After tonight’s stellar edition of FOR ALL MANKIND, my relationship status has officially changed to “It’s Complicated.” Leave it to director Andrew Stanton (FINDING NEMO / DORY and WALL-E) to make the most emotionally grounded story of the series. The show has developed a weekly episode arch that goes from big opening action to 35 minutes of earthly drama and closes with 10-15 minutes of lunar thrills. This week’s episode breaks away from that with a big climatic emotional grief session with the Baldwins.
This climax finally gives Edward Baldwin (Joel Kinnaman) a chance to relive what happened with Russia on the moon in season 1, learning the lessons from WANDAVISION – “What is grief, if not love persevering?” Elsewhere, audiences get to watch these grief lessons carry on, forcing characters to let go. Gordo (Michael Dorman) learns to emotionally cut ties with his alcoholic ex-wife Tracy (Sarah Jones) and Margo Madison (Wrenn Schmidt) forgives herself for not helping an immigrant / soon to be orphan in need from season 1.
Everyone in this show wants “to do something in their life and make a difference in the world,” but you can’t have success before you process the past. After last week’s rocky episode, I am beginning to believe this show can now face the future with soaring success.
It’s available on Apple TV Plus.
