For All Mankind — Series 4 Episode 6 — “Leningrad” — A Review

18th December, 2023: the Introduction.

Right ... it's Monday.

And ... ?

Dinner is, as ever, cooking: steak and chips.

With vegetables.

Frankly?

I'm worried.

Because I'm very aware that the introduction video on this post ... isn't up to my usual standard.

Basically?

My usual daily driver -- a 21.5", 2017 iMac -- is being repaired: and it's going to cost a fortune to do.

Times are tough: and I hate to ask.

But, if you can help, financially -- by pressing this link, or pressing the Donate button in the sidebar -- I'd appreciate.

~≈🛸≈~

At any rate?

It's Monday, 18th December, the last of the cards are posted -- after forgetting to take them with me, when I went out -- dinner's doing, and?

I'm going to be watching “Leningrad”, the sixth episode of For All Mankind's fourth series, tonight.

And publishing this review, tomorrow: on the 19th December.

Hopefully?

I'll see you then!

~≈🛸≈~

19th December, 2023: “Leningrad”.

Episode 6 — “Leningrad” — opens not with a summary of earlier episodes.

But with ringing church bells: as the city of Leningrad welcomes senior dignitaries from the M7 group that runs the Happy Valley Base on Mars.

A group that includes Aleida Rosales (Coral Peña) of Helios, Eli Hobson (Daniel Stern) of NASA and Irina Morozova (Svetlana Eframova) of Roscomos.

What none of the delegates know?

Is that Irina has an ace in the proverbial hole.

Irina has Margo Madison (Wrenn Schmidt) tucked away in a a back office: offering help, and advice, about her former protégé.

Something Irina finds useful: especially when Aleida tells the conference about what's need to capture the Goldilocks asteroid, what the expected (large) profit could be.

And exactly how long Aleida -- and Helios -- think the project is going to take, if the group goes by way of Mars.

It's only when Eli suggests taking the asteroid straight to Earth, rather that via Mars that Irina ... suggests he, she, and Aleida, have a quiet little private meeting, elsewhere ...

~≈🛸≈~

Now ... what did I think of “Leningrad”?

The episode, rather than the city?

It's got to be said: Cold War dramas -- even if they're not about our Cold War -- can be fascinating things.

We only have to look at The Third Man, or The Manchurian Candidate, or the works of the late John le Carre, to know.

So having a modern-day, alternative history, version?

A well done, modern-day, alternative history version?

A well done, modern-day, alternative history version can be very welcome

We might call For All Mankind a lot of things.

Science fiction, alternative history, what have you.

But?   I think we can include 'Cold War drama' in that description.

Especially when “Leningrad”, itself, focuses on a high-level conference, between old enemies.

And especially when it focuses on the relationship between Margo and Aleida: Aleida hadn't known her old mentor had survived the bombing of the Johnson Space Centre, at the end of series three.

So, for Aleida to discover her old boss and teacher, was both alive, and had defected to Russia?

Was a cause for both joy, anger, and a deep sense of betrayal.

And what has to be one of the best scenes I think I've seen between the two.

That?

That scene, on its own, made “Leningrad” worth watching.

Frankly?

“Leningrad” is well worth your time ... and a very good Cold War Drama!

“Leningrad”.

★★★★

~≈🛸≈~

Now ... with all that said?

With all that said, am I going to be watching the next episode?

Of course I am.

But, given it's Christmas -- the most expensive time of the year! -- I'm going to be watching “Crossing the Line”, the next episode of For All Mankind, on 23rd December: and posting my written and video reviews on the 24th!

I'll be watching “The Church On Ruby Road”, this year's Doctor Who Christmas special on the 25th December: and posting my review on Boxing Day.

I will, hopefully, see you then!