Ep 8. No One Sleeps

"No One Sleeps" is the eighth episode of season three of the National Geographic series Genius, which tells the stories of some of the greatest minds in history. In this episode, the focus is on the political turmoil of the late 1970s and early 1980s in Poland, and the role played by the country's most famous son, physicist and humanitarian, Albert Einstein.

Starting with an almost dreamlike sequence in which the young Einstein is reunited with his first love, Mileva, the episode quickly shifts gears to the present day. The audience is introduced to Lech Walesa, the charismatic leader of the Solidarity movement, who is grappling with how to keep his followers motivated and focused in the face of immense social and political resistance.

Meanwhile, the increasingly frail Einstein is struggling with his own mortality, and grappling with his legacy, particularly his opposition to the development of nuclear weapons. His nephew, Peter, is concerned that Einstein's principles and beliefs will not survive his death, and pushes him to take a more active role in contemporary politics.

As the episode unfolds, these two plotlines converge, as Einstein's legacy and Walesa's political struggles intersect. Walesa turns to Einstein's writings for inspiration and guidance, and the physicist reaches out to Walesa in an attempt to offer his support and wisdom.

What follows is a tense, high-stakes showdown between Walesa's supporters and the government forces aligned against them. Against this backdrop, we see the impact that Einstein's principles and ideals had on his own life, as well as the lives of those around him. It's a powerful meditation on the nature of leadership, and the role of moral conviction in shaping the course of history.

Throughout the episode, we see the genius of Einstein on full display, both in his intellectual capacities (we see him tinkering with equations and theories throughout) and his ethical and humanitarian values. He is portrayed as a deeply compassionate and empathetic figure, but also one who is unafraid to speak truth to power, even when it means putting himself at great risk.

As the episode draws to a close, we see both Walesa and Einstein grappling with the limits of their own influence, and the realization that their ideas and ideals may not survive the moment they are in. It's a poignant and moving conclusion to an episode that explores some of the greatest moral and political questions of our time.

Overall, "No One Sleeps" is a powerful and thought-provoking episode of Genius, one that showcases the best and worst of human nature, and offers a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up for what we believe in, no matter the cost. It's a must-see for anyone interested in the intersection of science, politics, and morality.