Season 1, Episode 3:
Remember the Cant
Holden's broadcast inflames an already-tense situation on Ceres, and Miller tries to deal with the consequences while continuing his search for Julie Mao. Meanwhile, the survivors of the Canterbury are interrogated by the Martian Navy. On Earth, Avasarala tries to determine whether Mars is trying to start a war.
Tropes:
- Adaptation Expansion: The Canterbury survivors spend much more time on the Donnager than they did in the book.
- Backstory: As a result of the Martian interrogations, we get more of Holden's backstory, some crucial highlights from Naomi's and Alex's, a crucial lowlight from Shed's, and absolutely nothing about Amos.
- Batman Gambit: Avasarala leaks just enough information to the UN ambassador to Mars to get him to send a panicked message to the Martian government and deduces from their reaction that they weren't behind the destruction of the Canterbury.
- Chekhov's Skill: Subverted. Havelock spends a while practicing conciliatory gestures and Belter slang with Gia; when the time comes to use it at the end of the episode, it doesn't help at all.
- Evil Costume Switch: Invoked; Alex is allowed to clean himself up and even given a Martian uniform, ostensibly as a sign of respect for his long service but more likely to make the survivors suspicious about each other.
- Hope Spot: The riot on Ceres appears to have burnt out, then Havelock is ambushed.
- Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Havelock is held up against the wall and a bolt fired into his chest.
- Living Lie Detector: The Martian interrogator takes a drug at the beginning of each session which seems to make him one of these, by enhancing his senses so he can pick up on physical tells.
- The Missionary: A Mormon missionary tries to convince Havelock and Miller that his meetings will be funny. Havelock pretends to believe him in order to prank their captain.
- Mysterious Past: Amos is the only Canterbury survivor who doesn't give away anything about where he came from.
- Platonic Prostitution: Havelock pays for the time he spends with Gia, even though no sex is involved.
- Pragmatic Hero: Avasarala is willing to destroy the career of a man she's known since she was a child in order to prevent war.
- Rats in a Box: First the Martians interrogate the Canterbury survivors separately, then put them together in the same room, having planted the seeds of doubt about each other.
- Red Herring: As of the end of the previous episode, it looked like the Martians were behind everything. This episode makes it clear that they're just as clueless as everyone else.
- Silent Credits: A variation; after Havelock is left for dead, we only hear the murmur of the crowd and Canned Orders over Loudspeaker announcing the curfew.
- That One Case: Julie's disappearance is clearly becoming Miller's One Case, especially when he keeps poking around after Captain Shaddid calls it closed.
- Too Qualified to Apply: Naomi is vastly overqualified to be an ice miner, which is why she's assumed to be an OPA sleeper agent.
