Ep 1. They Get Brave: Surviving The First Wave

The Weekly season 2 episode 1, titled "They Get Brave: Surviving The First Wave," delves into the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and how some countries managed to contain it while others struggled. The episode opens with footage of the virus spreading around the world, causing chaos and confusion. The narrator sets the stage, explaining that the world was largely unprepared for this kind of pandemic, and that the response was often chaotic and disorganized.

The episode then introduces us to several individuals from around the world who were affected by the pandemic in different ways. We meet a Chinese woman who was forced to quarantine at home for months, unable to even leave to buy groceries. We hear from an Italian doctor who worked tirelessly to save lives as the virus surged through his country. We also meet a nurse from New York City who describes what it was like to work in an overwhelmed hospital during the peak of the pandemic.

The episode then pivots to examine the strategies that different countries employed to try to contain the virus. We see how South Korea, for example, was able to quickly ramp up testing and contact tracing, which helped to keep the virus at bay. We also hear from experts who explain how New Zealand was able to effectively eliminate the virus from their country entirely, thanks in large part to swift and decisive action from their government.

Throughout the episode, we see how different countries grappled with the same set of challenges in vastly different ways, reflecting the complex and often messy nature of the global response to the pandemic. We meet healthcare workers, politicians, and ordinary people who were all forced to reckon with the virus in their own ways. Some emerged triumphant, while others suffered devastating losses.

The episode concludes with a sense of cautious optimism. While the pandemic is far from over, the global response has helped to stem the tide of the virus in many parts of the world. We see signs of progress, as individuals and communities come together to support one another in the face of a daunting challenge. Through it all, the episode emphasizes the importance of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. While the future remains uncertain, one thing is clear: the world will never be the same after COVID-19.