[imagesource: Dan Dewsbury / BBC /Mindhouse Productions]

Nobody does awkward interviews quite like Louis Theroux.

In his new BBC series, Louis Theroux: Forbidden America, there are plenty of moments to make Louis and the viewers squirm.

Not that those interviewed seem capable of much shame, which is part of what makes it such an interesting (and tough) watch.

The Independent’s five-star review labels it “a depressing, eye-opening vision of where things are headed” in case your Monday wasn’t already bereft of vibes:

For his new three-part series, Forbidden America (BBC Two), looking at extreme subcultures in the US, Theroux has turned his fame to his advantage. His first subject is the young far right, as seen through some of its most influential bloggers and streamers.

These guys – and one woman – hate mainstream journalists, but love publicity, so welcome Theroux in part because he is the famous guy from the BBC.

The likes of Beardson Beardly, Baked Alaska, and Nicholas J Fuentes all feature. The latter believes that “genocide is being perpetrated against the white man” and women should stay in the home and not be able to vote, so you can get a sense of where he’s at.

A full-length trailer isn’t available but here’s a tiny taster:

13.02.22
Louis Theroux’s Forbidden America begins on BBC2 and BBC iPlayer#louistheroux #forbiddenamerica pic.twitter.com/fNBsrmBb2s

— Mindhouse Productions (@MindhouseTV) February 6, 2022

A few clips were also shared online:

White people pretending to be Christian and are done with being bullied are an odd, extremely racist grifting bunch. #louistheroux #ForbiddenAmerica pic.twitter.com/yqOl4ZuJiU

— Daithi K. (@tvcritics) February 14, 2022

At the time of writing the full episode had been uploaded to YouTube but will likely be yanked for copyright infringement.

The Guardian awarded four stars:

Theroux’s latest outing is – for all the compelling interviews that abound – really about the tentacular reach and spectacular, unprecedented power of the internet (alongside whatever else it has brought us); its ability to politicise, radicalise, give voice to would-be demagogues and hatemongers who would once have had their influence naturally curtailed by time and distance, encourage the worst in humanity and then unite people on that basis.

Episode one aired last night, with Rap’s New Frontline (focused on the “dangerous line between music and gang violence in the Florida trap scene”) and Porn and Power (focused on how the #MeToo movement has impacted the porn industry) airing on February 20 and 27 respectively.

[sources:independent&guardian]