The Expanse (2015) is a gripping sci-fi series set in a future where humanity has colonized the solar system, with tensions brewing between Earth, Mars, and the Belt (an asteroid belt inhabited by resource miners).

The story begins with the disappearance of a young woman, Julie Mao, which sets off a chain of events involving a disparate group of characters: a washed-up detective named Joe Miller, the crew of the spaceship Rocinante, led by former soldier James Holden, and political figures with their own agendas.

As the investigation into Mao’s disappearance unfolds, a vast conspiracy is uncovered, involving a dangerous alien substance known as the “protomolecule” that could alter the course of human history.

The series explores themes of power, survival, and the fragility of interplanetary peace, as the tensions between Earth, Mars, and the Belt escalate into a full-blown war. With stunning world-building and complex characters, The Expanse delves deep into the challenges of living in space, both on a political and personal level.