New Docuseries Spotlights Oklahoma City Bombing’s Lasting Impact

OKLAHOMA CITY – A new National Geographic docuseries titled Oklahoma City Bombing: One Day in America is set to premiere on April 2 and aims to provide a detailed, moment-by-moment account of the tragic bombing that occurred on April 19, 1995. This three-part series emphasizes the voices of individuals who experienced the events firsthand, including survivors, family members, first responders, and law enforcement personnel.

Robin Marsh, who was among the first journalists on the scene in 1995, interviewed series director Ceri Isfryn about the project. Marsh is featured in the docuseries, sharing her experiences covering the tragedy. ‘This is a three-part series all about the events of April 19, 1995, and what we really wanted to do was put the voices of those who were there that day front and center,’ Isfryn said. ‘We’ll use powerful archive footage from News 9 to focus on what happened that day and its lasting impact.’

Isfryn’s statement highlights the focus on personal narratives, as the docuseries aims not only to depict the immediate aftermath of the bombing but also its long-term effects. ‘I think maybe sometimes people think of a federal building, and they have certain perceptions of who might be working there, but these were ordinary American people, and we really wanted to represent that,’ Isfryn added.

The stories of first responders, such as firefighter Mike Shannon, will resonate powerfully throughout the documentary. Shannon recounted the heartbreaking decision to order his crew to evacuate amid fears of a second bomb, leaving individuals behind who were still in need of help. ‘That was the worst moment of his career, maybe his life,’ Isfryn noted. ‘We wanted viewers to understand the impossible dilemmas that ordinary people were suddenly faced with.’

Isfryn, hailing from the United Kingdom, initially arrived in Oklahoma with preconceived notions about the region, but was profoundly impacted by the local spirit of service and resilience known as the Oklahoma Standard. ‘I’ll be completely honest, there was a slightly cynical part of me that didn’t think it could be a thing,’ Isfryn admitted. ‘But spending time with the community, you could really feel it all around. People went out of their way to help us.’

The series is structured into three episodes: the first tracks the bombing and its immediate aftermath; the second delves into law enforcement’s realization of the attack’s magnitude and the pursuit of those responsible; and the third focuses on the pursuit of justice and the lasting impact on survivors and the city of Oklahoma City.

Notably, the final episode includes an interview with former President Bill Clinton, who reflects on the significance of the events. ‘April 19 still matters, because we need to celebrate our differences. They’re essential, but not if it comes at the cost of common humanity,’ he states in the documentary. ‘What Tim McVeigh showed us that day was the danger of forgetting our common humanity.’

As the 30th anniversary of the bombing approaches, Clinton plans to return to Oklahoma City for a remembrance ceremony, emphasizing the tragedy’s ongoing importance. Isfryn expressed gratitude to those who shared their stories for the docuseries, recounting the trust placed in them. ‘I’ll always be honored and grateful that people trusted us to tell their stories,’ she said. ‘I hope this series serves as a historical record of that day, allowing people to reflect on and learn from it.’

The docuseries premieres on April 2 on National Geographic and will be available for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.