"South America" had a lot to live up after two truly exceptional previous episodes of 'Seven Worlds, One Planet', one of 2019's biggest jewels. Will admit to not being surprised by that the series was of such high quality, seeing as David Attenborough is such a national treasure and his work spanning decades is so remarkably consistent (ranging between good to brilliant, rare). His best work being documentary milestones, of which 'Seven Worlds, One Planet' is not quite but goodness isn't it close.
Alongside the previous episode "Asia", "South America" is one of the series' most varied episodes and perhaps the most unique of the seven. Being an episode to have at least two rare sights/occurances (incredible ones at that that make such big impact), which is what made it such a fascinating episode as well as a brilliant one. It doesn't matter at all that the locations featured and South America itself are seen a lot in documentaries and not an unfamiliar continent for Attenborough, what matters is that it's well made, one learns a lot and one feels something from what they learn, all three the case with "South America" and the series overall.
The episode can't be faulted visually, the photography being quite breathtaking in sequences like the heart-stopping attempt by a puma mother taking down a guanaco. The landscapes expectedly are really quite gorgeous, the Amazon for example shown in its vivid glory and having not lost its magic (despite being featured in so many documentaries overtime). The music is grandiose without being over-powering and add a lot to the emotional scenes.
It is also well worth seeing for the rare sighting of a hunting mother puma alone, with a story that is the joint closest the series comes to have a very human story (the other episode being "Australia"). Any mother would relate most likely to the puma mother's determination and instinct in the fight for survival, also one is amazed that a scene as shocking as the take down of the guanaco (also rare) was ever filmed in the first place, have found that a lot with Attenborough documentaries.
But of course there are familiar creatures seen too, like the anacondas. Not to mention seeing the ingenious methods of the puma mother hunting and the poison dart frogs' protection of their tadpoles.
No fault can be found with Attenborough's delivery. Sincere, enthusiastic and purposeful, in that wonderfully distinctive never-tiring-of vocal tone of his. Knowing what to say and how to say it.
Overall, beautiful. 10/10
Alongside the previous episode "Asia", "South America" is one of the series' most varied episodes and perhaps the most unique of the seven. Being an episode to have at least two rare sights/occurances (incredible ones at that that make such big impact), which is what made it such a fascinating episode as well as a brilliant one. It doesn't matter at all that the locations featured and South America itself are seen a lot in documentaries and not an unfamiliar continent for Attenborough, what matters is that it's well made, one learns a lot and one feels something from what they learn, all three the case with "South America" and the series overall.
The episode can't be faulted visually, the photography being quite breathtaking in sequences like the heart-stopping attempt by a puma mother taking down a guanaco. The landscapes expectedly are really quite gorgeous, the Amazon for example shown in its vivid glory and having not lost its magic (despite being featured in so many documentaries overtime). The music is grandiose without being over-powering and add a lot to the emotional scenes.
It is also well worth seeing for the rare sighting of a hunting mother puma alone, with a story that is the joint closest the series comes to have a very human story (the other episode being "Australia"). Any mother would relate most likely to the puma mother's determination and instinct in the fight for survival, also one is amazed that a scene as shocking as the take down of the guanaco (also rare) was ever filmed in the first place, have found that a lot with Attenborough documentaries.
But of course there are familiar creatures seen too, like the anacondas. Not to mention seeing the ingenious methods of the puma mother hunting and the poison dart frogs' protection of their tadpoles.
No fault can be found with Attenborough's delivery. Sincere, enthusiastic and purposeful, in that wonderfully distinctive never-tiring-of vocal tone of his. Knowing what to say and how to say it.
Overall, beautiful. 10/10