For All Mankind Confirms Karen and Gordo Are the Most Important Characters

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From the very beginning, For All Mankind hasn’t shied away from letting characters die. Despite being set in a timeline that’s meant to be an improvement on our own, the show features a surprisingly high number of tragic deaths. Two particularly heartbreaking losses were those of Karen Baldwin (Shantel VanSanten) and Gordo Stevens (Michael Dorman), both of whom died young and while at the peak of their careers.

The deaths of Gordo and Tracy in the Season 2 finale were particularly impactful, and a season later, Karen’s death in the Season 3 finale, alongside Molly Cobb, during the Johnson Space Center bombing, was equally shocking. While viewers understand characters won’t live forever in a show that spans decades, the sudden and violent nature of these deaths established that no character was safe. For All Mankind clearly remembers those it has lost; recent appearances by characters from the past demonstrate that it’s the lasting impact on the story, not just survival, that truly matters.

How For All Mankind Brings Karen and Gordo Back in Season 5

In Season 5, Episode 3, titled “Home,” as Ed Baldwin (Joel Kinnaman) is dying, his final thoughts are of those closest to him: his war friend Shane (who died in Korea), his son Shane, his wife Karen, and his best friend Gordo. Despite not appearing on the show for some time after their characters’ storylines ended, both Karen and Gordo are featured in Ed’s final moments. We see Karen with a young Shane, saying goodbye to Ed before his first space mission. Ed’s last memory is of seeing Earth from space, with Gordo at his side.

Throughout For All Mankind, Ed forms many important connections, but it’s notable that he remembers Karen and Gordo most vividly as he nears the end of his life. This suggests they were his deepest loves, and people he had strong bonds with even before the show started. Their reappearances also highlight just how much of an impact Karen and Gordo had on the series – more than any other character.

In the show’s early seasons, Karen and Gordo played a key role in developing the emotional and personal stories. They were realistically flawed characters – they made mistakes, but were still likable enough that viewers kept watching. Even when fans disagreed with their choices, they remained compelling, thanks to the actors, Dorman and Karen, who skillfully portrayed the complex sides of their personalities.

Karen and Gordo’s Biggest Mistakes Still Made For All Mankind Great

The characters hit their lowest points, experiencing more intense personal struggles than anyone else on the show. Surprisingly, these private dramas were far more difficult to watch than the large-scale political and scientific crises happening around them. From the beginning, Gordo was a selfish and unrepentant husband who repeatedly cheated on his wife. Even more shockingly, Karen had an affair with Danny, Gordo’s son and the best friend of her own deceased son – a boy she had previously cared for.

Even though we watched Karen and Gordo knowingly make risky choices that led to their deaths, it was still incredibly heartbreaking. They remain such well-developed characters that many believe they can’t be replaced. Without them, Ed’s story would have been trapped in a cycle of harmful behavior. Instead, through his connection with them, Ed has matured, and that growth has positively impacted the space program. It’s rare for a character to have such a lasting influence, even after they’re gone.

Watch new episodes of For All Mankind every Friday on Apple TV. The show is currently being developed for a sixth and final season.

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2026-04-10 10:06