Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Expanse episodes ‘The Big Empty’ (S1, Ep2), ‘Safe’ (S2, Ep1), ‘The Seventh Man’ (S2, Ep7), ‘Immolation’ (S3, Ep6), ‘Intransigence’ (S3, Ep9), ‘Dandelion Sky’ (S3, Ep10), ‘Guagamela’ (S5, Ep4), and ‘Tribes’ (S5, Ep6).This article deals with abuse and trauma. We’d encourage anyone affected by the subject matter to make use of the resources offered by the UK charity Mind.
During the early episodes of The Expanse, Amos Burton (played by Wes Chatham) is portrayed as the resident muscle; Canterbury’s hardened mechanic who is unafraid of violence. In the second episode of the first season (‘The Big Empty’), Amos threatens to throw James Holden (Stephen Strait) out of an airlock for putting them all in danger:
“I can take a core apart and put it back together with my eyes closed. But ask me whether or not I should rip your helmet off and kick you off this bucket, and I couldn’t give you a reason why I should or shouldn’t. Except Naomi wouldn’t like it.”
However, as the series progresses, we learn more about his backstory and discover that Amos is not merely a psychotic thug. Instead, Amos is a survivor of child abuse, who is striving to overcome the mental trauma.
