The Toys That Built America Season 2 Episode 5 Order Out of Chaos

In season 2 episode 5 of The Toys That Built America, titled "Order Out of Chaos," viewers are taken on a journey to learn about the creation and impact of one of the most iconic toys of all time: the Rubik's Cube.

The episode begins with a brief introduction to the Rubik's Cube, explaining that it was invented in Hungary in the 1970s by a man named Erno Rubik. We learn that Rubik, who was an architecture professor, created the cube as a way to teach his students about three-dimensional geometry. However, when he realized that it was actually quite challenging to solve, he realized that he might have created something with broader appeal.

From there, we hear from a variety of experts and enthusiasts about the impact that the Rubik's Cube had when it was first released. We learn that the toy quickly became a sensation in Europe, and that it was eventually licensed to be sold in the United States. However, it was not an instant hit in the U.S., and it took a few years for the toy to catch on. We hear from people who were involved in marketing the cube during this time, as well as people who became obsessed with solving it.

One of the most interesting segments of the episode focuses on the international competitions that sprung up around the Rubik's Cube in the 1980s. We learn that there are still people today who compete in these competitions, and that there are even world records for the fastest time to solve the cube. We hear from some of these competitive "speedcubers," as well as from people who were involved in organizing the first competitions.

Throughout the episode, we see a lot of archival footage from the era when the Rubik's Cube was at its height of popularity. We also see some modern-day footage of people playing with cubes and competing in competitions, which helps to highlight the ongoing impact that this toy has had on popular culture.

The episode concludes with a discussion of the many spin-off products that have been created based on the Rubik's Cube. We learn that there have been countless variations on the original toy, from larger cubes to keychains to computer simulations. We also hear from people who have created businesses based around selling Rubik's Cube-related products, and we get a sense of just how far-reaching the influence of this one toy has been.

Overall, "Order Out of Chaos" is an engaging and informative episode of The Toys That Built America. Even if you're not a Rubik's Cube enthusiast, you're sure to learn something new and interesting about one of the most iconic toys of our time.