The Expanse Gives Filip Inaros A Better Ending Than The Books

Amazon’s The Expanse TV show mostly stays faithful to the books, but a change to Filip Inaros’ story affords him a stronger ending in live-action.

The Expanse season 6 is working toward an improved ending for Filip Inaros compared to the original books. In terms of book-to-TV adaptations, The Expanse is more faithful than most. Rarely does the Amazon series ruffle feathers by making major deviations from the source material, and most changes The Expanse does enforce prove wholly justified – such as expanded roles for Chrisjen Avasarala and Camina Drummer. The broad strokes of Filip’s journey represent one of The Expanse‘s more authentic storylines. Raised and indoctrinated by his dad, Marco Inaros, Filip begins The Expanse as a loyal Free Navy officer who despises his mother. A maternal reunion in season 5 shakes Filip’s beliefs, coaxing out his inner Naomi and gradually pushing father and son apart.

Filip Inaros’ mental turmoil expands in The Expanse season 6. As the guilt of mass murder weighed on his mind, Filip shot his own best friend during a drunken bar scuffle. Then after the Rocinante defeated the Pella, Marco blamed the loss solely on his son’s gunnery skills – even though Filip fired precisely when Marco gave the order. Both events continue to persuade Filip against Marco, and both also adapt key moments from the teenager’s downward spiral in The Expanse‘s sixth novel, Babylon’s Ashes.

Related: Will The Rocinante Crew Break Up After The Expanse Season 6?

But The Expanse season 6 adds an important new subplot that makes Filip’s gradual souring toward Marco Inaros more impactful than in the books. Mirroring James S.A. Corey’s Babylon’s Ashes, The Expanse season 6 sees Marco Inaros controversially abandon Ceres Station and its people, stripping and ransacking every square inch as his forces depart. In the books, the docks and water supplies have already been blown up when Earth and Mars take control of the station, but this is where Amazon’s TV adaptation takes a detour. In the live-action narrative, the dock explosions occur after the good guys have established their presence on Ceres Station. Almost 1000 Belters die in the aftermath, and many Free Navy soldiers – Filip included – believe the Inners are responsible.

After leaving Ceres, Filip befriends a TV-only character named Tadeo, who The Expanse season 6, episode 5 (“Why We Fight”) reveals planted the Ceres dock bombs on Marco Inaros’ order. Filip is aghast, firstly that his father would take the lives of 1000 Belters he promised to protect just to gain a slight strategic advantage, and secondly because the entire operation was kept secret from him. Whereas book-Filip turned against his father due to a string of nagging frustrations, The Expanse TV series places more focus on the Ceres dock explosion, giving Filip a clearer, more emotive “final straw” compared to the source material. The addition of Tadeo demonstrates how Filip is more in touch with everyday Belters than his old man, and his shock at the bombing draws a moral line in the sand between father and son. Filip’s motivations become more pronounced, and Marco seems all the more evil for his duplicity.

Changing why Filip has a change of heart could mean The Expanse plans to alter how the character finally pushes back against Marco Inaros. In Corey’s novels, Filip experiences an epiphany and simply refuses to return to his father’s side, slinking off elsewhere to start a new life. Discovering the truth behind Ceres’ bombing, however, live-action Filip may not be in such a passive-aggressive mood. Perhaps he’ll expose Marco’s crimes against Ceres, or leak the truth to Drummer. Or – if he’s feeling really brave – Filip may prove instrumental in helping his long-lost mother and her Rocinante crew take Marco Inaros down for good.

More: What The Expanse’s Borrowed Game Of Thrones Quote Means For Season 6

The Expanse season 6 concludes Friday on Amazon Prime.

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