16 years after the first Connections series came out, James Burke came back with a follow-up in 1994 and includes references to the additional technological advances in that time frame. The content is largely similar but this one has a format of 20 half an hour episodes rather than 10 1 hour episodes. Overall, the amount of content is the same, and the style is also very similar.

The Social matter guys apparently don’t like this one as much. The shorter format does impose a limitation on how much can be included and yet still have a complete content arc in one episode. For me, this was the very first of this style of documentary I had seen, and therefore there is a bit of nostalgia when I rewatch it now. Even if the other documentaries in my western civilization series are better, this one would likely be a good start for kids, if you have them, given they often have a shorter attention span.

If you would like a link compilation of the 1978 version of connections, you can find it here. There is also a link compilation for James Burkes’ “the day the universe changed” and Kenneth Clark’s Civilisation.

Episode 1: Revolutions.

Episode 2: Sentimental Journeys

Episode 3: Getting it together

Episode 4: Whodunit

Episode 5: Something for nothing

Episode 6: Echoes of the past

Episode 7: Photo Finish

Episode 8: Separate Ways

Episode 9: High Times

Episode 10: Deja Vu

Episode 11: New Harmony

Episode 12: Hot Pickle

Episode 13: The Big Spin

Episode 14: Bright Ideas

Episode 15: Making Waves

Episode 16: Routes

Episode 17: One word

Episode 18: Sign Here

Episode 19: Better than the real thing

Episode 20: Flexible Response