For All Mankind — Series 2 Episode 6 — Best Laid Plans — A Review

11th May, 2021.

Right … I’ve got to confess, I’ve had a rather good dinner.

Beef stew, if you’re asking: with some leek in it as one of the vegetables.

Just for a change!

And, frankly?

I’m off to bed: Moorcock’s A Nomad of The Time Stream is getting interesting.

Captain Bastable’s finding out more of what makes disgraced airman, Dempsey, tick.

But?

I’ve just spent an hour watching another episode of For All Mankind.

Series two, episode six, so you know.

I’m off to bed, right now: and will let you know more, tomorrow night!

~≈🪐≈~

12th May, 2021.

Right … 

JUST as a quick thought: before I move to the review?

If you’ve read today and yesterday’s Teaser, you’ll know the Government’s trying to introduce photo ID, in order to vote.

Something I don’t like.

So I’ve put a link to the relevant government petition in the Desktop version of Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar.

Feel free to click it, if it’s something you’re concerned about.

Let’s move on, shall we?

~≈🪐≈~

Episode 6 — Best Laid Plans — opens with a team of Russian Cosmonauts arriving at Houston: introducing us — and NASA — to the Russian’s team leader, Sergei (Piotr Adamczyk), and to Stepan (Nikola Djuricko) and Radislav (Alexander Babara).

The Russian team are in Houston, to train for the Soyuz/Apollo meeting: and so they — and their US counterparts — can discuss the technology needed for the upcoming joint mission.

Frankly?   The Russians don’t like what they see.

Whilst watching the Sea Dragon launch?   Ed and Karen (Joel Kinnaman and Shantel VanSanten) help their daughter, Kelly (Cynthy Wu) write her entrance essay* for Annapolis: by telling her about what drove them to adopted her.

Karen had developed fertility issues, whilst Ed had temporarily moved out.   But the pair had started to reconcile, after seeing a show on orphaned Vietnamese boat people.

Later that same evening?   Danielle and Nathan (Krys Marshall and Josh Duvendeck) take Stepan and Radislav (Nikola Djuricko and Alexander Babara), their Russian counterparts, to the Outpost: the Russian pair both wanted burgers.

Whilst Danielle and Stepan talk over their respective motives for what they do?

Sergei (Piotr Adamczyk) and Margo (Wren Schmidt) meet in secret at the 11:59: after Sergei manages to very discreetly drop hints to Margo: that he’s being monitored

The pair are inspired to design the docking mechanism: one that doesn’t give state secrets to the other power, and one that sees the pair getting help from Aleida (Coral Peña).

The episode closes: with Danielle and Nathan arriving at Star City, the Cosmonaut training area in Russia.

To a very hostile welcome … 

~≈🪐≈~

Now … what did I think… ?

Best Laid Plans is another well done piece of TV: it’s something that’s moving the story forward, but has possible ups and downs.

Frankly?   I don’t know that the rivalry between Gordo and Sam (Michael Dorman and Jeff Hephner) was something that appealed: nor the burgeoning romance between Ellen and Pam (Jodi Balfour and Meghan Leathers).

As valid a part of the story as these scenes are, it’s a little too soap opera for me.

Saying that, Best Laid Plans is still a very watchable episode: romance included.

It’s also one that caught me from the start: the opening scenes — where Margot and the team welcome their Russian visitors — is extremely funny, something that has to be watched, to be appreciated.

And the scene in the Outpost: with Danielle and Stepan talking about the sad life of Laika†: the first living being in space … was a highlight of the episode!

And heart wrenching … !

I can understand the why Laika was treated the way she was … but that doesn’t make it easier to accept: and Danielle’s speech only heightens the sadness.

At any rate … ?

I’m going to be watching episode 7 of For All Mankind, next Tuesday: and telling you what I thought, the day after.

I’ll — hopefully — see you next Wednesday!

*        Unless I miss my guess, that’s an Apple// Kelly’s using!   You’d think I could spot one a mile off.

†        That link takes you through to the Wikipedia entry.   It’s nice to know she got a statue, if nothing else … !