NYC Epicenters 9/11→2021½

NYC Epicenters 9/11→2021½^[a] is an American documentary miniseries. The series follows the chronicle of life and survival in New York City, ranging from the September 11 attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic. It consists of four episodes and premiered on August 22, 2021, on HBO.^[3]

Plot

The series follows the life, loss, and survival of

In March 2021, it was announced Spike Lee would direct and produce a documentary series focusing on the New York City for HBO, with HBO Documentary Films and 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks producing.^[9] Lee conducted over 200 interviews for the series.^[10]

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 8.4/10, based on 5 critic reviews.^[11] On Metacritic, the series holds a rating of 86 out of 100, based on 6 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".^[12]

9/11 truth movement controversy

The fourth and final episode of the series, as shown to critics for review, contained a half-hour of Lee interviewing members of the 9/11 truth movement, who promoted conspiracy theories that the towers were brought down by a controlled demolition.^[13][14] While the episode also featured scientists who disputed these claims, journalists who viewed the episode criticized Lee, saying that his handling of the content gave "equal voice to both sides".^[15] In an interview with The New York Times, Lee said, "The amount of heat that it takes to make steel melt, that temperature's not reached. And then the juxtaposition of the way Building 7 fell to the ground — when you put it next to other building collapses that were demolitions, it’s like you’re looking at the same thing. But people going to make up their own mind. My approach is put the information in the movie and let people decide for themselves. I respect the intelligence of the audience".^[16]

On August 25, it was announced Lee would re-edit the episode following criticism, with HBO removing the previous cut from a screener platform.^[17] The revised cut of the episode runs thirty minutes shorter, and excludes the interviews which promote conspiracy theories, though Abbey White of The Hollywood Reporter said that a segment in episode three, which presents conspiracy theories about United Airlines Flight 93, was not amended.^[18]

Notes