United States consul general Raymond Geist issued life saving visas to more than 50,000 German Jews from 1933 to 1939. I am a writer myself and for me, this episode may have been the best of all in regards to human interest. The interview between Einstein and Geist, which was really an interrogation, is masterful dialogue. As a writer myself, I was riveted and savored the brilliance of the back and forth, the subtlety of the gamesmanship as Geist is slowly seduced by Albert's feisty disregard for his authority, ultimately his logic and humanity. Honestly, I never knew of Geist. Whether his heroism sprung from this particular exchange or not I am not sure. But if it was creative license I easily allow it. It could have been a hit Broadway play. They could do a whole movie on him.

But they chose to break it up, fearing the attention-deficit of a TV audience. So they continue to intercut flashbacks in the now trendy non-linear story format. I suppose they would excuse that as a deliberate attempt at allegory. Einstein always said linear time -- past, present, future -- was an illusion. But so many shows use it now. I prefer linear, just as Einstein confessed in this episode that modern music was too erratic for him. Personally I'm blues and R & B.