For All Mankind — Series 5 Episode 5 — “Svoboda” — A Review

4th August, 2026.

“Svoboda”.

The Introduction.

At the moment … ?

It’s a Tuesday afternoon: and I’ve got a Pretenders’ tune, “Middle of the Road”, on in the background.

On repeat.

Because?   Because AppleTV are airing a version of Neuromancer in a few months time: a Pretenders tune is entirely appropriate, as Neuromancer’s writer based the look of one character on Pretenders lead singer, Chrissie Hynde.

I want the song repeated because it seems to be a good one to type to.

I’m also using it as I write the text you’re reading, a review of an episode of For All Mankind.

And as the song’s used in the sound track of series two?

Well … yeah … pressing Repeat seemed appropriate … 

~≈🪐≈~

At any rate: it’s Tuesday.

And … ?

I’m going to be having dinner, then watching “Svoboda”, the fifth episode of For All Mankind’s fifth series.

Once Chrissie stops singing … 

~≈🪐≈~

Part One.

The Summary.

Episode 5 — “Svoboda” — opens with a flashback that showing us Irina Morozova (Svetlana Efremova), the former head of Star City, as she is taken to Krasnoyarsk Gulag at the end of Season 4.

It’s only after some nineteen months that Irina is released: after blackmailing her main interrogator.

After the opening credits?

We are back in the modern day: and being shown reports from both US and Soviet news channels, reports that tell us the two governments — and their associated space companies — are dealing with the leak.

What the news channels don’t show us?

Is Alex and Lily (Sean Kaufman and Ruby Cruz) revelling in the fact their leak has provoked protests on Mars.

Unknown to Lily, her father, Miles (Tony Kebbell), talks ro Sheriff Palmer James (Myk Watford).   The Sheriff knows Lily leaked incriminating documents to news channel employers.

Sheriff James wants to know exactly who she got them from.

There’s more going on.

In the wake of his confrontation with the Sheriff, Miles argues with Lily: he wants to know who gave her the file that everyone now has: she is determined to use its publication for the good of the people of Mars.

In the wake of a similar conversation with Dev Ayesha (Edi Gathegi), Alex is talking to his mother, Kelly (Cynthy Wu): and is both distracted … and keeping his role in the leak very quiet.

To top that off … ?

There are protests across Happy Valley: protests joined by Alex and Lily.

Protest that — unbeknownst to them — have issues.

Sheriff James has been given very specific orders on how to deal with the protests.

There’s going to be a riot … 

~≈🪐≈~

5th August, 2026.

Part Two.

Thoughts and Observations.

Now, what did I make of “Svoboda”: of this fifth episode?

One thing I can tell you, is what a quick Google search told me.

That this episode’s title, “Svoboda” is a word in many Slavic languages: and roughly means ‘freedom’, or ‘liberty’.

Given that one character — Irina — is shown blackmailing her way to freedom, another, Margo Madison, is still serving time, and given that the Mars Is Ours protestors are a burgeoning Free Mars movement?

The title seems very appropriate.

Those protestors?

Those protestors are goaded into a riot towards the end of the episode.

I have a confession.

I read 2000AD as a youngster: and was riveted by the Judge Dredd strip.

So … ?

The riots triggered by the harsh actions of the Mars Peacekeepers, and the way the MPK dealt with the riots?

Reminded me heavily of how the Judges in Judge Dredd react to riots in Mega-City One.

It’s probably got something to do with the Peacekeepers’ riot helmets: even though they’re very far from a similar design.

What else can I tell you … ?

A lot, possibly.

We see Alex outed* as the person who leaked the Automation Plans to Lily: and getting no more than a ticking off from Dev, for doing so.

Something I felt should have got Alex more punishment than he did: although I suspect Alex may face consequences over the next few episodes.

What else … ?

Graffiti: we saw the graffiti.

I don’t know who does the set design on For All Mankind, but the graffiti in this series — in bright blues, reds and yellows — is really eye catching: especially as its on the start, metallic grey, walls of Happy Valley.

It leaps out at you.

It’s a small bit of set dressing: but it’s an eye catching piece, that adds to the political ferment Mars is facing.

And, again, reminds me of a Judge Dredd storyline: of the wall scrawling storyline that introduced us to Chopper and Phantom, and added more urban decay to the walls of Mega City One.

Just like seeing the phrase “Free Mars” adds an air of revolution.

There’s a lot going on in this episode.

~≈🪐≈~

6th August, 2026.

Part Three.

In Dispatches.

OK … I’ve mentioned revolution, haven’t I … ?

Or, at least, the riots that could be easily mistaken for one.

The climax to “Svoboda” shows us the riots unleashed by Sheriff James’s heavy handed actions.

It’s the scene that got me thinking of Mega-City One,

Bar one scene: the episode ends with a close up on the face of Governor Polivanov (Costa Ronin).

A very nicely done close up zoom.

These sorts of things ar always a mix of the direction, the camera work: and whatever it is the actor’s doing with their face.

Whatever Costa Ronin was doing … ?

I felt was well done: that one close up is the height of a competent performance.

~≈🪐≈~

Part Four.

Finally.

So … what DID I think of “Svoboda”?

Of this fifth episode of For All Mankind?

It’s another well done episode: and one that caught my attention in many ways.

About my only complaint?

Is one I’ve made already: that Alex has faced little in the way of punishment for his actions.

Beyond a ticking-off from Dev Ayesha.

I’ve also said Alex may well suffer in the longer term: we’ll have to see.

Beyond that?

“Svoboda” is a well done, and menacing, episode.

One that is encouraging me to come back, next week.

“Svoboda”.

★★★☆

~≈🪐≈~

Part Five.

Last Words.

With all that said?

That’s where I’m going to be leaving things … for now.

At least, until next Tuesday: when I’ll be watching “No Sudden Moves”, the next episode of For All Mankind.

In the meantime, feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel, feel free to tip, feel free to try the Daily Teasers … 

And if you’ve enjoyed what I’m doing … ?

Come back, next week.

Have a good time!

*        I always thought ‘outed’ was spelled with a double ‘T’: like gutted, or butted.   But apparently not …