Why We Hate

To call the series clinical would be an overstatement. It can be dry at times, but also startling, and humbling, especially in its representation of human nature as a force almost beyond human control.

At its strongest, this series gives solid, easy-to-grasp explanations for why the human brain likes dividing the world up into “us” and “them” and why that impulse is so hard to resist. At its weakest — specifically, the two episodes after the one airing on Sunday — Why We Hate is more like How We Hate, dwelling too long on the political divide in America and the role social media plays in pitting people against each other.

Why We Hate is a vital show. If only it had the courage to consider that the most effective form of conflict resolution might be justice.

This documentary project feels both like a good start, and at least partially, a missed opportunity.