'Avenue 5' Episode 3: Captain Ryan Clark learns a disturbing truth about his crew, is there no escape?

The latest HBO offering in its third episode captures one thing right and that is the frustration that stems from being in situations that are out of control
Hugh Laurie in 'Avenue 5' (HBO)
Hugh Laurie in 'Avenue 5' (HBO)

'Avenue 5' Episode 3 titled 'I'm a Hand Model' adds more woes as Captain Ryan Clark, who is not really a captain, tries to bring things under control onboard the space ship. For now, we know that the spaceship was knocked off from the original trajectory which has now put it on track to return to Earth in 3 years.

We then met a manchild a.k.a Cyrus who assumed he knew best to come up with a new trajectory that would take people back in as many as six months. 

In Episode 3, he returns to tell Clark that he was mistaken. Just as Billie McEvoy had expected since the beginning. He explains that he forgot to factor in the weight of 500 people on board, which has now resulted in a recalibrated timeline -- 3 years and 6 months. Of course,  this will have to be informed to the passengers on board and that where the newly appointed Passengers Liasion officer, Karen Kelly, comes in play. 

When Captain Clark hired Kelly, he did not expect her to deliver something as devastating as this. He wanted her to replace Matt Spencer, who is according to everyone on board, 'useless'. However, because of Kelly, who seems adept at handling people, the passengers on board believe that they received the long end of the stick. The worst news, however, comes towards the end of the episode when Clark addresses his crew to possibly find a solution to the extended period of stay on board. 

Turns out, none of the crew members are real. Just like he is a fake captain, every crew member has been hired to act as a crew member and not one of them knows anything about manning the spaceship. Clark looks like he is about to burst a vessel when he learns that Judd wanted a good looking crew; so they forewent the eligibility section altogether. 

Rebecca Front as Karen Kelly in Avenue 5 (Alex Bailey/HBO)

So, except for Billie, there is no one who is equipped to deal with the crisis on board. It really is a dire situation and while they have attempted to bring in humor through Herman Judd (Josh Gad), it has now become impossible to not be irritated by him. Especially when he begins explaining how one could use 5000 spaceships to rescue people on board using protein balls, things get pretty bothersome. 

Will Clark be able to return to his wife and husband on Earth? Oh did I forget to mention? It looks like the show is set at a time period when polygamy is legally acceptable.

'Avenue 5' will air on HBO on Sundays at 10 pm ET.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Mike McLusky’s secrets face federal scrutiny as David Morse joins ‘Mayor of Kingstown’ for its final season.
2026-10-20T16:17:44.000Z
Chris Pratt and the creative team want more ‘The Terminal List’, while Jack Carr’s books offer a path beyond Season 2.
2026-10-20T15:19:32.000Z
Kevin McKidd plays headteacher Mr McGiver in a six-part BBC drama set among teenage gangs in Airdrie
2026-10-20T10:17:17.000Z
'Phony' follows Sonny, a teenager who is extremely close to his mother, Ellen, played by Connie Britton
2026-10-20T09:59:34.000Z
Though Josh Duhamel won't play Staten Kirkland anymore, he revealed he would be interested in taking on a similar role in the future
2026-10-20T09:21:22.000Z
The CIA catches up with Reece in ‘The Terminal List’ Season 2 and forces him to stop a terrorist group’s resurgence
2026-10-20T07:52:34.000Z
‘Line of Fire’ introduces Tyler Posey as Russ’s former Marine buddy as the hunt for the real shooter intensifies
2026-10-20T05:52:23.000Z
Five guest stars are set to join the HBO college comedy starring Steve Carell
2026-10-20T05:12:23.000Z
Thomas Vinterberg will direct the upcoming thriller, while the project comes from Joe Murtagh.
2026-10-20T05:12:05.000Z
Tom Holland is set to feature in a thriller he will produce alongside Sony Pictures
2026-10-20T03:33:38.000Z