‘For All Mankind’ Recap: ‘The Bear Hug’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Tyner Rushing and Toby Kebbell as Samantha Massey and Miles Dean in Episode 403 of ‘For All Mankind’ – ‘The Bear Hug’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 403 of ‘For All Mankind’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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There are, a great many reasons to love the Apple TV+ series, For All Mankind. After all, this story really has offered up a dynamic exploration of what our world might look like had the space race gone in another direction. Not to mention, it features a bevy of incredible characters that we care about, and science galore and above all… good storytelling. In fact, the quality of the writing is worth mentioning for certain. Because this is also that rare series that doesn’t waste a single moment or a plotline. For every single moment matters and leads to something more, and for proof… then look no further than week’s magnificent tale. For ‘The Bear Hug’ took the time to expand greatly upon the day in the life moments that we experienced last week in a manner that propelled this story forward greatly.

For instance, this particular story made sure to revisit the struggles that Miles ran into during last week’s tale, by having him spring to action make some money. Because the shortfalls weren’t taking care of his family at all, so he paired with Ilya to do a little side work that padded his bank account nicely, and also brought about… quite the tall order/surprise. Because along the way, Miles’ attempt to be ‘the Man’ with his base friends… led to a problem with the Still. One that motivated him to do some ballsy maneuvers to get a part for the Still from the North Korean camp. Which in turn, prompted a request for help to keep that ruse a secret. One where Lee Jung-Gil, the real first man on Mars, demanded help in smuggling his wife to the Red Planet. Which really was quite the impossible twist, one that does pose all kinds of questions. But those will have to wait for another time, since we have other progressive plots to discuss. Ones that took place back home.

Because back on Terra Firma, Aleida and Kelly were out and about making their pitches to anyone that would listen to get their S.E.E.K.E.R search in motion, with great failure. For the world was focused on how to make use of the natural resources of the solar system. Which brought this duo to Dev’s doorstep to try and have him fund this visionary project, and despite some serious road bumps early on… they reeled Dev in. Because he forgot his inventive roots, and vision that space travel could be so much more for humanity and that led… to the brief return of Bill, who survived the bombing and lived away from public life now. And his return was paramount to helping Aleida be honest with herself, and garner the shares that Dev needed, to retake the company and put it on a bold new path of discovery and innovation once again. 

Yet, while that was quite the development, there were still more progressive plots waiting for us in this story. For Margot was in quite the pickle in this tale. For there was revolution in Russia. The kind that prompted a coup attempt really, and that put her in a tough place where others wanted to know more about her relationship with a high-ranking KGB officer, who that mysterious phone number connected to. Of course, she had no answers since she only met the woman that gave her that number once. But that didn’t stop revolutionaries and Gorbachev loyalists alike from pushing her to her physical limits to give her more. Thankfully… though, eventually she was released under harrowing conditions once the future of the U.S.S.R. was decided, and she met that woman again. Who turned out to be the new head of Roscosmos and she offered Margot, a job at her side.

All of which made… for more incredible television from this series. Since we truly were treated to some lovely plot threads that grew and grew before our eyes. The kind that featured genuine growth for the world and the people involved in those events, and well… one cannot help but wonder if the turmoil that our world has seen regarding the fall of the Soviet Union and unrest elsewhere and the push for change regarding what corporations stand for, is about to come forth in this world, courtesy of these plots. Which could lead to unique thoughts regarding how global unrest could change the landscape of space travel and space colonization. But while we wait, we can sit back and relish in another amazing episode that brilliantly explored the life and times of a world that sometimes feels all too familiar, and it will be interesting to see what comes next from this week’s stunning developments. Until next time.

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