Connections 3

History gets its right form, that of complex interconnection of persons/events/discoveries, where no state can ever be viewed isolated, only subject/source of an ever changing variety of influences. Creative and entertaining, offering a fresh view of the historical events as those of an living organism, the series still only seems the scratch the surface or this kind of view of history, for one senses an even profounder interdependence could be assumed.

Finding links between seemingly unrelated concepts is one of the goals of science, and we see history applies to this idea very well (why didn't anyone think of this earlier?) While Connections 3 gives history breadth and unity, what is left is providing the subject with depth, e.g. as to why a specific person strove and succeeded in a given subject and not in the other, i.e. his inner interconnections.

With the episodes lasting again almost one hour each, with recaps for easier following, Connections 3 is a worthwhile continuation to the series.

P. S. Be sure to check out "The Day the Universe Changed (1985)"

This show is worth watching but sometimes meanders through "connected" topics that really aren't very connected.

For example, if topic A makes you want to complain you can do it by ground mail. So let's talk about ground mail. That's not a connection. If you make the topics more thematic and connected it helps with learning. For example, if every example had something to do with the history leading up from ancient times to how modern gears work.

At intervals the program stops to recap. That's an acknowledgement that the various connections are hard to follow. Also, many of the topics are either repeats from the previous Connections series, or aren't science.

Finally, the show is full of cute verbal flourishes that undercut the clarity. Things like "He was all abuzz about bees. Well, insects. Well, any creepy crawly thing." Or "He failed. Mind you, he did succeed in one thing."

What? I'm just trying to understand. Stop taking back what you said and obfuscating. It's fine to have fun flourishes, but make them support clarity.

For whatever reason, this doesn't have the power of the original Connections TV show.

Still, you might learn a few things. 7 stars.