For All Mankind season three may be set in the 1990s, but it feels more advanced and futuristic than what actually happened in the 90s. Sure, the look and feel of it is very much the 90s, but did we have floating hotels in space back then? Just as it did in seasons one and two, For All Mankind rewrites history and boldly expands the horizons – yes, pun intended.
Ten Years into the Future…in the 90s
While I myself have received screeners for the entirety of the show, I wanted to do my reviews per week. So, we’re kicking things off with only one episode and that’s okay. One episode of For all Mankind is like an entire movie – there’s so much happening. So much to unpack. After all, season three has jumped ten years and things are far different than what we saw in season two.
Slight Spoilers
We’re introduced to another space race. In the show, the Americans didn’t have the chance to be the first ones to the moon. Now, they’re racing against the Russians to get to Mars. This is something we see today – it’s 2022 and we’re still not close to putting a person on Mars. But, that is the hopes of everyone at NASA in For All Mankind. And it pits two friends against each other. Now, listen, I love Joel Kinnaman’s character Ed Baldwin – but, I think he’s not taking his age very well. And he’s taking his ego out on Krys Marshall’s Danielle Poole. When I tell you I was not happy with how Ed reacted to Danielle being picked to command the Mars mission – oh, Ed, that wasn’t right at all.
There have always been tensions among the characters in this show, but things have certainly changed in the last ten years. I’ve always liked the character Margo, but Wrenn Schmidt’s character is certainly not playing games this season. It’s only episode one and she’s already fired Molly – an act that I’m shocked about. Moreso, I’m shocked that a smart person like Margo cannot see that she’s being played by the Russians. The fact that she’s kept this secret for ten years…I’m interested in seeing how it plays out.
I May Have Missed Something
I think my only real confusion is seeing Shantel VanSanten’s character now so interested in space exploration. So much so that she’s a part of the space hotel? And linking up with the show’s version of Elon Musk? Which, I suppose if you’re having an exploration of Mars, you need to include something like that. Again, it’ll be interesting to see how this turns out. But, to see the character of Karen Baldwin go from homemaker, to bar owner, to space hotel owner? It’s certainly an interesting choice by the writers to keep the character in the story. I wonder what this will do to Ed and Karen’s interactions.
For All Mankind may be about space and it’s getting bigger and bolder in season three. Yet, it remains a grounded show about people. About dreams, aspirations, and breaking ground. We see these characters that we’ve known from season one make career changes. We see them aging and having to face their own mortality. And we see a world shaped by an alteration of history. What would have happened if Russia got to the moon first? What would happen if the space exploration never stopped? I don’t know if it would have gone exactly how it does in the show, but it’s an interesting thought to muse over.
What did you think of For all Mankind season three episode one? Tune in next week!
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For All Mankind may be about space and it's getting bigger and bolder in season three.
A girl with too many fandoms to count.
