IR TV Review: FOR ALL MANKIND - EPISODE 4 (“Open Source”) [Apple TV-S5]
After the context of "Home" which brought the nostalgia and finiteness of story of Ed Baldwin into focus, the next episode "Open Source" [S5 Ep 4] returns more to the conflict of politics while showing a context of ambition. Aleida, fresh off of a pep talk on Earth with her mentor and a pass by her family, makes her way to Mars but there is a certain mystery that permeates the Russian side that concerns her at her core. Nut the reality of what this actually is is not quite defined yet. Alex, Ed's grandson, having gotten a new job (his mom says he needs to start at the bottom no matter what his name is) is trying to honor his grandfather and yet he comes from a different time. His mother Kelly understands her job and yet, like all human goals, it is about competition. Even in "Star City" (a parallel show from the same time starting with the Soviets racing towards the moon - it premieres in May), human behavior and how it responds to either control or chaos is consistent.
The difference is in the modern world (though For All Mankind's current time frame is 2012 -- which would be 15 years ago). It might be interesting to see what would have happened to technology (or the pandemic) if this space race continued this way in real life. Now granted this also plays in concert with what the timeline (altered a bit) might have been done with the "2001" universe. However the big aspect is also humans versus technical advancement so it is matter of how that plays out. There is also one peripheral story that is starting to play out with a specific character on earth (her connection is specific and yet she does seem very much like another character). In this way it is also not clear yet of its impact. And yet the actor's performance and range in this role shows some definite potential. As the episode pinnacles on the next Great Race, it also shows where humans are still hindered, which is part of the point within the series: wherever one goes, there you are. B
By Tim Wassberg
