Alan Shepard, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Gordon Cooper, Deke Slayton, Wally Schirra, and Scott Carpenter. You’ve probably heard at least one or two of these names before. That’s because these were the original American astronauts. Alan Shepard was the first American in space, followed by John Glenn. The Right Stuff is a fairly new drama that showcases these men as they embark on a journey to put the first Americans into space.
Streaming on Disney Plus, the first two episodes of The Right Stuff came out on October 9, 2020. The first eight episodes are currently available. It’s a great show to watch if you are looking for content that is both informational and entertaining.
The Right Stuff is a historical drama detailing the lives of the original astronauts and the first days of NASA. All of these men were professional test pilots. These were chosen because they were good at flying, problem solving, and taking risks. The show plunges into the extreme testing and preparation that went into finding, narrowing down, and training this group of pilots. It shows the different effects that being constantly under a microscope had on the different men, and it explores the mental, emotional, and physical toll that this new adventure put on them and their families. Mostly, the show takes these idolized, amazing men and explores aspects of their lives that we don’t usually think about when we hear these names.
The show mostly goes into the lives of Alan ‘Al’ Shepard, John Glenn, and Gordon ‘Gordo’ Cooper. It shows the ups and downs of their personal lives. Many of the feelings and events shown in the personal lives of these men are imagined by the creators of the t.v show, but they are really interesting to think about. The interactions between these men as a group, and especially between Alan Shepard and John Glenn, are captivating and the main focus of the show. There is fierce competition all throughout because they were each trying to become the first man in space. But occasionally, and increasingly, there are moments where their shared hardships and large amounts of time spent together pushed through that and led to unity and tender moments.
The show makes these men relatable and lovable, while also exploring the human sides of them that make mistakes and fight with one another.
Overall, The Right Stuff is an exciting and drama filled adaption of Tom Wolfe’s book about the lives of the first American astronauts and the amazing people that helped them get to space. I highly recommend that you watch this show if you have Disney Plus.
Written by: Kylie Broce
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