Ep 10. Better This World

Better This World is an episode of the acclaimed documentary series POV, which tells the story of two idealistic young men who become embroiled in a domestic terrorism case. The episode follows Bradley Crowder and David McKay, who were drawn to political activism in the early 2000s, as they join the protest movement against the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis.

As the two friends immerse themselves in the anti-establishment scene, they meet Brandon Darby, a charismatic anarchist who becomes their mentor and friend. But behind the scenes, Darby is working as an FBI informant, and he encourages Crowder and McKay to take increasingly radical actions, including building Molotov cocktails to use against police at the convention. When the plan goes awry and both men are arrested, they find themselves facing serious charges and the possibility of decades in prison.

Better This World explores the complex motivations and moral dilemmas at the heart of this case, as Crowder and McKay grapple with their own complicity in the plot and try to understand how they got caught up in it in the first place. The episode uses a mix of interviews with the key players, including Crowder and McKay themselves, as well as news footage and courtroom recordings to detail the sequence of events leading up to the RNC protests and the subsequent investigation.

One of the key themes of Better This World is the way that idealism and youthful naivete can lead people down dangerous paths. Crowder and McKay saw themselves as righteous crusaders working for a noble cause, but their actions had serious consequences for themselves and others. The episode also highlights the role of the government and law enforcement agencies in manipulating and exploiting activists, as well as the difficulties of mounting a legal defense against charges of terrorism.

Despite its weighty subject matter, Better This World is a gripping and thought-provoking installment of POV that will keep viewers engaged from beginning to end. The episode raises important questions about the limits of dissent and the meaning of political violence in a democratic society, while also putting a human face on a high-profile legal case. Ultimately, Better This World is a powerful reminder of the dangers of extremism, and the need for all of us to remain vigilant against the forces that would use violence to achieve their goals.