Although Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video and Hulu had a decade head start, launching their streaming operations circa 2006-07, the streaming wars began in earnest in 2019 when Disney and Apple TV came online (HBO Max and Peacock followed in 2020).
But there aren’t many series that debuted in 2019 that are still in production almost seven years later.
Apple TV’s “The Morning Show” remains a going concern, but Disney ’s “The Mandalorian” graduated to the movies. Overall, streamers are generally producing fewer originals as the metric of success for streaming services has moved from subscriber growth to profitability.
But the best series from that streaming class of 2019 returns this week with the launch of the fifth season of Apple TV’s “For All Mankind,” streaming episodes weekly on Fridays beginning March 27.
It’s unsurprising if you’ve never heard of this show. Apple has a smaller footprint than most of the other streamers, and, “Ted Lasso” aside, Apple hasn’t had many series break out as pop culture phenomena.
But when I hear people bemoan the lack of quality TV or express exasperation that there’s so much TV that they don’t know where to start, “For All Mankind” is always the first show I recommend.
Why should you watch “For All Mankind”? It may help to know that Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi created the show. Moore was a writer on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” the best-written, most character-driven classic “Trek” series, and he created the acclaimed 2003-09 Syfy remake “Battlestar Galactica,” a wonderful blend of sci-fi and contemporary-to-its-time political commentary. Writing partners Wolpert and Nedivi wrote for season two of FX’s critically acclaimed “Fargo.”
Clearly, the creative auspices bring loads of quality TV credibility. But the premise of “For All Mankind” also contributes to what makes the show great. It’s an alternate history of the U.S. space program.
In season one, the Russians send the first man to the moon; the United States competes by attempting to send the first woman to the moon.
From there, each season fast forwards a decade to a new acute moment in American space exploration and political history. By the time the show gets to the ‘90s, there’s a scandal in the White House, but it doesn’t involve Bill Clinton and an intern; instead, it’s about an astronaut-turned-U.S. President who’s kept a secret that unravels in ways that will seem familiar to anyone who lived through Clinton’s imbroglio.
“For All Mankind” takes real American history, tosses it in a blender and then pours out a story that still has recognizable moments from America’s past, even if they’re bent and twisted.
For those who’ve never watched this series, go back and start at the beginning. Season one, like many streaming shows, takes a little bit to get going, but it finds its footing by the end of the season. Season two remains the show’s best outing as it features some bonkers-in-the-best-way moments on the moon. Season three is a bit of a letdown after the events of season two, but season four rebounds with a focus on Mars colonists.
As season five begins in 2012, only two original cast members remain, astronaut Ed Baldwin (Joel Kinnamen, slathered in old-age makeup) and former engineer/NASA administrator Margo Madison (Wrenn Schmidt), who’s been the heart and soul of the series.
Within a few episodes, the focus shifts entirely to subsequent generations of astronauts and Mars colonists, including one established space explorer who’s ensnared in a bogus murder charge.
It’s hard to conjure another serialized show that’s cycled through its entire original cast and kept going. Credit to the producers who began seeding the series with next-generation characters in season two and for maintaining decent enough relationships with departed cast members that a few of them make welcome, worthwhile cameo appearances in season five.
Through eight (of 10) episodes made available for review, season five largely revolves around Ed’s astronaut daughter, Kelly (Cynthy Wu), who’s tasked with a new space mission; Helios engineer Aleida Rosales (Coral Peña); Mars double agent colonist Miles (Toby Kebbell); and Helios founder Dev (Edi Gathegi), alongside several newcomers.
Mirelle Enos reunites with her “The Killing” co-star, Kinnaman, albeit only for one brief scene, as a member of the Mars peacekeeping force. Costa Ronin (“The Americans”) plays a former cosmonaut-turned-governor of the Mars colony. Sean Kaufman (“The Summer I Turned Pretty”) plays Kelly’s teenage son.
Early in the season, “For All Mankind” addresses “illegals” on Mars, an echo of today’s ICE initiatives. Deeper into the season, themes include the use of government propaganda on Earth to frame events on Mars in a negative light, also relevant to real-world current events. Science fiction is often at its best when it reflects the here-and-now, which “For All Mankind” has done from the start, contributing to the strength of the show’s dramatic storytelling.
And “Heated Rivalry” fans take note: Connor Storrie has a one-scene, one-line role (Russian Spetsnaz Soldier) in the eighth episode of the fifth season, which streams May 15. (He clearly filmed the scene as a day player – he’s billed as the episode’s 10th co-star on the eighth page of the show’s guest cast in the closing credits — before the breakout success of “Heated Rivalry.”)
In addition to this new season of “FAMK,” Apple TV announced spin-off series “Star City” will premiere with two episodes on May 29, followed by one episode weekly on Fridays through July 10. “Star City,” created by Nedivi, Wolpert and Moore, goes back to the beginning of the space race to tell this alt-history from the Soviet Union’s point of view.