For All Mankind's Highest-Rated Episodes Reveal The Apple TV+ Series Is Great At Something So Many Sci-Fi Shows Aren't

For All Mankind does several things very well, but the Apple TV+ show's finest offerings all share one thing in common. With For All Mankind season 5 on the way, I'm certain the generational sci-fi drama is set to repeat an impressive feat that many other shows fail to achieve, and it'll do so by leaning on its biggest strength yet again. If it fails to hit the mark after such an impressive track record, I'll be very surprised. Hopefully, the writers have more of the same in store and keep the ball rolling.

Debuting in 2019, For All Mankind's fascinating premise quickly made an impact on viewers. I'm still a little confused that the show isn't more widely discussed, as it's one of the best shows Apple TV+ has ever made. It's not only a great addition to Apple TV+'s impressive collection of sci-fi shows, but it also has a great deal to enjoy for those who wouldn't typically engage with the genre. Although I've always known I've loved the show, there has always been at least one reason why I couldn't pin down, and now I know what it is.

For All Mankind's 4 Season Finales Are The Show's Highest-Rated Episodes On IMDb

Season 2's "The Grey" is at the top of the list

IMDb's highest-ranked For All Mankind episodes all have one thing in common: they're all season finales. Even fifth place is held by season 1's penultimate episode, and it isn't until seventh place before a mid- or early-season installment appears. It's not unusual for season finales to come near the top of a show's best efforts, but it's incredibly rare for every single season-ending installment to be bunched up together at the very top, like they are with For All Mankind. Quite often, shows will have one or two iconic finales, but For All Mankind thrives with this kind of episode.

For All Mankind's Top 5 Episodes On IMDb
Season	Episode	Title	IMDb Score
2	10	"The Grey"	9.4/10
4	10	"Perestroika"	8.9/10
1	10	"A City Upon a Hill"	8.9/10
3	10	"A Stranger in a Strange Land"	8.8/10
1	9	"Bent Bird"	8.8/10

What's more, none of the finales are rated any lower than 8.8/10, with the top spot held by season 2's, "The Grey," which scores 9.4/10. Therefore, it's not a matter of the finales simply being the best of a bad or average bunch. Instead, they're there on their own merit after being so expertly executed. That said, the lowest-ranked episode overall is For All Mankind season 3, episode 6, "New Eden," and even that has a score of 7.0/10. So when even a show's worst episode is still pretty good, it speaks volumes of its best efforts.

For All Mankind's Finale Track Record Is Great News For Season 5

Apple TV+'s upcoming run of episodes is sure to end just as briliantly

Some shows can burn themselves out after multiple seasons. Ideas can run thin, and they're forced to resort to weird or divisive storylines in an attempt to keep things engaging. For All Mankind doesn't really suffer from that. With the decade-long time jump that happens at the end of every season, each new run of episodes is essentially like a new story. So, whatever happens at the end of For All Mankind season 5 is likely related to plots and characters that haven't yet been introduced. Unpredictability has been a big part of the show's success, so this makes sense.

If For All Mankind season 6 gets the green light, that top five will be almost definitely overflowing with high-quality season finales.

The thought of a fifth incredible For All Mankind season finale in a row is very exciting. If the show's previous efforts are any indication of the season 5 finale's quality, I expect it will supplant the outlier currently sitting in IMDb's top five episodes of the show. Then, the list will be even more top-heavy with finales than it already is. If For All Mankind season 6 gets the green light, that top five will be almost definitely overflowing with high-quality season finales.

Why For All Mankind's Season Finales Are So Great

Ed Baldwin and company have been some brilliantly slow-burning rides

Joel Kinnaman as Ed Baldwin in For All Mankind

Writing a brilliant season finale is pretty much its own artform. A run of episodes can be deeply engaging, but then it can all fall apart if the last installment is boring, unsatisfying, or just nonsensical. For All Mankind's finales have found a genius way of avoiding the cliffhanger trope by flashing forward a decade to see when the next season will be set, but it still has the challenge of living up to the high standards of the larger story being told. Thankfully, the Apple TV+ more than lives up to that challenge.

For All Mankind: My 6 Predictions For What Will Happen In Season 5

Although there's little information about what For All Mankind season 5 will look like, the show has certain trends and hallmarks it likes to explore.

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Although For All Mankind has been criticized at times for its pacing, I've never agreed with those comments. Sure, it may not be all fast-paced action like a traditional space opera, but the fact that all the highest-stakes moments are reserved for season finales makes them very well-earned episodes. Plus, they also represent the culmination of the major and minor plots that have run through the season to that point. For All Mankind really is a masterclass in how to write a season finale, and other shows could learn a great deal from it.

Source: IMDb