Ep 3. Louis and the Nazis

In the third episode of season one of Louis Theroux's documentary series, titled "Louis and the Nazis," the intrepid British journalist delves into the world of white supremacists and neo-Nazis in the United States. The episode originally aired in 2003 and is still considered a powerful glimpse into the extremist mindset that continues to pervade some pockets of American society.

Theroux begins by meeting with Tom Metzger, the former grand dragon of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and founder of the White Aryan Resistance (WAR) movement. Metzger espouses a deeply troubling worldview that is rooted in the belief that white people are superior to all other races, and that Jews are the cause of many of the world's problems. Despite his outwardly affable demeanor, Metzger's words and actions quickly reveal the devastating consequences of his ideology.

While with Metzger, Theroux attends a rally in a rural area of Indiana where white nationalists gather to listen to speeches and wave Confederate flags. There, Theroux interviews a number of attendees, who freely express their racist and anti-Semitic views. At one point, a young man approaches Theroux and attempts to give him a swastika armband as a gift.

Throughout the episode, Theroux maintains an air of calm curiosity and a willingness to engage with those whose beliefs and actions he finds reprehensible. His conversations with Metzger and others do not devolve into shouting matches or condemnations, but rather remain focused on trying to understand the reasoning and emotions behind such extreme views.

One particularly striking sequence follows Theroux as he meets with a young couple who have named their child "Adolf Hitler" and "Aryan Nation." The couple, both members of WAR, seem impenetrable in their beliefs and refuse to engage with Theroux's questions on any sort of meaningful level. Instead, they claim that their children's names are simply a way of expressing their love for their race and heritage, and accuse Theroux of trying to "mind control" them.

As disturbing as the views expressed by the neo-Nazis in this episode are, Theroux's unflappable demeanor and ability to keep the conversations civil make it a compelling and thought-provoking hour of television. Through his interactions with individuals like Metzger and the Hitler family, Theroux serves as both interviewer and interpreter, attempting to shed light on the hateful ideologies that drive the white supremacist movement while also giving voice to those who espouse them.

"Louis and the Nazis" is not an easy episode to watch, but it is an important one, especially in today's political climate where extremist rhetoric and actions are becoming increasingly common. By shining a light on the darkness of white supremacy, Theroux and his team have created a document of our times that is both chilling and enlightening.