For All Mankind: Are The Sons & Daughters Of Mars Heroes Or Villains?

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for For All Mankind season 5, episode 6.Throughout For All Mankind season 5, the Sons & Daughters of Mars (SDM) have been a source of contention on the Mars base. While the M6 nations have agreed to maintain Mars as a shared resource for each of their countries, the people on the surface of the planet who have made a home there seem to be left in the lurch.

Initially, it seemed as though the SDM was just a small group of people who wanted to create a better life on Mars for everyone, but after the upheaval that came at the end of For All Mankind season 5, episode 5, and the following tension in episode 6, the morality and mission of this organization have been called into question.

For All Mankind's Sons & Daughters Of Mars Have Taken Over The Mars Base

In "No Sudden Moves," the SDM, led by Gerardo Ortiz-Niño, has taken control of the base and made hostages of the people who are leading and controlling the base. After pushing the Peacekeepers back successfully and getting their hands on a number of weapons, Gerardo is clearly scared about the fallout of his rash decisions, but he also recognizes that things need to change.

Due to the intense and violent outbreak, there is no easy way back from this conflict, and thankfully, Miles Dale arrived on the scene to provide a more level head. Aleida Rosales also left Helios and made her way to the control room to support her employees, and with both Miles and Aleida on the scene, most of the hostages were freed, except for Governor Leonid Polivanov.

When cooler heads prevail, Miles comes up with some demands to pass on to the M6, and he has Leonid record them in a brief video message. Unfortunately, the US President responds by firmly rejecting any demands, which appears to escalate the conflict and leave everyone on both sides uncertain about what will happen next.

The SDM's Demands Aren't That Unreasonable

The issue is that the SDM's demands seem fairly reasonable. With more than 5,000 people resident on the Red Planet, Miles has highlighted that the growing colony that lives on a planet far removed from Earth should be entitled to some autonomy about how its community is operated.

Rather than having the Earthbound M6 possess complete control of the colony, with their unelected leaders, and the biased Peacekeepers who are also susceptible to corruption and willing to put the interests of the governing body ahead of the people they are supposedly protecting, the people on Mars seem more like prisoners than a free and working class of people.

Ultimately, they want a voice and a hand in shaping their own future. And in order to achieve that, Miles has decided to block Iridium shipments off the planet as a means of negotiating against the plans for automation, similar to many other formal strikes and protests as seen on Earth.

The Power Imbalance On Mars Has Led To A Major Divide Between The SDM And The M6

The M6 was pivotal in setting up a base on Mars, creating a colony, and clearing the path for this to be a place where people could live and grow. And while that was not their initial vision, after more people arrived on the planet in crates, and families educated and raised their children in their new home, it has become home to a new generation, and the community has the potential to thrive and grow even more.

Meanwhile, the M6 has its focus on profit, with its unveiled plans to automate the operations on Mars, and send back the vast majority of the workforce with no security around work and a future for their families. That's a truly chilling prospect for people who have created a home and dreamed of their future among the stars.

While the M6 is toting itself as a responsible governing body with everyone's best interests at heart, the SDM has been formed as a rational and reasonable response to the overbearing powers that are willing to discard them in favor of profit. While the actions of the Sons & Daughters of Mars have been hasty and intense, they are not true villains in For All Mankind.