Drummer Explained | THE EXPANSE: Camina Drummer

Camina Drummer is my favorite Belter character in The Expanse, and she is the show’s best example of the Belter’s struggle. This video sketches out her journey from when she was first introduced in season 2, to when she lost almost everything in season 5. She worked as Fred Johnson’s second in command at Tycho. She was captain of the Behemoth and then Medina Station. And she left it all behind to join a family outside of the conflict only to be dragged back in by Marco Inaros’ Free Navy.

In the fifth season of The Expanse Drummer (Cara Gee) had to decide between risking her crew/polyamorous family lives or joining a man who was responsible for the deaths of Fred and Ashford. While her family doesn’t agree with Marco’s methods they are against the Inner Planets after generations of exploitation.

Drummer has a tremendous character arc from start to finish, a belter’s belter through and through. A dock worker rising through the ranks as a verifiable badass, a competent commander with a moral compass, and one who understands the game enough to wonder if she wants to play it all. We also get to see real humanity, intimacy, and depth in her connection with her family, only to see that tested by the reality around them.

She was there to make sure the belt would be involved in the ring space and then walked away from it. She had a chance to take out Marco but thought that it would lead to more violence if she did. She worked closely with Anderson Dawes and Fred Johnson, both of whom rose to powerful positions, but in the end she felt they lost their way once they got there. Camina Drummer is the best Belter Character on the Expanse.

The Expanse stuff:

0:00 Intro
1:17 On Tycho & Drummer’s Backstory
3:29 Captain of the Behemoth
4:25 The Slow Zone
7:43 Medina Station
10:48 Polyamorous Family
12:15 Becoming the Belter Struggle
13:18 Final Thoughts & Book Characters

#TheExpanse #Drummer #CaraGee #ExpanseOnPrime #TheExpanseSeason6

[PetePeppers]

I have to say I went back and watched the scenes I was writing about and it’s wild to just watch the Drummer saga. She was in the middle of so much and has an insane highlight reel. This was a fun one to make. Great character. Great story. Let me know what you think, and your favorite Drummer scene.

[jacqi]

She consistently gives me chills. The performance should win her an Emmy, or Golden Globe. Amazing.

[willroberts]

Drummer and Ashford's dynamic and the evolution of that dynamic was one of my favorite parts of the series. Kara G is an incredible actor.

[gustavmarie]

Cara Gee is a Canadian national treasure. When an actor steals the show from the likes of Jared Harris and David Strathairn, you know you are dealing with a major talent. She seems like a cool person in interviews as well.

[dingliedangliedoodle]

Book readers were talking about how excited they were for Bobbie Draper in S2, but it was Drummer that instantly caught my attention and stole the show as the righthand man to Fred Johnson radiating with such gravitas already in her first appearance when she was prepping that assault squad in the Fed Ex container.

[BNRmatt]

Drummer is, along with Ashford, one of the biggest improvements brought by the adaptation. Consistently amazing.

[Beltalowda]

I totally agree. The producers casting of Cara Gee was excellent. The writers did a magnificent job of writing her character arc and how she absorbed several of the book's characters so well. But Cara Gee is really the key to Drummer. She is f'ing brilliant. Such a bad ass, loyal friend, staunch belter and a commanding captain. I was blown away by all of her dramatic scenes. Not to mention she's so beautiful. ☉‿⚆ ♥

[adam]

Drummer is one of the best characters I've ever seen in a series. She's fucking awesome: tough, competent, smart, brave, funny, loyal.

[alansnyder]

Cara Gee's acting is one of the highlights of the series. I'd put Ashford up there also, so it was ashame to lose his character to the story. (But also proved nobody is safe). I look forward to reading the books and plan to do that right after this season ends. The once I've finished reading the first 6(?) books will re-watch the series with that new perspective.

[LVEVL]

for an actress to do so well that the writers of the books and show decide they have to keep her in throughout the whole well that's just plain badassery. Cara Gee is incredible, especially after the performance she pulled off in S06E05. Brought a tear to my eye.

What is it about Drummer that makes her a favourite of many Expanse fans? Myself included. I think it can be boiled down to her utter defiance.

[robertsimpson]

Drummer's speech is emmy worthy for Cara Gee. I get emotional every time i watch it. Best character on the expanse

[mmogaddict]

Cara Gee's Drummer is just a whole level of awesomeness. My favorite character on the show.

[snexjk]

Cara Gee and Frankie Adams are two of my favorite actresses in the show.

Cara Gee embodies the Belt and Frankie Adams embodies what a Martian Marine was like.

[jhindson]

Drummer is beyond awesome. Totally loved every minute she was on screen!

[ashleywebster]

More shows based on books need to do this, it keeps things familiar but surprising for book readers and allows for an easy way to trim narrative flab. Much as I love Bull, and to a lesser extent Michio Pa (both in the show in completely different roles) it feels like Drummer is an amalgam of these characters that winds up being more than the sum of her parts, aided by a superb performance.

Also, this is how you write a 'strong female character'. All other franchises please take note!

[aleafonthewind]

One of the best (if not the best) characters I have come across, in all sci-fi (and other genres). Cara Gee adds magnetism with a balance of bad ass-ness, moral guide and vulnerability. That scene with Naomi Nagata in s605(?) - stands out like Gold.

[solarpixiejournals]

Care Gee has done an awesome job bringing to life this character. WOW, I love this character. Drummer truly is the belt!!!

[atlanta]

Cara is pretty much a national treasure at this point. Drummer is indeed one of the most intense and interesting characters in all things scifi. And when you emphasized that she "IS" the belt, we saw footage with her and Marco – and her shoulders were littered with belts :)

[UnpublishedThoughts]

The thing I love is she didn’t grow into the strong leader she is overnight, she evolved, she grew, she learned, she sacrificed and Cara Gee is so good at playing every little things that make the character special !

[Acekhan]

It's that she has a moral compass without in any way feeling any less like a belter. She's the belter you want to win and the belter this Earther would want to work for.