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For All Mankind is the Apple TV sci-fi epic behind the “best space drama since The Expanse” claim. The comparison makes sense as an argument about ambition and setting, not as an objective ranking: one series imagines how a changed space race reshapes history, while the other explores political life across an already-colonized solar system.
What is For All Mankind about?
For All Mankind begins with an alternate-history premise: the Soviet Union reaches the Moon before the United States, changing the course of the space race. From there, it follows the people and institutions pushing human exploration farther. The story spans generations, so its central question expands over time from who gets to the Moon to what permanent human life beyond Earth might look like.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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For All Mankind: Season One (Blu-ray) | $28.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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For All Mankind (2019) - Season 02 | $32.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![For All Mankind (The Criterion Collection) [4K UHD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51LVGzsjvqL._SL160_.jpg)
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For All Mankind (The Criterion Collection) [4K UHD] | $39.24 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![For All Mankind (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51fxTNziU8L._SL160_.jpg)
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For All Mankind (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] | $26.73 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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For All Mankind: Season 2 Blu-Ray | $41.41 | Buy on Amazon |
That widening scope is why the series increasingly invites comparison with The Expanse. In a May 1, 2026 feature, Space.com connected the show’s developing Mars and solar-system setting to the colonized future of The Expanse. It is a critical interpretation, not evidence that the two shows are interchangeable or that every viewer will prefer one.
How do the shows compare?
| What to compare | For All Mankind | The Expanse |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | An alternate history that diverges during the twentieth-century space race. | A future in which human communities already exist across the solar system; the series is based on James S.A. Corey’s book series, according to Apple TV’s listing. |
| How the setting grows | Follows the evolution of space exploration from lunar missions toward Mars and farther destinations. | Starts amid established off-Earth communities and explores the tensions between them. |
| Political conflicts | Governments, space agencies, and competing interests shape an alternate historical timeline. | Politics play out among powers and communities spread across the solar system. TIME describes it as a space opera about navigating the politics of a colonized solar system. |
| Story emphasis | Generation-spanning change: technological progress and decisions reshape what later characters inherit. | A future-facing space opera built around political and social conflict in a settled solar system. |
The key difference is not simply that one show is “more realistic” or “more sci-fi.” For All Mankind builds its speculative future by extending a changed historical trajectory. The Expanse begins with a broader interplanetary society already in place. That makes the former a natural choice if you want to watch the path to expansion unfold, and the latter a strong fit if you want to enter a world where expansion has already transformed politics.
#1 Best Overall
Does For All Mankind deserve the “best since The Expanse” label?
It is a defensible recommendation, but “best” is a matter of taste, not a measurable title. The case for For All Mankind is its unusual combination of alternate history, institutional conflict, family and generational change, and a setting that grows more expansive as its story progresses. Its move toward Mars gives it a point of connection with The Expanse without simply repeating that series’ premise.
If you value a long view of how space exploration changes society, For All Mankind may be the closer match for what you want next. If your priority is a space opera centered on political tensions among established solar-system communities, The Expanse remains the more direct fit. TIME’s description of The Expanse as a colonized-solar-system political space opera is an editorial characterization, not a neutral scorecard or proof of a universal ranking.
Rank #2
- This thrilling “what if” take on history from Golden Globe nominee and Emmy Award winner Ronald D. Moore spotlights the high-stakes lives of NASA astronauts and their families in a global space race that never ended.
Where does For All Mankind stand now?
Apple’s January 21, 2026 announcement says season five has ten episodes. It premiered March 27, 2026, with weekly episodes through May 29. The season resumes years after the Goldilocks asteroid heist, with a thriving Happy Valley settlement on Mars and rising tension between Mars residents and Earth governments. Apple’s season-five announcement gives the release schedule and premise.
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Apple announced on March 24, 2026 that the show had been renewed for a sixth and final season. The announcement said production was about to begin and anticipated a debut the following year; it did not establish a specific release date. Check Apple’s official series announcements for schedule updates rather than treating that expectation as a confirmed date.
Rank #3
- For All Mankind (Criterion Collection)
- Product type: PHYSICAL MOVIE
- Brand: The Criterion Collection
How long is The Expanse?
For viewers choosing between starting a finished series and catching up with a continuing one, The Expanse has six seasons. Universal Pictures At Home’s complete-series listing, marked with a 2023 release year, gives the total runtime as 47 hours and 9 minutes and shows a digital purchase option. That listing does not establish physical-edition availability.
Apple’s catalog identifies Amazon Prime as The Expanse’s global airing platform, but streaming rights and availability can vary by territory. For For All Mankind, Apple’s season-five announcement identifies Apple TV as the platform. Check the services available in your region before subscribing; a platform listing is not a guarantee that every season is currently accessible in every country.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
