Recommended Sci Fi TV: Science fiction and fantasy shows from the past couple of years or so that we believe are worth checking out.
What Is It?
For All Mankind takes place in an alternate history where the Russians are the first to set a man on the Moon. That accomplishment sets off a cascade of changes to the course of the U.S. space program and the show follows the American astronauts as they attempt to match and even overtake the achievements of their rivals in the space race.
Starring: Joel Kinnaman, Michael Dorman, Wrenn Schmidt, Sarah Jones, Shantel VanSanten
Created By: Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, Ben Nedivi
Bottom Line: For All Mankind takes the history of the space race and turns it on its head while using that as means to look deeper into a country still struggling to create a society that values equality as much as accomplishment.
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Why Is It Worth Watching:
Not only does this series present an interesting look at how the space race could have progressed if the Russians had made it to the Moon first, but it also uses that pallet to dissect the American Zeitgeist and give us a window on ourselves. This is not the dark sci fi that co-creator Ronald D. Moore delivered with Battlestar: Galactica, as it still presents a hopeful look at the space program and its accomplishments. But it does offer a glimpse into the darker side of America at a time that it was still trying to overcome the outdated biases that have kept it from being a truly socially equitable country. And this goes beyond the standard sexist and racist views that were predominant during the eras that the show has covered. The astronauts have to fit the image of the All-American hero and their spouses have to play the role of the perfect partner. And something as simple as being gay (mostly a social anathema in those days and sadly still to an extent today) was seen as being a security threat. The pressures–both social and professional–placed on the astronauts and those that support them play a large part in the drama that unfolds throughout the first season.
But there is also a sense of triumph throughout the series as the Americans are driven to be better because of what the Russians have done. Not only does the U.S. Space Program catch up to its rival and make its own advancements in the space race, but we also see the attitudes of several of the characters change as they start to overcome their own biases and/or limited viewpoints (if only in small steps). All of this comes together with a spot-on cast and near-flawless production values to deliver a show that stands well above the average fare cranked out by Peak TV these days. For All Mankind does exactly what you want science fiction to do. It uses science and a believable scenario to set up an interesting story that also takes a deeper look into the human condition. The second season jumps to the early ’80s and drifts more into soap opera without as much of the underlying social commentary, but it still delivers plenty of poignant moments and the show has established itself as a strong example of sci fi television.
The first two seasons are currently available for streaming on Apple TV+, and the third season–which moves ahead to the ’90s with the race to Mars–premieres on June 10th.
Stream For All Mankind on Apple TV+
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