For All Mankind seasons 3 and 4: a journey beyond the stars (video: TV series retrospective).
In the cosmic sandbox that is For All Mankind, seasons 3 and 4 rocket beyond the moon, taking the space race to Mars and beyond, with political intrigue and personal drama to spare. This alternate history series, a brainchild of Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi, continues to reimagine a world where the space race never ended, and the red planet is the new frontier for American and Soviet astronauts, as well as a few daring entrepreneurs.
By the third season, set in the early ’90s, we’ve moved past lunar conquests and are Mars-bound. The series cleverly mixes historical figures with its rich ensemble of characters, like Ed and Karen Baldwin, who’ve now navigated from marital strife to interplanetary hoteliers and back again. Meanwhile, Ellen Wilson (née Waverly) aims for the presidency, adding a delicious layer of political drama that feels oddly relevant, despite the show’s retro setting.
Then there’s the Mars mission itself, a thrilling race not just between superpowers but also private entities like Helios Aerospace, led by the charismatic Dev Ayesa. Dev’s ambitions bring a new dynamic to the show, challenging NASA’s monopoly on space exploration. His decision to repurpose the Polaris space hotel into the Phoenix Mars lander encapsulates the series’ blend of real science with speculative drama. Throw in a Soviet plot, a blind astronaut commanding NASA, and a space hotel getting torn apart by space junk, and you’ve got the recipe for a sci-fi smorgasbord.
But it’s not just about the rockets and the race. Season 3 delves into the personal, exploring the cost of ambition and the weight of secrets. Margo Madison’s secret dealings with a Soviet counterpart add layers of Cold War tension that feel all too warm. And let’s not forget the interpersonal drama, like the love triangle between Karen, Ed, and their son Danny, which would feel at home in any soap opera, if not for the backdrop of spacewalks and Mars landings.
Fast forward to Season 4, and we’re in the 2000s, with Mars colonized and the drama as intense as ever. Ed Baldwin’s experiencing hand tremors, a stark reminder of the toll space takes on the body, and Margo, now seemingly defected to the Soviet Union, navigates a life of obscurity and surveillance. The introduction of new characters like Miles Dale, a blue-collar worker turned Martian miner, expands the series’ focus on the human side of space colonization. The geopolitical landscape is as volatile as ever, with a defected Margo navigating the treacherous waters of Soviet politics, and tensions on Mars mirroring those on Earth. The series doesn’t shy away from exploring the darker aspects of its alternate history, including the exploitation of workers and the moral compromises made in the name of progress.
For All Mankind seasons 3 and 4 offer a blend of historical drama, speculative fiction, and character-driven storytelling that’s as ambitious as its characters’ quest to conquer Mars. It’s a show that dares to ask, “What if?” and answers with a compelling narrative that’s equal parts inspiring and cautionary. So, strap in and prepare for a journey that SFcrowsnest readers won’t want to miss—just remember to check your oxygen levels and keep an eye out for space junk.
