SyFy has axed The Expanse

[apis]

So the SyFy channel decided to cancel yet another good Sci-Fi series. I guess it was inevitable from a network that apparently hate science fiction. 

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/05/syfy-has-canceled-the-expanse-but-its-producers-want-to-find-it-a-new-home/

[rdl]

Maybe YouTube Red will pick it up. Then, along with Cobra Kai, they will have two things worth paying for.

[David Hess]

So the SyFy channel decided to cancel yet another good Sci-Fi series.

Had it been really good, then they would have cancelled it before the second season.

[sleemanj]

It's a great series, but any non-episodic story is a hard sell, especially a space based science fiction one.  The deal that SyFy had wasn't exactly good for them either. 

Long and short, SyFy not making enough money on it.

3 seasons is a pretty good run for a show like this, unfortunately the story it's telling takes more than 3 seasons to accomplish.

Might have to start reading the books.

[Cyberdragon]

Didn't they have that show that was also linear story but is taboo to us nerds to even mention? *cough* Stargate Universe*cough*

[David Hess]

It's a great series, but any non-episodic story is a hard sell, especially a space based science fiction one.

To one extent or another, what about Babylon 5, DS9, Enterprise, BSG, and SG1?

The deal that SyFy had wasn't exactly good for them either. 

Long and short, SyFy not making enough money on it.

Critics made the point that SyFy's distribution with no online options was not a good match for a show like The Expanse now.

[sleemanj]

It's a great series, but any non-episodic story is a hard sell, especially a space based science fiction one.

To one extent or another, what about Babylon 5, DS9, Enterprise, BSG, and SG1?

Enterprise and SG1 are definitely episodic.  Both have the odd story arc for sure, but still each episode, or at least the majority of a season's episodes, could more or less be watched independently.  They are like The X-Files (at least the original, I haven't seen the reboot), mostly "monster of the week" but occasional "prior knowledge advised" episides.  B5 is more serialised than those but much less than The Expanse, BSG similar, DS9 more episodic.

But The Expanse, this is a very long running story which is, realistically, not something you can just jump in at any point without prior knowledge of almost all that went before.  All The Expanse episodes except #1 are "prior knowledge required" I feel.

[borjam]

Critics made the point that SyFy's distribution with no online options was not a good match for a show like The Expanse now.

It's available on Netflix in Spain.

And sad news, I was really surprised to see Syfy (who lately seem to generate clone series by some algorithm) produce one of the best science fiction shows in many years.

I wonder how successful it's been on Netflix. I hope they pick it up.

[Towger]

Netflix may take it over, as they appear to have the right for outside the US.
It closely follows the books, so diehard fans can finish it off.

[bitseeker]

3 seasons is a pretty good run for a show like this, unfortunately the story it's telling takes more than 3 seasons to accomplish.

Yeah, by the end of season 2, it felt like it was going to need at least 5 seasons.

Might have to start reading the books.

Likewise. Hopefully, it gets picked up as I still like watching it, but even if it doesn't, it did get me interested to dive into the novels.

[senso]

Its on Netflix on Europe, but they only release a season after its complete, so for now all we have is Season 2.

I kinda hate that only USA companies make decent series, why is the cinema/tv industry non existent in EU?

And then they only use USA ratings to measure a series performance, that and choosing WWE over anything else..

[sleemanj]

I kinda hate that only USA companies make decent series, why is the cinema/tv industry non existent in EU?

That's not really true there is plenty of good tv out of Europe, especially Scandinavia and of course the UK.

[BrianHG]

Awwww 
I was enjoying it.

[Psi]

Damn, that's sad news

If netflix continues the show i'll give in and get a netflix account.
 Been thinking about it for a while.

[Towger]

Yeah, by the end of season 2, it felt like it was going to need at least 5 seasons.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Expanse_(novel_series):

Leviathan Wakes (2011)
Caliban's War (2012)
Abaddon's Gate (2013)
Cibola Burn (2014)
Nemesis Games (2015)
Babylon's Ashes (2016)
Persepolis Rising (2017)
Tiamat's Wrath (2018)
Unnamed novel 9 (2019)

[ajb]

And nine books is the short version--the authors had originally planned out a twelve-book arc as well.  As of the latest book there are a couple of big things that still haven't been fully revealed, so the last two books are going to be pretty heavy if they want to put a bow on everything.

I haven't really kept up with the TV series, in part because it was kind of a pain to watch online.  Looks like it's on Amazon Prime, though, so I'll have to find some time to catch up on it.

[bitseeker]

That's not bad. I'm making my way through the main Honor Harrington series. Currently at book #9, Ashes of Victory.

[apis]

It's a great series, but any non-episodic story is a hard sell, especially a space based science fiction one.

To one extent or another, what about Babylon 5, DS9, Enterprise, BSG, and SG1?

Enterprise and SG1 are definitely episodic.  Both have the odd story arc for sure, but still each episode, or at least the majority of a season's episodes, could more or less be watched independently.  They are like The X-Files (at least the original, I haven't seen the reboot), mostly "monster of the week" but occasional "prior knowledge advised" episides.  B5 is more serialised than those but much less than The Expanse, BSG similar, DS9 more episodic.

But The Expanse, this is a very long running story which is, realistically, not something you can just jump in at any point without prior knowledge of almost all that went before.  All The Expanse episodes except #1 are "prior knowledge required" I feel.

Isn't it a bit different now when you can watch tv-series on demand? (At least on Netflix you can just watch each episode when you like so you do not have to miss anything.) Game of Thrones seems to have done well and it's also based on a book series.

[David Hess]

Game of Thrones seems to have done well and it's also based on a book series.

HBO was big enough and Game of Thrones was popular enough to make it work despite problems with distribution.

[Psi]

I wonder why TV/Movie studios don't understand that a good show/movie (even if it doesn't get good ratings) is going to bring in much more income overall in the decades to come as new people discover and watch it.

Babylon 5 is still bringing in good income from ongoing DVD sales 24 years later

[Decoman]

I really liked The Expanse, and I like to think that I am picky when it comes to fantasy / sci-fi movies.

I especially like how I get to relate to another universe, and to get to know it.

[ajb]

Apparently Amazon is in talks to pick it up: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/05/has-amazon-stepped-up-to-save-the-expanse-from-cancellation/

[Acecool]

The Expanse is one of the only TV shows I actually watch... One of the biggest issues with the outdated tv rating system is they use number of boxes tuned to a show to determine ratings and most people leave their boxes on either a random channel or some channel so they get millions of ratings despite no one actually watching them, and the good shows which people watch or pay for online ( I don't subscribe to TV ) - those ratings aren't included... only the box ratings for the day the show aired the first time instead of total number who purchases it online, or subscribe to someplace online to watch it, etc...

Amazon Prime already gives you the first 2 seasons in 144p ( yes 144p - you can't force UHD and can only get UHD if you own a TV and use a TV which I don't - I own a computer... truth be told, it's much easier to copy / record from a TV than it is from a computer because of all of the other processes, you can end up losing frames and a TV is this dedicated system ).... Also Netflix doesn't provide 4k to PCs, neither does Amazon or anyone else - so as much as I like the expanse, unless Amazon corrects this mistake they won't see money from me either.

[rrinker]

 It figures.    I read Leviathan Wakes a few years ago, but only recently discovered the show. Probably heard it mentioned but didn't connect it - I don;t think the original edition of the book said anything about calling it the Expanse series. Almost through season 2 and damn, one more and done.

[bitwelder]

Fear not, Bezos signed the deal to keep making one of his favorite shows: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/expanse-officially-revived-season-4-at-amazon-1115160
(And there is the moment of the announcement: https://youtu.be/uqBEIyG0Dp8 )