The Expanse Review: Oyedeng (Season 5 Episode 7)
Until the last thirty seconds of The Expanse Season 5 Episode 7, “Oyedeng,” it is a three and a half star episode.
But, then. But. Then.
HOLY NAGATA!
Naomi Nagata hurtles out into space totally suit-less, blasting the episode to five-star status.
The scene is set up exquisitely by the building emotional tension between Naomi, Filip, Cyn and Marco.
Fresh in the audience’s memory is the story of Cyn seeing Naomi almost toss herself out an airlock. She learns that Marco is intent on luring in her family to kill them. So, we are prepped for her to make drastic choices.
The desperate and woeful expression Naomi has on her face has us fully believing that she is making the only choice she can: walk away.
I am convinced our leading lady is committing suicide!
I have talked about earlier Season 5 episodes knocking the wind out of me. But, that is nothing compared to the physical reaction I have to Naomi ejecting out into open space.
The stunned shock last the entire time. Even when my belief that she’s killing herself thaws into a confusion, I am absolutely stunned.
Even when I realize she’s not going for suicide, even when she takes out the oxygen pen and stabs herself, even when she pushes her shoulders back to make her body a direct-aim object, even when she reaches her target and flings into the ship, I am not sure she is going to make it.
The closeup shot of her eyes hemorrhaging is god-tier.
The whole scene is mind-boggling good. It takes a solid episode and thrusts it into the five-star space.
I can’t be the only one who immediately took to the internet to get a break down of the space science of What. Just. Happened!
The Expanse‘s commitment to space details and physics continues to pay off season after season.
While the final, frightful flight scene makes the episode for me, there are other stand out aspects.
Jasai Chase Owens and Keon Alexander are absolutely crushing it as son and father, Filip and Marco. Each portrays their specific level of bad guy, while always showing the undercurrents of fear, desperation, and jealousy.
It’s the subtle facets that make us unable to completely condemn Marco. Even after showing his abusive core, Marco is still redeemable.
Make no mistake, Marco is abusing his son. He tears him down to make him feel unworthy and like he’s nothing. Then, he offers a carrot for him to get out of that pit, but only under his terms.
Marco will not allow Filip to succeed in anything of his own design. Everything is under the command and coercion of Marco.
It is painful to watch.
It also illuminates how Marco garners allegiance: a combination of brainwashing and threats of violence. Knowing that this is how Marco operates makes it clear that Naomi is even stronger than we thought.
The one-on-one come to Jesus moments between Naomi and Cyn and Naomi and Filip are just a tiny itty-bitty bit overwrought.
It does make sense.
There is no where else in the system that would be more emotionally charged than where Naomi is during the episode. But still, it would hit just a bit harder and deeper if there was a milometer more restraint.
That said, Dominique Tipper does excellent work throughout the episode. Her embrace of Filip is beautiful and brimming with motherly grief and hope.
The Roci sans its real crew does little for me. I simply can not trust the journalist lady.
Holden feared Fred Johnson was always working an angle. I think that is a subtle cue that it is Monica who is still working her story.
It is just the way she grills Holden, without much regard for what she herself should be doing to contribute to the ship’s mission.
“Oyedeng,” is pretty much a bottle episode. It works here because it is just the one episode and it ends with the most riveting scene of the year. But, no more please. The full ensemble coverage is really working for Season 5.
Stray Asteroids
- Would Naomi get frostbite during that trip? Also, is she going to recover her sight? So many questions!
- Bobbie tossing aside bullets with simple complaints about their itchiness is so badass.
- Naomi thinks the only choice is to leave, but she’s wrong. Sometimes the only thing you can do is show up. She can learn this from Filip.
- Holden taking the Roci on a barrel-roll filled crusade is classic and I love to see it.
- What Sakai up to? Just curious.
- Brent Sexton shows up with one of the most dynamic and compassionate performances on the series. Great casting. Perfect casting.
What did you think of this episode of The Expanse? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Expanse airs Wednesdays on Amazon Prime.
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Janelle Ureta
Janelle Ureta is equal parts Veronica Mars, Raven Reyes, and Rebecca Bunch, but she aspires to add some Tammy Taylor to the mix. An attorney turned teacher, Janelle believes in the power of a well-told story. She is currently exploring how to tell short stories, 140 characters or less, on twitter. She loves to talk about TV, and right now she can't shut up about Timeless, Dear White People, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The 100, or Younger.