For All Mankind - Season 2 - Apple TV+

Recap

You will be warned, there might be little spoilers ahead.

At the end of season 1 of For All Mankind, we were left, in the after-credit scene, with the launch of the massive Sea Dragon rocket, following nearly a decade-long time jump.

Season 2 begins with a montage of headlines and news clippings, updating us on the events that transpired during that decade in the For All Mankind timeline.  Surprisingly, John Lennon survives his assassination attempt, but Pope John Paul II sadly does not.  Regrettably, the “Miracle on Ice” fails to materialize, but Ronald Reagan becomes President years earlier.

It is shown that NASA is having a sizeable revenue stream from patents and discoveries made during its space program activities. Inventions like the electric cars or a major breakthrough in nuclear fusion. All the revenue makes NASA basically self-sufficient.

As for our favourite returning characters? Gordo and Tracy have divorced; Tracy has become the star face of NASA, lives the glamorous life, and gets remarried in the first episode. Gordo battles alcoholism, gives lectures about his time in space. He will be ready for his own redemption during the season.

Ed Baldwin took a desk job at NASA as Chief of the Astronaut Office, choosing who goes where and when. It’s shown that he purchased with Karen the Outpost bar, which she manages full time. They also adopted a daughter, Kelly, who’s now a teen looking at college at the start of the season.

Danielle Poole loses her husband; her reputation is still sullied by the event on the moon where she broke her arm and had to be brought back by Gordo. Molly is on the moon, loving her time. Ellen commanded the Jamestown moon base, and gets promoted as Administrator at the start of season 2. Lastly, Margo becomes Director of the space center.

At the end of episode 1, there is a major solar storm. Molly, who was safe inside of a perfectly fine shelter, decides to go out in order to save Wubbo, a fellow astronaut. They both get exposed to way too much radiation, but Molly managed to hide it from everyone by leaving her dosimeter safely hidden in the shelter while she was out getting Wubbo. It is said that the level of radiation they were exposed to is unheard of, and medical staff don’t know what impact it will have on their lives, only that they will most likely get sick.

In spite of all the Cold War tension still very much present, it is announced in episode 2 that the president gives a new mission to NASA in a tentative moment of cooperation amid the Cold War rivalry—making a handshake between Soviet cosmonauts and NASA astronauts. The cooperation that will be required to make it happen will drive one of the main storylines of the season.

In episode 3, astronauts find out that the Soviets took over their mining site where they previously found major deposits of lithium. This takeover from the Soviets is naturally seen as an aggressive move that threatens the US dominance on the moon. It will give the final push to have a full-on militarization on the moon. This will drive a second major storyline for the season.

In episode 4, Ed decides that he has had enough of the desk job and assigns himself a spot as the captain of the Pathfinder mission, the inaugural flight of the next generation of spaceship. Not before giving Poole her first command in the Apollo-Soyuz handshake, and assigning Gordo to a spot back to the moon.

For All Mankind season 2 official trailer

Highlights / Strengths

Be warned there are major spoilers from now on!

Season 2 excels in its alternate history storytelling, with the opening montage immediately immersing viewers in a world where history veered into fascinating new directions. Relating to the alternate history, the Cold War tension is woven seamlessly into the story and brings the series high-stakes political intrigue—the militarization of the moon.

Character development during the season is almost spotless. What to say about Gordo’s redemption arc except that it’s compelling and heartfelt, while Tracy’s rise to celebrity status within NASA adds rich layers to her storyline. Ed Baldwin’s inner conflict between family life and the call to space provides emotional depth, and Danielle Poole’s long-awaited command is a satisfying progression of her journey.

Visually, it’s a continuation of the first season; it delivers cinematic space sequences, and the upgraded Jamestown base is detailed and feels realistic.

Critique

While the season is strong, some storylines feel rushed or underexplored. Some others just feel wrong. Did we really need a “Stacy’s mom” story between Karen and Danny Stevens?

The season certainly started too many threads, and it felt like the writers had trouble tying up all threads that needed to be tied up.

Final Thoughts

Season 2 of For All Mankind builds on the solid foundation of its debut season and confidently raises the stakes. Its blend of reimagined history, personal drama, and high-tension space exploration makes for a riveting watch. While a few arcs could have used more breathing room, the season ultimately succeeds in delivering a thrilling spectacle and leaving us fans eager for the next chapter in this alternate space race saga.