‘For All Mankind’ Episode 7 sees intolerance towards gay and lesbian people in 70s as Ellen is forced to marry Larry to save her career
Ellen Waverly (Jodi Balfour), one of the four women astronauts of NASA, is lesbian in 'For All Mankind'. This was something we learned much earlier in the show. The person who found out the truth about her was a scientist, Larry Wilson (Nate Corddry), from the Flight Control Room whom she went out on a date with after geeking out over movies.
He observed Ellen enough to figure out that she is lesbian. The fact that Ellen was not careful about her rendezvous with Pam Horton (Meghan Leathers), the friendly bartender of the bar that everyone at NASA hangs out at, has only helped him confirm his suspicions.
When he confronted her about it, he informed her that her entire career at NASA could go up in smoke if she were to be outed by someone and the two decide to fake-date to avoid any suspicion. This is great for both of them since Larry happens to be gay himself.
After the explosion of a Saturn 5 rocket that was set to take off to the moon and relieve the astronauts who were in the James Town base, NASA goes through a security protocol investigation. Special Agent Gavin Donahue (James Urbaniak) is sent to NASA to find out if there was any breach of security that could have led to the explosion.
Of course, the fact that the explosion occurred because of corruption within congress, leading to the signing of a contract with a company below par excellence to manufacture valves for rockets, is buried. The investigation is purely a witchhunt to divert the attention of the public and during this investigation, Agent Donahue finds out Larry has been visiting a gay bar where the Soviets have agents undercover. He suspects Larry might have given out sensitive information to one of them that could have led to the sabotage of the rocket.
The suspicions, especially, in the latest episode 7 titled 'Hi Bob' puts Ellen under pressure. Agent Donahue wonders why someone such as herself has settled for a scientist of the low order in NASA. He questions her motivation for being in a relationship where the man is clearly gay, and in the following days, he also accuses of being a lesbian herself.
When things get out of hand, NASA administrator Harold Weisner (Wallace Langham) gets involved and suggests to Ellen she get married to Larry. He says this would shut everyone up, including Agent Donahue.
When Ellen discussed this with Pam and Larry, she finds out Pam is not okay with taking such a huge step. She also lets Ellen know that if she did marry Larry to save her career, it would mean the end of their relationship. Ellen, stuck between her career and love also finds out she is being followed by an unmarked vehicle.
All of this pushes her to get married to Larry and when the episode ends, we see Ellen become another person who fell prey to societal norms and pressures, in order to save her career, and herself from becoming a laughing stock.
The next episode of 'For All Mankind' airs on Friday on Apple TV+.