“You know, when I was a child, I liked to go to my father’s factory and enjoy the vending machine…” We’re back! And so is “For All Mankind,” complete with a new opening montage of “historical facts”, another dangerous adventure in outer space, some check-ins with old characters, and some surprising new ones.

Dan Moren and Jason Snell

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So it all comes down to this. It’s the mega-length season finale of “For All Mankind,” in which many plot threads and characters will be explosively resolved! (But what of the vending machine? Won’t anyone think of the vending machine?) We get information about our surprising new character, Dev and Margo offer final(?) pep talks, Jimmy struggles to do the right thing, Molly talks Ed through trying not to crash, and we count references to “Watchmen”, “Apollo 13”, and even “Goodfellas.” Finally, there’s the needle drop for the 21st century, but it’s showing us a rather unexpected location. See you next season!

Dan Moren and Jason Snell

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Digging out on Mars, reinventing Watergate at home, and investigating a Soviet asset. There’s a lot going on in this episode of “For All Mankind” even before the last five minutes happen!

Dan Moren and Jason Snell

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In the aftermath of last week’s landslide, this week is all about picking up the pieces. The physical pieces, but also the emotional ones. Karen gets confronted, finally, about her behavior last season—and from an unexpected source. And Danny, this year’s Karen, reveals a lot more about his own problems.

Dan Moren and Jason Snell

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On Mars, it’s drill, baby, drill. On Earth, a scandal and some dirty tricks are threatened, and a betrayal is revealed. Much to Margo’s consternation, Aleida’s still on the case of the leaked nuclear secrets. And Ed is… well, he’s the most Ed that Ed’s ever been.

Dan Moren and Jason Snell

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Tension is building on Mars—and there’s a surprising twist back on Earth, too. There’s even a spy-style dead drop. Also, Kelly thinks that an air vent is louder than it really is! Most importantly, an astronaut makes an important personal decision that adds complications into the lives of both Danielle and Ellen.

Dan Moren and Jason Snell

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To the surface we go! Who will touch down on Mars first? This episode has the answers, and after last week, this week’s ending is… a change of pace? Romance is in the recycled air, the walls are closing in on Margo, and Karen get an important cooking lesson from Wayne.

Dan Moren and Jason Snell

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This is one of the less happy episodes of “For All Mankind,” but we’re here to break it down, especially the shocking ending! Nobody said going to Mars would be easy. That wouldn’t be much of a show. Also: Dev uses democracy to hide from responsibility, Ellen reminds Margo what NASA is good at, and DJ Kelly is dropping tunes from space on her 1990s iPod.

Dan Moren and Jason Snell

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Somehow this week’s episode feels like a season finale. The moves of Helios have upended the plans of the U.S. and USSR and the result is a lot of action, both in terms of job offers and people switching sides, and in terms of the urgency of the people knocking at that hotel-room door. Is Ed the best person to be recruiting damaged astronauts? Is Aleida’s too loyal to Margo? And is Margo a tragic figure, or is she breaking bad? Black Hole Sun, won’t you come, won’t you come?

Dan Moren and Jason Snell

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This episode is all about cultures, from the increasingly top-down management at NASA to whatever you’d call fusion billionaire Dev Ayasa’s management style at independent space startup Helios. Molly and Margo clash, Dani shows grace while Ed does not, and will anyone buy Karen’s lightly-used space hotel?

Dan Moren and Jason Snell

Support this show and other shows like it on The Incomparable network by becoming a member. Members get early access to podcasts, bonus episodes, and more.