'Constellation': Bud Caldera's hatred threatens Henry Caldera's universe in Apple TV+ sci-fi series
Contains spoilers for 'Constellation'
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: Jonathan Banks, renowned for his role in 'Breaking Bad,' has wowed audiences with his dual portrayal of Henry and Bud Caldera in Apple TV's new sci-fi series, 'Constellation.'
It is already established that Bud is the alternate self of Henry Caldera belonging to a different universe and their lives are somehow entangled in an unexplained phenomenon.
With the vast use of the concept of multiple realities in the series, let's understand what's really happening in the lives of both characters.
What happened during the Apollo 18 mission in 'Constellation'?
In one reality, we meet Henry Caldera, a former astronaut renowned for his heroic act during the Apollo 18 mission. After repairing critical damage in space and saving lives, he returned to Earth as a celebrated figure, now working on the CAL experiment at NASA with assistance from Paul Lancaster.
Contrastingly, in another reality, we encounter Jonathan Banks as Bud Caldera, who also participated in the Apollo 18 mission but faced failure with casualties.
At a cruise ship event, Bud's credibility is questioned by author Ian Rogers due to discrepancies in his memoir. In return, he defends his "achievements" in the space mission and blames "Henry" for the mission's failure.
Further exploration reveals that Henry's Apollo 18 mission resulted in tragedy, pushing him to switch realities with Bud. This swap left Bud grappling with disbelief and marginalization. He resorted to alcohol to cope with his altered reality's harshness.
Meanwhile, Henry, now in Bud's reality, maintained a facade of success and achievement, delving deeper into space exploration and scientific endeavors like the Cold Atomic Lab (CAL) experiment, eventually earning accolades like the Nobel Prize.
Bud Caldera returns to his original universe in 'Constellation'
Bud and Henry appear to be entangled in a quantum state, where their actions can affect each other profoundly.
The climax of 'Constellation' Episode 7 sees Bud and Henry swapping places. Bud ends up in the snow outside the cabin, holding Alice, while Henry finds himself holding Bud's gun.
Bud's hatred for his alternate self Henry stems from his frustration of bearing blame for past errors and his longing for the life he might have had if they hadn't swapped realities after their space mission.
With this return to their original universes, Bud is determined to remain there, especially since his universe reflects a more positive aftermath of the Apollo 18 mission.
He may attempt to sabotage or manipulate the CAL experiment to prevent another switch and ensure he stays in his preferred reality.
'Constellation' is available to stream on Apple TV+.