According to seismologists, the San Andreas Fault is a ticking time bomb: Radiocarbon dating has determined that a catastrophic earthquake strikes Southern California roughly every 100 years, and the next one is long overdue. In The Big One, the host Jacob Margolis draws on a mix of expert testimony and survivor accounts to project what that event and its aftermath would look like. Emergency services could be rendered useless, water pipes might burst, buildings could split in half, and fires might spread freely. But it’s not all bad news; Margolis cites one sociologist’s argument that people “operate at the height of their moral code” after a disaster. The show blends historical facts, best-guess scenarios, practical tips for survival, and well-paced storytelling, envisioning a reality that people shouldn’t just consider, but also plan for.