For All Mankind — Series 4 Episode 7 — “Crossing the Line” — A Review

23rd December, 2023: an introduction.

Right … it’s Saturday night as I write this.

And?

Once again, I’m using the back-up laptop to do so.

It’s not a nice experience: but will do for now.

Until my iMac gets back from the repair shop.

I’ve spoken to the shop: and it could well be ready, tomorrow.

The place is a short train journey away.

On a day when the trains aren’t running!

Heigh-ho!

~≈🛸≈~

At any rate?

It’s Saturday.

And ... ?

As I’m going to be watching Dr Who on Monday, I’m going to be watching “Crossing the Line”, the next episode of For All Mankind, tonight.

Then telling you about it, tomorrow evening!

Hopefully, I'll see you then!

~≈🛸≈~

24th December, 2023: “Crossing the Line”.

Episode 7 — “Crossing the Line” — opens not with the summary we see in some series ...

But with a long, panning shot of Happy Valley’s working areas: areas abandoned on the seventh day of a strike by the Helios workforce on Mars.

Shots that cross-fade to a conference room: where Samantha Massey and Ed Baldwin (Tyner Rushing and Joel Kinnaman) lead an angry group of strikers in an attempt at negotiation with Executive Officer Palmer James (Myk Watford) and Base Commander, Danielle Poole (Krys Marshall).

A meeting that is not going well: and one that sees both side angry and bitter at the other.

A meeting … that only makes things worse … !

~≈🛸≈~

Now, what did I make of “Crossing the Line”?

Of this seventh episode?

First things first, this series is the first time I can remember seeing Myk Watford in anything.

He does a competent job as Palmer James, leading the strike breakers in this episode.

But I can just see him playing the put-upon town sheriff in any three Westerns you care to name: breathing a sigh of relief when the hero turns up, whilst saying “Thank heavens you’re here, Marshall!”

After single handedly keeping order in an old fashioned Western frontier town: even if it’s a frontier town on Mars, rather than the Arizona desert.

He’s wonderful to watch.

 

Next?

The title seems very apposite.

Not only do we see the episode opening with a crossed picket line, we see Margo (Wrenn Schmidt) crossing a border: with all the protests from Aleida (Coral Peña) we expect.

And Dev ... ?

Dev Ayesha (Edi Gathegi) is turning out to be more of a showman than I expected.

Not only was his strike breaking big speech to Helios workers on Mars one hell of a thing to watch, but his “Do you want to help me steal an asteroid?” line to Ed Baldwin?

Seemed the height of daring, the height of audacity ...

And very reminiscent of an old line of Steve Jobs.

Frankly?

I want to keep watching this series: I want to see what Ayesha's up to ...

“Crossing the Line”
★★★★

~≈🛸≈~

At any rate?

I’ll be watching “Legacy”, the next episode of For All Mankind, on 30th December, 2023: and putting my written and video reviews up on the 31st December.

Before than?

I'll be watched “The Church on Ruby Road”, the 2023 Dr Who special, tomorrow, 25th December: and have my written and video reviews up on the 26th.

I’ll see you then!