For All Mankind Trailer - Apple TV- SPOILER

[David cgc]

I'm sure we all have one question on our minds after this episode: How have only three Star Trek shows been made by 2003 in the alternate time-line, and which one is the third? Phase II supposedly happened in the '70s... unless that was it, and the third show is TAS. Was TWOK the only movie?

Spoiler: Some actual spoilers

Is it going to be a plot point that Sergei's suicide was perfunctorily faked by the KGB (no gunpowder residue on his hands, gun in his hand when he would've actually dropped it), or do I just watch more detective shows than the writers of FAM? CSI had been on for three seasons, people on the street should know about this stuff in-universe, and I'd hope the KGB shamelessly murdering a defector would cause a bit of a shit-show.

Going back to the dinner scene, Sergei mentioned something about him and Margo being responsible for the push for a manned mission to Mars in the early '90s by fomenting international competition. Is there going to be more discussion of what that entailed? Were they both colluding to feed misinformation about their respective plans for a Mars mission to the other side, to trick both governments into another space-race when they'd actually been content to let the red planet lie?

Bit surprised that they managed to get a 2003 torture controversy and terrorism panic into the ATL. So much for a version of the early 2000s where everyone isn't totally nuts.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Even though I knew it was coming, I was still startled by Sergei's assassination. He and Margo were always doomed for a tragic ending and the first half is complete. Of course, she'll never believe he killed himself (certainly not with a mouthful of Big Mac...) but it won't matter. What will Margo do now with her last bit of happiness taken away? Some kind of aforementioned sacrifice? I'm still not sure what form that will take, but we'll see. Also, this is not the first time I've seen a show use a location in its episode title as a misdirect for a possible fantasy to come true, only for it to be stolen away (I want to say maybe LOST did something like that).

Not surprised that on the eve of the Goldilocks Heist and after Sam's brilliant switcheroo, the walls are crumbling from all sides. I just didn't expect it would be the killer combination of North Korea, the CIA and KGB teaming up...and Kelly getting Ed to finally face his demons. The suspicious North Korean officer has been subdued for the moment but how long will it take them for North Korea mission command to scream about his absence? And I certainly don't expect Miles to hold out against a beating of a lifetime. I honestly don't know how this is going to play out...aside from tragedy on all sides.

Speaking of the CIA and KGB teaming up, well played, Moore, on fooling all of us into thinking Ilya was the KGB agent. Or maybe we just fooled ourselves.

That's strike two for Dani's survival after her earnest belief that she'll be there for her grandchild in all of the ways she wasn't for her son. Unless Moore is fooling us again. But I doubt it.

I'm sure we all have one question on our minds after this episode: How have only three Star Trek shows been made by 2003 in the alternate time-line, and which one is the third? Phase II supposedly happened in the '70s... unless that was it, and the third show is TAS. Was TWOK the only movie?

I wondered about that, too, and Moore damn well give us an insight or two on that matter, even if it's just in interviews. I need my Star Trek production alternate history, damnit!

Is it going to be a plot point that Sergei's suicide was perfunctorily faked by the KGB (no gunpowder residue on his hands, gun in his hand when he would've actually dropped it), or do I just watch more detective shows than the writers of FAM? CSI had been on for three seasons, people on the street should know about this stuff in-universe, and I'd hope the KGB shamelessly murdering a defector would cause a bit of a shit-show.

Yeah, that was some sloppy work. I didn't think about the gunpowder or dropping the gun, although I did think the assassin put it in the wrong hand. But really, as I mentioned before, why would Sergei kill himself when he had mouthful of Big Mac?! That's the most damning evidence of all.

Going back to the dinner scene, Sergei mentioned something about him and Margo being responsible for the push for a manned mission to Mars in the early '90s by fomenting international competition. Is there going to be more discussion of what that entailed? Were they both colluding to feed misinformation about their respective plans for a Mars mission to the other side, to trick both governments into another space-race when they'd actually been content to let the red planet lie?

I wondered about that, too, and I fully expected a shot of Aleida quietly standing behind the wall in the other room, clearly overhearing that entire conversation.

 

[Kraig]

Spoiler: Some actual spoilers

Is it going to be a plot point that Sergei's suicide was perfunctorily faked by the KGB (no gunpowder residue on his hands, gun in his hand when he would've actually dropped it), or do I just watch more detective shows than the writers of FAM? CSI had been on for three seasons, people on the street should know about this stuff in-universe, and I'd hope the KGB shamelessly murdering a defector would cause a bit of a shit-show.

Going back to the dinner scene, Sergei mentioned something about him and Margo being responsible for the push for a manned mission to Mars in the early '90s by fomenting international competition. Is there going to be more discussion of what that entailed? Were they both colluding to feed misinformation about their respective plans for a Mars mission to the other side, to trick both governments into another space-race when they'd actually been content to let the red planet lie?

Bit surprised that they managed to get a 2003 torture controversy and terrorism panic into the ATL. So much for a version of the early 2000s where everyone isn't totally nuts.

Spoiler: more evidence

Also Sergei was shot in the head from too far away for it to be a suicide (no contact powder burns) and no handwritten suicide note. Why did he commit suicide: Too busy eating part of a Big Mac meal & couldn't finish it?

 

[tenmei]

I'm sure we all have one question on our minds after this episode: How have only three Star Trek shows been made by 2003 in the alternate time-line, and which one is the third? Phase II supposedly happened in the '70s... unless that was it, and the third show is TAS. Was TWOK the only movie?

I initially thought that perhaps she meant the three series/seasons or TOS and not the Phase 2/Third Show.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I initially thought that perhaps she meant the three series/seasons or TOS and not the Phase 2/Third Show.

Which would make sense...if Dani was British. But admittedly, I briefly thought the same thing (for obvious reasons).

 

[tenmei]

I wonder with Kirk and Co dominating Trek with TOS and Phase 2 and movies, if the third series would be the mooted The First Adventure movie spun into a series.

 

[Nerys Myk]

That's strike two for Dani's survival after her earnest belief that she'll be there for her grandchild in all of the ways she wasn't for her son. Unless Moore is fooling us again. But I doubt it.

Yep, my first thought after seeing that scene was “she’s a goner.”

 

[David cgc]

Yep, my first thought after seeing that scene was “she’s a goner.”

It's a For All Mankind season finale, they're putting everyone into a place for their potential deaths to elicit pathos, Margo and Sergei talking about running away together, Ed opening up about his desire to die on his feet, Dani and Lee looking forward to reuniting with their families...

 

[Marc]

It's a For All Mankind season finale, they're putting everyone into a place for their potential deaths to elicit pathos, Margo and Sergei talking about running away together, Ed opening up about his desire to die on his feet, Dani and Lee looking forward to reuniting with their families...

I'm sure some are wondering if Moore still thinks he's doing BSG.

 

[The Habs Fan]

Excellent episode with some shocking twists. With all the talk about RDM, I thought he was only showrunner for the first 2 seasons, like Outlander (for which he was showrunner for the first 3 seasons). I think he’s busy developing series for Disney’s new Magic Kingdom universe. He probably still has input on the overarching story, but he hasn’t written an episode since season 2, and he’s under contract with Disney.

This episode was written by David Weddle and Bradley Thompson though. Former writers on DS9 and BSG

 

[David cgc]

Yeah, RDM still does some publicity for the show, but my impression is that he's not as involved as he was originally.

 

[Aragorn]

Mars gets the asteroid, Earth goes for the asteroid belt, and then who gets the protomolecule?

 

[Airmandan]

Well now we know how the animosity between mars and Earth starts in The Expanse! But in all seriousness, while the forensic evidence should be easy to prove that Sergi didn't kill himself, there's still the political pressure that will undoubtably come down to ensure that it is deemed a suicide. The US has too much riding on the joint mission to endanger it by suggesting the Soviets killed Sergi. The question will Margo stop being so naive and either screw over the Soviets somehow or somehow sneak off again to Brazil?

 

[FPAlpha]

Well now we know how the animosity between mars and Earth starts in The Expanse! But in all seriousness, while the forensic evidence should be easy to prove that Sergi didn't kill himself, there's still the political pressure that will undoubtably come down to ensure that it is deemed a suicide. The US has too much riding on the joint mission to endanger it by suggesting the Soviets killed Sergi. The question will Margo stop being so naive and either screw over the Soviets somehow or somehow sneak off again to Brazil?

Yeah, her naivety shtick is wearing thin. I hope she takes the comments from Sergei to heart and wises up finally and tries to disappear because she has no future in Russia as soon as the asteroid event unfolds and Earth (probably) loses out.

I kind of feel this episode was telegraphing events too well. I knew as soon as the north korean commander got involved that it wouldn't end well with him, as soon as Margo put on the music to eat and we cut back and forth between them that Sergei was going to die and man do they telegraph Dani's death in advance if they follow the TV tropes. Ed surely has also reached the end of his storyline by finally admitting that he has a chip on his shoulder so i figure the finale will be quite eventful.

I can't wait for the reveal of Dev's Goldilocks plan ( if it works out that is) and possibly him declaring Mars a sovereign nation or planet while the CIA and KGB dude move to dispose of him, should make for an excellent finale.

 

[Jedi Marso]

This whole season has been a gigantic home run. Looking forward to seeing the endgame of all the Shenanigans.

However, on the topic of Mars being declared 'a sovereign planet', that is still decades if not generations in the future. Mars as depicted in S4 is nowhere near any semblance of self-sustainability, and won't be for a very long time. There is no real industrial base- all of their tech comes from Earth, and they can't survive without it, to say nothing of the fact that they only appear to grow a tiny fraction of their own food.

My prediction: the wrestle for control over Goldilocks results in some sort of fatal trajectory either for Earth or Mars, and the two old-timers (Dani and Ed) have to save the day . . . For All Mankind.

The interesting thing here is that S4 appears to be the first real break point in the show, where next season they are going to have to start with a significant number of fresh cast members and storylines to keep this thing going. We knew it was going to happen, but I don't see how it almost doesn't have a 'phase two' aura about it as they go forward. Aledia, her family, and the Baldwin grandkid (and maybe Kelly) will be the only real links to the early part of the show. Gordo and Tracy on the moon seems like a lifetime ago, now!

This has easily become my second favorite show of all time. Justified still holds the top spot.

 

[1987SpaceGuy]

Fun 2 episodes, here are my thoughts on the finale.

Ilya will somehow save Miles from the CIA and KGB fellas, then they help the North Korean 1st human on Mars guy with his passed out? boss - which in turn helps the succsess of "Ed/Dev steal an asteroid"-crew.

Margo will bite the dust too, because after learning from Sergejis "suicide" and adding up 1 and 2, she now has lost nearly everything, I'd wager will be linked to sabotage Sovjet Union/NASA so Ed and Dev's "greater purpose mars and space exploration mission" will continue.

Dani will bite the dust - strike 2 after the teary video call for sure.

NASA/Home Alone guy will have a heart attack when the asteroid mission goes "wrong".

Kelly will discover life on Mars in the finale.

 

[Airmandan]

I wonder if they are going to try and flip the tables and make it seem like the NK dude was the one running all the comm equipment tied to Ranger?

 

[Commander Troi]

I know you're all probably right about Dani, but I want her to live and raise a Trekkie grandchild! *pout*

 

[E-DUB]

Re: Dani. Yeah, it's the "one week before I retire" trope, but maybe they'll play against it rather than with it.

 

[FreezeC77]

For All Mankind does have a history of toying with "death flags" for characters only to have the character survive and vice-versa.

Everything was set-up for Ed to die in S3 and then we get Karen and Molly dying in the Kennedy Space Center bombing with Ed surviving against all odds on the reentry after launching Kelly.

The show likes to hint at impending doom, then subvert that doom, but quickly inject some.