Television Review: The Seventh Man (The Expanse, S2X07, 2017)

The Seventh Man (S02E07)

Airdate: March 8th 2017

Written by: Georgia Lee
Directed by: Kenneth Fink

Running Time: 44 minutes

The Expanse stands as arguably the finest original space opera television has produced in the twenty-first century, a sprawling, scientifically grounded epic that redefined the genre's possibilities on the small screen. Its intricate political machinations, authentic physics, and deeply human characters created a universe that felt not only plausible but inevitable. Yet even the most impressive television productions must contend with the medium's inherent constraints – budgetary limitations, scheduling pressures, and narrative pacing challenges that occasionally undermine even the most ambitious visions. Season Two's The Seventh Man exemplifies this tension perfectly: a largely serviceable instalment that, despite moments of genuine power, fails to reach the consistently high quality and transitional importance of the two episodes that preceded it.

The episode opens with a visceral immediacy that immediately grounds us in the aftermath of the Ganymede incident – the apparent confrontation between Martian and United Nations forces at the demarcation line that concluded the previous episode. Sergeant Bobbie Draper (Frankie Adams) emerges as the sole survivor of the Martian Marine Corps ground patrol, being evacuated aboard the damaged MCRN Scirocco. The emotional weight is amplified by the revelation that the ship itself sustained damage during the incident, resulting in the deaths of eleven crew members including Draper's mentor, Lieutenant Sutton. As Draper slowly recovers both physically and psychologically from her traumatic experience, she gradually learns the full scale of the catastrophe: debris from the incident rained down on colony facilities, claiming at least 3,000 lives, causing countless injuries, and devastating the agricultural infrastructure that could trigger widespread famine throughout the Belt. This opening sequence, featuring the haunting visual of victims' blood forming "red snowflakes" in low gravity, is genuinely impressive, establishing the episode's emotional stakes with remarkable economy.

Despite the apparent direct conflict between UN and Martian forces, the political landscape prevents immediate escalation into full-scale war. UN Secretary-General Gillis (Jonathan Whitaker), counselled by the cooler heads who recognise that Earth's recent near-destruction has fundamentally altered the strategic calculus, agrees to Chrisjen Avasarala's plan for a peace conference between Earth and Mars to be held on Earth. This decision represents a crucial narrative pivot – the series consistently demonstrates how trauma can foster unexpected diplomacy, even between bitter rivals. The writing here is sharp, capturing the delicate balance of power and the genuine fear that permeates the corridors of authority following the Eros incident.

Draper's storyline forms the emotional core of the episode as she undergoes debriefing first by the stern Commander Thorsen (Clé Bennett) and later by the more compassionate Captain Martens (Peter Outerbridge), the ship's chaplain. In a psychologically nuanced sequence, Draper recalls the incident, describing how a UN six-man ground patrol advanced toward their positions and opened fire – but not at the Martians, rather at a mysterious "seventh man." This revelation introduces the episode's central mystery, though frustratingly, Draper is instructed to adhere strictly to the official narrative and reserve her full testimony for the upcoming peace summit on Earth. Frankie Adams delivers a compelling performance in these trauma sequences, showcasing impressive range as she conveys Draper's physical pain, psychological confusion, and growing suspicion about what really occurred. However, the interrogation scenes suffer from structural confusion, and Draper's treatment by her truth-burying superiors leans too heavily on well-worn conspiracy thriller clichés, diminishing what could have been a more original exploration of military cover-ups.

Meanwhile, the aftershocks of the Ganymede incident reverberate through Tycho Station, where the Rocinante crew volunteers to assist refugees. The impending peace summit represents a potential watershed moment that could dramatically shift the power balance across the Solar System, prompting various Outer Planets Alliance (OPA) factions to convene and determine their collective response. During this meeting, Fred Johnson proposes the radical gesture of voluntarily returning thermonuclear missiles as a sign of good faith, suggesting Anderson Dawes represent the Belt at the conference. Dawes' immediate rejection of this proposal reveals his growing suspicion – shared by Holden – that Johnson harbours some undisclosed "ace in the sleeve."

This secret proves to be Cortázar, the Protomolecule researcher who believes work on the alien technology can continue despite the apparent destruction of the Eros sample. When Holden attempts to confront Cortázar, he discovers the scientist has been removed from his cell – apparently by Dawes himself. The Rocinante, crewed only by Naomi and Alex, rushes to intercept Dawes' ship, only to discover it's a decoy piloted by Diogo. This subplot demonstrates The Expanse's strength in weaving multiple narrative threads together, though the execution here feels somewhat rushed compared to the more deliberate pacing of earlier episodes.

Written by Georgia Lee and directed by experienced television hand Kenneth Fink, The Seventh Man begins with that truly impressive opening sequence, but quickly reveals the series' budgetary constraints. The true scope of the Ganymede catastrophe is primarily conveyed through exposition rather than visual spectacle – a necessary "tell, don't show" approach forced by production limitations. Nevertheless, even within these constraints, the episode satisfactorily portrays the complex political dynamics both within the Belt and aboard the Rocinante. Particularly noteworthy is the return of Jared Harris as Anderson Dawes, whose performance remains utterly compelling despite his limited screen time in Season Two. Harris, a classically trained British actor whose career spans roles from Mad Men to Chernobyl, imbues Dawes with such gravitas and authenticity that it's easy to understand why the writers expanded his role from the books.

What makes Harris's performance particularly remarkable is how he transformed Dawes from what was originally a relatively minor character in the novels into one of the show's most compelling figures. His nuanced understanding of Belter culture, including the deliberate development of his Belter accent, demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the role that few guest stars would provide. This dedication created ripples throughout the production, with other actors like Cara Gee reportedly drawing inspiration from Harris's approach to Belter identity.

Unfortunately, the episode's middle section suffers from pacing issues that disrupt its narrative momentum. The transitions between Draper's recovery, the political manoeuvring on Earth, and the OPA deliberations on Tycho feel somewhat disjointed, lacking the seamless integration that characterises The Expanse at its best. The dialogue occasionally veers toward exposition-heavy exchanges that serve plot advancement at the expense of character depth.

In the ned, The Seventh Man represents The Expanse operating at a competent, if not exceptional, level. It advances crucial plot points, features strong performances (particularly from Adams and Harris), and maintains the series' commitment to political realism. However, it falls short of the narrative urgency and thematic richness that defined the episodes immediately preceding it. Yet even in this relatively weaker instalment, The Expanse demonstrates why it remains the gold standard for television space opera – its commitment to character-driven storytelling, scientific plausibility, and political complexity shines through, reminding viewers why this series continues to resonate long after its conclusion. The episode may not be among the show's finest hours, but it remains a necessary and ultimately satisfying chapter in one of science fiction television's most accomplished sagas.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

Blog in Croatian https://draxblog.com
Blog in English https://draxreview.wordpress.com/
InLeo blog https://inleo.io/@drax.leo

InLeo: https://inleo.io/signup?referral=drax.leo
Leodex: https://leodex.io/?ref=drax
Hiveonboard: https://hiveonboard.com?ref=drax
Rising Star game: https://www.risingstargame.com?referrer=drax
1Inch: https://1inch.exchange/#/r/0x83823d8CCB74F828148258BB4457642124b1328e

BTC donations: 1EWxiMiP6iiG9rger3NuUSd6HByaxQWafG
ETH donations: 0xB305F144323b99e6f8b1d66f5D7DE78B498C32A7
BCH donations: qpvxw0jax79lhmvlgcldkzpqanf03r9cjv8y6gtmk9