'For All Mankind' season 4  episode 9 review

Just like Terry Gilliam's classic dystopian movie of the same name, "Brazil" (the latest episode of "For All Mankind") isn't really about South America.

The country is relevant, sure, but here Brazil refers to escaping from your humdrum, everyday existence, the idea of hope when things seem hopeless.

Not that such idealistic visions provide any guarantees that good things will come to pass…

The unexpected reunion of space race veterans and long-time friends Margo Madison (Wrenn Schmitt) and Sergei Nikulov (Piotr Adamczyk) has been one of the highlights of the season,

and this episode makes the most of their stolen moments together under the glare of the CIA and KGB.

It's one of the standout episodes of the season, perfectly balanced between subtle character beats, and ratcheting up the tension ahead of next week's finale.

With two rival factions in play, it's unclear how the mission to capture Goldilocks is going to play out, but if "For All Mankind" has taught us anything, it's to expect the unexpected.