Episode 2: The Photographs

The crisis begins.
When U.S. reconnaissance flights over Cuba capture shocking images of Soviet missile installations, the world shifts overnight. In Episode 2: The Photographs, we walk hour by hour through the frantic intelligence scramble, the internal debates of Kennedy’s war council, and the sobering realization that the Soviet Union has brought the nuclear threat to America’s doorstep.

Inside the White House, President Kennedy wrestles with impossible choices: launch a military strike that could ignite World War III—or risk allowing the missiles to become operational.
Across the ocean, Nikita Khrushchev plays a dangerous game of brinkmanship, confident that his gamble remains hidden.

From the clandestine U-2 flights to Kennedy’s televised address that shocked the world, this episode captures the moment the Cold War teetered on the edge.

The missiles are in place. The decisions cannot wait.
The clock is now ticking.