Ep 2. He Built the Saturn V

In For All Mankind season 1 episode 2, "He Built the Saturn V," the focus shifts from the international tensions that dominated the first episode to the internal struggles and conflicts within NASA itself. The episode centers around the character of Wernher von Braun, the chief architect of NASA's space program and the man responsible for building the Saturn V rocket that will ultimately take mankind to the moon.

As the name of the episode suggests, the storyline revolves heavily around von Braun's role in designing and building the Saturn V. We see him at his most intense and driven as he pours all of his energy into the project, pushing himself and his team to the limits in order to meet NASA's ambitious timeline for the moon landing. The episode presents an interesting contrast between von Braun's single-minded focus on the Saturn V and the more collaborative, team-oriented approach favored by some of his colleagues at NASA. While many of his peers resent von Braun's aggressive tactics and his tendency to bulldoze anyone who gets in his way, there's no denying that his vision and his leadership are the driving force behind America's space program.

In addition to von Braun's struggles with his colleagues, the episode also explores some of the challenges he faces in his personal life. We learn that von Braun's wife and children are still living in Germany, and that he's feeling torn between his loyalty to his family and his duty to his country. This conflict is particularly poignant given his history as a Nazi rocket scientist who worked for Hitler during World War II. Von Braun's efforts to secure his family's exit visas from Germany are frustrating and time-consuming, and he's often forced to put his work on hold in order to deal with bureaucratic red tape and other setbacks.

While much of the episode focuses on von Braun's struggles, there are also plenty of other characters who get their moment in the spotlight. We see glimpses of the other astronauts and NASA employees who are working towards the moon landing, as well as some of the political figures who are involved in shaping America's space program. There are some particularly interesting scenes involving President Nixon and his advisors, who are grappling with the political implications of the moon landing and the role that America's success in space will play in the Cold War.

Overall, For All Mankind season 1 episode 2 is a compelling and well-crafted installment that does an excellent job of setting up the conflicts and challenges that will shape the remainder of the series. While the episode can be a bit slow-paced at times, it's all in service of building a rich and complex world that feels grounded in reality. And despite the fact that this is a work of fiction, it's clear that the show's creators have done their homework when it comes to the history of America's space program. From the design of the Saturn V to the political wrangling that went on behind the scenes, every detail feels painstakingly researched and thoughtfully presented.