Ep 1. Underground Apocalypse

In the first episode of season 2 of Cities of the Underworld, titled "Underground Apocalypse," host Don Wildman takes viewers on a journey through several underground sites across the world that were built to serve as bomb shelters during the height of the Cold War.

The episode begins in Beijing, China, where Wildman explores the 30-mile long Beijing Underground City. This underground maze was built during the Ming Dynasty to serve as a refuge from invading troops, and later expanded during the Cold War to act as a potential bomb shelter for the city's residents. Wildman navigates the labyrinthine tunnels and corridors, marveling at the ingenuity and engineering required to construct such a massive underground structure.

Next, Wildman travels to the United States to explore the Greenbrier Bunker, a secret government facility built beneath a luxury hotel in West Virginia. Built in the 1950s, the bunker was designed to house members of Congress and other government officials in the event of a nuclear attack. Wildman examines the bunker's sleeping quarters, dining halls, and power generators, all designed to keep its occupants alive and functioning for up to 60 days in the event of a nuclear apocalypse.

The episode then takes viewers to Moscow, Russia, where Wildman explores the sprawling Moscow Metro system. Built in the 1930s, the Metro was not originally designed to be a bomb shelter, but during the height of the Cold War, many of its stations were repurposed and retrofitted to serve as potential nuclear fallout shelters. Wildman visits several of these "deep stations," marveling at their spaciousness and complexity, and learning about the measures taken to protect their occupants from both radiation and physical attack.

Finally, the episode concludes with a visit to Cu Chi, Vietnam, where Wildman explores an elaborate network of underground tunnels used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. These tunnels were ingeniously designed to provide refuge, concealment, and communication for the guerrilla fighters, allowing them to evade detection by American forces and launch surprise attacks from hidden positions. Wildman crawls through the narrow, claustrophobic tunnels, stunned by the ingenuity and resilience of the Vietnamese fighters.

Throughout "Underground Apocalypse," Don Wildman marvels at the engineering, creativity, and sheer audacity required to create these massive underground structures. He also examines the complex political and social forces that led to their creation, from the fear of nuclear war to the desire for military advantage. The result is a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of the hidden depths beneath our cities, and the secrets they contain.