Star City functions as a complementary spin-off to the alternate-history series For All Mankind, exploring the same fictional universe from the Soviet Union's viewpoint. Rather than following traditional prequel or sequel structure, it contextualises how the Soviet space programme achieved the central premise of the original series—reaching the Moon before the United States—through the lens of their historical space efforts.

Rather than emulating the optimistic tone of For All Mankind, Star City substitutes it with a more austere and shadowy aesthetic. The programme emphasises Cold War espionage and covert operations rather than technological achievement, creating a narrative environment reminiscent of spy dramas rather than conventional space-exploration storytelling. This approach to spin-offs—establishing creative independence whilst remaining within the shared universe—demonstrates how adjacent stories can achieve critical success through differentiation rather than duplication.