‘For All Mankind’ Finale and ‘Star City’ Spinoff, Allison Janney & Andrew Rannells in ‘Miss You, Love You,’ All About ‘Rafa’

For All Mankind

The compelling alternative-history drama of space exploration ends its fifth season with more displays of heroism and sacrifice, as the “Marsies” (as residents of Mars’ Happy Valley colony are known) continue to fight back against the invading military force trying to seize the base. On Titan, the Sojourner crew faces some tough choices after making a discovery that they’re desperate to share with the rest of the world, though the Mars conflict has shut their communications down.

Star City

While Mankind signs off, with one more season to go, a gritty spinoff goes inside the Soviet space program, flashing back to Mankind‘s triggering event: the Russians’ triumphant (and fictional) 1960s moon landing, beating the Americans and stoking national pride. In this repressive society, however, victory goes hand in hand with political paranoia, where allegiance to the party always comes first and suspicion of American sabotage clouds every celebration. This is especially frustrating to Star City’s Chief Designer (Rhys Ifans), whose vision of further exploration is stymied by party bosses. Agnes O’Casey stars as a younger version of the Mankind character Irina Morozova, who’s learning the ropes of surveillance from ruthless KGB boss Col. Raskova (Anna Maxwell Martin). The series launches with two episodes.

Miss You, Love You

Allison Janney scorches the screen as not-so-merry widow Diane Patterson in director-writer Jim Rash’s funny-sad two-hander dramedy. Andrew Rannells (The Book of Mormon) co-stars as Jamie Simms, an awkward interloper who intrudes on Diane’s solitude and grief, volunteering to help her plan her husband’s funeral in place of her absent son, a renowned writer for whom he works as an assistant. Snappish, peevish, and bitter, Diane greets the affable Jamie with the opposite of grace, but the relationship thaws as they get to know each other and understand each other’s complicated relationship with the never-seen Tyler, who’s overseas pursuing a tricky interview. Jamie could use a mom, and Diane could benefit from even a surrogate son, making their tenuous bond a memorable one in the play-like scenario set in the New Mexico desert.

Rafa

Tune in to the French Open currently underway and you’re sure to get a glimpse of the statue erected in honor of the Grand Slam tournament’s greatest champion: Rafael Nadal, who won a record 14 times at Roland-Garros. An intimate biographical profile follows Nadal’s remarkable career in tennis over two decades and four episodes, culminating in his emotional decision to leave the game after the 2024 ATP tour. “Everything has a beginning and end,” he says, acknowledging the “constant pain” his then 38-year-old body was enduring. Among those paying respect: his most prominent rivals, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Amadeus

The lavish historical miniseries based on the award-winning play and movie about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Will Sharpe) finds the young genius composer in a sorry state in the poignant penultimate episode. His unhappy wife Constanze (Gabrielle Creevy) has bolted, his finances are dwindling, his champion the Emperor Joseph II (Rory Kinnear) is dying, and his secret nemesis, the envious court composer Salieri (Paul Bettany), continues to sabotage him at every turn. Somehow, he continues to produce immortal music.

INSIDE FRIDAY TV:

• Dutton Ranch (8/7, Paramount Network, streaming on Paramount+): “This’ll be one of those days that follow you to your grave,” declares a somber Rip (Cole Hauser) in the Yellowstone spinoff as he takes drastic action to address a crisis on his and Beth’s (Kelly Reilly) Texas ranch.
• Cape Fear (8/7c, Turner Classic Movies): The final night of TCM’s “Star of the Month” tribute to Gregory Peck opens with the 1962 thriller, which has been remade (for the second time) into an Apple TV series starting next Friday, starring Javier Bardem, Amy Adams, and Patrick Wilson in Peck’s role.
• NHL Eastern Conference Finals (8 pm/ET, TNT, truTV, HBO Max): The Montreal Canadiens return to Raleigh to play the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5.
• Ancient Autopsy: Mysteries of the Dead (9/8c, National Geographic): What’s the real story behind the death of Egyptian queen Cleopatra? A forensic pathologist uses modern tools to determine a cause of death, while historians provide political context.
• This Is Poly (9:30/8:30c, We TV): A reality series explores the intricacies and complications of polyamorous relationships, focusing on five groupings of multiple partners.

ON THE STREAM:

• Propeller One-Way Night Coach (streaming on Apple TV): John Travolta is the writer and director of this nostalgic film based on his children’s novel about a young boy’s (Clark Shotwell) wide-eyed cross-country flight in the “golden age” of luxurious air travel. Those were the days.
• Your Friends & Neighbors (streaming on Apple TV): “Buckle up, boys. It’s gonna get bumpy,” says Nick (Mark Tallman) as he, Coop (Jon Hamm), and Barney (Hoon Lee) head to a party at Owen Ashe’s (James Marsden) mansion in the penultimate episode of the suburban satire’s second season. They have no idea how bumpy it’s going to get.
• Calabasas Confidential (streaming on Netflix): After graduating from college, a group of camera-ready former high school buds and babes reunites to stir up old passions and high drama in a Bravo-style reality series.
• The Moment (streaming on HBO Max): Charli XCX takes center stage in a mock-doc making its streaming debut, about the pop star’s rise to fame as she prepares for a world tour. Kylie Jenner and Julia Fox play versions of themselves, with Alexander Skarsgård among the co-stars, playing an egotistical filmmaker.