For All Mankind Season 3 Episode 1 is the first instalment of the third season of a historical fantasy TV drama series streaming on Apple TV+. Created by Ronald D. Moore (Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Outlander), For All Mankind reimagines the space race of the 60s/70s as an alternate reality where the Soviet Union put a man on the moon before the USA. Season 3 picks up a decade after the events of season 2, meaning the setting is now 1992 – with a video montage that introduces us to this alternate milieu.
S P O I L E R S
Entitled “Polaris”, For All Mankind Season 3 Episode 1 brings the main cast together for a wedding on a commercial space station called Polaris. Ed Baldwin and Danielle Poole have new families. Karen Baldwin is now running a hotel in space and the son of the late astronaut couple Gordo and Tracey Stevens – who sacrificed themselves in last season’s finale – is getting married.
READ OUR ANALYSES OF FOR ALL MANKIND.
As expected, nothing much happens for most of For All Mankind Season 3 Episode 1, the key expository point being that in the nineties, the USA and USSR are now in a race to get to Mars first (by 1995, it seems). We are re-introduced to older versions of series regulars and updated of their current statuses. However, Ed and Danielle are in the centre of things as far as the Martian mission is concerned, and no doubt that will be the focus of Season 3.
And oh yes, that’s the little matter of a near-fatal disaster on the Polaris that once more highlights how dangerous space is. The groom Danny Stevens embarks on a risky venture in order to prevent the Polaris breaking apart and killing everyone on board and might have given up his life – like his parents – for the sake of others. Thankfully, Danny survives in probably the best emotional moment of this episode.
For All Mankind Season 3 Episode 1 provides a slow start. Hopefully, things pick up immediately with the next episode.
Now streaming on AppleTV+.
… still there’s more …