Ep 1. They Get Brave

The New York Times Presents season 1 episode 1, titled "They Get Brave," is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that takes an in-depth look at the fight against Ebola in West Africa. The episode follows the efforts of a group of Liberian volunteers who risk their lives to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

The documentary starts by providing a detailed background of the Ebola virus, how it spreads, and its deadly impact on the people of West Africa. It then focuses on the efforts of the Liberian volunteers, who were trained by the American NGO, Samaritan's Purse, to help fight the disease. We follow them as they go door to door in a desperately poor Monrovia neighborhood, spreading awareness about Ebola and how to prevent its spread.

The director and the producers of the show have done a great job of creating a gripping narrative that captures the intensity and urgency of the situation on the ground. The show does not shy away from showing the brutal impact of the disease on the families impacted by it. We see how the volunteers have to find ways to treat and contain the virus, even when they are short on essential supplies like gloves, soap, and chlorine.

The documentary also explores the challenges that the Liberian government faced in trying to stop the spread of the virus. The show highlights how misinformation, cultural beliefs, and distrust of the government hampered efforts to contain the disease. The director and camera crew have captured some of the harrowing scenes of panicked and angry crowds who resisted efforts to take their sick or dead to isolation centers.

One of the most moving aspects of the show is the depiction of the Liberian volunteers who put their lives on the line to help their countrymen. We see their bravery, selflessness, and compassion as they go about their work. These volunteers were not paid, and they were risking their lives every day to help the people of their country.

The show also explores the response of the international community to the Ebola outbreak. We see how the WHO, the US Government, and other NGOs raced to provide aid to West Africa. While aid was offered, it often fell short, leaving the Liberian government to deal with the outbreak almost single-handedly. The show makes a case for the need for greater resources and allocation of funding to developing countries to help in times of crisis.

Overall, "They Get Brave" is a moving and thought-provoking documentary that humanizes the Ebola outbreak and shows how innovative solutions can be found even in the most desperate of situations. The stories of the Liberian volunteers, their bravery, their creativity, and their compassion, will stay with audiences long after watching the show. The episode is a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of a deadly disease outbreak.