For All Mankind Review: Into the Abyss (Season 1 Episode 5)
Realizing one’s faults and trying to do right by them becomes an integral piece of For All Mankind Season 1 Episode 5, “Into the Abyss,” as history is made.
The dual stories, of Ed and Molly and Karen and Wayne, is a wonderful way of showing how mission and family both face insurmountable pressure as they try to do their part.
Wayne’s need for connection and for someone else who feels the same as him becomes the episode’s Earth-driven story. He’s rightly terrified as Molly ascends to greatness, and using his art as therapy and needing Karen as a someone to bounce off of allows for this very human story of the struggle of the unknown, and how terrifying that can be.
Karen’s arc throughout the episode is one of discovering her prejudices while still resisting the urge to be more accepting. It’s hard to tell if this is her place in society dictating her disapproval of so much throughout the episode, or if this is her way of coping with the difficulties of endlessly worrying about Ed.
When Karen cracks a little, it becomes a little clearer it’s the latter, and that there’s more than we’re seeing. This part of the episode becomes a nice little window into how the spouses cope with the stress placed on their families. Karen needed Wayne’s more open and frank lifestyle in order to shake free of her more reserved life, and it’s an idealistic ending that they both come out on the same side by the end of the episode.
The moon mission is rife with small decisions leaving the chance for large impact. The episode underlines at every chance how difficult these deviations are, but that fortune favors the bold.
Molly’s initial resistance for a change of landing venue, and for her to be the one pushing to go for broke in the search for ice, is a great indicator that once that precipice of challenge is crossed, Molly is all in on delivering on their promise of making this mission count.
Her descent into the crater is perhaps the most tense moment on For All Mankind thus far, not because we doubt Molly, but rather that the episode has foreshadowed doom so thoroughly. Doom is within the episode’s bones, especially within the Karen and Wayne storyline. The multiple instances of things nearly going wrong, and that euphoric victory in finding ice, is another case of idealism winning the day again.
It’s rare when idealism is a constant and doesn’t become stale, but with For All Mankind, the idealism manages to be a badge of honor, a statement of pride for the human spirit.
It also comes with realizing that the two heroes of the episode, Ed and Molly, are still human. Their discussion of Ed’s rage at his son during For All Mankind Season 1 Episode 4, “Prime Crew,” and Molly ignoring Wayne’s worry, shows that they are still flawed despite their accomplishments, which makes them all the more endearing. The show is not looking for perfection; it is looking for hope.
The bar scene between Gordo, Danielle, and Clayton almost becomes a battle of the wills. There’s this initial sense at the beginning of the scene that Gordo may be racially insensitive, but it’s more in his standoffish and continual pushing where his own character flaw comes out most.
It may not be racially motivated as initially expected, but Gordo’s use of the war, and Clayton’s reversal to call into question Gordo’s chances to defer from serving, shows how strongly opposed some see each other when it comes to how some serve the country. The option of choice, and no choice at all, places Clayton and Gordo on completely separate sides, and leaves Danielle in a horribly awkward situation.
The end of the episode brings the arrival of the American moon base, Jamestown. It’s a significant moment to end For All Mankind Season 1 Episode 5, “Into the Abyss,” on, as it jumps ahead two years while delivering on one of NASA’s main priorities.
It’s a moment where what comes next becomes endlessly possible, something that the show could use to its advantage. If the moon base happens halfway through the season, what could possibly come next, if it has been the main goal so far? It’s an exciting idea, and continues to keep For All Mankind as a show that idealistically marches forward at a brisk pace and leaves open where it goes next.
What did you think of this episode of For All Mankind? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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For All Mankind airs Fridays on Apple TV+.
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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.