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The Best Episodes of The Expanse Season 1

Every episode of The Expanse Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Expanse Season 1!

Binge this in 7h 29m•Peaking at 8.5/10

A thriller set two hundred years in the future following the case of a missing young woman who brings a hardened detective and a rogue ship's captain together in a race across the solar system

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Expanse Season 1 Episode 4 - CQB
    8.5/10(5384 votes)

    S1:E4

    Holden and crew find themselves in the middle of a desperate battle while still aboard the Martian battleship. Miller’s partner, Havelock, goes missing.

    Director:Jeff Woolnough
    Writers:Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby

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  2. The Expanse Season 1 Episode 8 - Salvage
    8.5/10(4444 votes)

    S1:E8

    A derelict vessel holds a potentially devastating secret. Holden and his crew cross paths with Miller on Eros. Avasarala receives bad news.

    Director:Bill Johnson
    Writers:Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby

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  3. The Expanse Season 1 Episode 10 - Leviathan Wakes
    8.5/10(4597 votes)

    S1:E10

    Avasarala uncovers a game-changing secret while the future of the human race might be in Holden and Miller's hands.

    Director:Terry McDonough
    Writers:Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby

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  4. The Expanse Season 1 Episode 9 - Critical Mass
    8.4/10(4337 votes)

    S1:E9

    Julie's origin story ends up revealing her trajectory. Holden and Miller work together as they take a look at a strange emergency happening on Eros.

    Director:Terry McDonough
    Writers:Naren Shankar, Robin Veith, Dan Nowak

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  5. The Expanse Season 1 Episode 3 - Remember the Cant
    7.8/10(5127 votes)

    S1:E3

    Holden and the crew are taken prisoner by the Martian Congressional Republic Navy. Miller deals with unhappy rioters. Avasarala plays politics and gets severely burned.

    Director:Jeff Woolnough
    Writers:Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby

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  6. The Expanse Season 1 Episode 6 - Rock Bottom
    7.7/10(4428 votes)

    S1:E6

    Miller gains valuable information from a hidden data cube. Holden and his crew learn their host’s agenda.

    Director:Rob Lieberman
    Writers:Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby

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  7. The Expanse Season 1 Episode 7 - Windmills
    7.7/10(4310 votes)

    S1:E7

    Holden and his crew face a Martian military blockade. Miller finds a new reason to forge ahead. Avasarala visits Holden’s family.

    Director:Bill Johnson
    Writers:Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby

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  8. The Expanse Season 1 Episode 5 - Back to the Butcher
    7.6/10(4588 votes)

    S1:E5

    Holden finds an unlikely ally. Miller’s obsession with Mao intensifies.

    Director:Rob Lieberman
    Writers:Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby

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  9. The Expanse Season 1 Episode 1 - Dulcinea
    7.5/10(6610 votes)

    S1:E1

    In the outer solar system near Saturn, James Holden and the crew of the ice-freighter Canterbury, investigate a distress call from a mysterious derelict ship, the Scopuli. On Ceres Station, Detective Miller begins an off the book investigation of a missing heiress, Julie Mao.

    Director:Terry McDonough
    Writers:Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby

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  10. The Expanse Season 1 Episode 2 - The Big Empty
    7.5/10(5429 votes)

    S1:E2

    Holden and crew are trapped in badly damaged shuttle. On Ceres, Miller uncovers clues about Julie Mao. On Earth, Chrisjen Avasarala questions a terrorist.

    Director:Terry McDonough
    Writers:Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"CQB" is the best rated episode of "The Expanse" season 1. It scored 8.5/10 based on 5384 votes. Directed by Jeff Woolnough and written by Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, it aired on 12/29/2015. This episode is rated 0.0 points higher than the second-best, "Salvage".