User Reviews

I'm not one to normally write reviews but this episode was an absolute masterpiece. Focussing on both the beauty and harsh reality that these animals face, with a plethora of magnificent shots of the landscape and a well-produced, engaging score to accompany it - I am thoroughly excited to see what this series will produce.

'Seven Worlds, One Planet' may not be among master David Attenborough's very finest work. Then again, so much of Attenborough's work is so brilliant in a filmography that is remarkably consistent that the group of favourites would be very large and it would be hard to pick out an absolute favourite of them. With that briefly being said, 'Seven Worlds, One Planet' is still a gem and a must for anybody who's also a fan of documentaries and this great man, one of the highlights of the latter half of 2019 easily.

"Antarctica" is a fantastic way to start things off. It has every single one of the great qualities of Attenborough's work, and is one of the darker and more unsettling episodes of the seven making up 'Seven Worlds, One Planet'. That is not meant in a bad way, and it also doesn't matter as to whether any of the material is new or not. What matters is whether one can see any degree of effort and whether one connects with the material, the effort is obvious in every aspect throughout and there is nothing cold about the material throughout.

Visually, there are no complaints whatsoever. Antarctica looks both beautiful and unforgiving, appropriate considering that Antarctica is the most hostile of all seven continents, and the photography is dazzling and remarkably vivid when capturing the severe gales. One of the series' most striking shots is the above shot of the humpback whales' spirals of bubbles when feeding. The music is grandiose without being over-powering and add a lot to the emotional scenes.

Unexpectedly, the narration is hugely informative and always engages. Other episodes of 'Seven Worlds, One Planet' made me ponder more on the issues raised, but what is raised here pulled no punches and whether anybody finds it heavy-handed depends on the viewer. Personally didn't and that all the issues in all the episodes raised are worth addressing and have needed to be in a while, the closest "Antarctica" got being with the albatross chick. The animals are a good mix of prey and predator and worth rooting for (the penguins' trek across the ice being a prime example). It doesn't matter that this is the episode that has the highest number of familiar animals featured, do think that it was right that at least one episode had a reasonable amount of familiar content so that it didn't go over people's heads too much and lose them too soon.

There are many memorable moments here, including the darkest and most unnerving sequence of the series perhaps. That of the weddell seal (boasting one of the series' most effective little details in their call), though the sight of the gales and the extraordinarily tense one with the elephant seals are close behind. It is, and this is true of all of the other six episodes, so much more than just cute animals in beautiful habitats. It actually pulls no punches and has a few of the series' most tense moments in the cruellest of all the seven continents, so it is one of the most uncompromising episodes strictly speaking.

Cannot praise Attenborough himself enough. He delivers the information so sincerely and enthusiastically, without talking down, and he is easily in the top 10 of voices that one can listen to for hours tirelessly.

In conclusion, what a way to start. 10/10

Hans Zimmer score elevates the experience to a different level of awe. I salute the crew for their oustanding efforts to bring this vivid images. This is simply a work of art

I had to quit watching halfway through the episode. I can already tell this is going to be a fascinating, but depressing series.