“For all humanity” is a concept that frames an alternate Apple TV universe where the Soviet Union becomes the first nation to reach the Moon in the late 1960s. Across four seasons, the show charts this altered history, where the space race unfolds with different milestones and new tensions that shape a distinct timeline. In the third installment, crucial plot shifts reveal themselves, and readers should be aware that spoilers may follow. Mars shifts from the foreground to a central theme, while the Moon recedes into the background. By the second year, the series closes on a jaw dropping cliffhanger that introduces a character from another reality, and the trajectory hints that Mars-era events will dominate the coming seasons as the show contends with this alternate history moving forward.
The series begins in an alternate 1969 and traces forty episodes as it continues to explore events in this world with a tone reminiscent of historical dramas like The Crown. Viewers learn that during the 1970s this timeline diverges in engaging ways. Prince Charles of England reportedly marries Camilla Parker Bowles in this version of history, and the narrative leaps from decade to decade as new episodes arrive, landing in 2003 in the fourth season. In this universe the space race progresses more quickly due to the United States intensifying its efforts to outpace Soviet achievements. The butterfly effect causes shifts in the timeline; among the alterations are political figures and archival moments that feel familiar yet are altered, while the Soviet Union remains a communist dictatorship. The plan does not show references to the 9/11 attacks, suggesting the Twin Towers still stand in this reality.
The third season centers on a Mars mission that pits the United States and the USSR against each other in a race for the red planet. North Korea becomes a collaborative partner in the mission, signaling a world where old rivalries soften under the pressures of space exploration. A base named Happy Valley appears on Mars, serving as a meeting point for astronauts from both nations and personnel from the Helios corporation, alongside other multinational players entering the space economy. In the Mars colony area, civilian and military personnel coexist, yet tensions rise as strategic interests collide with security concerns. The setting blends traditional frontier energy with modern corporate involvement, creating a tense dynamic between explorers and the governing authorities on Earth.
Asteroids in this altered solar system emerge as highly valuable mineral sources, and a central plotline follows a daring operation to capture a large meteorite rich in iridium, a resource scarce on Earth. Loot becomes a coveted prize, and the Mars inhabitants fear being sidelined if the mission succeeds. The heist vibe echoes Ocean’s Eleven, but the target is a meteorite rather than a casino, with the goal of bringing resources into orbit around Mars for exploitation from there. The narrative also mirrors classic Westerns where settlers seek a new life in a new world, with a persistent undercurrent of danger from a harsh environment and a precarious existence where even small mistakes can be fatal.
The stage is set for Mars to become a major economic focal point in the fifth season, which ostensibly jumps to 2013, signaling a revival for the series. Whether this revival will be officially announced remains uncertain, but the path suggests a continued drift toward the present day. If the series follows a Western American colonization metaphor, Private companies already show interest in space travel, and a growing number of civilians shift toward this frontier. In the fourth season, civilian personnel begin to challenge base authorities, hinting at rising autonomy and new power dynamics in space governance.
The central question becomes how many more years the show will explore this future after arriving at the present. Over four decades of alternate history, a steady cast evolution has occurred, yet the figure of astronaut Edward Baldwin remains at the heart of the plot. He is formally the lead character, but the series presents a layered, intricate narrative. In the latest episodes, Baldwin faces health challenges linked to aging, pointing to his latest adventures as a continuation rather than a farewell. The comparison to a venerable Western hero surfaces, with Baldwin likened to a rugged cowboy whose choices reflect the broader arc of renewal and sacrifice. The essence is a portrait of change and resilience as the old order yields to a new era.
What stands out is the moment when the present becomes the pivot point for the story. That moment does not have to signal an endpoint; it opens potential for further space colonization and even a broader solar system horizon. The likelihood of encounters with alien beings remains slim, as the show is not aligned with the space opera traditions of Star Wars or Star Trek. Still, a grand finale remains a meaningful possibility if the narrative chooses to push beyond familiar limits for a conclusive arc for audiences in North America, including viewers in Canada and the United States.
[Source attribution remains available for those seeking context and continuity within the imagined universe.]