On the cusp of the 250th anniversary of its founding, the United States of America is at a crossroads. For those invested in the history of our nation, it’s clear this isn’t the first time the country has stood on the edge of something unprecedented, nor will it be the last. From director Brian Knappenberger, Netflix’s latest docuseries, “The American Experiment,” executive produced by Tom Hanks, is an overarching account of the Revolutionary War, the origins of our nation and the principles on which it was founded. Reflecting on everything from the contentious ratification of the Constitution to the rise of partisanship, the series traces the last four centuries to assess where we are today and whether this grand experiment persists or crumbles.
The first three episodes of “The American Experiment” dive into the conflict the 13 colonies had with the British Crown’s unfair taxation, the outcome of the French and Indian War, the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. Though there are anecdotes from a host of talking heads — including former vice presidents Kamala Harris and Mike Pence, as well as former and current senators and historians — the top half of the show is very similar to Ken Burns’ 12-part PBS docuseries, “The American Revolution.” Like Burns’ doc, the series uses reenactments, voiceovers, maps and portraits to illustrate events in North America and in Europe. However, “The American Experiment” doesn’t hone in on its point of view until Episode 4, “We The People.”
