Apple TV’s Star City sends us behind the Iron Curtain of the For All Mankind universe first introduced to us in 2019. Revisiting the space race from the Soviet point of view, the two-episode premiere, “The Eyes” and “A Bear on a Chain,” returns the story to its roots. With Sergei Korolev surviving, Alexei Leonov beating Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the moon, and Anastasia Belikova becoming the first woman on the lunar surface, Star City brings us back to the moment this alternate timeline truly began.

In this podcast, we discuss whether this spin-off can match the wonder of For All Mankind, how it compares to other Soviet-themed shows like Chernobyl and The Americans, and films like The Lives of Others. We dissect the plot, favorite and least favorite moments, whether it met our expectations, and more. Welcome to Today’s Episode.