Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War
Using firsthand accounts and access to prominent figures, this docuseries traces the Cold War and its aftermath, highlighting how nuclear weapons shaped global politics. It connects major world events from the post–World War II era through later turning points, leading to today’s geopolitical tensions.
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Season 1
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1
E1
The Sun Came Up Tremendous
During World War II, the US begins to work on a top-secret project that results in the atomic bombings on Japan — and a global conflict lasting decades.
Mar 12, 2024 -
2
E2
Poisoning the Soil
As communism takes off in Russia and China, Joseph Stalin begins his ruthless reign and the Soviet Union enters an era of terror.
Mar 12, 2024 -
3
E3
Institutional Insanity
Preparing for war against the Soviet Union, the US starts to test thermonuclear weapons. The CIA forms and interferes with global politics.
Mar 12, 2024 -
4
E4
The Wall
The US and Soviet Union get caught in a nuclear arms race. A wall divides Berlin. John F. Kennedy looks for a peaceful solution after a crisis in Cuba.
Mar 12, 2024 -
5
E5
War Games
With both sides planning for the worst-case scenario, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev find common ground. Tragedy strikes after a nuclear disaster.
Mar 12, 2024 -
6
E6
Empire Is Untenable
The USSR's grasp on Eastern Europe weakens as the Berlin Wall comes down and the Communist Party mounts a coup against a prominent Soviet Union leader.
Mar 12, 2024 -
7
E7
The End of History
A new Russian leader emerges, and the republics seek independence. As the Soviet Union dissolves, several powers sign a landmark treaty on nuclear arms.
Mar 12, 2024 -
8
E8
Moscow Will Not Be Silent
Russia struggles to find a national identity as Vladimir Putin comes to power. With the Cold War in the rearview, a war on terror begins.
Mar 12, 2024 -
9
E9
We Are Not Dead Yet
Russia invades Georgia and Ukraine, putting Putin under intense scrutiny. While disinformation thrives, threats of nuclear war persist.
Mar 12, 2024