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zanana1

(6,454 posts)
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 09:48 AM Nov 19

Has anyone else been watching The Revolution by Ken Burns?

I am blown away. There's so much more to it than I thought. I can't wait for the next episode.

48 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Has anyone else been watching The Revolution by Ken Burns? (Original Post) zanana1 Nov 19 OP
YES. Caught the first two episodes. How many are there? CousinIT Nov 19 #1
Six Episodes snowybirdie Nov 19 #5
Will it be rerun? efhmc Nov 19 #7
We're watching snowybirdie Nov 19 #8
Several ways to see all six episodes AverageOldGuy Nov 19 #9
Greetings. I've been watching over the air on WMPT, channel 22. mahatmakanejeeves Nov 19 #34
Is the Pope a Catholic? Grins Nov 19 #18
I just bought it on Apple for $16.95 ificandream Nov 19 #10
My husband insists JustAnotherGen Nov 19 #19
All the episodes are available for free on the PBS website, at least in my area (Kansas)... wcmagumba Nov 19 #32
It is all on PBS Passport. Thunderbeast Nov 19 #36
I love PBS Passport. Highly recommend. CousinIT Nov 19 #38
I thought the revolution would not be televised. mahatmakanejeeves Nov 19 #2
The current revolution will not be televised, it will be live streamed Walleye Nov 19 #26
Gil Scott Herron agrees ... marble falls Nov 19 #29
Thank you, I used to listen to that on the jazz station years ago when I was working in the dark room Walleye Nov 19 #30
Great performer, writer and musician. Terrible, tragic heroin adiction. I love his work. marble falls Nov 19 #31
Yes! I've learned so much already. I especially like thr livetohike Nov 19 #3
Yet another excellent, timely Ken Burns production. Paladin Nov 19 #4
Where to watch The American Revolution.................. Fla Dem Nov 19 #6
Thank you! You saved me and probably some others from asking. Yeah, we can all "google" it, but it's always nice to KPN Nov 19 #11
Revealing, homegirl Nov 19 #12
Revolution preview evilhime Nov 19 #13
It is Unsurpassed Mr.Bee Nov 19 #14
Have recorded can't wait Pas-de-Calais Nov 19 #15
Saw the first one last night. Pacifist Patriot Nov 19 #16
I am recording all episodes and will binge watch them later JoseBalow Nov 19 #17
That's what I'm doing too. I plan to watch it after Emile Nov 19 #37
I hope you walk the equivalent True Dough Nov 21 #48
Yesterday evening JustAnotherGen Nov 19 #20
Yes, I have a 5th gr grandfather who was a Lt. in Hunterdon Co. militia in 1776 wishstar Nov 20 #44
That's REALLY cool! JustAnotherGen Nov 20 #45
Watching on local PBS station. MuirHero Nov 19 #21
I'll probably binge watch it all next week. ihaveaquestion Nov 19 #22
Best was its links to Trump!! Grins Nov 19 #23
Planning to....heard an interview with Burns about it and immediately put it on my must watch list. Native Nov 19 #24
Ken Burns' documentaries Duppers Nov 19 #25
I'm watching it on PBS, such a good picture of what was actually happening then Walleye Nov 19 #27
I'm saving and going to binge watch it. It's got to be good. marble falls Nov 19 #28
Yes. Besides the historical info, Imalittleteapot Nov 19 #33
What we've learned deserves its own thread. Frasier Balzov Nov 19 #35
I saw this bit on the Late Show and was blown away some_of_us_are_sane Nov 19 #39
I toured the Saratoga Battlefield today nuxvomica Nov 19 #40
Good for you! some_of_us_are_sane Nov 19 #41
And 30% of the nation Mr.Bee Nov 20 #47
Oh yes! boonecreek Nov 19 #42
Agreed! Ken Burns is his own genre. yellow dahlia Nov 19 #43
Can You Even Imagine Mr.Bee Nov 20 #46

CousinIT

(12,075 posts)
1. YES. Caught the first two episodes. How many are there?
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 09:50 AM
Nov 19

I probably missed the next one(s). I may have to get the DVD. It's worth having.

AverageOldGuy

(3,216 posts)
9. Several ways to see all six episodes
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 11:50 AM
Nov 19

DVD. PBS has released a DVD with all six episodes plus lots of background material. Can find it on Amazon as well as on PBS site.

PBS PASSPORT. This is the PBS streaming service. There you will find everything from Downton Abbey to All Creatures Great and Small to every Ken Burns production.

PBS STATION RERUNS. I'm in Northern Virginia where we have several PBS stations, all of them are re-running the episodes immediately after each night as well as rerunning during the next days. No doubt the series will pop up on your local PBS station.

mahatmakanejeeves

(67,744 posts)
34. Greetings. I've been watching over the air on WMPT, channel 22.
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 02:25 PM
Nov 19

I use Gaithersburg for my ZIP, because it includes channel 25. The White House ZIP code, 20500, leaves out channel 25.

https://www.tvtv.us/md/gaithersburg/20899/luUSA-OTA20899

The series is compelling.

JustAnotherGen

(37,430 posts)
19. My husband insists
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 12:30 PM
Nov 19

As a new American (2020) - it's dangerous information.

We've had the 'will' to destroy the status quo before.

wcmagumba

(5,379 posts)
32. All the episodes are available for free on the PBS website, at least in my area (Kansas)...
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 02:08 PM
Nov 19

Walleye

(43,446 posts)
30. Thank you, I used to listen to that on the jazz station years ago when I was working in the dark room
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 01:53 PM
Nov 19

Great performance it has a great beat to it

livetohike

(23,893 posts)
3. Yes! I've learned so much already. I especially like thr
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 10:04 AM
Nov 19

excerpts from letters and diaries. I’m from PA, but live in SC now. I’m reading lots of books on SC and the Revolutionary War. .

Fla Dem

(27,380 posts)
6. Where to watch The American Revolution..................
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 11:03 AM
Nov 19

You can view The American Revolution by Ken Burns by streaming it on PBS.org or the free PBS App. The full series is also available to stream on the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel and on PBS Passport. It also airs on PBS through traditional broadcast, and streaming on services that carry live TV channels like DirecTV and Hulu + Live TV may be available.

KPN

(17,077 posts)
11. Thank you! You saved me and probably some others from asking. Yeah, we can all "google" it, but it's always nice to
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 11:51 AM
Nov 19

get a link or "directions to it"!

homegirl

(1,906 posts)
12. Revealing,
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 11:57 AM
Nov 19

fascinating, educational and so, so well done. A few weeks ago there was a mini series on Benjamin Franklin, watched all episodes, as I will with the American Revolution. Both should be required viewing in every Middle School in the country.

Mr.Bee

(1,524 posts)
14. It is Unsurpassed
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 12:22 PM
Nov 19

Even though a bit of a departure from his regular 'filmed' versions,
I find it particularly engaging, like a book you cannot put down!
On the edge of my seat the entire episodes!
(but you know me, PBS man).

JoseBalow

(9,023 posts)
17. I am recording all episodes and will binge watch them later
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 12:26 PM
Nov 19

I prefer doing that with his documentaries, instead of watching one by one and waiting for the next episode.

Emile

(39,642 posts)
37. That's what I'm doing too. I plan to watch it after
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 05:04 PM
Nov 19

Thanksgiving as I walk on the treadmill.

JustAnotherGen

(37,430 posts)
20. Yesterday evening
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 12:32 PM
Nov 19

When they mentioned Hunterdon County - I knew but it kind of hit home. We still have families here whose ancestors fought in it/lived through the intolerable acts.

Something I knew as a student of History - was just how much weather played into the LUCK of the Rebels.

PS- they get extra points for referring to Harlem as a little village, showing the Flat Bush second of 'long Island' and explaining the retreat of the rebels to the Island of Manahattan. . . and the guts of the British to sale the Palisades - then people fleeing to Fort Lee.

If anyone is familiar with all of these areas . . . Tiny fort Lee!

wishstar

(5,797 posts)
44. Yes, I have a 5th gr grandfather who was a Lt. in Hunterdon Co. militia in 1776
Thu Nov 20, 2025, 06:19 AM
Nov 20

He lived in Amwell/Ringoes area in midst of the atrocities and near the ambush killing of British officer Geary.

The 3rd show also hit home for me since I have another 5th gr grandfather who was enlisted in a Mass. Colonial regiment that was in Boston through March 1776, then part of the northern army at Ticonderoga in April 1776 and then West Point before joining with the regular Colonial army in November moving south for the crossing of the Delaware where his regiment joined Gen. Sullivan's west flank to Trenton.

Another 5th gr grandfather was a Quaker living in Rhode Island who never enlisted but mentioned in his diary that he saw George Washington ride by his home and I found documentation that this ancestor was paid for loaning out 2 enslaved men that he owned to the Colonial army. That ancestor's Quakers descendants became prominent NY abolitionists affiliated with Frederick Douglass.

JustAnotherGen

(37,430 posts)
45. That's REALLY cool!
Thu Nov 20, 2025, 11:37 AM
Nov 20

My mom's family were based in Virgina - and found fathers of 'west va' - anti-slavery. I have relatives that found in the French/Indian War, Rev, War of 1812, CW etc. etc.

I got married at the Stockton Inn.

MuirHero

(79 posts)
21. Watching on local PBS station.
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 12:34 PM
Nov 19

It is excellent as is everything that Ken Burns produces. A great history lesson that should be shown in every American HS history class, assuming that American history is even taught anymore.

Grins

(9,171 posts)
23. Best was its links to Trump!!
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 12:40 PM
Nov 19

Not directly! But it’s there.

In episode 1 it mentions London ordering General Gage to “restore order” in Boston. Gage orders grenadiers and infantry stationed in Nova Scotia to Boston. That creates pure hell in Boston. A standing army, ready to fight the king’s subjects, in their home.

I saw that and thought - That’s DC! And Chicago! And Portland! Trump, acting like a king and using the military exactly in the same manner of King George III!

Native

(7,282 posts)
24. Planning to....heard an interview with Burns about it and immediately put it on my must watch list.
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 12:44 PM
Nov 19

Duppers

(28,454 posts)
25. Ken Burns' documentaries
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 01:28 PM
Nov 19

Have never disappointed me.


(A good friend of mine was his sound editor for years - most notable, Ira did the sound for the Civil War Series.)

Walleye

(43,446 posts)
27. I'm watching it on PBS, such a good picture of what was actually happening then
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 01:47 PM
Nov 19

I was wondering how he would do it without photographs. I consider the beginning of the modern age to be in the 1840s when we started using photography. But he’s done a great job with the paintings and illustrations.

Frasier Balzov

(4,755 posts)
35. What we've learned deserves its own thread.
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 03:06 PM
Nov 19

For example, I didn't know that George Washington was at Boston.

And that Sir William Howe's battlefield failures gave rise to vague suspicion and hope that he was a secret friend of the rebels.

nuxvomica

(13,813 posts)
40. I toured the Saratoga Battlefield today
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 06:13 PM
Nov 19

In preparation for tonight's episode. In October 2027 there will be a full re-enactment of the Battle of Saratoga, the turning point in the Revolutionary War. I've been traveling so I've only seen bits and pieces so far but I am home tonight for this one. I hope they rerun the series this weekend.

some_of_us_are_sane

(2,626 posts)
41. Good for you!
Wed Nov 19, 2025, 06:25 PM
Nov 19

We need to keep our knowledge and respect for what it took for our forebears to secure this nation for all of us.

Mr.Bee

(1,524 posts)
46. Can You Even Imagine
Thu Nov 20, 2025, 11:38 AM
Nov 20
Corporate Commercial Television trying to present something like Ken Burns??
Aside from the commercial break every seven to ten minutes,
they would probably present each episode weekly,
making it impossible to keep track of what is happening!
I've even taken to recording it to review the next day on parts that
weren't clear to me!
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