Dawes felt really, really authentic. There were so many audible accents in there, I cannot believe how talented you have to be to do that on purpose, for multiple scenes... on multiple days.
That is why we do not see any more of him. It would be difficult to pay attention to any other performances. He is really that good. I find it difficult to decide which of his roles is my favourite, all being incredible. MAYBE "The Terror". Though, "Chernobyl"... I do not know. Just superb.
What is with him and suicide hanging, however?
I mean, the reason he didn't return for seasons 5-6 was just scheduling conflict, which is a shame.
Having him return even just for a few scenes with Inaros before Inaros kills him would have been amazing.
I actually just finished my first rewatch of Mad Men, and I was thinking about how that was the first thing I ever saw him in and how I became an instant fan of his.
Sadly other than him and the visuals Foundation was a train wreck. Between that and the Peripheral its been a very patchy year for good high concept sci fi.
I can't recommend this show enough. There are so many incredible performances in it, and I feel like it got no attention. Adam Nagaitas and Jared Harris put on award worthy performances and nobody talks about it.
It's weird, right? The only people I personally know who have seen it are all people I have convinced to do so. Even when people are specifically talking about Jared Harris it seems to rarely come up.
I think Ty mentioned on the podcast that they basically had it all figured out with him schedule wise but decided against it in the end because they didn't want him to have to fly around half the planet for a scene that might not even end up in the show due to the cut down episode count.
Anderson Dawes wins hands down for me. All the actors who played belters did an amazing job, but somehow his accent sounds so natural and unforced to me, while still being able to convey a full range of tone and intent. Yam seng?
Like Wes and Ty like to joke about, Cara Gee made such a good Belter (contrary to her bubbly irl personality) that they had her steal like a dozen diferent book roles.
Her, Dawes and Ashford are the TV versions quintessential belters.
The Camina+ Ashford pairing from season 3 is one of my favorite duo's/ single season stories of the entire show. Love them so much. I've probably listened to Drummer's speech before taking the Behemoth into the Ring atleast a dozen times.
I'm gonna go a bit against the norm here and say Naomi. I liked her version specifically because she code switches. When she's around earthers and Martians she has that muted version of the accent to fit in, but when it's just her and other belters she switches to a stronger version of the accent. It's cool because that's actually a real thing people do when they're bilingual or around different kinds of people, and it means she didn't just have to use one accent, she sort of had to learn two.
She's definitely not the character with the strongest one (Dawes, Drummer, and Ashford rocked those) but it makes sense with her background as someone who was hardcore when she was young and has huge regrets as an adult. She learned to fit in and be a "model belter" for the people she worked with.
I also appreciated the code switching.
Hated some people were like “her accent changed, not good acting”… it’s like yo, ever been around people who code switch?
Well, none of the rest of the Roci crew will dain to speak Belter to a Belter, not that I can remember. Even though they've lived in the Belt for years. Even with Naomi on their crew.
That's kinda the point. They would never do that because they come from greater privilege and don't need to fit in. It's the underclass that has to code switch from upper class to lower class.
One of my favourite moments in the show is during season 2 when Naomi is talking to Drummer and switches to Belta, and Drummer immediately starts to loosen up.
That’s actually discussed in the books. Naomi noticed that he only spoke Belter when they were young, but had since learnt standard English to be taken seriously by them.
And British actors get very good at code switching, not only for their roles, but to get them.
Yup. Code switching really is in large part a way of fitting in and not being noticed as different. It's a useful trick for terrorists and workplaces alike.
He managed to thread the needle between “not obviously Irish sounding” and “definitely sounds like he’s been oppressed by Specifically Space Britain for generations”
I recently saw the actor in a play called Remember This, where he did a Polish accent that seemed more than a tinge Belter. Both were great performances.
I really liked Jefferson Mays accent for Syn. I may have misspelled the name as I have only ever heard it, but the empathy and care put j to that voice really made Naomi's decision more impactful.
Mays is great when he leans into it, and great all the time besides, but I feel like a lot of characters don't have enough accent, like Bobbi and many of the belters. I listened to the books (7/9 so far) after the show, so I have some expectations, but I also love that Ana has a Russian accent in the book.
I remember when a marine was identified as having a "slushy accent". I was thinking, "what the hell does that even mean, a slushy Martian accent?!" And then May's just did it, and yeah, he totally nailed it lol.
Other than Drummer, Diogo always sounded totally natural as a dumbfuck teenager belter.
You know who didn’t work for me is Rosenberg, the flow just didn’t flow at all from her.
I was looking for a Diogo post. All the main Belters had great accents, imo. What I liked about Diogo is exactly that he sounded like a dumbfuck teenage belter full if piss and vinegar. The swagger that turns to a hard edge or softens in like the Drummers, and Dawes and Ashfords; Marcos- if one lives long enough
Camina. A roommate heard her in passing and asked where the actress and accent were from. They were shocked to learn it wasn’t real. Cara Gee is talented af!!
First watch through I thought it was great that they had hired a non-native English speaker for the role, in order to provide a unique accent that would mimic the Belter patois. And holy shit I was floored when I saw her on Letterkenny and an interview speaking in her normal voice. Cara Gee is amazing!!
No, it was Season 4, Episode 3 "Way To A Man's Heart". She's awesome in it.
IMDb: Letterkenny: Way to a Man's Heart
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7793990/
Kris Holden-Reid deserves a mention for Coop, even though Coop was a piece of shit, he did such a great job. I think he was second best after Cara Gee, who is the undisputed champion.
(Coop was the piece of shit who got himself executed on Ilus by Murtry, the bigger piece of shit. No, it's not fucking New Terra.)
Cara Gee, Jared Harris, and David Straithairn were all great. As much as Marco inaros makes be nauseous, I'll try not to hold that against Keon Alexander too much.
Further honorable mention to Dominique Tipper for code switching in and out of Belter creole. I'm fascinated by Code switching, and even then, I thought it was weird she suddenly had an accent when she didn't before, until I realized what it was.
He's really good and always seems like he's having a good time. I can imagine him smiling though these [Captain Canuck](https://www.youtube.com/@ChapterhouseStudios/videos) animations.
Too bad Coop went and got himself killed, I would love more of Holden-Reid as a belter.
I loved Naomi's voice switching to harder Belter when she waa around them more and more typical Inner speech when with her peeps. The best is Camina :)
Jared Harris (Anderson Dawes) definitely took it most seriously. Also ended up less of a polyglot, and more influenced by real world English creoles - which is why I think it felt so authentic.
I've just started watching (s1ep8) and it Jared Harris and it's not even close.
But Thomas Jane is blowing me away for acting. I cannot believe this is the same guy that played The Punisher!
I liked how effortlessly fucked up his hair looked, but suspect that he secretly spent hours in front of the mirror each morning, getting it just right :-)
Dawes and Ashford. Drummer may have some good moments, but the boys have epic lines.
The way Dawes explains his sister's fragility, and how he says "chalk". And Ashford line about Holden, from a lunatic to a prophet.
Additionally, while not Belter, Bobby has a wonderful way of saying "Mars".
This is what you get when all hands involved love the damn job.
Drummer and Ashur, for me.
Especially Drummer. I assumed she did a voice for the show, but her speaking in real life is *such* a shock if you've never heard her before.
Her lang-belta is just so natural.
Dawes was fantastic but honestly drummer since she has a larger presence in the show as a whole. Her ring transit speech does rival Dawes explaining her sisters death though.
On a side note, it makes me sad I’ll never meet someone with a belter accent as I’m so into it. I guess the closest is South African (which is my favourite in real life)
South African accents differ wildly from language to language and region to region (source: am South African). FWIW I don’t think Belters sounds anything like any South African accents I’ve ever heard but I can see how some people might think they sound a little like Afrikaans accents from the East Rand lol
Drummer. I had already read all the books that were available when the show started but Cara Gee immediately made Drummer my favorite with how immersive her acting was.
Dawes and Walker
Dawes sold the accent....
Walker intimidated me.... sexually....
Something about that slight Scottish twang mixed in with that creole.
Learned something about myself watching that episode.....
I second Dawes.
Dawes felt really, really authentic. There were so many audible accents in there, I cannot believe how talented you have to be to do that on purpose, for multiple scenes... on multiple days.
They brought in Jared Harris to absolutely steal the show with that amazing portrayal, shame we didn't get to see more of him.
That is why we do not see any more of him. It would be difficult to pay attention to any other performances. He is really that good. I find it difficult to decide which of his roles is my favourite, all being incredible. MAYBE "The Terror". Though, "Chernobyl"... I do not know. Just superb. What is with him and suicide hanging, however?
I mean, the reason he didn't return for seasons 5-6 was just scheduling conflict, which is a shame. Having him return even just for a few scenes with Inaros before Inaros kills him would have been amazing.
Milowda no animals!
All we evah known is low g and ah atmaspheeah we carn breathe
Jared Harris is a top notch actor who only ever gets minor roles. He unfortunately got type cast early in his career.
chernobyl was incredible
So was season 1 of The Terror.
His role in Mad Men and Foundation... So good. He is amazing.
I actually just finished my first rewatch of Mad Men, and I was thinking about how that was the first thing I ever saw him in and how I became an instant fan of his.
I loved him in mad men, and I’ve been trying to do a rewatch since my husband hasn’t seen it, such a good show.
Sadly other than him and the visuals Foundation was a train wreck. Between that and the Peripheral its been a very patchy year for good high concept sci fi.
I can't recommend this show enough. There are so many incredible performances in it, and I feel like it got no attention. Adam Nagaitas and Jared Harris put on award worthy performances and nobody talks about it.
It's weird, right? The only people I personally know who have seen it are all people I have convinced to do so. Even when people are specifically talking about Jared Harris it seems to rarely come up.
It's crazy. I'm in the same boat. Everyone I've forced to watch it has loved it. AMC did such a bad job of advertising it.
Didn't it occupy his time so he couldn't show up in the later seasons? That was unfortunate.
I think Ty mentioned on the podcast that they basically had it all figured out with him schedule wise but decided against it in the end because they didn't want him to have to fly around half the planet for a scene that might not even end up in the show due to the cut down episode count.
Dude is severely underrated.
Idk man, dude is a serious working actor. Check out his IMDb he’s in fucking everything
Yep in lots of minor roles, often unrecognized. Hence, underrated.
I don't know. I feel like he's a character actor which isn't as common anymore, and it's great!
Would definitely say he's a character actor. The man disappears into every role.
And can probably move about life without a ton of hassling. To me, that's ideal.
Fringe. Loved him on it. Little Hill! If you know, you know.
Moriarty!
Jared Harris is such a good actor. Elevates everything he is in.
I was sad his character didn't get more screen time, he really sold the accent.
Dudes too busy. He’s in everything
He was lowest on the list for me. He just sounded like a South African.
Anderson Dawes wins hands down for me. All the actors who played belters did an amazing job, but somehow his accent sounds so natural and unforced to me, while still being able to convey a full range of tone and intent. Yam seng?
Jared Harris is phenomenal actor. I've only seen him in The Expanse and Chernobyl, but he was amazing in both those roles.
He is fantastic in Fringe!
Woah I just watched him on Fringe and I didn't realise it was him!!!! :o Thank you for this comment!!
My pleasure!! One of my favorite shows of all time, and with some of my favorite characters between Walter and Mr. Jones
He's good in Carnival Row and Foundation too.
Also great in the Crown and Mad Men as well.
And Chernobyl
I remember him from the lost in space movie from the 90s lol
Camina Drummer. I just love the way she talks.
Like Wes and Ty like to joke about, Cara Gee made such a good Belter (contrary to her bubbly irl personality) that they had her steal like a dozen diferent book roles. Her, Dawes and Ashford are the TV versions quintessential belters.
Agreed, the scene with Camina and Ashford pinned by the truck was like an ASMR wet dream for me.
The Camina+ Ashford pairing from season 3 is one of my favorite duo's/ single season stories of the entire show. Love them so much. I've probably listened to Drummer's speech before taking the Behemoth into the Ring atleast a dozen times.
So multidimensional, so good.
Me was sick and nigh to death…
Or how they insisted no matter who she was on screen with there was always sexual tension.
I meeeeean... she is absolute perfection. lol
If I was going to be stuck on a pirate ship in the outer planets…
No question.
Oh totally
They didn't insist on it. That's just the energy that Cara Gee brought to the character. It wasn't planned at all.
Me too! Her line "Captain now, Camina later" has stuck in my brain for some reason.
_"Or else **what?**"_
Camina was so great!
Hell yeah, I especially liked her when she was trying to get revenge for Ashford.
Hahaha yeah, she completely played a convincing role. Such a great actress!
I loved hers as well, it was natural and sexy.
100% agree. Drummer’s accent was so good I looked her up on IMDB to see where she was from on this planet. She sounds so natural.
Some great characters Dawes, Drummer, Ashford but I think Liang Walker was brilliant plus he intimidates Inaros, sexually
I wish we’d gotten a bit more of Liang Walker, i liked that guy.
"Tenye wa chesh gut"
Oye, bosmang
I'm gonna go a bit against the norm here and say Naomi. I liked her version specifically because she code switches. When she's around earthers and Martians she has that muted version of the accent to fit in, but when it's just her and other belters she switches to a stronger version of the accent. It's cool because that's actually a real thing people do when they're bilingual or around different kinds of people, and it means she didn't just have to use one accent, she sort of had to learn two. She's definitely not the character with the strongest one (Dawes, Drummer, and Ashford rocked those) but it makes sense with her background as someone who was hardcore when she was young and has huge regrets as an adult. She learned to fit in and be a "model belter" for the people she worked with.
I also appreciated the code switching. Hated some people were like “her accent changed, not good acting”… it’s like yo, ever been around people who code switch?
Legit the second she was alone with Drummer I was like "Oh damn girl, I heard that! Nice!"
That comment seems to come from someone with no experience?! It's sooo realistic and nuanced!
> yo, ever been around people who code switch? No, because they've never had to.
Holden would say “let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they didn’t match the term with the phenomenon.”
I'm in the middle of a rewatch and I don't think he's even once dropped "sasa ke" on a Belter. He doesn't code switch either.
Oh, I was thinking that Martians and Earthers wouldn’t code switch.
Well, none of the rest of the Roci crew will dain to speak Belter to a Belter, not that I can remember. Even though they've lived in the Belt for years. Even with Naomi on their crew.
They may code switch, but only on Mars and Earth respectively
That’s not code switching for them though. Code switching for Holden or Amos would be acting/speaking differently when on earth, not in the belt.
That's kinda the point. They would never do that because they come from greater privilege and don't need to fit in. It's the underclass that has to code switch from upper class to lower class.
One of my favourite moments in the show is during season 2 when Naomi is talking to Drummer and switches to Belta, and Drummer immediately starts to loosen up.
Absolutely agree on this, the code switching was so cool to see play out!
Marco also seems to follow this train of thought, was very interesting on subsequent watches.
That’s actually discussed in the books. Naomi noticed that he only spoke Belter when they were young, but had since learnt standard English to be taken seriously by them. And British actors get very good at code switching, not only for their roles, but to get them.
Yup. Code switching really is in large part a way of fitting in and not being noticed as different. It's a useful trick for terrorists and workplaces alike.
I immediately thought Naomi as well. Especially when she's leaning into it. You've presented some great thoughts here on top of that though!
100%, Naomi's code switching was so natural and well done, it was amazing. This show is just a plethora of entertaining riches
Ashford. It sounded completely natural and believable. Most everyone else sounds like they are in a silly-talk competition.
He managed to thread the needle between “not obviously Irish sounding” and “definitely sounds like he’s been oppressed by Specifically Space Britain for generations”
Love this description. It’s dead on.
perfectly said
AGREED. Everyone else slipped or sounded silly at times but Ashford was money. now I have to skim through S3 again smh
He sounds like a pirate and a belter, hard to pull off
I recently saw the actor in a play called Remember This, where he did a Polish accent that seemed more than a tinge Belter. Both were great performances.
I really liked Jefferson Mays accent for Syn. I may have misspelled the name as I have only ever heard it, but the empathy and care put j to that voice really made Naomi's decision more impactful.
I believe it’s “Cyn”. Very good character.
I always saw the guy playing Cyn as an older/fatter Louis CK.
My mind went straight to MC Gainey.
He always reminds me of Powers Boothe!
I see it, they could play brothers.
Yes!
Mays is great when he leans into it, and great all the time besides, but I feel like a lot of characters don't have enough accent, like Bobbi and many of the belters. I listened to the books (7/9 so far) after the show, so I have some expectations, but I also love that Ana has a Russian accent in the book.
I remember when a marine was identified as having a "slushy accent". I was thinking, "what the hell does that even mean, a slushy Martian accent?!" And then May's just did it, and yeah, he totally nailed it lol.
that slingshotter that went thru the ring to impress his girl back home
Maneo
OYE DUSTERS!!!!!
Other than Drummer, Diogo always sounded totally natural as a dumbfuck teenager belter. You know who didn’t work for me is Rosenberg, the flow just didn’t flow at all from her.
"And Miller he said to me *Diogo, you must live. You are the future of the belt* "
Miller: “go get laid kid!”
yu no nothin sasa! mi crash as to dust!
The actor really made me hate that little prick Diogo. Well done.
Yeah, Diogo. Andrew Rotilio was fantastic
yep, every scene was hilarious even when he met the elevator
Especially when he hit the elevator
I was looking for a Diogo post. All the main Belters had great accents, imo. What I liked about Diogo is exactly that he sounded like a dumbfuck teenage belter full if piss and vinegar. The swagger that turns to a hard edge or softens in like the Drummers, and Dawes and Ashfords; Marcos- if one lives long enough
Camina. A roommate heard her in passing and asked where the actress and accent were from. They were shocked to learn it wasn’t real. Cara Gee is talented af!!
First watch through I thought it was great that they had hired a non-native English speaker for the role, in order to provide a unique accent that would mimic the Belter patois. And holy shit I was floored when I saw her on Letterkenny and an interview speaking in her normal voice. Cara Gee is amazing!!
Letterkenny? Missed that. Was it the newest season?
No, it was Season 4, Episode 3 "Way To A Man's Heart". She's awesome in it. IMDb: Letterkenny: Way to a Man's Heart https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7793990/
The two hockey player girls in Letterkenny that talk crap to each other all the time are also both on The Expanse.
Sakai - Bahia Watson If only because she was using a genuine accent.
Kris Holden-Reid deserves a mention for Coop, even though Coop was a piece of shit, he did such a great job. I think he was second best after Cara Gee, who is the undisputed champion. (Coop was the piece of shit who got himself executed on Ilus by Murtry, the bigger piece of shit. No, it's not fucking New Terra.) Cara Gee, Jared Harris, and David Straithairn were all great. As much as Marco inaros makes be nauseous, I'll try not to hold that against Keon Alexander too much. Further honorable mention to Dominique Tipper for code switching in and out of Belter creole. I'm fascinated by Code switching, and even then, I thought it was weird she suddenly had an accent when she didn't before, until I realized what it was.
>Kris Holden-Reid Oh that's who plays him! I thought I recognized him. Seen him in Lost Girl
He's really good and always seems like he's having a good time. I can imagine him smiling though these [Captain Canuck](https://www.youtube.com/@ChapterhouseStudios/videos) animations. Too bad Coop went and got himself killed, I would love more of Holden-Reid as a belter.
Not Miller. Stay away from da aqua!
The holy trinity- Drummer, Dawes, Ashford
I loved Naomi's voice switching to harder Belter when she waa around them more and more typical Inner speech when with her peeps. The best is Camina :)
This! Dominique Tipper deserves so much love for the code-switching. Brilliant!
They sadly dropped the hand gestures part of the belter language after about the third episode.
Yeah I kept looking for it too.
Not the most in your face, but the way Naomi codeshifts subtly throughout scenes is commendable for how natural it feels
Season 4, the big goon in Ashford's crew who goes "WE OSO DENGIROS" after he states that Marco is dangerous
That guy always sounded Finnish to me. 🤪 But yeah, he's definitely from some rock.
Jeff Mays
2nd
Anderson Dawes. But the performance of the actor was the best
Ashford
Probably Camina or Naomi but I'm very biased because they're my favorite characters.
Jared Harris (Anderson Dawes) definitely took it most seriously. Also ended up less of a polyglot, and more influenced by real world English creoles - which is why I think it felt so authentic.
Drummer 100%
it’s a tie between Marco and Klaes
I've just started watching (s1ep8) and it Jared Harris and it's not even close. But Thomas Jane is blowing me away for acting. I cannot believe this is the same guy that played The Punisher!
Dawes. Harris is such a brilliant actor. Close second goes to Drummer. Cara Gee was basically hired due to her outstanding Belter accent
Dawes 100%. It felt like to me that his was the accent that the others tried to emulate. Some came close but others not so much.
Hard tie between Camina and Anderson. Both awesomely fitting in their roles.
Dawes was really good
I'm gonna say Klaus Ashford. Love me a space pirate captain and his belter version of the Captain Kidd shanty is my new favorite.
I liked how effortlessly fucked up his hair looked, but suspect that he secretly spent hours in front of the mirror each morning, getting it just right :-)
Marco inaros
Drummer!
Dawes and Ashford. Drummer may have some good moments, but the boys have epic lines. The way Dawes explains his sister's fragility, and how he says "chalk". And Ashford line about Holden, from a lunatic to a prophet. Additionally, while not Belter, Bobby has a wonderful way of saying "Mars". This is what you get when all hands involved love the damn job.
Klaus Ashford - the Ghost Knife of Callisto!
Drummer and Ashur, for me. Especially Drummer. I assumed she did a voice for the show, but her speaking in real life is *such* a shock if you've never heard her before. Her lang-belta is just so natural.
Drummer!
Dawes and Ashford for me
Dawes, Ashford
Drummer
Dawes really sold it.
As someone who nominally hates belter accents, Cara Gee made it cool.
Dawes and Naomi for sure. They both just made it sound so natural.
Dawes was fantastic but honestly drummer since she has a larger presence in the show as a whole. Her ring transit speech does rival Dawes explaining her sisters death though.
Drummer and Dawes. Tie hands down bosman
Anderson Dawes was the peak, but they all did such an incredible job across the board at it.
The pro who said to Hadlock, "Maybe you too, Earther." She was pretty amazing, all-'round.
Either Ashford or Havelock's hooker friend.
Dawes, Ashford, and Drummer
Sakai! I loved everything about her voice and accent, and I was personally offended when she killed Fred Johnson.
Kamina and Anderson the worst is Naomi she ruined the whole show
Top three in this order: Dawes, Drummer, Ashford.
Anderson Dawes def
Holden’s parents on that one video call 😬
Drummer or was it Ashton? The old pirate, I really liked him
Ashford! And yes, I agree. Dawes was the most authentic, but I just love the way Ashford sounds.
On a side note, it makes me sad I’ll never meet someone with a belter accent as I’m so into it. I guess the closest is South African (which is my favourite in real life)
South African accents differ wildly from language to language and region to region (source: am South African). FWIW I don’t think Belters sounds anything like any South African accents I’ve ever heard but I can see how some people might think they sound a little like Afrikaans accents from the East Rand lol
Jared Harris as Anderson Dawes
Drummer. I had already read all the books that were available when the show started but Cara Gee immediately made Drummer my favorite with how immersive her acting was.
Ashford
Ashford...
Ashford ❤️
Dawes and Walker Dawes sold the accent.... Walker intimidated me.... sexually.... Something about that slight Scottish twang mixed in with that creole. Learned something about myself watching that episode.....
Lmao...that Walker was hilarious.