‘For All Mankind’ Recap: ‘Legacy’

12/29/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Wrenn Schmidt as Margo Madison in Episode 408 of ‘For All Mankind’ – ‘Legacy’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 408 of ‘For All Mankind’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

There is a strange belief in our world, that one person can no longer make a difference, and it makes sense as to why this belief exists. After all, there are now eight billion people upon on planet Earth, and that daunting number makes it appear as though we are all lost in a massive crowd for certain. One filled to the brim with noise that surrounds us and makes our voice even harder to hear when we do feel the urge to speak up. But the fact is… the will of one person is in fact, quite important and can still make an amazing difference. For technology can allow for us to be heard and make an impact and our actions do inspire change, as evidenced by way of what occurred during this week’s episode of For All Mankind on Apple TV+.

For ‘Legacy’ took the time to explore what a single person’s actions can do, and how much influence we actually have over what seems to be a chaotic universe and it looked at how we do that on an intimate level and a global/intergalactic one. The intimate stuff was handled by the return of Sergei, who we learned was in Iowa, teaching science following his exile from the Soviet Union, and he was living a fine and boring life. That is until Margo returned and brought about emotions and worry. The kind that prompted him to leave everything behind and enact change by heading down NASA way. The kind that allowed for Aleida to finally find grace in her heart regarding the difficult situation that Margo was in, and understand completely how helpless she was leading up to her ‘defection’, and the kind that allowed for he and Margo to meet again so he could inform her of the danger she was in. Which was a lot of change for a single man to impact, but that is what we are capable of when we push to make it happen.

As for a greater example of such matters, that was handled by Goldilocks… and Dev. For plans were in motion to slow the asteroid down and use Mars’ gravity to nudge Goldilocks toward planet Earth for mining. Which led to a lot of scientific analysis and meetings on Earth and Mars, the kind that Dev was privy to and well, once he had all the details in hand as to what exactly was going to happen… he set his own plans in motion. The kind that saw the last of the strike holdouts assemble and agree to help to change the asteroid’s course and lock it into a Mars’ orbit. Not for any reason other than to force the nations of the world to recognize the importance of Mars and the importance of being out there amongst the stars and well, his influence allowed for some serious miracles to happen at Happy Valley. For instance, he managed to get Miles to think about something more than his little nest egg back home. Granted, it took money related talk to inspire him to help but help he did.

For he used his connections and his magic as a smuggler to get everything needed from Phoenix to set up quite the surprise on Mars. Specifically, a secondary control room. Wherein commands could be silently broadcast to the Ranger vessel, the kind that would of course… prompt the vehicle to do Dev’s bidding and execute the alternate plan. But there were of course some surprises that came with this plan. Since the equipment didn’t quite get delivered right. Prompting an assist from Ed’s grandson in retrieving it, and of course… someone was going to have to swap out a critical part, in person on the ship, with a full crew aboard. A move we didn’t see play out here because well, cliffhangers are where this show rightfully thrives. But what mattered most here, was that Dev… put the entire plan and the future of Mars, and humanity, on a different path. Courtesy of his own will, and he truly inspired people to do something greater, hammering home the difference one person can make.

All of which made, for another amazing episode from this series. Because you simply don’t see shows ponder upon a concept such as this, in any genre really. But this is that special series that really wants to examine the wonder we are capable of, and the wonder we accomplish more often than we think. Since in many ways, we can relate to these plot threads since they remind us of our own progress in life and the impact we do inspire. All so perhaps… we can think bigger. But all lessons aside, make no mistake about it, this was also a pivotal story. One that set-in motion the potential for Margo to redeem herself and return home by spurning the Soviet Union and whatever they have planned for her, and… big things are about to happen on Mars… if this plan succeeds. For the nations of the world will have to grapple with the reality that someone has a bigger vision than dollar signs and that, will be game-changing if all falls into place. Until next time.

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