Top 10 Differences Between The Expanse Book and TV Show 

Is there a difference you picked up on that we haven’t mentioned? Drop us a comment below and let us know what else has changed. For more shows to binge, check out our playlist!: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7aYHbq_2s08.html

I thought one of the biggest changes was the character of Ashford. He's completely different in the books.

Expanse touches you in more than many ways , it's not just another technological advaced future of scifi world we're used to rather it just focuses how humans are likely to progress being an inter planetary species in our solar system

I think we can all agree the more Shohreh Aghdashloo, Avasarala, we have, the better. Not just in the Expanse but just in general.

The Expanse novels have become far and away my favorite sci-fi book series and one of my favorite book series overall. It feels realistic while also feeling original, with foes that are very different from your normal sci-fi space flavors. And the wit and one-liners, maaaaaan.

The main change to me is how the Belters look in the books -- though I understand it would be too expensive to have it in the TV series .

I have a hard time with a list that ends with Holden's lineage, which is basically the same, when you have other MAJOR characters in story arcs that are completely different. Saw Klaes Ashford mentioned, that's certainly one. The Prax character and arc between Caliban's War/S2 literally could hardly be more different. On the show Prax is strong inside, bonds with the crew, and ends up tight with Amos. In the book he's portrayed as basically a helpless and clueless weakling that is literally a paid passenger on the Roci, and nearly gets everyone killed at every turn. In the books, Bobbie Draper is introduced, then takes basically a 2 book hiatus in the novels that doesn't happen on the show. The story arc involving her working for Avasarala is *very* different in book 2 and the show. I have a hard time keeping track of when she's been court-martialed and is still a marine in both... They axed the Vomit Zombies in the show. Shame, I wanted to experience the coppery taste of fear seeing them on TV. 😂 Some good supporting characters from the books were left out. No Sam Rosenberg (Tycho-based lead mechanic for the Roci, and by book 3, Head Engineer on the OPAS Behemoth) comes to mind. Avasarala would need to have her own season to get in all of the profanity and insults we get from her in the novels. She has some gems in the books, including one about somebody's b*lls and a paint scraper. 😂😂😂 Don't really agree the show is "Darker" than the books. They're both sci-fi for adults that's well grounded in established science. Could think of plenty more. Do think this list could have been a bit more on point FWIW, but it's all opinion, so all good. A wonderful line of novels, short stories, and a show that is destined to become even more beloved after it's gone. "The Wire" of its time...

*Holy macaroni! This show is utterly brilliant! And I am grateful that I stumbled upon it. Easily the best Sci-Fi television series since TNG. Not to sound like some woke-tard, but THIS is diversity done right. What a gem of a show! I'd pre-order the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray set this instant if it was available.*

Truly one of the greatest sci-fi shows ever made. 💙

While the TV character of Camina Drummer is taking up most of Michio Pa's story line from the books, Michio is still in the TV show. TV Drummer also took most of Bull's story from the books. In the books, Ashford was a villain. Joe Miller's partner, Havelock, was a major character in the book Cibola Burn but the actor, Jay Hernandez, was probably too busy doing the Magnum PI reboot to do the TV Expanse. Anderson Dawes was written out of the TV show as the actor, Jared Harris, has become highly sought after and probably not available.

Amos is an older man in the books, and Naomi is taller than Jim by a good bit.

It’s been a helluva ride. Gonna be hard to say goodbye to this awesome show

There are so many differences from the books. I could have my own RU-vid channel to cover them. The one I find funniest is that in the show, no one knows Alex is a Martian on the Canterbury. In the books, it is known from the beginning. What is so funny is that the people who populated Mars were Arabic, Samoan, Indian, and Texan. So when you have a darker skin man with black hair named Kamal with a thick Texas accent (in this case a Mariner Valley accent) you would be an idiot not to realize he was Martian.

As much as the reasoning behind it sucked, I think killing off Alex did a lot to bring some much needed emotional stakes to the story. As much shit as the Roci has been through up to this point, it's kinda wild that they made it as far as they did without someone dying. Well, I guess there's Miller, but it's debatable how dead he really is, and he was never really part of the crew.

Ok a few more things: Ashford’s character arc was much shorter in the books. He was just sort of a jerk, and when Clarissa stopped him and shut down the Behemoth, that’s the last you see of him. The show version of Ashford is much better, where he and Drummer become good friends and he tries to chase down Marco Inaros in season 4. Also… Alex dies of a stroke in season 5 due to issues with the actor, but in the books, it’s Fred Johnson that dies of a high-G induced stroke. Fred’s death happens much later in the books than it did in the show. Finally, In the books, the “Bull” character in Season 5 is actually another component of Drummer’s show character, and he appears much earlier. In the show, in that elevator scene in the Behemoth, Naomi smashes Diogo with the elevator as Drummer prepares to blow herself up with a grenade to stop him. In the books, it’s not Diogo chasing them, but two random soldiers. The elevator is stopped in the shaft and the bad guys are trying to get in to attack Bull and Michio Pa. Bull has Michio exit the top of the elevator to escape, and he stays behind with the grenade, sacrificing himself to stop the two enemies while Pa escapes.

Jared Harris has a heck of a resume with these shows

And did I miss something about Holden in the books? I'm pretty sure they were pretty damned close to the show backstory. Obviously more info/detail in the books, but they were damn near identical...

My only beef is with the idea that the show is darker. The ending of Nemesis Game happens on the books as well, only with different characters. More important ones too. Also on the books there's a whole thing about Prax being accused of a lot of stuff, including being an abuser, so people wouldn't help him find his daughter. Also the penultimate book with the whole "I might be helping to plot the muder of a teenager".

Uh, actually Holden is the same in the books as in the show when it comes to his parentage. It was how he was raised that was different.

Low key one of the best shows out

Holden has 8 parents in the books also. “Your file says you were the only child of a family co-op,” Lopez said, acting as though they’d never stopped talking about Holden’s past. “Yes, five fathers, three mothers.” -Leviathan Wakes, chapter 11.

Easily the best show on tv right now. One of the only properties that I would say is just as good as the book

Drummer’s role in the show is kind of ironic. Her character is not introduced until book 5, and in the show takes several minor characters. One of these roles is a character called Bull in season 3. But ironically, her role in season 5 (which adapts book 5) was replaced by Bull, as she had a different arc. So in a way, Bull and Drummer’s storylines swapped.

James S.A. Corey is the pin name for Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck who, along with Naren Shankar are the show runners for the TV adaptation.

I've watched the show and am about half way through Cibola Burn. I recommend both, the audio books are fantastic too!

Melba/Clarissa had POV chapters in the book that clued us in immediately to her mods. How she got them, how they worked. Fred's death. Anderson Dawes and his role in book 6. Bobbie and Alex babysitting the Martian Prime minister and Bobbie hitching a ride on a missile to save Naomi. Mimic lizards. Naomi's in jail and her space walk in book 4. Havelock in book 4. Avasarala's assistant (can't remember his name, but their relationship was awesome). Tilly surviving and buying the Roci for the crew.... Biggest change, by far, is stopping at the end of book 6, which is really a shame, as 7-9 (and especially 8) have some of the best and most bad-ass scenes in the whole series.

I'm surprised no one mentioned one of the first major plot changes from the books; the absence of the vomit zombies! I was rubbing my hands as I watched the first season with my husband, who had not read the books at the time, waiting for them to appear out of nowhere to chock the bejesus out of him, but nope... Also, the way Fred Johnson died was changed, but I like it because it makes his death more meaningful and it makes sense.

The authors were also exec producers and had a lot of sway on the set. It's because of having a good story to work from, a good production staff, a good cast, and good writers that the novels and show can both stand on their own as great works of fiction. I tend to look on the show and the novels as telling the same story but from different perspectives. Sort of how there are a few different version of the Sinbad, Hercules, Gilgamesh and some other classical hero/myth tales. Also you can read the books and watch the show or start by watching the show then read the books... You might know the plot points but the details to getting there are just different enough to make seeing/reading the other version worth while. Amos's time on Earth is a great example (in the novel and the short story).

Some scenes from the books are so perfect, they are left almost word for word in the show. Example: Amos on the transport to earth, when the gang tries to shakedown his cabin mates.

I hope they get to Bobby rescuing Naomi. Surfing a torpedo in power armor through space was pretty cool

In the series Naomi trades the proto-molecule to Fred Johnson whereas in the books Jim willingly exchanges it with him. Another difference is that the show seems to merge part of books 1 and 2 in one season and proceeds the same way throughout. The example given with Chrisjen Avasarala is just one of many examples. There are many other differences I can't think of at the moment but I enjoyed the video.

I just finished reading Persepolis Rising. It was fantastic! I hope they get around to adapting the final 3 books.

Holden's background seemed the same as the books

When Rosinante lands on a planet, in books it is in horizontal position, but in TV show it lands vertically.

The only back story Holden really has in the books is that he was dishonourably discharged from the UN Navy for refusing to fire on some Belter ship and also for punching his CO in the face.

Avasarala is my #EarthQueen forever! At the beginning I didn't like Holden very much, I used to call him "Jon Snow in space". But the actor is actually better and the character is much more layered. Also, in the first season I had a huge crush on Detective Miller

Not just Michio Pa, but also Bull Baca also is integrated, creating one of the best female characters under Camina Drummer

Michio Pa wasn´t just swapped out for Drummer, Drummer´s storyline is a mix of Pa, and Bull, her competitor/enemy/support/ally, who was also dropped from the show. Surprisingly, it works really, really well, and Camina Drummer arguably became one of the most complex and intriguing characters of the show. Also Havelock was missing, and he was a very interesting character in the book. Holden was a lot darker in the books. There, Naomi all but left him not because of the strain of command, but because she watched him become a remorseless killer, and it was only him watching her leave that made him realize it and turn back.

There are at least 2 major differences that aren’t in this list that I think were pretty significant. 1 I personally don’t like very much and another that I actually liked a lot: The one I disliked took place throughout the entire series. The crew of the rocinante are constantly bickering or downright fighting with each other in the series whereas in the books, they were basically a tight knit family on the same page from day 1. I get that people expect to see a little angst in a tv show, but I feel like the roci crew had plenty enough to worry about without having to bitch at each other, too. The other big change that I actually liked a lot was how ashford was portrayed. In the books, he’s more or less a stupid, cowardly, easily disliked throwaway antagonist. Whoever made the decision to give him integrity, depth, and a relatable position was a genius. You still managed to dislike him enough that you didn’t want him to succeed in the slow zone, but were also happy to see his arch continue.

One of the best shows in a while, please watch it if you haven’t already

I wish seasons 4 & 5 would be out on DVD. Only the first 3 seasons can be gotten on DVD in Ireland.

I made the mistake of watching all six seasons. And gave into temptation to Wikipedia the final three books. I regret that. I also listened to RU-vid summaries of the books which I also regret. If you have only watched the six seasons. I recommend you listen to all of the audiobooks. I started with book 7 audiobook I just finished 🗣 🎤 📚 audiobook eight and I will begin audiobook nine next week. It’s really such a grand scope & concept. 🤯 I sure hope they can somehow bring this to the screen 📺

I thought she was into Holden, but it was removed quickly. I am not sure how I felt of that then. She was not meant to be with him. Naomi was though I wish it was another. That's just me. I agree of the zero G thing. Same as I thought when saw it. I was like wow I was not expecting that. Well done ! Also, the cussing like a 1950's sailor was a shock, but I thought the same assessment you explained.

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Avasarala's actress I recognize her from somewhere especially her voice Edit: she was in Arcane as Grayson

agree with your picks. I would add another one which is that Holden was much more optimistic of the human race in the last three books.

2:12 that was the scene that made me decide this thing was worth watching.

we all miss your Alex, it was sad that you had to go

The crew of the Rocinante willingly and openly works for the OPA in the books; whereas, they are independent in the TV show.

I haven't watch a SF series as beautiful and complex as the Expanse since Battle Star Galactica and Heroes.

Alex's demise isn't number 1???

The only pick I disagree with is the statement that the TV show is much darker than the books. I don’t think so. The books are just as dark as the show.

It really sucked that the Alex character had to be written out. Now I'll have to read the novels to find out what really happened to his character. I understand the why and after reading up on what happened, the texts exchanged between him and women, yeah, if true Cas hosed himself and his career by his alleged behavior. Between him and Kevin Spacy, hopefully lessons have been learned. Behavior off screen matters a lot.

Alex was my favorite character so when I heard what the actor had been up to it really stung

Avasaralla's son dies in a skiing accident in the books, which us so irrelevant I was very surprised to find out about it

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I think literally everyone agrees Ashford is the biggest change.

A WatchMojo x Expanse crossover??? I love the internet

Liked the books better, I hope they bring the TV Series to a admirable conclusion, though I always thought the last 2 seasons lost quiet a bit of steam. I still hope they greenlight like 2 more seasons to get it closer to the books conclusion, I am totally head over heels for book 9

Parts of Bobbies story are different from the books, And some stuff was added just for the show eg: Bobbie was not apart of anything in the slow zone the first time If I recall correctly it's book 3 abaddon's gate

The belter accent reminds me of Rastafarian a bit.

Since it would be impractical and likely way too expensive to make all the Belters look different, it was genius in my view to develop their Patois-Creole dialects and accents to make sure you can feel the difference between them alone with the tattoos and hairstyles… which I think it’s safe to assume the books didn’t emphasize. I have read them, so feel free to tell me if that assumption is wrong.

Belters are played by 'normal' actors, instead of evolved people with elongated limbs. Naomi is far larger than Dominique Tipper who played her so well. Before you say 'well, of course not', there is one notable exception in the belter tortured on earth by Avaserala, who clearly has a far more correct Belter physique. Some of the Belters are ridiculously short, however.

wtf 1)books are many darker then series 2) In the book there was no first mate on Kent who went crazy. Holden was originally the first mate. Holden didn't receive the scopuli SOS signal, Captain Kenterberry(McDowell) did it. And even more so, at first no one argued with Holden since he was the captain and the Rsinante team initially had complete subordination. 2) There is no friend from Eros who gave Miller the hat in the book, his partner Dmitry Havelock should be there, he is also one of the main characters in book 4 and he is not in the series. 3) The character of Anderson Dawes is mentioned in passing in the book, in the series he was made a super criminal. 4) Avasaryala's The spy guard (Cotyar) is not in the books (The only cool difference is that the character added interest. But because of him, the story of the botanist was also cut in half, half a book about him, a classic, very dramatic and dark detective story in wartime) 5) Drumer (the most miserable character in the series is essentially a script gag) is 3 female characters in one (2 cool characters were cut out), A mechanic, Naomi's friend - Sam (just Kelly from "firefly"), who died dramatically in book 3 at the hands of Ashward. And Ashward’s former first mate, the “pirate queen” from book 5 - Michio Pa. Third herself Camila Drumer who was briefly in book 2 as Fred Johnson's head of security and since he died became his replacement (and her husband also became the head of the underground in the final stories of the war with Laconia.) 6) Ashward became the main character, although in the books he was a captain who went crazy (essentially the main villain). This script failure really shocked me. I don't understand what they were thinking. And the main character was Carlos Baca, nicknamed the "bull", and his story is more dramatic than the story of Ashward from the series. Then I just didn’t look, instead of a cool, interesting and smart story, they made a completely worthy TV series from the books, but it doesn’t reach the level of the books. Better read all books from 1 to 9, this is a phenomenally interesting and smart story☮ wtf In the books there are all actions at all in space at zero gravity, except for moments when the ship accelerates at 1 G. Have you even read the book?

Wow just watched new episode most realistic space sci fi show

Liked and am watching!

In the books there's a lot less conflict between the protagonists which was nice.

Fred Johnson survives in the books

Don’t know if anyone mentioned it but Bobbie is really big in the books.

Michio Pa is in the TV series. She just has a much smaller part.

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On the show, Alex died like Fred Johnson in the book.

The death of Fred Johnson was different. Also the decision to hide the protomolecule sample was different...the show Naomi secretly hid the sample while in the books, Holden had made the decision

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Spoiler-alert: Just finished the TV series…a six-season binge😂. I agree the TV show had a darker tone. The spacing of the ‘inners’ after the mirrors crashed on Ganymede stayed with me for days😮. The only change that bothered me was having Naomi betray the crew by secretly giving the sample to Fred. I hated that! I liked the book-version of Prax a lot more. Overall, I enjoyed the changes and was glad for them after listening to all of the books several times each. It made it a lot more interesting since it was just different enough while arriving at the same place.

The Expanse is the first IP I've ever watched/read where I actually think the on-screen adaptation is better than the books...which is saying a lot, because the books are VERY good.

Drummer also took most of Bulls story too.

The books had far more brutal parts than the shows. Abaddons gate was chaos.

The bit about the belter Creole featuring 1,000 new words might have been more impactful if y'all didn't follow with a scene where they spoke perfectly standard boring English. Otherwise interesting video.

Holden's backstory is EXACTLY the same in the books and show. They're not actually extremists, they just get painted that way when government finds it convenient.

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for me the differences are too distracting to me for me to really enjoy the show. especially how they changed holden as a character. for him to hold onto his idealism and optimism is very much a trial, and he's punished for it repeatedly the more often he gets mixed up in affairs that are various shades of grey. making him a rebel edgy boy to somehow justify his actions is not compelling to me. for me, the only real way to top jefferson mays' reading of the book would be a full-cast audiobook production.

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Wait so Inaros was Holden's planned future? I mean to become someone like him and it's thanks to Naomi on Ganymede that he didn't went full sith lord

4:43 see her hair in zero G where else can we see zero G, and look at their hair

The show gets the roci's name origin wrong saying it means work horse when the original was a reference to Don quixote's horse who was a farm work horse and then became a "knights" horse, hence the name no longer a work horse. Avasaral is completely different in back story, appearance, and personality in the books. Miller's story is completely different in the books. Holden is a completely different character in the books, come to think of it all of the characters are completely different from their book counterparts. I found my self liking the show as a sci-fi TV show but hating it as a terrible adaption of the books. So much was missing, so much was simplified, so many factions were missing(the proto molecule was named that because protogen was researching it), they changed so many characters (both in appearance and story), and no the books were much darker with torture, descriptions of decay, dismemberment, bodily functions, the effects of space travel on the body, and various aspects of the human condition. Not only that the characters in the show didn't seem as human to their book counterparts. The characters in the books questioned themselves, had morale and ethical personal conflicts with themselves and others, in comparison to the book's characters the shows characters are one dimensional.

Beltalowda

Your #1 is not a difference. That is true of Holden in the books as well. Your NUMBER ONE is flat out wrong. Do you guys even bother having people who have experienced the source material write scripts for these..? Michio Pa is also in the show. Sigh.

I thought it was a shame how they made the belters look on the show. The first season it seemed like they wanted to follow the books like with the guy on the hooks where they are all really tall and skinny with big heads but then after season one they all look just like everyone else

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Awesome great video. TV. Show. 👍

Why the hell didn't they recasted Alex instead of getting rid of the character???

I think one of the main differences between the show and the books is Naomi

My man Holden seems slowly dying

Good riddance to Elvi's crush on Holden.

Amos Burton is bald.

Finallx

Bullshit about killing the character. They should have just recast the role. Their action pollutes the character with the actions of the actor. And that's *exactly* Holden's background in the books. There's basically no change.

I'm predicting this last season is goin got to leave a LOT out. I'm just hoping the show doesn't get the full GoT treatment.