
First aired 22 December 2020
SYNOPSIS
Lieutenant Babbage revealed to Alex that she's shipping out on the MCRN Barkeith. Suspicious she's involved in the weapons trafficking, Alex and Bobbie follow her in the Razorback.
Amos is visiting Clarissa in "The Pit," a high-security underground prison on Earth, when another asteroid hits.
Avasarala manages to reach Nancy Gao, who is aboard a plane, and recommends a plan of action to spot the stealth asteroids; Gao enacts the plan just as her plane is destroyed in another attack. Subsequent asteroids are spotted.
On Tycho, the ship coming to retrieve the container in which Monica was held attacks the station. Sakai is revealed as a traitor; she assassinates Fred Johnson and helps steal the Protomolecule hidden in Johnson's quarters on the station.
Filip brings Naomi to Marco Inaros' ship, and Marco broadcasts a message to the System claiming responsibility for the attacks on Earth. He also declares that his Free Navy will take control of the System as well as the Ring Gates.
ANALYSIS
"When you come out the other side of it, you're gonna want to be doing something that matters."
The action is set to "max" for this one: the rocks are falling, Fred Johnson is assassinated, a really impressive robot steals the Protomolecule from Fred, and Naomi begins her long, slow, painful descent into hell. Marco's announcement to the System is over-the-top, yes, but the circumstances more or less demand it.
Best Scene: The whole sequence with Avasarala contacting Gao about the asteroid attacks and Gao's subsequent demise is a thrilling, solid punch in the gut.
Best Line: Holden gazes down at Fred Johnson's body. "He deserved to finish what he was building."
SCORE: 