In one of the best sci-fi series of the last 20 years, humanity has colonized the Moon and Mars

One of the best science fiction series of our time begins in the past. In the beginning, For All Mankind actually has nothing to do with the future. Instead, we see familiar images from 1969. The world is watching, spellbound Space race. The historic event flickers across countless screens. Astronauts, spacesuits and rockets – and then a moment of irritation and uncertainty.

A Russian cosmonaut becomes the first person to set foot on the moon. That’s not how we remember the story. Is For All Mankind playing a trick on us? No, a detail changes the entire course of history and creates an exciting thought game. The result is so good that it landed in third place in our ranking of the best science fiction series since 2000.

The sci-fi series For All Mankind changes history step by step until we land on Mars

After the defeat of the first moon landing, all eyes are on NASA. The US government’s space program is under massive pressure. Under no circumstances should the Soviet Union take over space while US rockets cannot get off the ground. The Cold War expands to the Moon and later to Mars. With each season, For All Mankind moves further into the future.

You can watch the trailer for For All Mankind here:

Although we have only passed the turn of the millennium after four seasons and are therefore theoretically still in the past, the series has advanced into sci-fi territory thanks to technical advances. It addresses the troubling questions of the genre. This particularly affects them role of manwho, despite considerable creative power, is often powerless in the face of the final limit.

The premise, which is strongly influenced by the political and social image of the 1960s, recently resulted in a nerve-wracking space western that features the moon and Mars understands another piece of land, which can be conquered and undermined. The journey no longer goes west. Nevertheless, people enter an environment that they want to own, even though they do not know it or can control it.

For All Mankind reaches for the stars without forgetting the people left behind on Earth

In the future of For All Mankind, the drastic stages of human history repeat themselves, this time in the face of eternal darkness compressed in the narrow corridors a space station. Man against man, man against nature. The fight for raw materials and the exploitation of foreigners, while the homeland, the little blue planet, always fades into the background – at least almost.

One of the most amazing feats For All Mankind has accomplished each season so far is passionately remembering the people left behind. The big drama takes place not only against the backdrop of the starry sky, but often also in stuffy offices, without which Coordination in the undiscovered expanse would be impossible – a fascinating relationship of dependency.

Space expert Margo Madison (Wrenn Schmidt) is one of the characters who has not yet set foot in space, even though she knows all the secrets of space travel inside out. Instead, she is trapped between the forces of the Cold War and cannot escape. But it is also certain that without her knowledge Astronaut Ed Baldwin (Joel Kinnaman) would probably never have reached Mars.

In For All Mankind, two words are enough to resolve the biggest argument a million miles away

When setting out for the new world, people cannot let go. That would also be far too easy. Especially when there is someone like Ronald D. Moore behind the series. Even in Battlestar Galactica, he didn’t shy away from any uncomfortable conflict when it came to that Interpersonal with timeless sci-fi motifs to negotiate while the narrative oscillates elegantly between soap and social novel.

For All Mankind also has many of these larger-than-life moments where you can’t wait for the cliffhanger to be resolved in the next episode. Goosebumps are inevitable when the series slowly reveals one of its time jumps. But even more powerful are the moments in which they… precious preparatory work of countless series minutes between two people in just one sentence.

“Hi, Bob.”

In its four seasons, the series has already penetrated into the darkest corners and abysses between the earth, moon and Martian rocks, where the hope, idealism and spirit of discovery that usually characterizes the sci-fi character of For All Mankind is lost. In Darkness and loneliness People lose and become alienated from each other, especially since the Cold War never goes away, even in space, and continues to divide.

That’s exactly when you need these two inconspicuous words that connect even after the worst divisiveness. A shared experience that remembers, that grounds.

“Hi, Bob.”

For All Mankind has worn this for four seasons careful approach around, initially as a running gag borrowed from another series. Later as an existentialist key to understanding, even when people have made a mistake.

In a series that sets off into the vastness of space and cannot leave Earth even after decades, these two words mark the core of For All Mankind. The easy thing is to escape to an undiscovered place, but this too will fall apartif the characters don’t approach each other. “Hi, Bob” is a mutual recognition. The greatest vision of the future in For All Mankind is that it is possible together.

The first four seasons of For All Mankind are streaming on Apple TV+. The series has not yet been officially renewed. The series is designed to last seven seasons.