Ranking of "THE RIGHT STUFF" (2020) Episodes
Below is my ranking of the episodes from the Disney Plus limited series, "THE RIGHT STUFF", Disney’s adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s 1979 book. Created by Mark Lafferty, the series stars Patrick J. Adams, Jake McDorman and Colin O'Donoghue:
RANKING OF "THE RIGHT STUFF" (2020) EPISODES
1. (1.05) "The Kona Kai Séance" - After Mercury 7 astronaut John Glenn helps fellow astronaut Alan Shepard prevent the latter’s indiscretion from being exposed by the media, Glenn confronts his fellow astronauts over their relations with young female fans. Also, a greater conflict develops between him and Shepard over who will be the first sent into space.
2. (1.03) "Single Combat Warrior" - After mysterious bouts of vertigo, Shepard turns to U.S. Navy nurse Dee O'Hara to help him. Meanwhile, Cocoa Beach, Florida has transformed from a ghost town to a perpetual party between the Mercury astronauts and young groupies. Gordon "Gordo" Cooper finds himself tempted by another woman.
3. (1.06) "Vostok" - With President John F. Kennedy now in the White House, NASA finds itself under scrutiny by his administration and Shepard’s flight delayed. When NASA learns of his heart arrhythmia, Mercury astronaut Donald "Deke" Slayton is removed from the Mercury program.
4. (1.01) "Sierra Hotel" - NASA aerospace engineer Chris Kraft and his team are assigned to select the first seven astronauts for NASA’s Mercury program out of over 100 highly capable applicants.
5. (1.07) "Ziggurat" - Weather endangers Shepard’s flight. Meanwhile, tensions between him and Glenn hit a breaking point over a his past indiscretion and a letter written by the latter.
6. (1.08) "Flight" - After Shepard’s historic flight into space, he feels underwhelmed and restless. Gordo's marriage to his wife Trudy is on the brink of collapse due to a comment he had made during a press conference. Slayton becomes the new Chief of the Astronauts Office and informs astronaut Virgil "Gus" Grissom that the latter will be the next American in space.
7. (1.04) "Advent" - During the holidays, the Russian space program achieves another milestone, throwing the future of NASA into question. Shepard and his wife Louise adopt her orphaned niece. Cooper is contacted by a former lover, which forces his confrontation and reconciliation with Trudy.
8. (1.02) "Goodies" - The Mercury 7 astronauts become aware of their instant fame and the pitfalls that come with it.