[Review] For All Mankind Season 4

The fourth season of For All Mankind takes a further leap into imaginative territory. While the previous three seasons revolved around the race to land on the Moon and Mars, this season ventures into asteroid mining. However, this setting is merely an introduction. The past three seasons progressed from the US-Soviet competition to a three-way race involving the US, the Soviet Union, and private enterprises. In this season, these three parties collaborate on mining, but the conflict shifts to tensions between different classes of space workers. Many science fiction works use the universe, time and space, and life as their themes, which might sound distant from real life, but they invariably address society, family, and humanity. This season's story explores the conflict between classes, the lives of the working population and the vulnerable, as well as the oppression and resistance they face. Consequently, the show introduces new characters, depicting space life from perspectives very different from previous seasons, which is indeed a significant breakthrough.

This season also continues the storylines of characters from the previous season. After Margo (Wrenn Schmidt) fled to the Soviet Union, US-Soviet relations eased, and just when the Cold War arc seemed to be coming to an end, she becomes entangled in a coup. The show itself uses an alternate history as its selling point, and the writers continue to try to inject novelty into the Soviet storyline this season. While deviating from history, the plot points are incredibly realistic, which is admirable. Besides Margo's story, the conflict between Ed (Joel Kinnaman) and Danielle (Krys Marshall) intensifies, and it seems to be finally reaching its climax towards the end of this season. It remains to be seen what fate awaits them, and we also look forward to where the season finale will lead the audience in space.

Synopsis:

Rocketing into the new millennium in the eight years since season three, Happy Valley has rapidly expanded its footprint on Mars by turning former foes into partners. Now 2003, the focus of the space program has turned to the capture and mining of extremely valuable, mineral-rich asteroids that could change the future of both Earth and Mars. But simmering tensions between the residents of the now-sprawling international base threaten to undo everything they are working toward.

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Photo and Source: Apple TV+