Summary
The show awkwardly tackles homophobia in a lackluster installment, with the clichéd dialogue and stereotypical villains starting to drag now.
This recap of the Apple TV+ series For All Mankind season 3, episode 6, “New Eden,” contains spoilers.
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The race to Mars is now over, with NASA and the Soviets besting Helios to that all-important first-place spot. That historic landing is now old news and each separate mission must start its next daunting task, adjusting to life on the hostile planet. In episode six, both teams hunt for water on Mars, whilst a major announcement looks set to rock the political landscape.
For All Mankind season 3, episode 6 recap
Danielle narrates about the Sojourner-1 being grounded for good, after their crash landing on Mars. She explains how they will be hitching a ride with Helios on their return journey. The crew walks to their base and try to acclimatize to their new home. The stereotypically vulgar Russians continue their hostility towards the American crew, struggling in the cramped, hot conditions. Danielle rations their water supply to half a gallon a day, whilst the Russian leader argues with her about giving orders to his team. This aggressive rivalry doesn’t look like it’s going to cool off any time soon.
Over on Helios and Danny is just as angry. The seething astronaut blames Ed for their failure to make the history books, yet in a private message to Karen, Ed actually blames Danny. He tells his ex-wife how he postponed the landing because he worried about losing Danny if they crashed. Danny of course watches all these video messages in secret, like some scheming villain. He then purposefully injures his own hand via a drilling accident and decides to have it out with Ed. Danny is told he’ll have to return to the Phoenix at the next available opportunity and is given some medicine for the pain.
Back on Earth, Margo begins her plans to provide Sergei and his family safe asylum to the US. Karen brokers a deal with Dev and returns to the Helios team in a higher role. The Russians then attempt their own deal, stating that they have discovered an untapped water reservoir on Mars and wish to use Helios’ equipment to begin extraction. Karen asks for fifty percent of their findings in return for the equipment. The Russians wearily accept, after first laughing in her face. NASA are kept out of the loop on this one and so are the Americans on Sojourner-1.
Tensions only worsen in Happy Valley for our cramped compadres when astronaut Will Tyler announces to the world that he is gay. Even their level-headed leader Danielle is annoyed Will chose this moment to come out, as the news circulates globally, overshadowing the landing. The Russians are unsympathetic, with one even fearing he’ll catch HIV from Will. Whilst on Earth, the news deeply affects both NASA and President Ellen Wilson’s regime. The law states that anyone serving in the military who is a known homosexual must be dishonorably discharged. Wilson decides to change the rules slightly, but cannot save Will from his fate. He will be removed from the military on his return. The show uses this topic to address previous beliefs and to further villainise certain characters, but it verges on pandering.
The ending
Danny continues to pop pills like candy over on Helios and Ed apologizes for treating him like a child. They decide to change the rules for Danny so he can stay on the ship, but it is unclear if this goes against Danny’s plans. The heroic leader, Ed, then makes his way to Sojourner-1 with an assortment of supplies. The crew decide to throw a party, with the Russians cracking out the Vodka and Kelly spinning some nineties pop. Midway through the celebrations, Danielle is informed of the Russian’s secret mission from Aleida (who was tipped off by Sergei) and a fight breaks out, spurred on by homophobia no less, destroying the peace. Danielle makes everyone in the party aware of the circumstances, angry with the Russians and Ed for the secrecy.
In the final scenes, Ed messages Karen about his concerns over Danny’s mental state. Danny then smashes his screen in anger. President Wilson passes a new order about homosexuality in the military and in the last moments, a man brags about having an affair with Larry Wilson. How long before this scandal comes out then?
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