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.

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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.

9to5Mac’s Take

Personally, I’m excited to hear that Star City feels nothing like For All Mankind. I was concerned the show wouldn’t have enough originality to merit a watch, but the pivot to a darker, espionage-fueled thriller sounds great.

It’s also good news for anyone who’s never watched For All Mankind. Five seasons is a lot to catch up on, and several reviews noted that you definitely don’t need to see For All Mankind before watching Star City.

Are you planning to watch Star City when it hits Apple TV? Let us know in the comments.

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