Dan Chung

An almost 18 hour love letter to New York City. The first 6 episodes play like a video textbook (up to WWII), mostly covering major events and shifts in the city's past. It's fascinating, informative, awe-inspiring, and can grow a deeper appreciation for New York City in even its greatest admirers. The final two episodes (from WWII to 2003) build up to today with an emotional resonance culminating with 9/11. The impact of seeing that day unfold again is devastating, maybe even worsened by the deepened love fostered by the earlier parts of the series. You get a sense of just how vast, how diverse, how incredibly vibrant, how constantly evolving, how human a place can be, as well as what infrastructural changes support or destroy the human element of a city. The series is a lengthy commitment I recommend whole-heartedly, especially for those living in or around NYC. This series encourages a kind of interest and curiosity about the place that you live which certainly cannot hurt.