Apple TV’s New Sci-Fi Thriller Spin-Off Rockets to a Near-Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score
Star City, the For All Mankind spin-off, is landing the same raves as the mothership — proof this alt-history space saga still has plenty of fuel.
So, Apple TV+ launched back in 2019 with a bit of a flag-planting exercise: loads of glossy, big-talent originals across basically every genre they could think of. You had The Morning Show if you fancied topical scandals, Dickinson for period drama with a twist, See and Servant for the weird and the wonderful, and Ghostwriter if you had small people to entertain. But the one that’s consistently been sneaking up the 'actually good TV' ladder? For All Mankind. It’s developed into one of those shows where the critics gush and the fans know they’re onto something (although you don’t really hear about it down the pub).
Anyway, the For All Mankind mothership is calling it a day soon, but Apple isn’t letting go of that alternate timeline space gravy just yet. Not only is the main series set for a final season, the spin-off, Star City, has already blasted off—and according to the first handful of critics, it’s started strong.
Soviets Beat NASA—And It’s Still Kicking Off
For All Mankind’s hook is simple but clever: what if the Soviets got to the Moon first instead of the Americans? Result: the Cold War space race drags on for decades longer, and Earth gets far more exciting kit than we ever did in real life. Star City picks up in roughly the same era, but this time, it’s all through the Soviet lens. But don’t expect more of the same starry-eyed, tech-optimist sci-fi—this one leans into psychological thriller territory instead.
Early Buzz—And It’s Mostly Good News
If you’re one of those people who trust the Rotten Tomatoes scoreboard, at launch Star City has a stonking 91% positive rating, even though only 11 reviews are in as I’m typing this. That could go up or nosedive as more people chime in, but with just the single negative so far, it’s a very decent debut for a spin-off whose entire premise is ‘What if the USSR had its own NASA drama?’
- Collider’s Carly Lane praises the smart choice NOT to just reheat For All Mankind’s old tricks: 'The best decision Star City makes isn’t to copy or mimic what came before on the original series, but to carve out a completely separate path within the overall franchise.'
- She still reckons fans will recognise some classic For All Mankind-style disaster-in-orbit tension, which probably means you’re going to get a few scenes where you need to unclench your fists.
- TV Guide’s Gavia Baker-Whitelaw singles out the sharp shift in mood—darker and more tense—but says it keeps the mix of work politics, secret romances and 'satisfying sci-fi problem-solving' that’s made the parent show click, all splashed about with a larger budget and an eye for vintage Soviet gadgets.
A Familiar Address With a Fresh Set of Problems
If you’re a For All Mankind regular, you’ll know Star City isn’t some random bolt-on; the actual Soviet space complex has popped up before, so this show doesn’t feel tacked-on. It’s more like digging deeper into an alternate-history playground we’ve seen hints of, which is probably why it doesn’t come across as a desperate cash-in.
As for how long Star City’s going to run—no clue yet. Apple’s keeping that card close to the chest for now.