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Seven Worlds, One Planet

Latest Attenborough series is simply spectacular as it drives home a conservation message.

A David Attenborough documentary is like a free pass to glorious HD viewing and Seven Worlds, One Planet is no exception.

Everything we’ve come to expect from the renowned naturalist is on show: spectacular scenery, wildlife up close and personal, immaculate cinematography, an orchestral soundtrack and captivating narration.

So what can Seven Worlds, One Planet possibly offer that we haven’t seen before?

The premise for this 7 part series is to focus on one continent per episode: Antarctica, Asia, South America, Australia, Europe, North America and Africa. Normally these BBC docos are studied via habitat.

But what is also unmistakable is Attenborough’s passion for conservation.

Episode one, Antarctica, is clearly facing extraordinary climate changes and the series is at pains to illustrate how these impact on wildlife. Like it or not, it also makes for great drama.

Witness a newly-born Weddell Seal, the only species to survive entirely in such harsh conditions. But as storms grown in their ferocity due to climate change, a mother will be pushed to choose between seeking refuge in the water and leaving her pup in the elements.

It’s a similar tale for an albatross chick, beaten and bruised by punishing storms, blown off its nest to the point a parent will not recognise their own offspring. It’s a this point my sense of “great family viewing” shifts to Parental Guidance is recommended.

Kids could also be distressed by the bloody battle of elephant seals, but bemused by the humour of King Penguin chicks at St. Andrews Bay.

Aerial shots capture 4 orcas on the the hunt for a desperate lone penguin, and a humpback whale ballet feasting on krill baitballs. We are also winess to the largest ever congregation of whales ever captured on film.

But Attenborough takes rare time out to show us a defunct whaling station in South Georgia to drive home how whaling has decimated stocks which are slowly rebuilding.

All the storyteller tools are deployed: slow-mo, time lapse, aerial, underwater, music and narration.

While a lot of species and backdrops feel familiar to the Attenborough brand, you just never tire of spotlights on animal families and the survival of the jungle ocean.

We are so lucky to have a master storyteller and the technology to bring it to our living rooms.

Seven Worlds, One Planet 7:30pm Wednesday & Thursday on Nine.

4 Responses

  1. Definitely not for young kids or really even “family viewing”. A lot of deaths of cute animals, but excellent work in pointing out climate change effect.

  2. I’ve seen some really great reviews and yours, David, is included. That means I’ll probably be watching then, just giving Bachelorette a rest as it’s now becoming rather repetitive and annoying – might watch that on catch-up if it does turn out to be any good.

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