With For All Mankind Season 5 set to launch on March 27, 2026, now is the perfect time to revisit the game-changing events of the previous season. Season 4 shifted the drama from the thrill of discovery to the complex realities of running a Martian colony, setting the stage for a major conflict between Mars and Earth. If you need a refresher on the asteroid heist, the worker strikes, and where your favorite characters ended up, here is the comprehensive recap you need.
The Core Conflict: The Goldilocks Asteroid Heist
Season 4 jumped forward to 2003, nearly a decade after the first boots landed on Mars. The hopeful colony of Happy Valley had transformed into a corporate mining outpost, with the initial spirit of exploration fading for many who were just there for a job. The central plot kicked off with the arrival of the Goldilocks asteroid, a mineral-rich rock worth trillions of dollars. The governments of Earth, united as the “M7,” planned to capture the asteroid and bring it into Earth’s orbit to harvest its resources.
This plan did not sit well with everyone on Mars. A faction led by former Helios CEO Dev Ayesa (Edi Gathegi) and legendary astronaut Ed Baldwin (Joel Kinnaman) saw this as a death sentence for the Martian colony. They believed that keeping Goldilocks in Mars orbit was essential for the long-term economic survival and independence of Happy Valley. In a dramatic, high-stakes move, this group executed a daring sabotage operation. They hacked the systems of the spacecraft sent to redirect the asteroid, ensuring it remained a Martian asset in what amounted to “the heist of the new millennium”.
Character Conflicts: Old Heroes in a New World
The season deeply explored its original characters, presenting them not as clear heroes or villains but as flawed leaders in an impossible situation.
The tension between Ed Baldwin and Danielle “Dani” Poole (Krys Marshall) reached its peak. As the ranking NASA commander on Mars, Dani was tasked with keeping order and rooting out the saboteurs, putting her directly at odds with Ed. The creators of the show intentionally leaned into Ed’s persona as a “grumpy old man” from a different era, whose personal feelings often clouded his judgment. Dani, traditionally the moral center, also faced tough choices. Authorizing an investigation into the heist ultimately led to the torture of workers by overzealous agents, forcing her to confront the consequences of her command.
“One of the things I’m most proud of are the reactions we have gotten from people saying they weren’t sure who to root for. That was a clear goal of ours all along,” said co-creator Ben Nedivi about the season’s complex characters.
On Earth, the story followed Margo Madison (Wrenn Schmidt), who was revealed to be alive and working for the Soviet space program after faking her death in the Season 3 bombing. Her story reunited her with her protégé, Aleida Rosales (Coral Peña). After learning that their Russian contact, Sergei, had been executed, Margo and Aleida worked together to secretly provide the final code that enabled Dev and Ed’s asteroid heist to succeed. Margo subsequently turned herself in to the FBI to protect Aleida, ending the season in handcuffs but at peace with her choice.
New Dynamics and the Worker’s Strike
A significant new element of Season 4 was the perspective of the blue-collar workers on Mars, like Miles Dale (Toby Kebbell). These contract employees faced poor pay, dangerous conditions, and stark inequality compared to the scientists and astronauts, leading to a growing labor movement. A major strike formed a critical backdrop to the asteroid drama, highlighting the “company town” economics of Happy Valley. The harsh crackdown on the strikers by security forces, and the workers’ eventual alliance with Dev Ayesa’s cause, fueled the final confrontation.
The season finale, “Perestroika,” culminated in a violent riot at Happy Valley. As armed agents moved to arrest the asteroid thieves, a clash broke out between workers and peacekeepers. In the chaos, Dani was shot and severely wounded but ultimately survived. The episode closed with a wounded Dani returning to Earth to meet her new grandchild, while Ed remained on Mars, having helped secure the asteroid’s future there.
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Setting the Stage for Season 5
The conclusive events of Season 4 directly set the narrative foundation for the next chapter. The successful heist means the unimaginably valuable Goldilocks asteroid is now a permanent resource in Mars orbit. In the years that followed, Happy Valley has grown into a thriving colony with thousands of residents.
However, this act of defiance has severe consequences. The nations of Earth are now demanding law and order on the Red Planet, setting up a looming friction between the people of Mars and their former home world. Season 5 will pick up this thread, exploring the fallout of Martian independence and the new societal structures on Mars.
The main cast returning for Season 5 includes Joel Kinnaman, Edi Gathegi, Cynthy Wu, Coral Peña, and Wrenn Schmidt. They will be joined by new series regulars including Mireille Enos, Costa Ronin, and Ruby Cruz. The new season will premiere on Apple TV+ on March 27, 2026, with new episodes released weekly every Friday through May 29.
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