Star City Episode 5 Review

Pixel art illustration in the style of 1980s and 1990s anime and manga depicting a tense Soviet space drama. A rocket launches into the night sky as astronauts, intelligence officers, and scientists surround the scene, with Cold War imagery, mission blueprints, and espionage motifs reflecting the emotional fallout of Star City Season 1 Episode 6, "Awl in a Sack."

Entertainment

Star City Season 1 Episode 6 Review: “Awl in a Sack” Shows That No Secret Escapes the Weight of the Soviet State

June 27, 2026

Star City Season 1 Episode 6, “Awl in a Sack,” delivers the series’ most gripping chapter yet as long-buried secrets ignite political fallout across the Soviet space program. Our review explores the episode’s outstanding performances, escalating Cold War suspense, and powerful character drama, examining how Apple TV+ transforms weeks of careful setup into an emotionally devastating hour that firmly establishes Star City as one of television’s best science fiction dramas.

Pixel art illustration in the style of gritty 1980s and 1990s anime and manga depicting a Soviet space-race thriller. A worried woman holding a cassette tape stands in the foreground while cosmonauts, a launching rocket, a stern intelligence officer, and a farewell between lovers unfold against a neon-lit Soviet backdrop filled with surveillance imagery and Cold War symbolism.

Entertainment

Star City Season 1 Episode 5 Review: “Bite Your Elbow” Launches the Series Into Dangerous New Territory

June 20, 2026

Star City Season 1 Episode 5, “Bite Your Elbow,” is where Apple TV’s Soviet space-race drama truly finds its stride. As espionage, betrayal, and paranoia engulf Star City, Irina risks everything to protect Tanya while a secret mission to Venus threatens to reshape the future of the Soviet space program. Combining Cold War intrigue with emotional character drama and ambitious alternate-history storytelling, this tense and engaging episode pushes the series into exciting new territory, even if a few plot developments stretch credibility.