Apple TV+’s 5-Part Sci-Fi Masterpiece Rewrites The Rules Of Space Dramas

One five-season space drama from Apple TV manages to reinvent the rules of the sci-fi subgenre, and it is a must-watch as a result. Sci-fi TV has been enjoying a renaissance since the early 2020s, with a deluge of superb series making the genre one of the small screen’s most in-demand hot properties.

There are ambitious hits like Silo and Foundation, The Expanse’s upcoming spiritual successor, The Captive’s War, and even a pair of dueling cyberpunk series, Blade Runner: 2099 and Apple TV’s William Gibson adaptation, Neuromancer. The discerning sci-fi fan has no shortage of shows to check out, but Apple TV’s For All Mankind is still unique among them.

For All Mankind Isn’t Your Average Space Opera

Unlike most space operas, Apple TV’s alternate history For All Mankind takes a different approach to the subject of space travel. Set in a reality where the space race between the Soviet Union and the US never ended, the show begins with the Soviet Union beating NASA to the moon, thus devastating morale at the US institution.

Soon, NASA redoubles its efforts, but the Soviet space program’s focus on diversity means that the US program must alter its own plans to avoid falling behind. This has a knock-on effect that allows For All Mankind to offer a different version of 20th-century US history, almost like a Star Trek series that is set in a rewritten recent past rather than the future.

With a massive ensemble cast, For All Mankind’s five seasons fulfill the promise of the show’s title by depicting the unexpected ways that the transformed face of its fictional space race redefines life, culture, and society on Earth, too. Although the show makes it to Mars by season 3, Apple TV’s sci-fi hit is just as concerned with humanity’s home as its space setting.

For All Mankind’s Approach Highlights The Space Sci-fi Format’s Versatile Potential

In this regard, For All Mankind differs from many space-set sci-fi dramas, from The Expanse to Star Trek’s short-lived Starfleet Academy. Instead of solely centering on humanity’s exploration of space, the show also focuses on how its alternate version of the space race has impacted the world’s history. In the process, the deservedly acclaimed series explores stories the genre often ignores.

By revisiting the history of the 20th century instead of looking forward into the future, For All Mankind is able to reinvent the familiar space drama subgenre in a way that feels fresh, innovative, and original. Although there are plenty of sci-fi shows for viewers to choose from, Apple TV’s For All Mankind deserves credit for doing something fresh and new with its setup.