Filthy Cities

Filthy Cities is an enlightening, historical reality series from Discovery Canada from 2011 that offers viewers a profound appreciation for sanitation advancement and modern-day cleanliness standards. It’s a travel back in time, immersing viewers in some of the filthiest cities in history, each with their unique stories of squalor, dirt, and disease.

The program delves deep into the history of several major metropolises worldwide such as London, New York, and Paris and illuminates the appalling sanitary conditions present in these places at various periods throughout the past. Through meticulously crafted reenactments and detailed CG animation, the show presents an immersive view of these historically famous, yet incredibly unhygienic, environments at various pivotal moments.

Hosted by Dan Snow, popular British historian and broadcaster, Filthy Cities weaves tales of dreariness and grime interspersed with intriguing facts about these great cities and the impact of the condition of living on the lives of their inhabitants of the time. Each episode focuses on a specific period in a city's history and Snow transports viewers to the hits of the era, compellingly depicting the expanse of filth and the harsh conditions that people endured.

An episode takes viewers to medieval London where the streets were a repugnant slush of human and animal waste which often led to a variety of diseases and outbreaks. Snow narrates the tales from those times, describing how the city grappled with such difficult living conditions and the implications it had on people’s health. Meanwhile, another episode showcases Industrial era New York, with the city's problem with waste, rats running rampant, and the foul stench of the processing plants. It also explores the sordid state of Paris in the 18th century where open sewers were common and streets were garbage filled.

The program has a well-researched approach to the social history of sanitization, public health, and city planning. The ambitious project recreates the stink, grime, and filth of times gone by with careful historical research, recreations, CGI, and even live-action staged sequences. Appealing to history enthusiasts, as well as viewers with a strong constitution and curiosity for the macabre, the show is replete with seldom recognized facts and vivid illustrations that bring out the tough challenges faced by early urban dwellers.

The show is admittedly not for the faint-hearted or those with weak stomachs - Snow doesn't shy away from showing or discussing graphic details of the consequences of the poor sanitary conditions in these major cities. The vivid and sometimes gruesome depictions of filth can serve as stark reminders about how far we've come to achieve the sanitary standards of today.

While it oscillates between periods of revolting imagery and fascinating history, the series finds its balance by taking a somewhat humorous approach. Snow lightens up the dreary narration with a touch of British wit, adding a splash of humour to the grim realness, and makes the viewing experience both educational and entertaining.

Filthy Cities effectively demonstrates the immense difficulties and dangers that once permeated city living and highlights the revolutionary efforts and sanitation advancements throughout history that helped shape the cities we know today. The show underlines how historical transformations in infrastructure, coupled with advancements in science and medicine, have vastly improved urban living conditions over time.

Each episode sparks realization and draws contrast between those grim times and the much cleaner, healthier, and safer urban environments of the current era. The series prompts viewers to question and appreciate the complexities of a city's transformation over centuries, and the progress humanity has made towards the cleanliness and sanitation standards we benefit from today.

Overall, Filthy Cities offers an unusual, quirky, yet insightful look at urban history through the lens of filth - a feature largely untold and overlooked in more traditional narratives. Combining solid historical detail with a touch of dark humour and a dash of grim reality, the series presents an absolute treasure trove of insights, narrating the journey of mankind from filth-ridden struggle to health-oriented progress. It's an ode to the transformative power of sanitation and cleanliness and the accompanying societal progress. The graphically real, yet unmistakably engaging approach of Filthy Cities makes it an intriguing must-watch for history enthusiasts and casual viewers alike.