When the plague struck London in 1665, it was almost apocalyptic, wiping out one third of the population. This program dramatically presents the history of bubonic plague and its two variants, pneumonic and septicemic plague—“The Black Death” as it was called in the 14th century. Stunning reenactments based on recently discovered documents chronicle the grim attrition of one family, while scholars comment on the living conditions and ill-fated civic precautions of London. Not just a tale out of England’s dim past, the specter of the plague still lurks today, claiming 37 people in the United States in the last 20 years. Health experts voice fears about the very real threat of the epidemic’s return. Not available in French-speaking Canada. A Discovery Channel Production. (51 minutes)