Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intriguing historical fiction space drama has cursing, sex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
For All Mankind
What's the Story?
FOR ALL MANKIND is a dramatic historical fiction series that features an alternate universe where the global space race continues. After the unexpected landing of a Russian cosmonaut on the moon two weeks before Apollo 11 is scheduled to launch, the United States is desperate to regain the lead in the space race. While astronauts like Edward Baldwin (Joel Kinnaman) and Gordo Stevens (Michael Dorman), engineer Margo Madison (Wrenn Schmidt), and wife and pilot Tracy Stevens (Sarah Jones) are among those hoping to take an active role in NASA's new future, the U.S. government is anxious to keep the Soviets from using the moon as a strategic Cold War vantage point. As a result, the agency finds itself pushing unexpected boundaries, something that a girl named Aleida Rosales (Olivia Trujillo), a recent Mexican immigrant, hopes will lead her towards a brighter future.
Is It Any Good?
This well-written, well-produced series presents an intriguing alternative history of space exploration, the impact of which reaches beyond space travel and geopolitical politics. Much of For All Mankind is told from the point of view of fictional characters, but the world feels authentic thanks to the use and manipulation of archival news footage and the insertion of seemingly unrelated, real-life historic events. Some of these occasions play out as they did in real life, but others change as a result of the Soviets' lead in the space race, making the show all the more compelling. Adding to this is the show's nod at some contemporary issues, including the slowly evolving role of women in the sciences, government budget cuts, and the connection between immigration and the American Dream. Even if you're not a fan of space stuff, For All Mankind is an absorbing drama that delivers smart entertainment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about For All Mankind's depiction of the space race. Why were the United States and the Soviet Union competing to land on the moon first? Did it make a difference in the relationship between the two countries at that time?
In the show, the American public is stunned by the Soviet landing of the first person on the moon. Do you think the Soviet public felt this way during the real-life U.S. moon landing? How did the media play a role in their reaction?
How did the role of women evolve in space exploration when the Soviets took the lead in the space race? Did these changes happen in real life? How can we support professional women in the field of space science?
How do the characters demonstrate perseverance, courage, and teamwork? Why are these important strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 1, 2019
- Cast : Joel Kinnaman , Michael Dorman , Wrenn Schmidt
- Network : Apple TV
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Activism ( LGBTQ+ rights ) , History , Space , STEM ( Science )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Awards : Emmy - Emmy Award Winner , Emmy - Emmy Award Nominee
- Last updated : March 23, 2026
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