SummaryThe sci-fi series from Ronald D. Moore set in an alternate universe where the USSR had landed on the moon first and NASA continues the space race with a group of astronauts that include Edward Baldwin (Joel Kinnaman).
SummaryThe sci-fi series from Ronald D. Moore set in an alternate universe where the USSR had landed on the moon first and NASA continues the space race with a group of astronauts that include Edward Baldwin (Joel Kinnaman).
There’s a lot more going on in the second season of For All Mankind than the issue of guns on the moon, of course—as it did in its first season, the series continues to excel at balancing its sprawling ensemble of characters, all of whom are driven by a dizzying array of motivations, with the precise textural demands of a well-dressed period piece.
But For All Mankind's biggest, most daring choices aren't really what stick with you, in the end, because where the show really sings is in the details — there are moments scattered throughout the whole season that will electrify your brain and break your heart.
Fantastic Sci-Fi / alternate history show - I would say it's up there with The Expanse as the best Sci-Fi on TV right now. Reminds me of Apollo 13, but with a whole new set of Apollo missions to go wrong!
Shame it is massively underrated because it's only on Apple TV+ and there is the perception that it is all about social justice issues from people who haven't watched it (it's not).
If you haven't seen it, the first 3 episodes of season 1 are a bit slow, but it really picks up after that.
FAM is arguably the best sci fi going right now. Sure it is not mainstream sci fi, but what you have is something much more scientific than fiction.
It is however the best example of alternative history we have seen out of the recent delugue of the genre. It understands a key principle, moving history forward.
It has its flaws too. Namely the pacing in the first half of the season. The first season was much the same way. Yet when events start to ramp up on the back half of the season it produces some of the most intriguing ideas to look forward to.
There are other issues. Certain characters are added and never really develop their place. There are filler relationships that are simply not interesting at all. However it is all coming together to make a really human story that is being crafted with attention to detail, realism and heart. Its making these characters feel truly real and readily identifiable. Those seemingly bad additions may well evolve if this show gets its third, fourth and maybe fifth seasons and become crucial components of the story.
As the end of the second season comes it really reminds me of watching Deep Space Nine back when it originally aired. You had this feeling of something massive brewing on the horizon. If it goes as it looks like it is headed this is going to be on par with that show in terms of story telling.
Now, I am one who has nearly zero tolerance for agenda pushing in media right now. That said this show does a good job of examining relationships and not falling into the common trap of making those characters poor caricatures of tropes. These people are who they are and for the most part it wastes little time preaching about it and instead just allows them to live their lives. Granted there is considerable over representation but it is one of the few examples on TV to illustrate inclusivity well.
All in all, FAM S02 builds on a very solid foundation that so far has flown under the radar and is blossoming into something that if allowed to grow will be truly remarkable. Just have patience and it WILL be rewarded.
The show works as well as it does because it understands the deepest roots of American identity, good and bad—and its exploration of what is inevitable and what isn’t is what makes For All Mankind such a fascinating watch.
The characters feel more specific and three-dimensional now, which in turn makes the long swaths focusing on interpersonal dynamics more interesting than they were a season ago.
Although its imagination occasionally stalls, the second season of For All Mankind eventually comes together to offer a thrilling journey through sci-fi drama.
There’s rarely a time in “For All Mankind” where these big swings are unwelcome, but the show still has a little more to go before all its storytelling tools are calibrated to deliver the kind of imagination it so clearly (and, often, thankfully) has.
I like shows about space.
I found the premise of this series unsettling. What if the Russians beat us to the moon?
I found season one handled the premise better than I expected. The space race didn’t end and a few key details in history changed as a result. Some of the changes were entertaining but others reek of a wishlist of revisionist history. Having Teddy Kennedy avoid **** and run for President was laughable. Having John Lennon survive his shooting was interesting, but not relevant to the show’s plot.
Season two extends into the Reagan years and that’s where I start having major problems with the revisionist timeline. The writers paint Reagan as a warmonger when he was anything but. He stood up for America but kept us out of the messes idiots like LBJ got us into.
Since I like stories about space travel, I might continue with the series, but I hate the emphasis on sex, **** rights and inaccurate characterizations of past historical figures. Thank God the militarization of space did not rise to this level in real history. The world likely wouldn’t have survived.
To sum up, season 1 was amusing, but season 2 became a mess and was difficult to endure. Hope season 3 has a better respect to history and the intelligence of the audience.
The second season is very disappointing. One could guess it was not the original idea to continue for a second season. The first one was so much better and animated and original.