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Planet Earth II: TV Series Review

 

Photo by Johann Edwin Heupel. September 19, 2007.

 

David Attenborough; the man, the myth, the legend!

Continuing his outstanding career as a naturalist and our favourite narrator from every nature documentary ever made, Planet Earth II has reached screens all over the world and it is everything you hoped it would be, and more.

The original trailer, released in October of 2016, racked up almost ten million views on YouTube alone. As people watched the world’s most famous iguana hatchling escape an enormous pit of racer snakes in a dramatic, high-stakes chase across a barren island, the publicity for Planet Earth II shot through the roof and it’s release was eagerly awaited in Australia.

From islands to mountains to jungles, this documentary series takes you on a trip around the world, showcasing breathtaking scenery in high definition. Each of the seven episodes hone in on diverse plant and animal communities across the world, categorised by landscape and followed by a short yet fascinating ‘making of’ feature.

The soothing voice of David Attenborough, accompanied by the soul-summoning music of Hans Zimmer will capture and hold the attention of even the most unengaged viewers. The universal reach of the series is due to the incredible production of footage, accessibility of information and impressive and creatively relatable tales of survival.

The multinational documentary series has utilised new technologies, including ultra high definition filming, drone cameras, infrared and night vision cameras, and remote recording. Planet Earth II Diaries at the end of each episode showcase this incredible detail and immense skill that is required to film each sequence and scene.

Planet Earth II is the most immersive exploration of natural landscapes and cities across the world. The spectacular footage, presented from the perspectives of the subjects themselves, varies from panning shots of vast expanses to close encounters between animals. Each episode is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat as it takes you on a journey through horror, romance and comedy.

Episode one, Islands, reached over 12 million viewers in the UK when it was aired in November of 2016. This first episode was produced by Elizabeth White and from it’s opening scene, a sloth swimming across running water, you will be absolutely captivated by every moment. The episode explores the sanctuary and isolation of island living for an array of animals, from deadly snakes to a colony of 1.5 million penguins.

 

Photo by
Photo by Scott Ableman. March 25, 2009.

 

The second episode, Mountains, produced by Justin Anderson, explores Earth’s great mountain ranges and the adaptations that animals have to survive at such altitudes. The episode takes you on a surprisingly emotional journey, as if you were following the ups and down of the ranges. The desperation of a snow leopard cub under attack to watching grizzly bears grinding on trees will move you from the edge of your seat to the floor in laughter.

 

Photo by
Photo by Nayyer.shah. May 15, 2016.

 

Episode three, Jungles, produced by Emily Napper, takes you through a journey through the rich and biodiverse hotspots of the world. Sleek jaguars, cheeky monkeys, strangely impressive frogs and bizarre reptiles are guaranteed to captivate and intrigue. The density and competition between animals in these regions bring about unique methods of survival.

 

Photo by
Photo by cegoh. October 24, 2014.

 

Deserts, produced by Ed Charles takes you to some of the most remote and harsh environments to find some of the most resilient animals in the toughest of circumstances. The adaption to such hostile conditions are incredible and incomparable to that of island and jungle-dwellers. The episode follows the gruelling journeys of lions, birds and bats as they endeavour to find food and water for survival.

 

Photo by
Photo by Jpeter2. March 7, 2016.

 

Episode five, Grasslands, produced by Chadden Hunter, explores the grasslands that makes up one quarter of the Earth’s land surfaces. The hostility of the environments can vary extremely and the most remarkable animals are able to live and thrive in such conditions. Wolves and lions cross paths with migratory birds and buffalo in a triumphant episode that will make your heart race as species battle to eat and live.

 

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Photo by Dominic Sherony. February 6, 2010.

 

The sixth episode, Cities, produced by Fredi Devas, is unlike any other existing nature documentary. It explores the unlikely places in which animals survive in harmony with people and urbanisation as well as the sad cases in which human influence can cause great detriment to species. This episode is eye opening to the way people and animals can live in harmony or conflict and touches on future ways that we can co-exist peacefully.

 

Photo by
Photo by McKay Savage. December 3, 2007.

 

Cities, supported by the series in it’s entirety, raises awareness of environmental issues that will captivate even passive viewers. The immaculate style in which the footage is shot, information presented, and stories told, takes viewers on a whirlwind journey. It is a visual feast and so many questions are curated and answered to maintain unfaltering attention.

 

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