Ep 12. Citizen's Unrest & Brazil's "Little Flu" & Know Your Enemy

Citizen's Unrest & Brazil's "Little Flu" & Know Your Enemy is an intriguing episode from Vice's seventh season that explores three separate stories.

The first segment, Citizen's Unrest, sheds light on the ongoing protests in Hong Kong. The episode delves into the history of Hong Kong and how it became engulfed in the current violent protests. It focuses on the young activists who have taken up the mantle of protesting against the Chinese government's interference in Hong Kong's autonomy. The episode notes the dwindling number of supporters, the uphill battle activists face against a powerful regime, and the danger that the protesters put themselves in. It also covers how the Hong Kong protest has become a model for other protests globally and how the national security law passed by China could deprive Hong Kong of its autonomy completely.

The second segment of the episode, Brazil's "Little Flu," explores why Brazil has been one of the hardest-hit countries by the coronavirus pandemic. The feature follows the work of a team of Brazilian scientists who discovered a new mystery virus circulating in Brazil back in the summer of 2019 – eight months before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. The team found that the virus (named 'the Rio de Janeiro fever') had infected over 90% of the city's population and similar outbreaks had occurred in the Amazon region and Paraná state. This segment unravels the mystery and gives insight into how these mystery viruses could play out in the future.

The last segment of the episode delves into Know Your Enemy, examining how the US and Iran have reached a boiling point in 2020. This episode covers the drone strike that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, which raised ire from Iran and how they might retaliate. The feature goes on to explore the escalation of tensions between the two countries and takes a closer look at how the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been able to participate in proxy wars in Syria and Yemen. It also accounts for how various militias in Iraq that are backed by the IRGC have been successful in suppressing unrest, resisting democratic movements, and anti-corruption protests. The segment also emphasizes the sanctions imposed by the US on Iran and how it has taken a toll on the Iranian economy.

Citizen's Unrest & Brazil's "Little Flu" & Know Your Enemy is a well-crafted episode that provides viewers with engaging stories that cut through tough issues. Vice's approach in presenting the issues with strategic storytelling and critical analysis makes the episode worth watching. It presents the viewers with relevant contents that help keep them informed, and educates them about the importance of being conscious and aware of what is going on around us.