For All Mankind — Series 1 Episode 7 — Hi Bob — A Review

4th February, 2020.

Just in case you’re one … ?

I’ve a blu-ray copy of Groundhog Day sitting around for a little while.

And finally getting around to turning it into a video I can stream to my AppleTV.

Basically?   I’ve used MakeMKV to turn the contents on the Blu-Ray into a .mkv file.

And now have a copy of Handbrake — the version on my ageing MacPro — doing the dog work of transforming that in to an mp4 I can stream.

I’ve got a bit of a race happening: I’ve ALSO got the transcoding happening on my main machine.

It’s taking a while … as the file’s a 4k file!

We’ll have to see which one finishes, first.

~≈†≈~

At any rate … ?

Whilst all that’s happening?   Or, at least, starting … ?

I felt it was time to catch up with some TV.

Yes: you’re right.   Again.

I’ve caught the next episode of For All Mankind, series 1.

~≈†≈~

Episode 7 — Hi Bob — opens on the Jamestown NASA base.

Ed, Gordo and Dani (Joel Kinnaman, Michael Dorman and Krys Marshall) have been stuck on the base for 86 days.

Ever since Apollo 23 exploded on the launch pad.

The relevant part on Apollo 24?

Is taking longer than expected to replace.

And, whilst the team has plenty to do?

They’re alway getting cabin fever.

Gordo, in particular?   Is finding the situation tough: especially when Ed grounds him.

At the back of all this … ?

At the back of all this, the team are convinced they’re being spied on by the crew of the Soviet base … 

And the rare video of The Bob Newhart Show that’s providing a link to home is wearing thin.

Back on Earth?

Ellen and Larry (Jodi Balfour and Nate Corddry) are forced to marry: NASA doesn’t want the scandal of a couple of happily gay people getting out.

Ed’s son Shane is getting increasingly rowdy … 

And Dani’s husband Clayton is finding life post-Vietnam as difficult as Gordo is finding the Moon.

Things … are getting tough … 

~≈†≈~

Now … was Hi Bob a good episode?

No.

It’s fantastic!

Sometimes, some of the best drama takes place in a confined space, with a minimal cast: and Hi Bob certainly matches that.

You literally feel Dani’s heartbreak, know that she has to do her job: and that there’s only so much that she can do for the man she loves … 

And only so much she and Ed can do for Gordo, their co-worker.

You can feel the crew’s desperation when their VCR eats a prized Bob Newhart tape.

Kinnaman and Marshall?   Put in good solid work.

But the star of tonight’s episode has to be Michael Dormer, as Gordo: slowly breaking down under the pressures of confinement, and imagining ants crawling up and down his neck … whilst he’s suited up and to side the base.

Frankly?

I know Apple’s commissioned a second series of For All Mankind.

Given the watchability of this first series, I don’t blame them.

Hi Bob, and For All Mankind?

Hi Bob is show us exactly how fantastic the series is.