The Expanse’s Wes Chatham has cherished showing Amos’s backstory in season 5

There’s so much to love about the fifth, exemplary season of The Expanse. One of the best aspects this season has been the deep dive into Amos Burton’s past, explored in the novella, The Churn. With the Roci crew separated for season 5, it’s provided the opportunity to explore the backstories of two key crew members: Naomi Nagata (Dominique Tipper) and Amos.

Throughout The Expanse, Amos has always kept his painful past carefully secret, but revelations have been dropped occasionally to give us clues into the harrowing experiences in Baltimore that transformed Amos into the stoic bad**s that he is today.

In season 3, we learned that Amos isn’t even his real name, as journalist Monica Stuart discovered after confronting him with the knowledge that someone with the name Amos Burton died on Earth. His change of identity—originally called ‘Timmy’—was further confirmed this season as he met up with his childhood pal, Erich, who’s become a crime kingpin in Baltimore.

Amos Burton/Timmy is a fan favorite and one of the fascinating aspects of this season has been his return to his traumatic roots. Culturess spoke with actor Wes Chatham about the joys of exploring Amos’ backstory, his struggle with his violent past and tendencies, and flirting with Chrisjen Avasarala (the queen, Shohreh Aghdashloo).

Culturess: I saw your reflection on survival skills on Twitter. So, how does this change the dynamic, Amos’s dynamic, with his relationship with Erich?

Wes Chatham: When Amos and Eric grew up together, there was a dynamic relationship that was established where Amos was kind of the alpha in the relationship, who in a lot of ways was in charge and Erich was the idea man. And then when he came back Erich has now risen to this place of prominence within the underworld, the criminal underworld. And he has a lot of hard-earned status and respect within this community. And Amos realizes right away that this is, you know, this is the Churn, that what you thought you had and what you thought you are, it doesn’t exist anymore.

The more you hold on to it, the quicker you’re going to die. And we got to cut tail and we gotta run. And we need [Erich]: We need his resources, [his] helicopter to get to where we need to go, and also, we need his protection.

Culturess: Yeah, I mean I’ve loved your backstory so much this season. I think a lot of people have. How much have you enjoyed showing Amos’s history?

Chatham: I remember before we even started season one. I read The Churn and The Churn is the foundation that we created Amos off of, like every character off of, and so every season in doing my preparation and getting ready, I go back and read The Churn.

I kind of start with that foundation. I imagine in my imagination what Baltimore’s like, what’s Erich’s like, what all these things are like. So, then actually to come and actually shoot in Baltimore, and with all these people, Lydia and Erich, and all these people from my past that I’ve been imagining, it’s really surreal.

You know, feeling like you’re walking into this imaginary store that you created to kind of get you in the place for your character every season, so it’s been an incredibly satisfying season 5.

Culturess: So, it seems like Amos and ‘Peaches’ [Clarissa Mao] are really both struggling with their violent tendencies, which are necessary for survival, especially in a devolving social atmosphere. Do you feel that Amos’ instincts are correct? I mean, is there a way forward according to Clarissa’s ideals, you know, away from, ‘I am that guy.’

Chatham: I think, in this environment that they’re in, yes, you know, Amos’s true superpower is his instinct for survival and instinct of doing what needs to get done to survive.

So now that they’re in this post-apocalyptic world where the advantage that he has is that he understands what the primal human tendencies are under this amount of stress and pressure and when society breaks down. He’s already been living that. And so, he’s already one step ahead of everybody else, they’re just now starting to figure out and learn that the world doesn’t work the same way, and that, you know, if you don’t start to get vicious, if you don’t start to really go after what you need and what you want and get and protect your tribe and get tribal, you’re not going to make it long in this world. And so that’s what he’s kind of trying to explain to her as they’re going.

Culturess: Yeah, I mean I, to be honest, I think Amos is more correct than Clarissa, but you know the writers are geniuses so what do I know?

Chatham: [laughs] It’s funny because it’s almost her coming out and saying, ‘hey, you know we’re not going to do this anymore…’ [as Amos], ‘just not now. Right now, we’ve got to get off this island!’

Culturess: Right. I don’t know how much you can talk about it, but is there anything you can kind of tease about where he and Clarissa are going with their storylines, their philosophy on life and survival, or anything you want to tease about the finale?

Chatham: Well, you know, there’s definitely a lot I want to say, I think, but they told me directly to not mention the finale, in any way, so I’ll stay away from that [laughs].

Culturess: Now that we know that there’s a season 6, how excited are you that you are going to get another season? I’ve also heard that there is a possibility for even two more after that. Considering this show, almost went away after season three?

Chatham: It’s such a gift. This show is such an incredible experience on so many different levels… I’ve always had a special feeling about this show and in Amos. And it’s the only thing that I’ve ever been a part of for this long. And I still, even now, starting a new season [6], like I still feel the same kind of butterflies and expectations, which is a good thing. Which means, that it’s continuing to be challenging, continuing to help you grow as an actor and deeper understanding… It just, it really blows my mind.

You know, thinking about when we first started and to where it is now and all the really wonderful special things that happened, and I really think that the energy and the connection that we have, the synergy we have with the fans and their relationship to the story, I think that’s really been our superpower. The kind of support and foundation that we have, it really lifts us up in a lot of ways.

Culturess: You know, one of my favorite moments was a little flirtatious moment you had with Avasarala in the first episode this season. Any chance that you’ll continue those flirtations?

Chatham: Absolutely.

I loved the relationship that he has with Avasarala and you know they definitely have this fun little underlying thing that goes on. And so, we really enjoy it, so yes, that’s a part of us in our relationship.

Culturess: Any chance we’re going to get that high-heel-off [where Wes Chatham challenged Shohreh Aghdashloo after that epic boots scene?].

Chatham: One thing I will say, I can’t say anything about the finale, [but] look close: there might be some easter eggs. Tell me if you find it.

Culturess: Now I’m gonna be glued to the TV. So, I mean, Amos has so many great lines like ‘I am that guy.’ You know, that’s one of my favorites. Do you have a favorite line or moment of Amos’s?

Chatham: Well, I definitely love that moment.

My favorite line [is in episode 9]… It’s not something I said, it’s something that Erich says… We’re trying to get the shuttle up and running. You know, these poor staff of another house comes over and they’re freezing and they’re starving, and they just want to be able to get on the shuttle and have a chance on Luna. And so, they give their story, and you hear their story. But Eric coming from the streets, coming from the Churn, he goes, you know, ‘we don’t have any room so f**k off.’ And for whatever reason, like on the day when he said it, just made me laugh so hard.

The season finale of The Expanse’s incredible fifth season drops on Amazon Prime Video, Wednesday, Feb. 3. You don’t want to miss it! And check out Wes Chatham’s after-show on Amazon or YouTube, The Expanse After-show: Ty & That Guy for interviews with the cast.

What do you think will happen during the finale? Drop me your theories in the comments section below! Do you agree with me, that this has been the best Expanse season yet?