The BBC’s Planet Earth Series

As a child I used to be absolutely enthralled by the animal kingdom. In addition to saturday morning cartoons, I’d watch endless amounts of nature documentaries; the Amazon, the Dessert of Namid, the Serengeti, etcetera. I could tell you about the eating habits of the capybara (don’t know what that is? Loser!) When I lived in Monterey, California, next to the spectacular Monterey Bay Aquarium, I was determined to be a marine biologist – even dedicating some school projects to that effect. To put it shortly, I consider myself an expert on nature documentaries. Perhaps I am not a ‘trained scientist’ with a ‘PhD’, or know anything about ‘film-making’, or even have an IQ over 80, but nevertheless, you could still regard me as the preeminent expert on nature documentaries.

I had previously seen bits and pieces of the BBC’s Planet Earth Series, and knew of its quality. So when my mother was planning to send a Christmas package to Turkey (thanks, mom) I requested she put in the DVD set. Having received it a month ago, and having viewed almost every episode, I can definitively say that it is the Holy Grail of nature documentaries.

First, the production quality is very high – well done, BBC. The cinematography is truly exceptional. Macro and wide-angle shots abound to capture the smallest detail or most expansive and breath-taking landscape, respectively. Just the other day I was making fun of British shows aired in Turkey for their low-production quality, perhaps I owe them an apology.

The content is impressive. Unlike many wildlife documentaries, which only focus on overexposed animals such as lions, elephants, or great buffalo herds, the BBC also seeks to demonstrate the vast diversity of nature – the odd in addition to the stereotypical. In some episodes, especially the Ocean Deep, the subjects filmed give the documentary an almost freak-show-feel. The bioluminescent octopus, the mountain baboons of africa, the seductive dance of the bird-of-paradise, and the anus-slapping yak of mongolia: they are all jaw-droppers, or at least, giggle inducers.

The creme-de-la-creme of the Planet Earth Series is the smooth molasses voice of Sir David Attenborough. His aristocratic English narration adds an authority to the fascinating details he provides, while the natural quality of his vocal system would put babies to sleep.  I do have to say my girlfriend loves it a little too much when I try to impersonate Sir Attenborough’s accent, I will do my best to make sure they never meet.

To demonstrate how energy flows up the food chain Sir David Attenborough ate this frog.

This winter,as I sit in my room on rainy days (I melt in the rain), I will continue to be astonished by the diversity and abundance of our planet through the computer screen. And though I appreciate this documentary series, and even have thought that I would like to save it for the education my future children, it soberly reminds me that many of these species will likely not be around for them to see. Except, of course, on the out-dated copy of BBC Planet Earth that their father has.

-Charles P. Pearson