In the previous episode of Hulu’s The First, Vista tested their solution for fixing the MAV’s communication issues. In The First Season 1 Episode 7, Vista performed it on the MAV with the whole world watching.
Out of Tune
The maneuver worked for a minute, but they lost communication with the MAV again. The crew would now have a 1 in 5 chance of being stuck on Mars if they carried on the mission. The crew drafted a letter to Congress affirming their commitment. Laz made assurances to the president that the crew was still willing. All the crew had to do was sign the letter.
Hagerty tried to get in touch with Denise, but she wasn’t returning her emails. Laz reminded him that he could visit. Denise was still staying in the guest house, and Laz’s daughter, Amanda, was becoming friends with her. When Hagerty arrived to deliver the letter, he hadn’t signed it yet. He spoke with Denise, who told him that if he went, their relationship would be over. He gave her one last hug that she didn’t return before signing the letter and leaving.
No Longer Theoretical
Hagerty, Kayla, and Laz gave the rest of the crew until noon the next day to sign the letter. They had to send the letter to Congress before momentum shifted. Kayla and her wife, Nancy, tearfully talked about the house they built together. Fletcher remarked that the crew was his family so the decision was relatively easy for him.
Aiko’s husband pointed out that he would essentially be a single father for at least two and a half years, maybe forever. It would be even harder to take care of Aiko’s mother who had Alzheimer’s. Aiko reluctantly agreed to put her in assisted living. When Aiko went to talk to her mother about it, she had heard and understood. She commented that she would make friends, relieving Aiko of some guilt.
The Same Standard
Matteo had been hearing ringing. He had a rupture in his ear that wouldn’t heal because it kept getting infected. It had happened before when he was a soldier in Syria. He argued with his girlfriend about giving himself special treatment as the crew’s doctor. When it came to signing the letter, he couldn’t go through with it. He told Kayla and Hagerty that he had to hold himself to the same standard.
Because of the redundancies already in place like triage training for the crew and on-board technology, they would not have to fast track another doctor to replace him. Hagerty and Kayla recommended bringing Sadie back. Kayla went to Sadie’s home to tell her and brought the letter. Ollie refused to discuss it with Sadie that night. Sadie had already made up her mind that she was going to sign it. She needed to go.
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