Apple's smartest sci-fi show just revealed a mind-blowing twist 7 years in the making

Apple TV’s thrilling space drama ties together its interplanetary storylines in a season that proves no discovery comes without loss. With a sixth and final season on the way, For All Mankind will go down as one of Apple TV’s longest-running scripted series. Six seasons is impressive in and of itself — especially when its debut at Apple TV’s launch in 2019 was overshadowed by The Morning Show and Dickinson. “It gets better after [insert number here] episodes” is a common refrain among TV critics, but it does hold true with For All Mankind, which takes a few episodes to find its footing. From there, though, the show’s narrative unfurls not unlike a NASA launch, with every detail meticulously coordinated. Each season builds up to a confrontation that reaches a boiling point in the penultimate episode — more often than not, casualties are involved — before the finale finds a resolution and we’re hit with a time jump. When everything clicks into place (see: Season 2’s “The Grey”), For All Mankind delivers some of the best small-screen sci-fi of its era. Other times, the show’s rhythms become too predictable and you can’t help but notice the seams — what was once elegantly constructed i