Ep 5. Triple Point

In The Expanse season 3 episode 5, titled "Triple Point," tensions between the Rocinante's crew and the rogue Martian Marine bobble convoy reach a boiling point as both groups race to retrieve a protomolecule sample from a destroyed science vessel, now adrift in space.

The episode opens with the Rocinante intercepting a transmission from an unknown source, offering to sell a protomolecule sample recovered from the wreckage of the Arboghast - the science vessel that was investigating the protomolecule on Venus in season 2. Desperate to get their hands on the sample before it falls into the wrong hands, Holden and his crew head towards the coordinates provided in the transmission.

Meanwhile, the Martian Marine bobble convoy, led by Lt. Sutton, is also on the hunt for the protomolecule sample. The convoy, which consists of two military ships and a handful of smaller craft, has gone rogue and is no longer under the control of the Martian government. They're determined to return the protomolecule to Mars and use it to gain an advantage in the brewing war with Earth and the Belt.

As the Rocinante closes in on the science vessel, they're ambushed by the Martian convoy. A tense standoff ensues as both sides demand the protomolecule sample and threaten to use force to get it. Holden tries to reason with Sutton, but the Marine is determined to complete her mission at any cost.

Things come to a head when another ship arrives on the scene, piloted by a mysterious faction with their own interest in the protomolecule. The newcomers unleash a surprise attack on both the Rocinante and the Martian convoy, setting off a chain of events that threatens to tear the entire operation apart.

As the situation escalates, each member of the Rocinante crew is forced to confront their loyalties and decide where their allegiances lie. With the protomolecule once again in play, the fate of the solar system hangs in the balance.

"Triple Point" is a tense, action-packed episode that explores the complex web of alliances and rivalries that define the world of The Expanse. As always, the show does an excellent job of balancing fast-paced action sequences with moments of quiet introspection and introspection. The arrival of the new faction raises intriguing questions about the larger forces at play in the series, setting the stage for even more exciting developments in the episodes to come.