Netflix's Away has an exciting, poignant ending; here's what happens and what it all really means. Away follows Commander Emma Green (Hillary Swank) and her crew as they travel to Mars: the most ambitious journey through space humans have ever attempted. Five countries are cooperating on the mission, pooling their resources and abilities to accomplish a seemingly impossible goal. One astronaut represents each country on board, and with families and friends back on Earth, the crew must overcome life-threatening challenges while also wrestling with intense personal stakes. The events of the show's first season culminate in a suspenseful and emotional final episode.
In “Home,” Kwesi, Emma, Ram, Lu, and Misha must prepare the Atlas to land on Mars after having survived several close calls and brushes with death. Emotions and anxieties run high as the crew grapples with the odds of survival and Emma tries to brush off a nightmare she had in which the entire crew perished in a fire during an attempted landing. On Earth, Lex receives the results of her CCM test and sends word to Emma that she doesn’t carry the gene. In another message from home, CNSA requests that Lu obscures her face in the photo she is supposed to take of herself as the first person to set foot on Mars.
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Encouraged by Emma to leverage her position, Lu tries to have Mei reinstated at mission control, but CNSA refuses. While preparing for landing, Misha comforts Lu who, in turn, offers a more hopeful perspective on the grim reality of his rapidly declining eyesight. Kwesi confronts Ram about the tension between him and Emma, which Ram and Emma resolve before landing commences. At mission control, the families of the crew gather for the landing, and the astronauts deliver messages to their family before beginning their descent.
Atlas Successfully Arrives on Mars — But What Happens Next?
After a nerve-wracking journey in which the ship is engulfed in flame, Atlas lands successfully on Mars – and while it is an immense success, it is only the beginning of the hardest part of Atlas' mission. But even despite the perilous realities the crew will have to face in later seasons of Away, the landing is cause for great celebration, especially considering what they went through to arrive at this moment. Lu sends Misha out ahead of her, making him the first person to set foot on Mars, echoing her earlier sentiment that the loss of his eyesight may make him “the first true Martian.” They see that Pegasus has landed undamaged, which means they have a real chance at survival and an eventual return home. The whole crew is awestruck as they emerge, with Kwesi determined to prove that Mars can sustain life and has done so before.
Though the waiting period is tense, mission control rejoices when they receive Emma’s confirmation of a successful landing. Lu sends a photo of the entire crew, not just hersel
f, with all of their faces on clear display; it is a beautiful sentiment, but one that the head of the CNSA doesn’t seem to appreciate, given that it was born out of defiance. Trouble will doubtlessly emerge both on Mars and on Earth as the crew grapples with intense new circumstances and mission control manages both the inevitable struggles of the crew and potential conflict among the Russian, Chinese, Indian, US, and UK governments. Though the prospect is exciting, their arrival on Mars means the crew still has yet to face their greatest hardships.
Misha’s Eyesight Is Getting Progressively Worse
One major problem addressed in the finale of Away season 1 is Misha’s deteriorating vision. Throughout the season, his worsening eyesight has caused problems within the crew and threatened his ability to operate as an engineer. During his conversation with Lu in the finale, Misha reveals the specifics of what he is able to see, describing it to her as “just patches of color and light… like an out-of-focus painting.” When Atlas arrives on Mars, viewers get the opportunity to see what Misha is able to see, and are likely to find his description quite apt.
While Lu and Kwesi offer very beautiful interpretations of Misha’s situation, saying that he is “ahead of the curve,” the possibility of losing his sight completely will present a major obstacle not only for Misha, but for the entire mission. Misha’s capacities as an engineer will be greatly altered if not significantly reduced, as demonstrated in previous episodes. He will, of course, remain an invaluable resource, but will be adapting to not one, but two life-changing situations.
Lu Defied China, Which Will Cause Problems On Earth
Though she does so with the support of the crew, Lu’s refusal to follow CNSA’s photo guidelines will inevitably create conflict on Earth. Away characterizes the Chinese government Lu works for as being primarily motivated by Chinese interest and advancement rather than the larger or more global implications of the Atlas space travel mission. Lu’s ignorance of their orders is therefore problematic not only because it is an act of defiance but also because it privileges the idea of unity over a sense of nationalism. Because the photo de-emphasizes China’s role in the mission, it is possible that CNSA may seek some kind of recompense for Lu’s actions, which is likely to be met with resistance from the other governments involved. Furthermore, Lu’s return home will now be much more complicated than it would have been ordinarily, as she will face as-of-yet unknown repercussions.
The Away Season 1 Finale Shares An Important Message
Away’s finale delivers a heartfelt and valuable message about the importance of overcoming difference in the name of progress and unity. Misha’s arc is a prime example of how this theme operates throughout the series. Though he initially seems to feel the strongest sense of disconnect from his coworkers than anyone else in the crew, he grows past these superficial divisions and undergoes a significant amount of personal change that ultimately makes him a better astronaut and a better man. He also tells Lu that “Motherland is just an idea. Borders don’t exist. The only thing that matters is the people you love,” which is another essential and timely message of the show.
Despite their diverse backgrounds and personalities, the crew members of the Atlas must rely heavily on each other in order to survive, and the mission itself can only occur with support and hard work from five countries who have long histories of conflict. Borders really can’t exist when it comes to the mission. They are imaginary demarcations that serve only to divide. In the Away season 1 finale, Lu’s photo serves as a reminder of a theme established as early as episode 1: that the unity of the crew and of their home countries is vital not only to the mission, but to humanity's ability to grow and prosper.