T.V Series Review : Planet Earth
Planet Earth, the stunning, captivating 2006 BBC T.V. Series, does not cease to impress. It was the most expensive nature documentary series recorded at the time, and it is clear that the money was not put to waste. Its panning shots seem almost animated as they roam from African plains to aerial views of Victoria Falls to underwater cameras that snag moments of play, hunt and life. This is nature at its finest, at its broadest and at its most beautiful.
The choice of narrator is impeccable. David Attenborough weaves his way through deserts and tundra, soothing and exciting along with a perfectly timed soundtrack. His script is comprehensive and well informed, illuminating species’ histories, current climate challenges and the sheer magnificence our planet has to offer. It is informational and factual without being patronizing or the slightest bit dull. Needless to say, Planet Earth is purely mesmerizing.
Each episode delves into a topics such as “Fresh Water,” “Caves” or “Mountains,” bringing light to different habitats and their intricate cycles.
In “Caves,” the episode plunges into the bites out of mountains and holes in the ground whose darkness hold layers of incredibly balanced ecosystems. Hold your breath as divers jump into the Earth’s deepest free fall drop pit cave, Mexico’s Cave of Swallows, whose volume could contain the Empire state building. Weave through a maze of caverns and passages created by acid eating away at limestone, watch calcite formations drip into stalactites, glow worms fish for prey with a line of silk or birds create nests out of their own saliva. The episode ends in New Mexico’s Lechuguilla Cave, with glistening shots of walls of gypsum crystals created by sulphuric acid.
Planet Earth is not just beautiful—it widens the scope of one’s imagination and yanks the mind out of the Exeter bubble. It reminds us of the primitive and beautiful nature we are a part of: of predator and prey, of survival and pleasure. And it also reminds us of the earth to which we are bound—its cracks, triumphs and diversity. Planet Earth lends perspective to daily life, to our actions and to the way we view the world. It makes you want to be everywhere and to study everything. It is also tragic as you come to realize the miracles in nature we are ruining as global warming makes its uncompromising impact on the ecosystems Planet Earth so successfully features.
Prepare for moments of fear as an underwater, five-foot long Japanese salamander opens its eye and darts towards you. Prepare for vertigo as you tip over a waterfall, laughter as otters wriggle around one another in the warm sun on dry rocks and tears at the death of a wildebeest as it is torn apart by a crocodile. Now on Netflix, the 11 part series is much more widely available (to our community especially) than ever before. We highly recommend taking the time to watch an episode and slipping away to whichever corner of the Earth fits your mood. Whether it is the rainforest or the desert, this series is meant to be savored; enjoy it.