By Jonathan Klotz | Updated
The extent is one of the greatest sci-fi shows of all time, and it only gets better with age, as nothing released in the last decade can touch its unique blend of drama, politics, action, world building and the greatest ship physics depicted on screen. . It also became the most recent flashpoint in the ongoing battle between streaming services and audiences when Amazon casually revealed in different regions that the first three seasons would be removed from Amazon Prime. The worst-case scenario isn’t happening yet, but it reminds us how easy it is for the greatest of shows to disappear forever.
The Expanse is one of the greatest science fiction shows
Adapted from the bestselling novels by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, written jointly under the name James SA Corey, The extent introduced viewers to a world of space colonization, uneasy peace, and the mystery of a missing girl who ends up changing the fate of humanity forever. By embracing hard science fiction in a way few shows have done, it became a cult favorite, but the ratings on SyFy remained abysmal, prompting Amazon to pick it up after season 3. This led fans to think that the series was sure since Amazon produced the second half of the series would surely still have a place on Amazon Prime, but that’s not happening.
The extent is shot in specific regions and languages, including Germany and the United Kingdom, and it varies from the first three seasons produced by SyFy to the entire series. Although it is still broadcast in most regions and languages, the outcry over the mere idea of the series being removed has ignited a firestorm among fans, and rightly so, which even reached the authors, Abraham himself. -even went to Amazon to ask what was. event. They may not have the fan base of Star Wars, Star Trek or even Stargate, but don’t doubt the dedication of The extent fans, who collected answers about the fate of the series.
Any show could disappear forever
Today it is The extentbut tomorrow it could be any other series, like the countless other SyFy shows, including Eureka, Warehouse 13Or Sanctuarywhich end up disappearing from all streaming services forever. Even Battlestar Galactica went through a period where it was difficult to find digitally. Physical media has been abandoned by most studios, forcing fans to rely on the whims of streaming services, but at least with a DVD or Blu-Ray you don’t have to worry about it becoming unwatchable. watch without warning.
As studios consolidate and the rights to various franchises become more and more obtuse, the chances of a show or movie slipping through the cracks and disappearing forever increase. Look at the complicated rights behind James Bond, who was part of MGM when Amazon bought the studio but continues to disappear from services, including Amazon Prime, sometimes as soon as a month after his arrival. If one of the most iconic franchises in cinematic history is impossible to stream from start to finish on a single service, what hope will there be? The extent do you have in the future?
Embrace physical media
Of course the answer is none, but fortunately, The extent has at least been released on DVD. Embracing physical media is the only way forward for fans who want to ensure access to their favorite shows and movies. It’s been this way for years, but with Blu-Rays disappearing from major retailers like Best Buy or Walmart and Warner Bros. Discovery pulling countless animated series from Max, the situation is going to get exponentially worse before it gets better.
That said, you should go stream The extent on Amazon Prime now and experience a sci-fi series better than anything Star Trek or Star Wars has produced in a decade. Then, if you ever want to relive that experience, track down the complete box set of the series, because that’s the only way to stop corporate greed from destroying art.
