The continuous discord about fandoms being the sole drivers of inclusion for romance in TV is both tiring and frustrating. As a fundamental part of our daily lives, romance is inarguably the most realistic part of any show and film, especially in genre television. Simultaneously, this idea that we should solely let men and women be friends boils down to internalized misogyny that comes from the old-decade viewpoints that women care about romance and only romance. Yet, both in the books and the show, The Expanse features one of the steadiest depictions of a love story.
The series relies heavily on the characters to move the plot forward, and we’re also of the firm opinion that it’s one of the few shows to address character arcs for complex women admirably. At the same time, the show needed Jim Holden and Naomi Nagata’s love to keep the steadiness aboard the Rocinante. In more ways than one, they were the heart of the crew. There was never a question about whether or not they would make it to the end because their love has been a vital part of the characters’ journeys.
The Expanse Ensured That Jim and Naomi Were Always an Example
Because of the way shows pan out these days, it’s effortless to look back and remember that Jim and Naomi make it through to the end. Nowadays, with any given fantasy, my trust issues are through the roof because writers seem to think keeping relationships platonic is the more prestigious way to go. There’s an odd belief that in any sort of circle, men and women should remain solely friends and wanting them together is some sort of a fandom niche no one outside of the internet would want. And the people who often suffer from this mindset are generally the show’s leads, which is a whole other story.
Still, The Expanse gives us the kind of romance that’s so strong and so full of adoration that even when they spend episodes apart, you never doubt their loyalty to one another. You don’t question whether the show could pull them apart just because it needs to keep the drama in the show fresh or some other odd excuse that simply makes very little sense.
It’s a rarity in the genre when even Star Wars doesn’t have a single steady relationship without one-half of the couple dying at the end of the franchise. It’s as though the addition of romance will somehow tarnish the grittiness of the genre when it actually elevates it. The Expanse writers often understood that internal tension would make the darker storylines of planets at war with each other far more compelling. It put together two people who should’ve been on opposite sides of the battle, and it kept them together with the intention of allowing both characters to evolve and grow into the best versions of themselves.
Both the book series and Prime Video’s adaptation understood the vitality of having Jim and Naomi together to the very end. Instead of wasting time with petty arguments that only cause unnecessary stakes, the series allowed them to consistently communicate and move forward with their issues like adults. The show wasn’t about them entirely—The Expanse wasn’t a romance, but the love story it perfected to the very end meant we got an added bonus to prove that a series can still be gritty and dark even when there’s a prevailing relationship. It can still be a sensational gift with unfailingly great writing, acting, and directing, even when there’s a love story that orbits around the story and enriches every arc with far more joy and heart.