For All Mankind Is TV’s Most Underrated Sci-Fi Space Drama

The critically acclaimed sci-fi show For All Mankind is coming back for a landmark fifth season on March 27th. It’s just one of the many excellent original series you can find on Apple TV+, and with both a new season and a spin-off planned, it’s quickly becoming one of Apple’s biggest hits.

Look, For All Mankind isn’t going to grab you with explosions like Star Wars or have a devoted fanbase right off the bat like Firefly. But trust me, this show is quietly becoming something truly special – one of the best sci-fi series ever made. And with its upcoming fifth season, it’s about to do something incredible, something that will finally give it the recognition it deserves.

For All Mankind Goes Where No Sci-Fi Series Has Gone Before

While For All Mankind isn’t the only sci-fi show on Apple TV+, it faces tough competition from other streaming services with established production connections. Despite this, the show has quietly reached a milestone that very few sci-fi series – even some of the most popular classics from the 2000s and 2010s – have managed to achieve.

Okay, so as a total movie and TV buff, I’ve been following this show and it’s consistently good. Seriously, it’s held a 92% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes for five seasons – that’s amazing! It doesn’t always break records in terms of viewership, but the people who are watching it – myself included – know we’re getting something really well-made and unique, and that feels harder and harder to find with all the streaming options these days. The general audience agrees, too – it’s got an 82% score on the Rotten Tomatoes Popcornmeter and an 8.1 out of 10 on IMDb, which tells you it’s consistently hitting the mark.

Many TV shows, even popular sci-fi series, often lose steam after a strong start. Some highly-rated shows have had weak seasons – the second season of Battlestar Galactica frustrated some viewers, while Lost and Battlestar Galactica both faltered in later seasons. But For All Mankind is different. It consistently delivers high quality, and that’s reflected in the ongoing praise from critics.

What Sets For All Mankind Apart From Other Sci-Fi Series?

Though it initially appears to be just another science fiction show, For All Mankind is actually a brilliantly crafted alternate history series. It starts with a simple but powerful question: what if the Soviet Union had landed on the moon first? From that pivotal moment, the show reimagines history, offering viewers a timeline that feels both recognizable and surprisingly different.

With the start of Season 5, the show jumps forward to a time much closer to our own. After exploring the Cold War era, the series now looks ahead to the future, featuring technologies like faster-than-light travel and Martian colonies. Each season has increasingly embraced classic science fiction tropes, blurring the line between realistic science and pure imagination.

This show sets a new standard for television, boasting the production values you’d expect from a major movie. As streaming services become more common, TV shows are increasingly looking like films. Even when other shows start to show budget limitations, For All Mankind consistently maintains a high level of visual polish. Throughout its five seasons, the series has looked incredible, helping it to bring its ambitious science fiction concepts to life with impressive realism.

The show also benefits from having a seasoned science fiction expert leading the creative team. As showrunner for the Apple TV+ series, he brings a clear vision that promises the same long-term success as his previous projects. Importantly, he achieves this by crafting a fresh and original story, avoiding repetition and delivering something truly new to audiences.

Apple TV Is Secretly Dominating the Sci-Fi Genre

Apple TV+ has quickly become the leading streaming service for science fiction shows. Unlike other platforms that rely on established franchises, Apple is succeeding with original sci-fi content that appeals to a new audience.

Apple TV+ offers a diverse range of sci-fi shows that feel like major cinematic experiences. Shows like Severance blend suspense with familiar sci-fi themes, becoming a true cultural hit. Silo dives into a dystopian future and remains some of the best TV currently available. Whether you prefer thrilling mysteries or thought-provoking futures, Apple TV+ has something for every sci-fi fan.

Beyond these established hits, several new shows are also gaining attention and could become just as popular as For All Mankind or Foundation. One example is a new series from the creators of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, which offers a unique take on an alien invasion story. Plus, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters delivers thrilling monster battles alongside compelling character-driven stories.

Apple TV+’s For All Mankind is a great example of how the platform is becoming a leader in science fiction television. Shows like this one, backed by big budgets and talented creators with a clear vision, are subtly but powerfully revitalizing the sci-fi genre.

For All Mankind is available to stream on Apple TV+.

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2026-02-26 21:09