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Richard Topol

Genius Finale — Bringing Back the Joy

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(National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)

One January morning in 1998, I walked into a lecture hall at Furman University, not knowing what to expect in the Psychology class I was registered for.  The professor walked in, a rather tall man with bright red hair, and spoke: “Good morning.  My name is Dr. Einstein.”  The class laughed, then he continued: “If you’re wondering, I am actually related to Albert.”  At that point, the class grew silent, then sat back for a fantastic semester of learning with a professor who sincerely loved to teach.  To this day, I still believe Dr. Einstein was the smartest–not to mention most challenging–professor I had.  (If you’re wondering, he’s still teaching at Furman)

In the final two-hour conclusion to National Geographic Channel’s Genius, Albert Einstein (Geoffrey Rush) has moved to the US and is a professor at Princeton University. But the events of the world have seemed to conspire against him. Franz Haber (Richard Topol) dies, as does Mileva, his stepdaughter Ilse, and his current wife, Elsa (Emily Watson). To assuage his feelings, a svelte Russian bombshell named Margarita (Ania Bukstein) enters his life and helps him get through the process of becoming a US citizen.  We soon discover she’s a spy attempting to get access to Einstein’s calculations for an unknown purpose, but she fails in her mission. Later, Albert’s work on general relativity becomes linked to the atomic bomb being worked on by the US and Germany, a thought that makes him sick.  When the bomb is dropped on Japan by the US, Einstein is thrust into the spotlight again—not as a brilliant scientist, but as the harbinger of nuclear death.

(National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)

As a result of this new moniker, Albert begins to push away from his love of science, becoming more active politically.  It creates another big issue in the form of J Edgar Hoover, director of the FBI (TR Knight).  He thinks Albert is a Communist and is willing to go to any length to prove his assertion true.  It makes life difficult as Einstein is concerned with the witch hunt going on for people like the Rosenbergs and is ready to make his feelings known to the world.  But that’s exactly what Hoover wants.  When Albert writes a letter to the judge of the Rosenberg trial, Hoover intercepts it and proceeds to discredit Einstein all over the pages of America’s papers. All Albert has left are a few friends and his assistant Helene (Emily Laing), who he prefers to see and not hear.  His son Hans has come over from Germany, but the rift from the divorce is still fresh.

Sinking into a funk, an unexpected help arrives in the form of Alice Edwards (Dixie Egerickx), a little girl who asks him to help her with her long division homework.  Suddenly, he remembers the joy of teaching and breaks out of his depression.  In the end, he is able to reconcile himself to Hans (even telling him that he would’ve never achieved anything without Mileva) before finally passing away.

Ken Billings directs the final two part-episode and provides a satisfying conclusion to the series.  He’s even able to inject a little emotion into the end sequences as Albert is reconciled to Hans and tells Helene she’s a blessing to him.  It was nice to see a little glimmer of hope as Einstein’s carefully crafted world began to crash down around him. I’m already looking forward to the second season of Genius, which will feature the life of one Pablo Diego Jose Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Maria de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santisima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso (yes, that’s the painter’s full name).

One of the neatest things to see in the final episode was how Alice Edwards, with her constant questioning and eager desire to learn, helped bring Albert back to a love of teaching.  When life seems to feel unbearable and the only safe space is under the covers of the bed, there is a way to get back to normal. King David mentioned this in Psalm 51, when it seemed like his sins and mistakes were going to overwhelm him.  He went to God and asked for forgiveness, then prayed, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.  Then I will teach transgressors Your ways” (verses 12-13 NASB).  Sometimes all it takes is asking God for the joy to be restored, and it will arrive in a form that will do the trick. Then we will be able to take on life with a renewed confidence and vigor, making a difference in the lives of others.  And isn’t that what we, in the end, want to happen?

Genius Ep. 7 – The Damage of Sin, Visualized   

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(National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)

Albert Einstein wasn’t in the greatest mood at the end of the sixth episode of Genius (Nat Geo; Tuesdays 9 PM/ 8 CT).  After seeing his life’s work on general relativity almost discredited due to an error on his part and his wife moving to Zurich with the kids, it’s easy to see why this might be the case. The question was a simple one: how would Albert react?

If you’ve watched the series thus far, the answer is a simple one: Albert simply plowed himself more and more into his work on the theory. He even went so far as to say, “General relativity is everything to me now . . . once I’ve solved it, the rest of life can rush in.” But he receives a surprise when he discovers a mathematician named David Hilbert (Adrian Edmondson) is trying to complete it first and claim credit for himself. Thus begins a rush to complete the computations . . . and Einstein loses the race.  However, Hilbert makes a mistake, allowing Einstein to correctly finish the theory.  There is even word a Nobel Prize could be in Albert’s future . . .

But director James Hawes reveals there are three other issues Einstein has to deal with.  One involves the other members of the Prussian Academy, who are asked by the German Army to sign a war manifesto committing them to helping the cause (see photo above). Everyone signs it . . . except Einstein. This becomes as issue when Fritz Haber (Richard Topol) creates a method to take out opposing forces using poison gas.  Einstein can’t justify Haber’s change of heart and has a falling out with him.  So does Haber’s wife, who kills herself.  Max Planck (Ralph Brown) lamented signing the manifesto when he discovers his son died on the battlefield.

The second issue involves Mileva.  It’s easy to see that Albert cares more about the kids more than her, but he still wants the divorce so he can finally be with his cousin Elsa. Mileva is incredibly stubborn, but she’s still trying to make ends meet for the kids by teaching piano (even though Albert is paying her monthly). Unfortunately, her health issues have caused Albert to visit—but the war is exacting its toll by closing the borders and denying Albert the visit.  Eduard is expecting his dad, but he never comes.

(National Geographic/Dusan Martincek)

A few years later, we see the long-awaited transformation of the characters to their older counterparts—Johnny Flynn gives way to Academy Award-winner Geoffrey Rush (Albert); Gwendolyn Ellis is replaced by Emily Watson (Elsa), and Samantha Colley’s fantastic portrayal of Mileva moves to Sally Dexter.  It gives Genius the feel that the events of the past have aged the main characters significantly (even if it feels jarring to the viewer).

Albert is finally able to get Mileva to agree to the divorce, but as he tells Elsa, “it comes at a high price.”  That price isn’t just in the form of money (including the significant sum earned if Albert was to win the Nobel Prize), but a permanent loss of seeing his kids.

Finally, Einstein’s theory is proven, but he has to deal with his own league of scientists, including Dr. Lennard, who, in the name of nationalism, attempt to discredit his work.  In a hilarious sequence, a major lecturer beats up on Einstein, not knowing Einstein is in the audience.  What the scientists will do next is for the final three episodes, but somehow Hitler will be involved . . .

One of the biggest takeaways of the episode involves the damages sin can cause.  The scientists’ decision to support the war effort resulted in significant loss of life—especially with Haber’s poison gas cloud.  Justifying that it saved lives still doesn’t diminish the fact that people were killed to make it happen. Haber lost his marriage (and his wife) in the process. Einstein also lost his marriage–and a whole lot more than he bargained for–as a result of his escapades. Even his cousin Elsa had to endure the humiliation and stigma of being singled out during the divorce proceedings by the judge. Sin can be hidden only for so long, but it will eventually be exposed (see Joshua 7 regarding Achan).  And the consequences can be significant.  It is best, as James 5:16 notes, to confess our sins to God (and others) so we can be restored.  After all, Jesus came to die and forgive us of all our transgressions to the Lord and others.  It doesn’t mean there won’t be aftereffects to deal with, but at least one’s consciousness can be cleansed for the future.