Episode 3 - China: 1609, John Hudson

Episode 1 - De Halve Maen: 1609, Henry Hudson

Henry Hudson... If you live in the New York area, you hear his name a lot. We drive his parkway. We pay to cross his bridge. We marvel at his majestic river. But what do we know about HIM? This episode introduces Henry Hudson and his ship, the Half Moon, as he explores Manhattan and the river leading north.

Episode 2 - Soundings: 1609, John Colman

As Henry Hudson explores the New York area with the Half Moon, he meets the local indigenous Algonquins. His mixed crew of English and Dutch sailors includes his son, twelve-year old John Hudson, and the junior officer and translator, John Colman. In the course of their encounters with the locals, Colman's life comes to a bloody end.

Episode 3 - China: 1609, John Hudson

"Why did we ever come to North America?," Hudson's crew ask themselves as the search for the northern route to Asia continues. Henry Hudson remains convinced he has got it right and decides to sail up the river. His reluctant crew begins to wonder whether he knows what he is doing. What is the point of fighting with the locals?

Episode 4 - Obsession: 1609

What is driving Henry Hudson? What does he think he is doing? The further north he goes, the more he becomes obsessed to find the elusive Northern passage. But at some point the arctic cold and scarce provisions will take their toll. Is Hudson pushing his exhausted crew just a bit too far?

Episode 5 - Lutherans: 1610, Lambert Van Tweenhuysen

Having failed to discover a Northern passage, Henry Hudson does not return to Amsterdam, but lands in England instead. His news of a good fur trade stirs up Amsterdam merchants. Inspired, they prepare to send another ship to North America to try out the trade. Meanwhile, Hudson is hired by the English for another attempt at the Northern passage.