Why For All Mankind Season 5 Kills Off THAT Major OG Character In Episode 3 Detailed By Star

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This article contains spoilers for For All Mankind season 5, episode 3, “Home.”

The latest season of For All Mankind shocked viewers by killing off a beloved character who has been with the show since the beginning.

The popular Apple TV+ show For All Mankind has returned for its fifth season, set in 2013. This season delves into the growing conflict between the Mars colony and Earth, while also examining issues like corporate greed, government corruption, and the impact of advancing technology. A central character, Edward Baldwin (played by Joel Kinnaman), has been a key astronaut throughout the series. However, the third episode revealed his tragic passing from lung cancer, marking his final departure from space travel.

In a conversation with Liam Crowley from ScreenRant, Joel Kinnaman discussed Ed’s death and his overall experience with the show. He clarified that while many thought Ed’s storyline was cut short, the series was originally planned for five seasons before being extended to seven.

That’s incorrect. I was originally told the show would last five seasons, though I might be misremembering – it could have been seven. I believe the initial plan was for five seasons, but they later considered extending it to seven. Ultimately, it ran for six seasons, which is fine.

Ed wasn’t sure if his character’s death was planned from the beginning. He explained that the writers seemed to be waiting to see how far into the series he would be willing to continue. A challenge was that, because his character had a history of serving in the Korean War, they couldn’t realistically portray him as a younger man at the start, which would have allowed for a longer storyline.

I’m not certain if my character was always meant to die near the end of the second-to-last season. It felt like the showrunners were waiting to see how far they could take my character’s story. A challenge was my character’s backstory involving the Korean War; it meant we couldn’t start him as a younger man, which would have allowed for more seasons. In the first season, my character was actually a few years older than I was to account for this. Ideally, we would have started him around 30, giving us a couple extra seasons. I don’t know if this limitation influenced the eventual storyline, but I remember the showrunners discussing it while they were writing.

The decision came down to not wanting to kill off Ed in a season finale. Kinnaman explained they aimed to surprise viewers and avoid a predictable outcome, while also setting the stage for the show to evolve with a new direction now that Ed’s character was gone.

The writers didn’t want to end the season with Ed’s death, which would mean starting a new season without him. Their idea was to shock the audience with his departure, but also to gradually transition the show’s focus and give the new direction time to develop.

Kinnaman was asked how he felt about Ed’s death, acknowledging the show’s violence. He said he found the writing to be exceptionally good, noting he had no suggestions for improvement on the fifth season script. He went on to commend the show’s creative team, praising their attention to detail, respect for the characters, and overall high quality, and expressed his belief that the writing hadn’t received enough recognition.

I was immediately struck by how well-written the show was. Usually, when I get a script, it needs a lot of work – lots of revisions and notes. But with this show, every script I received felt like a gift. I was genuinely thankful to be able to work with such strong material and deliver those lines. In fact, after playing this character for five seasons, I never once received a direction to change anything – it was a truly remarkable experience.

As a total cinema and TV devotee, I’ve read a lot of scripts, but honestly, this one really stood out. I never once thought, ‘I’d change this or that.’ It felt incredibly well-considered, with a real respect for the characters and just a consistently high level of quality. I genuinely believe the writing hasn’t gotten the recognition it deserves. When I look at the show as a whole, and compare it to others that get awards attention, I truly think it’s among the best out there – that’s just my opinion, of course, and maybe I’m biased, but it’s been a real pleasure to be involved.

Ed was a central figure in For All Mankind, and considering his age and the show’s long timeline, his departure was expected. It will be compelling to see how the story continues without him, especially how his death affects his daughter, Kelly. The episode also provided a fitting, heroic end for his character, as he saved Lee’s life.

Watching Ed experience both the joys and sorrows of his life right before he passed away was deeply moving. His recollections of the Korean War provided a powerful sense of closure for his character, effectively bringing his story full circle. In classic Ed fashion, he envisions himself as a young astronaut once more, reuniting with his beloved wife and son as he dies. Sadly, this also means that season 6 of For All Mankind will be without a central figure, as the next season will mark the end of the Apple TV series.

The show delivers a heartfelt farewell to a complex and captivating character, brilliantly brought to life by Kinnaman, and his absence will be deeply felt. Thankfully, For All Mankind has consistently been a hidden treasure, offering compelling narratives, and it should continue to do so as the story concludes, even without him.

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2026-04-10 21:29