Ep 13. Abaddon's Gate

The Expanse season 3 episode 13, titled "Abaddon's Gate," marks the finale of the third season of the show. The episode picks up from where the last episode left off, with the Ring Station opening and thousands of ships pouring out into its space. Each ship is carrying a person, and they all have their own agenda. As this occurs, Holden, the Rocinante crew, and the Behemoth are targeted by an unknown entity that's inside the Ring.

The episode showcases the massive scale of the Ring, with brilliant visuals and excellent effects. The chaotic nature of the situation, coupled with the various factions and their objective, effectively showcase how little control anyone has over the situation. The stakes are higher than ever, and the characters' survival is up in the air.

As the Rocinante gets closer and closer to the Ring, they discover that their ship is being compromised by an external force. It's a pulse that impacts the crew, who begin to rapidly age. It's a ticking time bomb that could kill everyone onboard- unless they can solve the problem. Meanwhile, Holden, Naomi, and Alex try to reach the ship's missile systems to ensure that they can defend themselves if will be necessary.

In the Behemoth, Captain Ashford and Drummer are attempting to keep the ship alive while also avoiding the oncoming debris. Christjen Avasarala is doing her best to broker peace amongst the various factions while trying to prevent war. She finds herself in a desperate situation: her peace talks are on the brink of collapsing, and she is threatened by the enemy she thought she had defeated.

The show's themes are at its forefront, with the emphasis on unity and individuals coming together to face a common adversary. The tension is palpable throughout, and the stakes are higher than ever. As the situation worsens, the Rocinante's crew must make some significant decisions. Meanwhile, Avasarala learns the truth about the enemy lurking in the shadows, and it's a shocking revelation that puts everything in a different light.

As the show heads towards its conclusion, "Abaddon's Gate" shows how every little decision has led to this point and every choice from the characters, both small and significant, will dictate the future. The episode's climax is thrilling, and it's some of the best television of the season. Its final moments will leave the audience waiting eagerly for what comes next.

The episode marks the end of a spectacular and heart-stopping season of The Expanse, delivering a satisfying conclusion while also opening a variety of options for the future. The show has always been brilliant, and this episode showcases everything that makes it great: the characters, the world-building, the visuals, and above all the story only get better. An incredible season finale that will have watchers on their toes until the final second.