For All Mankind - Season 5
- Sacha L. Roy
- 13 hours ago
- 6 min read
After a two-and-a-half-year wait, For All Mankind is finally back. But with Mars no longer being just a frontier and becoming a world of its own, did the show successfully evolve — or did it lose some of what made it special? That's what I'm answering in this video.
Recap
As always, the season opens with one of For All Mankind's signature news montages, catching us up on the years following the Goldilocks heist.
The fallout is enormous. Samantha Massey is sent to prison, while Ed Baldwin is found guilty but remains under house arrest on Mars because of his declining health. Most of the others receive presidential pardons, but the political damage has already been done.
Control of Goldilocks' iridium transforms the global economy. The M-7 becomes the M-6 after North Korea is expelled, creating a monopoly that throws Earth into recession and sparks growing tensions around the world. In response, North Korea joins forces with China, Brazil and several other nations to form the ISN, creating a rival alliance determined to challenge the M-6.
Meanwhile, Mars keeps growing. Happy Valley is no longer just an outpost—it has become a thriving settlement of around 5,000 people, complete with families, schools and, for the first time, its own police force: the Mars Peacekeepers.
Their first case is unlike anything humanity has ever faced. After Alex Baldwin discovers a dead body, the settlement is shaken by what appears to be the first murder ever committed on another planet. Lee Jung-Gil is quickly arrested, but not everyone believes the case is as straightforward as it seems.
Ed certainly doesn't. When he learns Lee will be sent back to Earth for trial, he stages one final act of rebellion, helping smuggle him into ISN territory where he is beyond M-6 jurisdiction. The rescue costs Ed dearly, however, and shortly afterward, the legendary astronaut succumbs to the illness he had kept hidden from almost everyone.
But Lee's escape doesn't end the mystery.
One of Mars Peacekeeper Boyd begins questioning the official investigation and follows a trail that leads to secret nighttime activity on Kuragin's space elevator, suggesting there is far more to the murder than anyone first realized.
At the same time, another discovery could change humanity's future forever. A probe sent to Saturn's moon Titan returns evidence that may point to extraterrestrial life. Kelly Baldwin immediately pushes for a crewed mission, believing the opportunity is too important to lose. After convincing Dev Ayesa to back the project, preparations begin for what could become mankind's most ambitious expedition yet.
Back on Mars, however, another crisis is brewing. While helping Dev develop his vision for a self-sufficient Martian city, Alex Baldwin uncovers confidential M-6 plans to automate much of Happy Valley's operations—plans that would send nearly the entire civilian population back to Earth. Unable to stay silent, Alex and his girlfriend Lily leak the documents to the public.
The reaction is immediate. Thousands of Martian residents pour into the streets, furious over a future being decided without them. What begins as a protest quickly spirals out of control when the Mars Peacekeepers attempt to break up the crowds. As tensions boil over, violence erupts, shots are fired, and the protesters overwhelm the authorities.
With Governor Polivanov and dozens of M-6 personnel taken hostage, the Sons and Daughters of Mars suddenly find themselves in control of Happy Valley.
Earth refuses. President Braggs orders a blockade of Mars, hoping to force the colony into submission. Months pass, supplies grow scarce, and the standoff hardens into a political crisis unlike anything humanity has faced before.
Highlights / Strengths
One of the biggest strengths of this season is how well planned the overall storyline feels. What impressed me the most is that virtually every major seed planted earlier in the season was used later on. It gives the impression that the writers knew exactly where they wanted the story to go, rather than simply adding new ideas along the way.
I also really enjoyed the storytelling choice in the final episode, where the show revisits the events of Episode 9 from another perspective. I thought it was a great way to set up the final confrontation, because instead of simply rushing into the climax, the show took the time to show us the pieces that led everyone to that moment.
I know that not everyone will agree, but I did enjoy the updated set of Happy Valley. To me, it feels like a natural evolution of what we saw in Season 4. Happy Valley has grown, and seeing it evolve into something closer to an actual town was interesting. I especially liked what I’ll call the commercial district, because it helped sell the idea that Mars was becoming more than just a research facility; there’s also a local economy going on.
I also want to mention our original characters. While I was disappointed that we only got a few minutes with Danielle Poole, I was still happy we got to see her again and get confirmation that she appears to be living a good life after everything she went through.
And then there’s Ed Baldwin. The send-off we got for him was simply perfect. The walk down the hallway in those flight suits before one of his first flight with Gordo, followed by his conversations with Karen and Shane, was a beautiful tribute to one of the most important characters in the series.
As for Margo Madison, she might not have had the biggest role this season, but I thought she still served an important purpose. She became someone Aleida and her daughter could turn to for advice, sharing the experience and lessons she gained over the years. Even if this is the last time we see her, she still had a meaningful role to play.
Critique
My biggest issue with Season 5 is that some storylines introduced early on feel like they lose importance once the political conflict takes over.
The season starts with a huge event: the first murder on Mars. It leads to Ed’s final actions, and Boyd’s investigation reveals that there is much more happening behind the scenes with Kuragin. But once the automation plans are leaked and the riots begin, that entire storyline almost disappears from the main narrative. Boyd does eventually uncover the truth, but the payoff feels much smaller than the setup suggested.
My other main critique is that I missed the science and exploration side of For All Mankind. The Titan storyline was interesting, but it felt more like a way to support the larger political story rather than being the focus itself. The discovery of methane-based lifeforms is a massive moment, but the season ends just as we are beginning to understand what that could mean.
For a show that has always balanced political drama with the excitement of exploring the unknown, I felt Season 5 leaned a little too heavily toward the political side.
Acting
The third star goes to Wrenn Schmidt as Margo Madison. I know we barely see Margo this season, but she brings the same intelligence and emotional weight that has always defined Margo in every scene she’s in
The second star goes to Mireille Enos as Celia Boyd. She does a great job balancing the determination and intensity of Boyd’s investigation with the vulnerability of someone trying to find her place in a rapidly changing world.
And the first star goes to Coral Peña as Aleida Rosales. She does an excellent job showing Aleida’s frustration, ambition, and the difficult choices that come with trying to shape the future of Mars.
Final Thoughts
Overall, even if I’m disappointed that we didn’t get as much of the science and exploration side of For All Mankind this season, the strength of the overall story more than compensates for it.
To me, Season 5 is one of the strongest seasons we’ve had in years. After some careful consideration, I still think Season 1 remains the best season of the show—it was the one that established the tone and showed us what For All Mankind could become. But Season 2 and Season 5 are very close behind, and I would honestly put them tied for second place. After that, there’s a bigger gap. Season 4 would be next, followed by Season 3.
With Season 6 already confirmed as the final season, I’m excited to see how the story concludes and whether the show can build on everything Season 5 has set up.
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