Last week we got word that after initially being rescued from US terrestrial TV network cancellation, Designated Survivor has now been given the chop by its erstwhile rescuer Netflix just a single season later. Luckily for me and my geeky interests, Amazon is not Netflix.
One of the other cancelled shows that got revived at the same time as Designated Survivor last year was the acclaimed sci-fi drama The Expanse. After being cancelled by SyFy after four seasons (partially due to the show’s pricy budget), the TV series adaptation of James SA Corey’s brilliant novel series was picked up by Amazon after the multinational conglomerate’s boss, Jeff Bezos, personally interceded (and damn was I happy he did!). Bezos, in case you haven’t noticed, is also the world’s richest man and that’s clearly not a title you earn by investing a ton of money into something and then just kicking it to the curb shortly thereafter without giving it a chance to return that investment. And that appears to be exactly what Amazon is doing as they have now already renewed The Expanse for a fifth season five months before season four is even supposed to debut!
The announcement for the extra season renewal was also revealed during the Television Critics Association summer tour. Along with the announcement, a brand new season four teaser was also shown off accompanied by an official blurb for the season ahead.
Season 4 of The Expanse, its first as a global Amazon Original, begins a new chapter for the series with the crew of the Rocinante on a mission from the U.N. to explore new worlds beyond the Ring Gate. Humanity has been given access to thousands of Earth-like planets which has created a land rush and furthered tensions between the opposing nations of Earth, Mars and the Belt. Ilus is the first of these planets, one rich with natural resources but also marked by the ruins of a long dead alien civilization. While Earthers, Martians and Belters maneuver to colonize Ilus and its natural resources, these early explorers don’t understand this new world and are unaware of the larger dangers that await them.
As showrunner Naren Shankar spoke about during The Expanse’s San Diego Comic-Con panel two weekends ago, the upcoming season is “really the second big movement of the books — it’s a new chapter.”
They’re no longer constrained by just being able to go in the solar system. New worlds have opened up. How humanity deals with his vast new frontier in a situation where resources have been constrained and how that effects society… that’s the big next chapter of The Expanse.
The Expanse season four will premiere on Amazon Prime on 13 December.
Last Updated: July 29, 2019
Admiral Chief Umbra
July 29, 2019 at 08:52
DAMMIT, and Netflix SA still not showing this. FFS
WhiteRock
July 29, 2019 at 10:14
SA Netflix did have this and was pulled due to the change of “ownership”. It’s currently on Amazon Prime, but we can’t view it locally 🙁 This right here is why people still pirate…
Weanerdog
July 29, 2019 at 11:18
What can’t you view locally? I have watched season 3 on Prime. 4 isn’t out yet.
So if you are using this as an excuse to pirate you are really just trying to justify your behaviour.
WhiteRock
July 29, 2019 at 11:26
What? If I log into Amazon Prime, which I am legally subscribed to, and I go to the Expanse, I cannot watch it, as it states that it is not available in my region. And yes, I know 4 isn’t out yet, and neither is 5, as the article above clearly states.
And what are you on about my behavior? I made a comment as to why I believe people still pirate, not a justification for piracy. Don’t assume…
Weanerdog
July 29, 2019 at 11:48
Weird, because I watch it on prime.
As to your behaviour, you are justifying why people pirate. That is what you said. I cannot speak for what your behaviour is or even what you intended to say.
If one is pirating it’s because they have some weird entitlement issue that everything is for them and because reasons beyond their control they can’t have it so they will just go and take it. And then they justify it.
But the reason they pirate is because they are entitled. That is the only reason. All other reasons are merely justification of that entitlement.
Weanerdog
July 29, 2019 at 11:48
Weird, because I watch it on prime.
As to your behaviour, you are justifying why people pirate. That is what you said. I cannot speak for what your behaviour is or even what you intended to say.
If one is pirating it’s because they have some weird entitlement issue that everything is for them and because reasons beyond their control they can’t have it so they will just go and take it. And then they justify it.
But the reason they pirate is because they are entitled. That is the only reason. All other reasons are merely justification of that entitlement.
WhiteRock
July 29, 2019 at 12:38
So I assume you have a South-African Prime account, paying from a South-African account? With a SOuth-African address? Not some account registered somewhere else(read overseas) or running via VPN?
I can send you the screenshot if you’d like? I’m not the only person I’ve heard of that cannot watch it, on a South-African prime account.
I never said piracy is right. I never condoned piracy. I made a comment about one of the myriad of reasons(I believe) why people pirate(maybe not clear from my wording, which I will accede to). You just assumed I did….You are the one that jumped to conclusions. You are the one making accusations. So in terms of behavior, I would ask you to check yours first before making accusations.
WhiteRock
July 29, 2019 at 12:45
Why can’t i edit my comment? Just wanted to add that I’m really concerned If I’m supposed to be able to watch the Expanse on prime in SA.
Geoffrey Tim
July 29, 2019 at 13:27
Just logged on to check – and I have Expanse Season 1-3 available to watch. That’s an SA account, from SA, without any VPN or DNS tomfoolery.
WhiteRock
July 29, 2019 at 14:23
Issue solved – had to phone Amazon as there was some issue on my account.
WhiteRock
July 29, 2019 at 13:43
Mothertrucker. Thanks for the heads-up: for some reason mine keeps blocking me when it comes to the expanse, so I guess I’m going to have to give support a call. This supposedly happened at launch in SA, but fixing the region should have solved it, which it doesn’t in my case.
Weanerdog
July 29, 2019 at 15:45
Sorry that was rather aggressive on my part.
I am glad that you have sorted out your access.
WhiteRock
July 30, 2019 at 07:45
@Weanerdog:disqus that’s fine. And I agree with you(even though my perspective might be different) about piracy and so forth. I’m just glad I got my access sorted out – currently reading Tiamat’s Wrath(paperback) so I’m looking forward to season 4.
Admiral Chief Umbra
July 29, 2019 at 11:02
Wait, we cannot view it locally on Prime? So much for that idea
Off to ARRRRRRRRRRR
Darren Peach
July 29, 2019 at 09:26
I am considering the subscription, is it worth it ?
Original Heretic
July 29, 2019 at 08:52
The Boys has also already been renewed!
Damn, I’m loving it so far!!
Guz
July 29, 2019 at 09:17
Finished it last night, f&*king brilliant
Original Heretic
July 29, 2019 at 10:04
Wish I had that kind of time!
Pariah
July 29, 2019 at 10:04
Everyone has time. It’s about what you choose to do with it.
#JustJadenThings
Guz
July 29, 2019 at 10:21
Don’t worry paying for it this morning, just couldn’t stop…….1am stories
RinceThis
July 29, 2019 at 12:30
THIS
Guz
July 29, 2019 at 09:17
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4a1c0462b91eebbe59e31d33f3a9166c18fec80aaeba8037f91f2371e0c24ea5.jpg
HvR
July 29, 2019 at 11:48
RinceThis
July 29, 2019 at 12:23
YES!