Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror

Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror season 1 on Netflix
Watch Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror on Netflix
Status:
Ended
Season 1:
Ended on September 01, 2021
Watched: 0%
0 of 5 Episodes
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Notes:

Season: 1
# Air Date Episode Name Watched?
E1 Sep 01, 2021 The System Was Blinking Red
E2 Sep 01, 2021 A Place Of Danger
E3 Sep 01, 2021 The Dark Side
E4 Sep 01, 2021 The Good War
E5 Sep 01, 2021 Graveyard Of Empires
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Production Note - Limited Series
Production Type:
Limited Series

Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror is a standalone Limited Series that concluded its 5-episode run in September 2021. This documentary project was conceived as a comprehensive historical retrospective to mark the twentieth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The production involved extensive archival research and high-profile interviews with former government officials, military leaders, and survivors to create a definitive timeline from the Soviet-Afghan War to the final withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The series was designed with a closed-ended structure to provide a holistic view of a specific historical era rather than an ongoing narrative. By chronicling the full arc of the two-decade conflict, the creators ensured that the story reached a natural and final resolution. While the Turning Point brand has since evolved into an anthology format covering other global events, this specific entry remains a self-contained work that fully exhausts its intended subject matter.

Directed by Brian Knappenberger and produced by Luminant Media, the series consists of five episodes released globally by Netflix. It features a wide array of perspectives, including former CIA members, veterans, and Afghan citizens.
Confidence: 5% Last Refined: March 2026
Why Watch:
"A definitive look at the twenty-year conflict that reshaped the world."
Series Analysis:
Released during the twentieth anniversary of the attacks, Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror serves as a definitive historical account for the digital age. It moved beyond simple patriotic sentiment to provide a critical analysis of foreign policy failures and the human cost of two decades of conflict. By documenting the rise of Al-Qaeda and the eventual fall of Kabul, the series solidified its place as a crucial educational tool. Its legacy lies in its refusal to simplify complex geopolitical motives, choosing instead to examine the systemic flaws within global intelligence. Even as a finished work, the Turning Point narrative remains vital to understanding modern international relations. It is wise to set a reminder for your queue, ensuring you stay informed should any revivals or companion series emerge.
Tone: Analytical, somber, and deeply investigative. Last Updated: March 2026
Frequently Asked Questions

No, this production is a standalone limited series that was designed to provide a definitive, finished account of the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent conflict. While Netflix has since released other documentaries under the Turning Point anthology brand, this specific series is complete and will not return for a second season.

The series is a documentary based on true historical events and original investigative research rather than a specific book or work of fiction. It utilizes a massive archive of historical footage and first-hand interviews to chronicle the rise of Al-Qaeda and the evolution of the global War on Terror.

Filming for the series took place in multiple global locations including New York City, Washington D.C., and various regions throughout Afghanistan. The production team conducted extensive on-site interviews with military personnel, survivors, and political figures to capture a comprehensive view of the conflict.

The limited series consists of five episodes in total, with each installment running approximately one hour. These episodes are structured chronologically, starting with the roots of the conflict in the 1980s and ending with the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

The series was directed by Brian Knappenberger, who is well-known for his work on other investigative documentaries like The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez. His approach for this series focused on providing a wide range of perspectives, including voices from the CIA, military veterans, and Afghan officials.

The series focuses on the history leading up to the September 11 attacks and the multi-decade military response that followed. It examines how the War on Terror transformed global politics and why the conflict in Afghanistan lasted for twenty years.
FAQs Updated: March 2026
Trailer:
Network:
Netflix
Seasons:
1
Years:
2021 - 2021
Genre:
Mini-Series, Documentary, History, War
Rating:
TV-MA
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