'For All Mankind's Most Devastating Loss After 5 Seasons Has Only Made the Apple TV Sci-Fi Show Better

Published Apr 10, 2026, 9:14 PM EDT

‘For All Mankind’ Season 5 Lets Ed Baldwin Go Out on His Own Terms

Not many sci-fi protagonists get to live as long as Ed Baldwin. In For All Mankind Season 5, he is already in his early eighties and has a list of space-faring accomplishments that is nearly impossible to beat; unfortunately, it's also impossible for him to add to it. The setup for his journey's end begins back in Season 4, when his tremors signal the end of his piloting days. Ed's opposition to Dani Poole's (Krys Marshall) command of Happy Valley also doesn't help, and, at the beginning of Season 5, his time has clearly passed, and he knows it.

It may feel like Season 5 is rushing the plot with Ed's death in the third episode, but this timing is actually about allowing the character to go out on his own terms. It's surprising when the show reveals that his cancer is so advanced already, and that he's refused to tell his family about it, but that's also perfectly in character for him. The season's first two episodes have also made it clear that this isn't Ed's world anymore, and that, despite his respected position, his insight isn't as valued anymore, either.

How it happens may also be surprising, but it's actually the perfect way for Ed to go. After losing friends and family to untimely deaths, everyone from Gordo (Michael Dorman) to Karen (Shantel VanSanten), Ed's own passing is beautiful precisely because it's peaceful, quiet, and intentional. He has control of his own fate until the very end, using his final moments to enjoy his family and inspire them to keep "pushing the envelope" like Baldwins always have. In that sense, there's no better way for Ed to go than surrounded by loved ones and knowing they'll carry on his legacy.

Ed’s Storyline Comes Full Circle in His Final Moments on 'For All Mankind' Season 5

Throughout Episode 3, Ed's present-day condition is influenced by memories of his time fighting in the Korean War. Wounded, he is saved by a colleague who ultimately sacrifices himself to protect Ed — a colleague named Shane Barnhill (Aren Farrington). That flashback brings Ed's character arc full circle, offering something new about the character even in his final moments — that this man, a hero to so many people, named his son after the man who once saved his life.

Even though Ed has his daughter, Kelly (Cynthy Wu), and grandson, Alex (Sean Kaufman), it's natural that he would dream about his lost son in his final hours, since Shane has always been his greatest open wound. Ed was always unnecessarily tough on his son, and has always carried guilt and regret about it since Shane died — but the final minutes of the episode, which also include appearances by Gordo and Karen seemingly welcoming a younger version of Ed into the afterlife, reveal that he has finally learned his greatest lesson as a father, even if it took a lifetime.

Now Is the Perfect Time To Give Ed the Send-Off He Deserves in 'For All Mankind'

Because of For All Mankind's structure, fans have speculated for a long time about how certain milestones would be addressed, including Ed's potential death. He is the undeniable series protagonist, so some expected he would die only at the very end of the story, if at all. An early death in Season 5 wasn't in anyone's cards, but, considering how advanced the story's alt-history timeline is, the configuration of the other characters' narratives, and the status quo of the space race, it's time for the show to let Ed go.

One of For All Mankind's best traits is its multi-generational premise; it's an epic saga about many people, so the focus should shift to newer characters standing on the shoulders of their predecessors, like Kelly with her Titan mission and Alex's potential future. This doesn't erase, ignore, or diminish Ed's story and legacy, but rather builds on it, as the new generation of Baldwins writes their own names in history. It certainly feels strange to think that Ed won't be around for the remainder of Season 5 and the entirety of the final sixth season, but, after his "pep talk" to Kelly and Alex in Episode 2 and their emotional farewell, it feels like he deserves to finally rest.