FBI Special Agent Matthew Ryker
An FBI agent with a specialty in microbiology, who, just 3 weeks after the September 9/11 attacks, risks his career to convince his superiors that the United States is under attack again.
181Something in the air – The Hot Zone: Anthrax Season 2
Terrorism, treachery and letters from death in The Hot Zone: Anthrax Season 2
Sundays from 5 December on National Geographic (DStv channel 181) at 21:00 & 21:55 (double-bill)About the Show
05 December 2021Docu-drama. Just days after the September 9/11 terror attacks, an anonymous sender targeted journalists and politicians in the United States by sending deadly anthrax through the U.S. postal system. FBI agent and microbiologist Matthew Ryker (Daniel Dae Kim) tries to find a pattern to the attacks while U.S. Army microbiologist Bruce Edward Ivins (Tony Goldwyn) starts cracking under the pressure.
Who’s who
Episode Guide
Episode 1: In Florida, a man mysteriously falls ill and dies. Special Agent Matthew Ryker suspects something more sinister – an anthrax attack via mail. As more people turn up infected, he and his team begin to track down the killer. Meanwhile, microbiologist Bruce Ivins has his own theories as to who is responsible and will go to great lengths to ensure justice is served.
Episode 2: Another positive case: This time at 30 Rock, as NBC anchor Tom Brokaw finds his assistant has been infected via another letter. Ryker shares a tense exchange with the mayor of the city when he asks to shut down the building. At the same time, he faces pressure from his superiors to find a motive for the attacks. Bruce opens up to his therapist about his own growing suspicions of his co-workers.
Episode 3: Capitol Hill shuts down after a senator’s intern opens up a letter filled with anthrax. Agent Dani Toretti arrives on the scene and has her own theory that the killer is a lone wolf. After learning that the attack may be more widespread than previously believed, Dani and Ryker investigate an outbreak at a mail facility. At USAMRIID (United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases), Bruce begins to wonder who he can really trust.
Episode 4: Agent Moore tracks down the mailbox used to send the Anthrax letters as Ryker and Dani look to the postal inspector for help to locate where the killer bought the envelopes. Meanwhile, the FBI learns more about Bruce Ivins’ past tendencies after a former colleague raises red flags in the microbiology community halfway across the country.
Episode 5: After the media and FBI shift their full attention to a new suspect, Ryker is reassigned to a new Amerithrax team. But behind closed doors, Ryker, Dani and Moore have other plans to continue chasing their lead.
Episode 6: A search at a suspicious pond brings a twist to the case. Bruce is emotionally torn as the focus of the investigation continues to change course. With one suspect ruled out, Ryker and his team are aided by a scientific finding. Meanwhile, Bruce finds himself unravelling as pressure mounts from the FBI.