The New Yorker Presents Season 1 Episode 5 Episode Five

In Episode Five of The New Yorker Presents, viewers are treated to a collection of diverse and thought-provoking segments from the revered magazine's roster of writers, artists, and filmmakers.

The episode begins with a segment from celebrated poet and Pulitzer Prize-winner Gregory Pardlo, who takes us on a poetic journey through his hometown of Philadelphia. In his piece, Pardlo explores the complexity of the city's identity from its high-rise buildings down to its pavement, asking us to consider the different layers of meaning in the symbols that surround us.

Next, The New Yorker's critic-at-large, Hilton Als, sits down with actress and writer Carrie Brownstein for a candid conversation on Brownstein's career and creative process. The two discuss everything from Brownstein's time in the band Sleater-Kinney to her work on the hit TV show Portlandia, offering an inside look at the mind of one of today's most fascinating and influential women in the arts.

The show then shifts gears with a piece called "The Ride of Their Lives," which tells the harrowing yet ultimately inspiring story of a family's journey to save their son from a rare immune disorder. Directed by Roger Ross Williams and narrated by New Yorker writer William Finnegan, this powerful short film takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster as we follow the family's quest for a cure.

In the next segment, journalist and author Sarah Stillman takes us on a journey into the world of private prisons, using her powerful reporting to expose the exploitative practices and inhumane conditions faced by many incarcerated individuals in America today. Through interviews with former inmates and advocates, Stillman shines a light on a little-discussed aspect of the prison reform movement and offers a sobering critique of the current criminal justice system.

The episode concludes with a profile of renowned artist and New Yorker contributor Adrian Tomine, who has been creating comics and illustrations for the magazine since the 1990s. In the segment, Tomine discusses his artistic process and the evolution of his work over the years, giving us a rare glimpse into the mind of one of the most interesting and innovative artists working today.

Throughout Episode Five of The New Yorker Presents, viewers are treated to a wide range of voices and perspectives, each offering a unique take on the world we live in. With its expertly crafted segments and thoughtful themes, the episode reminds us of the power of great storytelling to illuminate, inspire, and challenge our assumptions about the world.