The fifth season of ‘For All Mankind‘ has delivered a heartbreaking goodbye to Ed Baldwin, but the most powerful moment was how deeply it affected Joel Kinnaman himself.
Opening up about filming the final episode, “Home,” Kinnaman didn’t shy away from admitting his breakdown as he said goodbye to one of television’s most enduring characters.
‘For All Mankind’ Star Joel Kinnaman Opens Up About Emotional Breakdown During Ed’s Death
While talking to TV Insider, Kinnaman shared that the last week of shooting was extremely emotional for him. He found himself “crying again and again”, not just during scenes but even in between takes. At one point, he was sitting in his car, trying to understand why this goodbye felt so intense.
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He explained that actors often build short-term bonds on set, but this experience felt very different. He had played Ed for many years, across different stages of the character’s life. That long journey made it much harder to let go. It was about saying goodbye to something that had been part of his life for a long time.
He also made a personal choice after finishing his scenes. He said, “I don’t want any scripts past my death, and then I don’t want any links or screeners to the episodes. I’m just going to watch it with everyone else.” He wanted to step back and experience the rest of the season as a viewer.
Ed Baldwin Faces Death On His Own Terms
In the episode, Ed is diagnosed with progressive lung cancer. Even then, he refuses treatment. Kelly tries to convince him, but she knows him well enough to understand that he will not change his mind. As Cynthy Wu explained, “Kelly knows her dad very well… he’s stubborn. And if he has a certain idea of how he wants things to go, he’s not going to listen to anybody.”
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Instead of focusing on treatment, Ed spends his good days with Kelly and Alex. He shares quiet moments with them, knowing time is limited. During his weaker moments, he relives memories from the Korean War. These flashbacks finally show a part of his past that the show had only hinted at before.
Executive producer Matt Wolpert spoke about why these scenes were included. He said, “We wanted to make sure it felt emotional and resonant… it’s the one part of his life you haven’t really seen.” He also explained that these memories help us better understand Ed. They show why he always lived without fear and took risks that others would avoid.
Even in his final days, Ed stays true to himself. When Lee Jung-Gil is accused of murder on Mars, Ed steps in to help him. He breaks rules again and puts his own health at risk. His loyalty never changes, and that becomes one of the strongest parts of his character.
The Farewell Left Both The Character And Actor Deeply Changed
The episode’s final moments are deeply emotional. Ed imagines himself young again, walking down a hall filled with NASA colleagues applauding him. He then sees Gordo, Karen, and his son Shane waiting for him. They guide him toward what feels like home.
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Matt Wolpert shared that bringing these characters back was not easy. He said, “We were hopeful that that would happen… but the reaction from all of them… is really a testament to their connection to their characters.” Their return made the scene even more meaningful.
Filming this part was one of the hardest experiences of Kinnaman’s career. Seeing familiar faces again brought back memories from earlier seasons. He shared how emotional it felt to stand with Michael Dorman again. They laughed and cried together while filming, knowing this was the end of a long journey.
He summed it up, saying, “They wrecked me. I was a total mess the whole last week… crying every day.” He also spoke about how the bond with the cast and crew made everything feel real. Many of them had worked together for seven to eight years, and that connection made the goodbye even harder.
While Ed has bid us goodbye on screen, the character and scenes Kinnaman left behind will forever be etched in our hearts.
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