For All Mankind Season 3 Episode 2 is the second instalment of the third season of a historical scifi 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.
S P O I L E R S
Entitled “Game Changer”, For All Mankind Season 3 Episode 2 begins ponderously and deliberately settling into what seems like a predictable narrative. After the Polaris disaster, Karen Baldwin sells the space station to Dev Ayesa, founder of Helios Aerospace, who are planning a commercial Mars mission. As expected, Molly appoints Ed Baldwin as the commander of the NASA Mars mission and Danielle Poole is devastated. However, when NASA head Margo returns from an overseas trip, she fires Molly and overrides her decision, making Poole commander.
READ OUR ANALYSES OF FOR ALL MANKIND.
This is where For All Mankind Season 3 Episode 2 flips a switch and suddenly there is engaging tension, conflict and drama to (presumably) last the rest of this third season. By the end of the episode, Ed Baldwin is commanding the Helios Aerospace Mars mission and now in direct competition with not only the Soviet Union but also with NASA. This is immensely satisfying for the viewer as what was done to Baldwin and Poole was unfair and this seems the most logical way to ensure that both characters end up commanding a Mars mission!
The sub-plots are still in play (e.g. Ellen’s presidential bid and Danny’s obsession with Karen) but certainly from now till the season finale it will all be about the mission to Mars – who will get there first???
Now streaming on AppleTV+.
… still there’s more …