Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War (2024) User Reviews

Good and enjoyable but might be biased

[joeschwindler · 7/10 · 18 March 2024]

My overall rating is subjective and not that important. I'm writing this review because of one very subtle moment I noticed at Ep4 40:00.

The CIA officer Brian Latell says Fidel Castro wrote to Khrushchev: "You must strike preemtively with all of your nuclear forces against american targets. You must not wait for the Americans to fire." Yet he conveniently omits the true context of the letter (that in fact did urge the soviets to strike) but only IF the americans invade Cuba first.

This might not seem like a big deal and the interviewers opinion is not necessarily the one of the series.

But such subtle details (and there might very well be quite a lot more) completely shape what kind of worldview the viewer takes away. Just wanted to tell everybody to be careful with the statements and the possible lens through which the story is told.

Great documentary - Well Balanced

[craigusmaximus-72689 · 9/10 · 21 March 2024]

A great and important documentary. I'm not sure why so many people say it's very biased or pushing agenda when it appeared to be very well balanced and mentioned many great facts from history (although most I already knew). In a nutshell... Nobody can win a nuclear war, Putin is a modern day Hitler and America must also learn from its mistakes as it doesn't always set the best example and others think they can follow suite. That's not biased against America in any way as they are a great nation. Mistakes have been made and we must all learn from history or there is not future.

Something I've researched and spoken about for a long time is the use of social media to promote Russian propoganda. You just need to look at their bots on YouTube or X to see the Kremlin at work. They aim to divide and they clearly succeed and dividing opinion online. I'm glad this among many other things is discussed. There is a reason they banned social media.

A gripping documentary to make sense of our current nightmare...

[mdw0526 · 8/10 · 27 March 2024]

This new docuseries on Netflix might be the most important show you're not watching. We just finished last night and it's well worth your time; I loved it and learned a lot without much pain at all. It's a good compliment to "Oppenheimer" and the Einstein docuseries I previously posted about.

A gripping documentary with amazing archival footage, this gives a great macro-level presentation of how we ended up with a Russian invasion of a sovereign Ukraine. The documentary lays out a long cycle of events that began with the atomic bombings in Japan in 1945 and how the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the collapse of the USSR in 1991 signaled a false end to the Cold War, which has led to Putin's attempt to rebuild the Russian Empire in the 21st century.

If you're any kind of history buff like I am, turn on this show. It really helped connect the dots, fill in many missing pieces, and frankly, made the current nightmare we're all currently living in more understandable, though no less tolerable. 😫

Exceptional Documentary

[TomatoesareRotten · 10/10 · 28 March 2024]

I'm old enough to remember when all documentaries were made this well . The chronological facts are masterfully done , even when it leaps back and forward through time . In fact it has to on several occasions to make a very salient point . What surprised me , was the factual gaps in my own personal recollections going back to , as early as , the Sixties . Every day is a school day , as they say. We see the folly of armed conflict and its lasting repercussions , we see people in power who should be nowhere near , man's inhumanity to man but, most importantly, why we never seem to learn from our mistakes and repeat them again and again . I was left with the over arching conclusion , that there are no "good guys" or "bad guys", we're all as bad as each other.

I can't stress this enough

[sofiiadibeo · 10/10 · 14 March 2024]

It gives you a wide view of history narrowing down to the modern day as to why things are the way they are, and how by learning from this we can we prevent catastrophes from happening in the future.

It's really important to watch it for us, as humanity, to understand our need for the ability to choose and speak freely, and how suppressing that freedom leads to dehumanization, excess patriotism, and personal selfish ambition.

If you do disagree with something while watching it that's respectable, but in the end the best perspective the documentary can teach you is the understanding that in the end peace and freedom of choice is what humanity wants and needs.

Really recommend it, and I usually don't review movies, but I can't stress it enough - watch it to the end. Because it helps you to form an educated opinion about the present day. And most importantly, how we can truly influence the future.

Very Important

[stopthief · 18 March 2024]

Every American needs to *actually* watch this. Put all their vitriol aside and consider the entire series before rating/commenting. I realize this is impossible, but I just had to state it so maybe ONE person will consider what we're all here for.

This series ties generations together to make sense of where and why we are here, politically. It's laser focused, as far as I'm concerned, toward the very important wide view message that we need to fully comprehend what us humans have done in creating these massive annihilation nuclear devices.

I truly think if you disregard this whole work, you are for the destruction of cultures, land, identity, environment, and humanity itself. Not a great place to be.

A must see Doc with Insane Footage/interviews from protagonists who were there.

[the-webminster · 10/10 · 20 March 2024]

This documentary covers pretty much all the major events that resulted in and from the Develpment of the Fission or Termonuclear bombs. With high quality footage, 1st person interviews with protagonists, or relatives who were 'there' when an event took place, some were even a key piece on it (journalists/activists) either on divided Germany, the Comunist Hunt in the US, the Cuba Missile crysis, the Bombing of Hiroshima/Nagazaki, Staline rise/rule to power, The Manhattan Project, the race to find how to split the atom and create a chain reaction during WWII. This doc series has it all, 9 hours of exquisite throughput of 80+ years of history and how close we were to face extinction with the press of a few buttons. A much see for both afficionados and everyone really, who seeks to understand the world we live in.

an overwhelmingly extraordinary...

[ops-52535 · 10/10 · 13 March 2024]

Document of, and about an era of world-, and especially european -history, a story that actually has been told in many ways, mostly by the 2nd w warwinners, in the decades after 1945, the 4 and a half decades thats called the '' coldwar''.

A curruculum worthy insight you will get, and loads of us elderly will still feel the chill of the zeitgeist that ruled our safety norms back then.

Its a tv serie that i would compare as valuable to view for the young generations as the thames production ''the 2nd world war'' were for me 48 years ago. It should stand out as a fear of war poster cause the horrors of combat warfare and war mongering tends to be forgotten for every 2.5 generation growing up, and the rise of new world emperors slingng their swords to raise nationalism to a surtain breakingpoint against socalled foes may fool the weak, poor and brainwashed digitized developed population and religious fundamentalists into something worse than armagheddon.

To the history nerds that collects film and media material from this era, there arent much new stock footage and film , bare over with that cause its very well knit together. So spend some time on this netflix series is the grumpy old mans advice. Its a valuable reminder of how it was, and may become to an already brittle gen z and x, IF...

Those that cannot remember the past are bound to repeat it.

[scb05 · 10/10 · 18 March 2024]

I lived this Cold War as a child in the US who learned to duck and cover, and now living as an adult in east Berlin, and as father to a Berlin child whose mother is from the DDR. I have heard the family stories directly, from Oma explaining propaganda in WW2 through the resistance against the STASI by my family and friends here in Germany.

This is a documentary masterpiece of complicated truth and history.

Every American and European must watch this series and as one who knows Ukrainians, I am a better person to now understand this complicated would view leading up to this very misguided and unjust war in Ukraine.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905.

OVERALL MESSAGE, ONE EGO OR ONE ERROR

[nmskrkn · 10/10 · 19 March 2024]

This is a factual map from the atomic birth of the bomb during WW2 to the current day challenges we face and the ever looming threat of an all out nuclear war.

The narrative is revolves around the two superpowers of America and Russia, and their well documented history, a lot of time is given to explaining the paranoia and proxy conflicts following WW2. ( Cuba, Vietnam etc) It is an unbiased documentary and the equal problems all sides have faced. Russia feeling threatened by the expansion of NATO enlisted territories and America, the modern rhetoric given off by Putin. I guess there is an argument for both sides. I myself served in Germany during the cold war.

THE BOTTOM LINE... NO MATTER WHAT POLITICAL PERSUASION YOU ARE ,THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE ARE JUST THAT ... PEOPLE.

IT WILL ONLY TAKE ONE MISTAKE ... EGO, TECHNICAL OR INSTABILITY.... SO MUCH POWER , BUT JUST ONE MISTAKE!

It was pretty good

[patmg-94539 · 7/10 · 14 March 2024]

Good historical context, quality documentary, jumps around in time are clear and purposeful. Definitely a quality, well thought out production that was well researched and has interviews that provide first hand accounts or with individuals that typically provide high quality information. Provides a large amount of factual information and I most cases does well to provide both sides on matters of opinion. The information gets somewhat less reliable in the last 2 episodes when getting more into current events but that's expected from modern large media productions. But at least they're not covering up and excusing the crimes of communism anymore.

Been there done that and doing it again!

[vinnybellucci · 10/10 · 18 March 2024]

Spent 3 years in North Atlantic aiming our nuclear missiles at USSR! I don't like the idea of nuclear missiles but they were an effective deterrent towards MAD (mutually assured destruction). I would never want to see any of them launched and it's on us to make sure we always have the sanest, most trustworthy politicians leading us. Of course we always get the craziest of them all. This should be a must watched series for as many as possible. But destiny will always take its course and hopefully we don't need to vaporize any innocent civilians to make us realize we can all live together in harmony and in peace....before the oceans swallow us up!

Should have been a higher rating but the propaganda element detracted from the overall impact.

[charlesr-8 · 7/10 · 24 March 2024]

I nearly wrote my review at the halfway point, before deciding to see it through and ensure I was balanced. Unfortunately that didn't improve my impression of the series. There is a lot of great footage and history covered off - some fantastic insights and great scientific information too. But unfortunately they opted to inject some old fashioned propaganda into the final couple of episodes, after foreshadowing this in the earlier ones.

In short, what was predominantly a "nuclear paranoia drove the world wild with fear and led to idiotic levels of armaments at the expense of cultural, scientific, and social advancement" (on both sides to varying degrees - Soviet citizens suffering considerably more) has an underlying message of "orange man bad, Putin bad, Zelensky good, Government narrative on war is true, etc" There's no question that the aforementioned personalities are fraught with issues - but having covered the propaganda, subterfuge, and shadowy behaviour from the cold war, it is hard not to question the way they glossed over how widespread certain actions from the 50's through the 70s were, along with the way they tried to paint current situation.

I'm sure the military industrial complex overlords loved the "war is for peace" message that it felt like it ended on.

Partial Truths: A Critical Look at Biased Documentary

[ali-alnahash · 1/10 · 15 March 2024]

Watching Turning Point a documentary on geopolitics in the Western world led by the United States and Russia/Soviet Union, was thought-provoking but marred by bias. The series framed events through a specific lens, often oversimplifying or ignoring opposing views. Despite its high production quality, the series relied on emotional appeals and sensationalism, undermining its credibility. It failed to engage meaningfully with opposing perspectives, hindering a balanced understanding. Viewers should seek additional sources for a nuanced view of history, politics, and global affairs to develop a more comprehensive understanding.

If you think history is boring, try this series!

[spocksdirective · 10/10 · 17 April 2024]

There were sequences in this series that left me speechless, spellbound, with more emotional punch than slickest creature feature or superhero movie that have just about crowded out all other types of low budget or thoughtful, meaningful pictures in the theaters of America.

Even though I grew up along with these events (born in the 50's) I have been sort of clueless as to what has been going on in the world all these years. Often, I've just gone along with the prevailing opinions, or opposing opinions because I consider myself to be a rebel. But, watching this series showed me history I had either ignored, been too busy to care about, or being misled by outright lies, well it was a real eye opener.

These filmmakers have gotten their hands on footage that was way too graphic for network TV, so most people never saw it as events developed. How often do Americans get to watch Russian TV? Putin with a big smile hiding that devil inside as he appears on TV daily, lying about everything, the people just lapping it up with tremendous applause?

Much of it is the work of dedicated and courageous reporters and cameramen and writers and publishers who often put their life on the line to get the truth out. A lot of them died in the process.

This series is all about courage. How important having courage is. Not being afraid to admit your mistakes and errors, being willing to change your mind if it becomes obvious you are wrong. How tyrants become who they are. And being willing to stand up and fight for what you believe in, even if it kills you.

It's the best historical drama I've ever seen.

Deluded American's down voting

[c_mc91 · 8/10 · 27 March 2024]

Read previous reviews and the reviews are clearly from people who don't believe in history and what actually occurred in the Cold War! Ignorance is bliss I guess. I don't get what the issue is with this doc as it tries to explain the true reflection of what happened in the past and what is actually around the corner for the whole world, not just for America or the west but for the whole world. Clearly biased opinions of what happened in the Cold War with the poor reviews but after watching this doc with the majority of the cast being American, are they lying or just making up history? I don't think so.

A biased anti Putin documentary that jist shows us hlw corrupt all media, all productions, netflix, google, META, the chinese, the Biden family mob web has taken over the dems

[josueobalay · 10/10 · 7 April 2024]

Although a lot of the information here shown is excellent and accurate, it is clear that this documentary was ptimarily created to paint Putin as the devil. No memtion of the labs the U. S. has in Ukraine creating new viruses and chemical weapons, no mention of the intervention by prime minister Boris Johnson pushing for the war, and Biden's practically demand for war to Zelensky. No information on how the war could have been stopped. No information on how the democratic party in the U. S. has been pushing the billions of dollars that bave been used to kill Ukranians, and how billions ate diverted to fund campaigns all over the U. S. for their democrat goonies. In it's entirety is a liberal-leftist- democrat wet dream of a documentary.

Another fantastic netflix documentary

[filipe_feliciano · 10/10 · 5 April 2024]

If there is one thing that Netflix does well, its documentaries. And wow was this one of the best i have ever seen. Detailed, insightful, interesting, deep, easy to follow, etc. I could go on and on. I laugh at some of these reviews saying it was too biased. Some people say it was biased in Russia's favor, and others in America's favor. That alone shows how stupid that comment is. The documentary could not have been less biased. It shows the real story from all sides, with criticisms going to all directions, not just one. Keep making more of these documentaries netflix, and from a history lover, thank you.

European viewer here

[heidikalkasmaa-25341 · 7 April 2024]

All in all good series. Does it's job as putting together the whole chain of events and giving the sense that we all just have to sit and endure the ride that the crazy leaders make us go through time and time again.

One thing that bothered me was the last episode where the east Berliners etc. Were talking that people just need to be brave again in 2024 and fight back. I agree but a good start would have been for the documentarists to be brave enough to tell the whole story that is unfolding in Europe right now. There is one hybrid warfare measure that is being used and is actively destroying the whole continent. But it is so forbidden to talk about this that even this historical document series did NOT bring it up. So how are you expecting people to have the courage to go out on the streets. Very ironic.

Exceptional Documentary

[tkdlifemagazine · 8/10 · 2 April 2024]

Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War is a granular and detailed look at the world in the Cold War, from the Communist Revolution through today. The framework through which this is constructed is the. Russian invasion of Ukraine. It seems the point is to understand the origins of this invasion, the importance of Ukraine to Russian, and Putin's mission. The show is in nine episodes and filled with facts, details, and footage from the decades from World War II until the present. This documentary is filled with interviews, archival footage, and news reports that provide rarely seen aspects of many well know incidents and other information on, not commonly know ones. It was a massive undertaking to put this together as cogently, and as comprehensively as this was. It is amazingly non-political and free of judgment as a historical work. I was fascinated throughout. This is complex historical stuff, but told sensibly and cogently. I applaud the filmmakers and Netflix for creating and distributing this.

Unfortunately, very relevant today

[mindaugas-p · 9/10 · 11 April 2024]

Informative, insightful, and haunting, seeing how many times we came dangerously close to nuclear apocalypse, and how sometimes we avoided it by sheer luck. And chilling, seeing yet again the events that me and my parents lived through, but this time with the broader context of the global events provided.

I rather enjoyed how balanced this presentation was. No one side was glorified or condemned - it was refreshing how the documentary was candid both about the plenty of mess-ups that the US made, and the successful de-escalation efforts by Soviet leaders of the time.

It was not an easy viewing for me, due both to the documentary's sheer length (10 hours!) and its distressing subject matter. The fact that the documentary takes the liberty to be moralizing is easily forgiven in light of its balanced delivery and the fact that Kremlin that is waging unprovoked war against a sovereign country and is employing all means at its disposal - including nuclear threats - thus yet again escalating the level of risk in the world. This, unfortunately, makes "Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War" very, very relevant today.

Quite slanted

[frankmannarino · 6/10 · 16 March 2024]

Another slanted Netflix documentary with high production values. Everyone knows Japan was ready to surrender. An invasion of the mainland was unnecessary. Nevermind the Japanese military wasn't ready to surrender even after the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Ronald Reagan rides the wave of fear of the Soviets into the White House. Korea Air 007 was downed due to the tensions created by the US government and military. They never mentioned that the Soviets secretly recovered the black boxes from Korea Air 007. The Soviets hid them in a vault for a decade.

I couldn't make it past episode 5. Interesting but clearly has an agenda.

Outstanding Documentary

[richardstirling · 10/10 · 26 April 2024]

Netflix have some great documentaries and this may be the best of the bunch!

Starting off from the second world war and taking you up to the current situation this is s documentary that moves at just the right pace and never gets boring!!

Most people have a reasonable idea about the main events of the Cold War but this digs a little deeper and gives you the backstory to what is probably the most fascinating piece of modern history!

The film has some brilliant first hand accounts and some brilliant footage of events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Highly recommended!

Well produced, but be careful

[taxifree · 6/10 · 18 March 2024]

This review is based upon the first two episodes.

The documentary is very well produced, and sucks you in with interesting clips and background stories.

BUT it truly is a one-sided documentary, the agenda becomes clear. Capitalism good, communism bad. It doesn't take time to show two sides of a story, and over-simplifies events and decisions as "good" and "bad".

As an example it uses only a short amount of time to show Lenin as sort of a guerrilla leader that steals land and takes away from the rich. It doesn't use any time at all to explain where this anger against the rich came from, or to explain the suppression the working class was living under that gave him the support to do this.

All in all a good documentary series, but sadly becomes a bit of a propaganda-series for capitalist values. So please be critical and seek more balanced information when watching this.

Hidden Agenda

[dolphinfish · 5/10 · 18 March 2024]

I give what could have been a ten star documentary series only five because excellent production values and direction is destroyed in the second episode when the agenda is revealed -- Orange Man Bad. A brilliant opening episode suckers you in with new insights on the end of the Second World War, something I didn't think possible after nearly eighty years of research and study. You're set up and ready for more, and then comes episode two, the fifties, the cold war and the demagoguery of Joseph McCarthy. Incredibly, they manage to smear Trump with the execution of the Rosenbergs and the House Unamerican Activities Committee, notwithstanding that he was literally in short trousers at the time. An absolute criminal waste of talent and a contamination of history.