For All Mankind — Series 4 Episode 2 — “Have a Nice Sol” — A Review

20th November, 2023: the Intro.

Yes: it’s officially Monday.

And potatoes are being boiled.

Quite what I’ll have with them, I don’t know: I fancy chicken kyiv … but don’t actually have any!

What I do have … ?

Is slightly blurred vision.

That’s a result of a diabetic retinopathy test, earlier today.

Here’s hoping the results are good.

~≈👁️≈~

At any rate?

But the time I’ve finished dinner?

I’ll be ready to watch “Have a Nice Sol”, the next episode of For All Mankind, tonight.

I’ll have my review up, tomorrow.

I’ll see you then … 

~≈🚀≈~

21st November, 2023: “Have a Nice Sol”.

Episode 2 — “Have a Nice Sol” — opens with a hopper descending from low Mars orbit: with a consignment of new crew-members.

A batch that includes new commander, Danielle Poole (Krys Marshall) and worker, Miles Dale (Toby Kebbell).

Miles?   Finds himself in at the sharp end of things.

Not only is his immediate job not what he expected.

But?

• He’s sharing a barracks with three other people.
• He’s going to be repairing parts of the base, rather than working on the Martian surface.
• The pay is not what he expected.
• And communications with his family are on the fritz!

Meanwhile, Danielle?

Is warmly welcomed by Ed Baldwin (Joel Kinnaman): who tells her that, yes, there are problems with the communications satellite, problems causing deep morale issues.

But that Helios are too cheap to fix things fast.

Back on Earth?

Back on Earth, Kelly (Cynthy Wu) is showing her new boss — Administrator Hobson (Daniel Stern) — what she does: only to be told her project is to be axed.

Whilst Aleida (Cora Peña) makes a brave attempt to re-start work: only to find her mental health making it harder than she expected.

Over in the Soviet Union … ?

We see Margo Madison begin a new day in her adopted part of the Union.

Only to notice several things are wrong.

There’s too many heavily armed police on the street, for a start … 

~≈🚀≈~

Now … 

What did I make of “Have a Nice Sol”?

Of this second episode of For All Mankind?

Something that caught my eye was some of the design work.

The design work for the underground sections of the Happy Valley base are something I found reminiscent of the Silo in Silo: something I’ve recently seen, but not reviewed here.

I may or may not change my mind, there: it all depends on the time.

At any rate … ?

Some of the design for AppleTV+’s Silo seemed similar to For All Mankind’s Happy Valley base.

The doors in particular!

Granted, Happy Valley’s sets, are very different to the Silo’s grungy interiors.

That’s no big surprise, I think: as the two shows have different production designers.

But?

I can’t help but wonder if there’s some sort of common thread going through the two shows: beyond the simple fact they’ve been commissioned by and for AppleTV+!

I can’t tell you for sure.

The episode itself … ?

Is something of a scene setter.

Or, at least?

It’s picking up from “Glasnost”, and elaborating on things.

The main thread of the first act?

Is a highlight: showing us Miles Dale frustrated with a job he can’t get out of, and Danielle realising that — while the base is doing good work — there’s something rotten in this latter day Denmark.

Does this bode well for the fourth series as a whole?

With Joel Kinnaman’s Ed as a possible dragon, to be eventually defeated by Danielle’s Saint George?

I honestly couldn’t tell you.

But I suspect the story involving Danielle, Ed and Miles … is going to be central.

And very well worth watching.

“Have a Nice Sol”.

★★★★

~≈🚀≈~

Just as my usual last word?

Yes: I’m going to be watching the next episode, next week.

I’ll be lining up “The Bear Hug” for Monday, 27th November: and posting my written and video reviews on the 28th November.

In between now and then … ?

I’m planning on watching — and hopefully reviewing — “The Daleks in Colour”: watching on the 23rd and having my written and video reviews up on the 24th November.

Then watching the first of the Dr Who anniversary specials — “The Star Beast” — on the 25th November, release written and video reviews the night after.

If you’d like to subscribe to my YouTube channel?

You’ll see those float past at a rate of knots.

I’ll see you then!