The SyFy/Amazon sci-fi series The Expanse takes place hundreds of years in the future where our solar system has been colonized by humanity. The three largest powers are the United Nations of Earth, the Martian Congressional Republic on Mars, and The Belt, which constitutes the outer planets and a loose configuration of the asteroid belt and the moons of Jupiter and Saturn.

Simply put, the first three seasons of this show were extraordinary.

What starts out with a missing person investigation by a corrupt cop in The Belt, as well as a response by an Earth Freighter to a distress call by a failing ship in open space, ends up coming together in a fast-paced sci-fi adventure involving an alien life form which could threaten all of humanity.

The danger and threats of each episode and season built upon the other, with power struggles and backstabbing, distrust and war mongering, all heading toward a dangerous event horizon no one could escape.

For sci-fi fans, I cannot recommend seasons 1 – 3 enough. It’s top notch entertainment.

Season 4 (the first after Amazon took the show over) is another topic entirely. It’s a long boring mess.

What would have constituted one or two episodes in the previous three seasons is drawn out into a plodding, dialogue-heavy, little-action 10 episode slog.

After the climax and revelations at the end of season 3 (which I won’t explain as to avoid spoilers), it appeared the writers had no idea what to do next.

I quickly felt like I was watching a different sci-fi show and ended up fast-forwarding through most of season 4, stopping when things got interesting, which wasn’t often.

On a side note, watching this show, you could see the evolution, or devolving, of standards in television when it comes to language. Season 1 had few curse words or taking God’s name in vain. Each subsequent season got worse. Season 4 had more unnecessary f-bombs and over-the-top misuse of God’s name than all the other seasons combined.

I’ve found, when that happens, that the writers are filling bad plots with harsh language to cover for the fact that there wasn’t a lot happening. The English language is filled with wonderful words. When characters start cursing for no reason, it’s usually laziness or lack of skill by the writer.

Since Season 4 was slow and boring, my doubts in the writers ability seem to be on track.

The Expanse has been renewed for Season 5. I hope the writers find their voice again and return to the tone, urgency and danger of the first three amazing seasons.

If they can’t, end the show with a bang and move on.

Nothing is worse than watching great entertainment die a slow creative death.