Abhiroop Das
Created by Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi, Apple TV+’s science fiction series ‘For All Mankind‘ ushers us into the contemporary era with its fifth season, following an alternate history where the space race never ends. Though the Soviet Union bags an early win with the first moon landing in this story, by the fourth season, it is America that has access to some of the most precious resources in the universe. Following a timeskip, we enter a fully reformed Happy Valley colony, which is now several generations strong and has its own culture and Martian lifestyle. Episode 1 ends with Lee being arrested for being a suspect in the first murder case on the planet, and this episode, titled ‘The Hard Six,’ builds off of that mystery. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Life is Potentially Found on Titan at Last
‘For All Mankind’ season 5 episode 2 picks up where the premiere left off, as Lee Jung-gil, better known as the first man on Mars, is arrested and unceremoniously walked out into the street. While he is accused of killing a Korean man named Yoon Tae-min, no one in his circle, and especially Ed, believes this to be the truth. However, they are left completely helpless due to the curfews imposed on Martian cities, where a gathering of more than a handful of people is enough to warrant an arrest. Meanwhile, things seem to be looking up at the Helios headquarters, as their probes pick up the first signs of life on Titan. Helios satellites have been deployed at Jupiter’s largest moon for quite some time, but only now have they picked up on what appears to be protein synthesis, signaling bioactivity.
Kelly has spent almost a decade looking for ancient life on Mars, and when news about Titan reaches her ears, she is left with mixed emotions. Still, the fact that she is called urgently means that they might still have a role for her. Elsewhere, things seem to be heating up at the prison, especially when Ed comes in demanding to meet his friend. When his request is denied, Ed tries to take off his ankle monitor, which he got for participating in the insurrection a decade earlier. That plan goes just as poorly, though, and Ed ironically finds himself in a cell right next to Lee. Although the duo discussed Yoon merely hours before this arrest, Lee is still adamant about his innocence, and Ed believes him. This can hardly stop what’s coming, however, as Lee is scheduled to be shipped back to Earth for a court trial.
Lee is Threatened With Deportation to Earth
While North Korea was originally a member of the M-7 Martian nations, we learn that it was ousted sometime prior, meaning that all of the Korean citizens settled here are technically not citizens of Mars. What worries Ed even more is how judicial processes on Earth can be easily manipulated, especially when Lee has a target on his back. Ed is not the only one with concerns, as Miles and Amanda plan to hold a community meeting and figure out what they can do. Miles is particularly famous for leading rebellions back in the day, but this fact by itself is a double-edged sword. We see this firsthand when he is secretly summoned by the police and asked to become their informant. When he refuses, they threaten to make the truth about how he sold his friends public, leaving Miles with little choice.
Once out of his day-detention, Ed immediately heads to meet Dev along with a few of his trusted astronaut buddies, only to learn that the Helios CEO’s hands are tied as well. Having invested his all into the Meru project, Dev can’t exactly risk any clashes with the government, and while he promises to give Lee the best legal representation back on Earth, that simply isn’t enough. Meanwhile, May, the officer who first figured out that Yoon was murdered, still isn’t satisfied with the results of the investigation. Following up on her own, she asks Lee’s wife a few questions, only to learn that Yoon had been working illegally for Kuragin, suggesting that something deeper might be at play. Nearly at his wits’ end, Ed seeks out the one person he doesn’t wish to: the mayor. Although things start out cordially between them, it soon becomes apparent that the mayor isn’t interested in fairness either and still thinks of Lee as a threat to the Soviets and the US alike.
Ed Rescues Lee Nearly at the Cost of His Own Life
At Helios headquarters, Kelly learns that the protein signals found on Titan are still new and very erratic, which means that the company has to send more probes down there. Kelly believes that it should be a human-led project instead of a machine one, as delaying things too much might give competing companies an edge. However, the existing leader of the mission disagrees and believes that her suggestion is motivated by self-interest. While Kelly denies it at the start, a dinner conversation with Ed and Alex helps her realize that there really is no harm in laying claim to something she excels at. Before long, Dev settles the argument by leaning in Kelly’s favor, and she is declared the lead astronaut on the mission to Titan.
That night, Ed and the astronauts gather at Miles’ place to discuss a plan for Lee, and the discussion very quickly takes a radical turn. Ed believes that they must break Lee out of prison, but Miles is the first to back out, both because of the impracticality involved and his own demons. Almost half of the group leaves after this, leaving Ed with a core group of three friends and a plan that might just work. Elsewhere, May spies on Kuragin’s facilities, only to find that they are doing illegal nighttime shipments to build something. When she asks for details at the reception, however, she is curtly escorted out, confirming signs of foul play. The next morning sets the stage for numerous setpieces, as Lee is escorted out of prison and into the aircraft that is supposed to get him off the planet.
Just as the craft detaches from the base, however, the cabin pressure drops steeply, rendering both Lee and his two guards unconscious. Unbeknownst to them, Ed and Ronnie have taken the plan hostage. As Ronnie tries to get the oxygen mask to Lee, he is shot in the back by a barely conscious guard, which means that it is now up to Lee and Ed to steer the plane to the abandoned Korean basecamp, which cannot be infiltrated by the M-6. A chase ensues just as May comes in with her suspicions about Kuragin, leaving the officers with mixed feelings. Still, it is their job to stop Ed from touching down at the base, and even though he wheezes and coughs up blood throughout the journey, he ultimately outpaces them. While Lee locks himself in the base just in time, May walks into the cockpit to find Ed unconscious, but barely alive.
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