11th August, 2026.“No Sudden Moves”.The Introduction.
OK … music …
Complete with PIL’s “This Is Not A Love Song” at full pelt.
Which I’ve not listened to for a while: so it’s good to hear it, again.
It’s almost as good to hear Spandau Ballet’s “Chant №1”: the song that’s come up next.
All of that is beside the point.
It’s Tuesday.
So, after dinner, I’ll be watching the next episode of For All Mankind: then writing a review of it.
This post … ?
Will go live by Thursday: hopefully!
I’ll see you then … !
Part One.The Summary.
Episode 6 — “No Sudden Moves” — opens with a dramatic shot: showing us Governor Polivanov (Costa Ronin) making an announcement over the radio, to tell all and sundry that all launches are to be temporarily halted …
As the camera moves back, we’re show a fact about the Governor’s message.
He’s being coerced into sending the message by a gun held to the back of his neck by Gerardo (Salvador Chacon) … the protestor that’s lead a group of protestors into Helios Mission Control.
Outside Mission Control, Miles (Tony Kebble) has met Celia (Mireille Enos): and, whilst the pair are on different political sides, they both agree on one thing.
Getting to Mission Control would be a good idea.
Someone has to persuade Gerardo to calm down.
They’re not the only ones heading there.
Aleida Rosales and Dev Ayesha (Coral Peña and Edi Gathegi) are also on their way there.
Dev is heading that way: as its on route to the medical bay, where Alex Baldwin (Sean Kaufman) is.
Aleida … ?
Is desperate to get to Mission Control: as she knows one thing.
It’s the only place anyone can contact the Sojourner 1 mission to Titan.
There’s lives in them there hills …
~≈🪐≈~
12th August, 2026.Part Two.Observations.
Given everything I saw, last night?
What did I make of “No Sudden Moves”?
What did I make, and what did I see?
Did you ever hear the phrase, “base under siege”?
It’s an old type of story: one that sees the heroes trapped in a small — ish — place, whilst being besieged by ravening enemies at the (metaphorical) doors.
The term’s best known as a way to describe several Dr Who stories.
Including some of the early Cyberman stories: Tenth Planet and The Moonbase are the classic examples.
We can also use the term of Romero’s Night of the Living Dead films, Pontypool, John Carpenter’s The Thing and Christie’s And Then There Were None.
My point … ?
Is simply this: that “No Sudden Moves” is For All Mankind’s version of the same idea.
It’s a version that’s altered, slightly: with Gerardo, the invader, already in the base and holding hostages, and the good guys trying to get in.
Does that make it watchable?
Tense?
Give it a big finish … ?
Oh, lord, yes!
~≈🪐≈~
Part Three.The Climax.
When I say ‘a big finish’, that’s exactly what I mean.
The various factions on Mars eventually come to an agreement about how to make demands of Earth: without bloodshed.
Stop shipping iridium back home.
In a televised announced, however US President Bragg makes a very definite announcement.
That the M6 Nations won’t make deals with terrorists, and will embargo Happy Valley, starve them out: unless the precious metal keeps coming.
There’s possibly tons to say here.
One thing that struck me was that this was a suitably tense cliffhanger: I’ll be watching the next episode very closely, in order to see how this plays out.
Another … ?
Was that the phrase of Bragg’s, that oh so redolent line, “We will not negotiate with terrorists”.
I don’t know about you, but I know the phrase from it’s frequent use by the late Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher: who used it of the Provisional IRA, in the latter years of the Troubles.
Oh, I know many US presidents have use the phrase: but I know it from Thatcher.
And, to me … ? Because I’d grown up when Thatcher was Prime Minister?
Got me thinking that the (fictional) President Bragg is as pigheadedly stubborn as the late British PM.
~≈🪐≈~
Part Four.A Reminder.
For All Mankind is an alternative history: it’s taking alternative versions of real events, and using them as story points, characters … or just old fashioned reminders.
Reminders of real events, real people and real moments.
So, the episode’s climax including a phrase I found familiar shouldn’t be surprising.
Especially as an earlier scene reminded me of another event.
At around the twenty-fourth minute, we see a newsreader telling us about the riots on Mars: and how protestors are occupying Mission Control.
As part of the bulletin, we’re shown President Bragg touring a school: when a presidential aide walks into the classroom to discreetly let the president know what’s happening.
I didn’t have chills, seeing that scene.
No.
But I was immediately recognised the real-world event the scene resembled.
Do you remember where you were, when you heard about the 9/11 attacks?
I do.
I can remember seeing the dreadful footage of planes being deliberately driven into buildings.
And can remember seeing footage of President Bush being told about the attacks.
He, like his fictional counterpart has an aide tell him the news, whilst touring a school.
Co-incidence?
I don’t think so.
I think the people behind this episode know their historical onions: and have staged the scene to resonate with its real world equivalent so that people recognise a parallel.
And realise how serious the (fictional) situation is.
~≈🪐≈~
Part Five.Finally.
So … what DID I make of this episode, of “No Sudden Moves”?
Of an episode I found resonant of real world events?
I loved it!
The armchair historian in me, the man who can remember the real events, enjoyed spotting the inherently recognisable things in it: whilst being aware there others I haven’t probably haven’t noticed.
The (equally) armchair TV reviewer … ?
Recognised that the blooming relationship between Alex and Lily (Sean Kaufman and Ruby Cruz) is going to grab the teenage members of the audience.
And … ?
A fan of the show has recognised a beautifully tense episode that’s finished on a dramatic, double-edged, ending.
Am I going to be watching the next episode, this coming Tuesday?
You bet your bum!
“No Sudden Moves”.★★★★
~≈🪐≈~
Part Six.Last Words.
With all that said?
That is where I’ll be leaving things, for now: having watched a thoroughly enjoyable episode.
I’ll be watching the next episode on Tuesday: when I’ll be watching “The Sirens of Titan”.
Which sounds like it could be interesting
In the meantime?
Feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel, feel free to tip, feel free to try the Daily Teasers …
And if you’ve enjoyed what I’m doing … ?
Come back, next week.
I’ll see you then.
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