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The Best Episodes of American Masters Season 40

Every episode of American Masters Season 40 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of American Masters Season 40!

Binge this in 7h 57m•Peaking at 7.8/10

American Masters is a PBS television series which produces biographies on enduring writers, musicians, visual and performing artists, dramatists, filmmakers, and others who have left an indelible impression on the cultural landscape of the United

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    American Masters Season 40 Episode 1 - Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire
    7.8/10(28 votes)

    #1 - Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire

    S40:E1

    Learn about Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize-winning author of Night. After his internment at the Auschwitz Concentration Camp and liberation from Buchenwald, Wiesel became a journalist in France before immigrating to America. Over the course of his life, Wiesel fought the “sin of indifference” by writing, teaching, speaking truth to power and championing for human rights.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. American Masters Season 40 Episode 2 - Sun Ra: Do the Impossible
    6.3/10(14 votes)

    #2 - Sun Ra: Do the Impossible

    S40:E2

    Discover the extraordinary life of poet, philosopher and music visionary Sun Ra. With his ever-evolving collective, the Sun Ra Arkestra, he self-produced more than 200 albums, stretching the boundaries of jazz.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. American Masters Season 40 Episode 3 - Bella! This Woman's Place Is in the House
    7.5/10(30 votes)

    #3 - Bella! This Woman's Place Is in the House

    S40:E3

    Follow the meteoric rise of firebrand politician and activist Bella Abzug. Considered one of the first feminists to be elected to Congress, her commitment to women’s rights and progressive causes upended the status quo in Washington. This version of the film contains extended audio description.

    Director:Jeff L. Lieberman
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. American Masters Season 40 Episode 4 - W.E.B. Du Bois
    7.7/10(40 votes)

    #4 - W.E.B. Du Bois

    S40:E4

    Explore the life and legacy of notable Black scholar and civil rights pioneer W.E.B. Du Bois. From his birth, just five years after the Emancipation Proclamation; to his death, on the eve of the March on Washington in 1963, his legacy as an activist continues to resonate today.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. American Masters Season 40 Episode 5 - Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #5 - Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World

    S40:E5

    Celebrate the life and career of Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Mary Oliver. Shaped by a solitary childhood and rising literary fame, Oliver published more than 30 collections of poetry and essays on nature, beauty, and love.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 40 Ratings Summary

"Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire" is the best rated episode of "American Masters" season 40. It scored 7.8/10 based on 28 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 1/27/2026. This episode is rated 1.5 points higher than the second-best, "Sun Ra: Do the Impossible".