Critical Mass - The Expanse S1 Ep9 Review: Julie's Journey, Political Intrigue, and a Shocking Cliffhanger
Release Date: 01/09/2026
The Expanse S2E9 “The Weeping Somnambulist” Chrissy Meets Bobbie, Venus Revelations & Moral Fallout
JKL Media Podcast
-JKL Media Reviews discusses The Expanse Season 2 Episode 9, “The Weeping Somnambulist,” highlighting the first on-screen interaction between Chrisjen Avasarala and Bobbie Draper during tense UN–Mars talks after the Ganymede incident. They note Martians struggling with Earth’s gravity, sun, and open sky, Avasarala’s sharp interrogation style, Bobbie’s loyalty despite slipping key details, and growing suspicion that the official story is incomplete. The hosts also cover the Venus investigation aboard the Arbogast, where escalating anomalies and debate over extraterrestrial life...
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Episode Review: “Pyre” — Power Plays, Secrets, and Survival
JKL Media Podcast
Karen, Jesse, and Lou discuss “Pyre” (season 2, episode 8; 18th overall; aired March 15, 2017), calling it a tense, transitional chapter largely set on Tycho. They break down Amos’s unsettling behavior and friction with Alex, noting hints tied to a Baltimore connection and a family photo, while Lou avoids spoilers about his larger arc. They highlight Prax’s tragic introduction, the loss of refugees, and the shocking spacing of a woman close to him, plus the hopeful clue that his daughter may still be alive and connected to Dr. Strickland. The hosts debate extremist faction tactics,...
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Favorite Series Finales (Special One-Off)
JKL Media Podcast
In this special one-off episode, Karen, Lou, and Jesse share and discuss their favorite series finales, noting how difficult it is to stick the landing and how subjective endings can be. Each host brings three picks (plus honorable mentions), with a little overlap, and they break down what made these finales work—emotional payoff, character growth, callbacks to earlier seasons, and satisfying closure—while also debating the value of weekly viewing versus today’s streaming model. They also mention a few divisive or disappointing endings, trade recommendations across genres (including...
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The Expanse S2E7 “The Seventh Man” | Manipulation, Belter Politics & Bobby’s Debrief
JKL Media Podcast
On the latest JKL Media podcast, Lou and co-hosts Karen and Jesse discuss The Expanse Season 2, Episode 7, “The Seventh Man,” praising its density, character work, and political tension. They focus on Anderson Dawes’ return, his Belter accent and crowd-manipulation, and how he probes Holden, Naomi, and Diogo to gain leverage—especially by getting pointed toward Cortazar and the protomolecule. The crew debates Fred Johnson’s plan to return stolen missiles to Earth as a manufactured gesture of goodwill and notes rising strain between Holden and Naomi over Belter politics. They...
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The Running Man (2025) Review
JKL Media Podcast
Edgar Wright’s Stephen King Adaptation Ranked In this Stephen King podcast episode, Lou, Jesse, and Karen review Edgar Wright’s 2025 film adaptation of The Running Man, comparing it to the 1987 movie and discussing how its lighter “popcorn thriller” tone affects the story’s darker authoritarian-media satire. They praise elements of the premise—an impoverished near-future U.S. ruled by “The Network,” where contestants run for 30 days for a billion-dollar prize—along with the social commentary on desensitization to violence, reality-TV spectacle, deepfakes, and manipulation....
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The Expanse S2E6 “Paradigm Shift” Review | Epstein Drive Origins, Naomi’s Secret & Ganymede Horror
JKL Media Podcast
JKL Media Reviews discusses The Expanse Season 2 Episode 6, “Paradigm Shift,” as a transitional reset that moves the show into the next book’s storyline. The hosts debate the unexpected Epstein Drive flashback and how its invention reshaped Mars, then dig into rising tension on the Rocinante: Alex and Amos clash, the crew jokes about Holden and Naomi’s relationship, and Naomi secretly keeps protomolecule data while making Holden think it was destroyed. On Tycho, Fred Johnson and Drummer reveal they diverted missing missiles, raising questions about power and deterrence. On Mars,...
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The Expanse S2E5 "Home" Podcast Review | Miller & Julie’s Tragic, Beautiful Ending
JKL Media Podcast
JKL Media Podcast returns after a week off and reviews “Home,” The Expanse Season 2 Episode 5 (aired Feb. 22, 2017), which also completes the first book’s arc. Jesse, Lou, and Karen call the episode tragically beautiful, focusing on the poignant finale of Miller and Julie, the reveal that Julie’s longing for home drives Eros, and Miller’s redemption in steering Eros to Venus, raising new questions about the protomolecule’s future. They note the Rossi’s high-G chase and crew cohesion, Holden’s role in earning trust from Fred Johnson and Chrisjen Avasarala, Mars refusing to help,...
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The Expanse - Season Two Episode 4 "Godspeed" — Eros Moves & Holden’s Hard Call
JKL Media Podcast
JKL Media breaks down The Expanse season 2, episode 4, “Godspeed,” an hour where political maneuvering, moral compromise, and cosmic terror collide. We follow three major threads: Avasarala quietly weaponizing Fred Johnson’s intel to expose a stealth ship and tighten the net around Jules‑Pierre Mao; Miller convincing Tycho to launch the Nauvoo on a one‑way mission to shove Eros into the sun; and Holden facing the weight of command when he personally fires on the Marasmus to keep the protomolecule from spreading. As Miller and Diogo race to plant charges on Eros, debris, countdowns,...
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Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (2025) Review — Who Is This Movie For?
JKL Media Podcast
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (2025) Review — Who Is This Movie For? Host Jesse Jackson welcomes Lou and Karen for a JKL Media tie-in discussion of the 2025 film "Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere," directed by Scott Cooper and based on Warren Zanes’ book about the making of Bruce Springsteen’s "Nebraska." They praise Jeremy Allen White’s performance as Springsteen and Jeremy Strong’s portrayal of manager Jon Landau, but debate who the movie is meant for—hardcore fans versus casual viewers—given its quiet focus on depression, trauma, and the Nebraska era rather than the...
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Unveiling 'The Expanse': Season 2, Episode 3 - Static
JKL Media Podcast
Hosted by Lou, alongside Jesse and Karen, the episode review highlights significant plot points, character arcs, and intricate relationships. The team discusses pivotal moments such as Miller's drastic actions against Dresden, the strategic tensions between Earth and Mars, and the burgeoning dynamic between Naomi and Drummer. They analyze Miller's psychological journey and the moral complexities of key characters like Christian and Amos. Additionally, they speculate on the next steps to tackle the proto-molecule threat and the fate of the Nauvoo spaceship. The episode features a blend of...
info_outlineIn this episode of JKL Media Reviews, Karen, Jesse, and Lou dive deep into 'Critical Mass,' the penultimate episode of The Expanse Season 1. The hosts dissect Julie's backstory, her tragic fate, and her connection with various key characters. They explore the implications of the bio-weapon, the sinister experiments on Eros, and the relentless political machinations. The discussion also touches on Christian's moral complexities, the evolving dynamics among the Rocinante crew, and the shocking cliffhanger that leaves Holden and Miller in a life-threatening situation. Join the conversation as they unravel the episode's mysteries and foreshadow the explosive season finale.