Skip to content
Tech News
← Back to articles

Apple TV’s new space-race thriller does something unique, first reviews here

read original get Apple TV Subscription → more articles
Why This Matters

Star City offers a fresh and darker perspective on the space race, focusing on the Soviet side with themes of espionage and moral complexity. Its unique approach and positive early reviews highlight its potential to diversify and deepen the storytelling landscape on streaming platforms, appealing to both fans and newcomers alike.

Key Takeaways

Star City premieres on Apple TV this week, a spinoff of the space-race drama For All Mankind. Here’s what the first reviews for Star City are saying.

Star City offers new twist on alt-history space race that feels very different from For All Mankind

Later this week, For All Mankind’s season 5 finale will air on the same day that a new spinoff series launches.

Star City premieres this Friday, May 29 with its first two episodes, followed by weekly releases through July 10.

The new series follows the alt-history events of For All Mankind, but from the Soviets’ perspective. And the first reviews indicate it’s a very different kind of show.

JoBlo: “this is not just a rehash of what we have already seen…You will be surprised by how unprepared you are for where the narrative takes this first season”

The Daily Beast: “It’s a shockingly grim complement to the streamer’s inherently hopeful hit, although that doesn’t mean it’s lesser. Rather, with a bleakness that’s as compelling as its predecessor’s optimism, it wrings taut drama…from the story of Eastern Bloc men and women trying, at great personal and moral risk, to foster innovation under the thumb of authoritarianism.

TV Is Good: “It’s both a space show and an espionage show. It’s sort of For All Mankind crossed with The Americans. There’s so much more paranoia here.”

These early reviews are largely positive, comparing the series favorably to its predecessor in many cases.

RadioTimes even says it’s better than For All Mankind, though most reviews put the two series more on even footing or avoid making quality comparisons since each is so distinct.

... continue reading