‘Star City’ Episode 3: Major Backstory Twist Leaves Fans Stunned as Key Character Reacts to Shocking Reveal

Star City has just delivered one of its biggest twists so far, and it comes with a full betrayal at the center of the story.

In episode three of the Apple TV series, titled “Bad Dance,” the show reveals that cosmonaut Valya, played by Adam Nagaitis, has been secretly passing Soviet intelligence to an American spy. The information comes from an exclusive interview with SYFY Wire and comments from the cast and creators.

Up until this point, Valya has been shown as a loyal Soviet space program member. He believes strongly in his mission and presents himself as fully committed to his country and its space ambitions. That image is completely changed in the final moments of the episode, when it is revealed that he has been working as a traitor all along.

Adam Nagaitis said in his interview with SYFY Wire that he knew about the twist from the beginning of the project. He explained that this early knowledge shaped how he played the character throughout the series. He said, “I knew from the very beginning. I knew from the first audition. That was a significant part of the attraction.”

He also said that knowing the truth about Valya helped him build the character’s behavior in a more controlled way. Without that information, he said the performance would not have worked the same way. He added, “I wouldn’t have been able to do it otherwise to be honest. I wouldn’t have really been able to frame any of it properly, because I would have found it just as difficult to believe as you.”

The twist did not come as a surprise to everyone on set. Ruby Ashbourne Serkis, who plays Valya’s wife Tanya, said she did not know about the betrayal storyline while filming. She explained that the cast was discovering the story at the same time as the audience. She said, “We didn’t know. We were finding out in real time. Reading the scripts was equally as gripping as watching it.”

The episode also shows how the secret affects other characters in different ways. Tanya, for example, misreads Valya’s strange behavior and assumes he is having an affair instead of suspecting espionage. This misunderstanding adds another layer of tension to the story.

Alongside the spy reveal, the series continues to expand its science fiction world. In the same episode, the Chief Designer, played by Rhys Ifans, introduces a plan to send a mission to Venus using a modified deep-sea submersible. The idea reflects the show’s focus on alternate space race history and experimental technology.

Co-showrunner Matt Wolpert told SYFY Wire that the Venus storyline was loosely inspired by real scientific ideas. He said, “There’s definitely some research that went into that. I don’t know if it will hold fully up to the scrutiny of physics.”

The creators of Star City say the show blends real science concepts with fictional possibilities to explore different outcomes in space exploration history. Co-showrunner Ben Nedivi said, “I think we like to base those types of missions on hardy science.”

Star City continues to stream on Apple TV, with new episodes released weekly.

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