Originally penned as a captivating science fiction novel series by James S.A. Corey (a pseudonym for authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck), The Expanse made its television debut in 2015 when Syfy premiered season 1. However, after three seasons, Syfy unfortunately decided to cancel the show. Yet, Amazon picked up the mantle and produced an additional three seasons. The final episode of season 6 marks the end of the show adaptation, but there are still more novels in the series that have not been adapted yet.
In essence, while The Expanse stays true to its source material for the most part, adapting the books for television required some adjustments. For one, the Belters in The Expanse series don’t look exactly like they do in the novels. However, this wasn’t the only visual transformation the show underwent when translating Corey’s stories to the small screen. Another aspect of the science fiction universe was also modified by Amazon, and this change proved quite effective.
The Protomolecule’s Blue Glow Isn’t Mentioned In The Expanse Books
Corey’s description of the Protomolecule often varied, but it was never blue
The Protomolecule represents an innovative and significant element that has been introduced into “The Expanse” series, both in the TV show and its original source material. While “The Expanse” shares some common elements with classic science-fiction franchises like “Star Wars” and “Star Trek”, it tends to be more down-to-earth. The Protomolecule is a complex substance that initially baffles the main characters, and its depiction varies across the books. However, in the live-action adaptation, the Protomolecule was given a striking blue glow to easily distinguish it when it appears onscreen.
James S.A. Corey predominantly explores the repercussions of the Protomolecule and its lasting impact, rather than its immediate appearance. The books present chilling depictions of the havoc wreaked by the Protomolecule on organic beings, but the descriptions can be somewhat inconsistent. Given the peculiar nature of the substance, this inconsistency might be excusable as it adds to the difficulty in comprehending the Protomolecule while maintaining its relevance within the narrative. In a television format, such inconsistency wouldn’t have been feasible, so the blue glow serves as an effective solution to this issue.
What Exactly Is The Protomolecule In The Expanse?
The Protomolecule isn’t meant to be weapon, but it acts like one
Intriguingly, at first glance, I perceived this Protomolecule as an advanced, experimental weapon. However, as I delved deeper, I uncovered a far more fascinating truth: it was never intended for destruction. Instead, it represents an incredibly sophisticated form of terraforming technology, crafted by a now-extinct alien race known as the Ring Builders. Their ultimate goal was to send it to Earth, but its intended arrival was approximately two billion years before the events portrayed in ‘The Expanse’. Upon reaching Earth, it would have nurtured and guided the simplest forms of microscopic life, subtly shaping their evolution towards a future that would resemble the Ring Builders’ home world.
As the gadget delivering the Ring Builders’ Protomolecule entered our Solar System, it got ensnared in Saturn’s gravitational pull and, after a significant stretch of time, was misidentified as one of Saturn’s moons – Phoebe. Since Earth was safeguarded from becoming terraformed, the Ring Builders never inhabited it. When humans eventually encountered the Protomolecule in the mid-24th century, this situation fell outside the technology’s expectations or design. It followed its instructions and began to modify any organic matter according to blueprints provided by the Ring Builders.
The primary cause of its failure was that it was only designed to interact with microscopic organisms, not complex lifeforms like us. In essence, it did exactly what it was designed for, but on the wrong entities. This led to living beings being dismantled and restructured, which was unforeseen and detrimental. As a result, everyone initially believed that the Protomolecule was a weapon.
The Expanse Show Did A Surprisingly Good Job Of Adapting The Protomolecule For Live-Action
The Protomolecule could have been even trippier if it hadn’t been adapted properly
In Corey’s books, the Protomolecule is often ambiguous and formless, leading readers to envision it uniquely or struggle to visualize it entirely. This abstract quality can pose challenges when adapting it for live-action, but The Expanse series managed to define a clearer and identifiable physical representation of it on screen, making the concept more understandable in the process.
In the grand scheme of things, it was crucial that The Expanse accurately portrayed the Protomolecule. Fortunately, they succeeded, and it fit seamlessly with other more straightforward aspects. Instead of adapting Corey’s vision directly for the screen, I believe a different approach would have been less effective. Given that both authors were deeply involved in The Expanse’s production, I’m confident they approved the change beforehand.
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2025-04-22 15:31