The Detonators (Discovery Channel)

This intriguing series packs a punch beyond the obvious curiosity factor of watching a 15-story bridge crumble to the ground in seconds. The experts are adept at condensing the details of the massive jobs down to a scale that most viewers will understand, even without prior knowledge of demolition or construction. Lusk and Worsey often visit two similar projects within an episode and compare notes on the blasting blueprints, showing viewers how factors like a structure's age, size, and spatial relation to inhabited areas affect how it's taken down.

At times the show plays out like a well-designed drama, referencing small power struggles among crew members, reiterating uncertainties that could result in dangerous and costly mistakes, and building up to the unpredictable climactic end. Despite that, there's a realism about the series that underscores what viewers will discover about the skills and precision required in the demolition industry. Young kids likely won't be interested in the finer points of the subject matter, but this is a fine choice for families with older children to share. Just don't forget to remind them of the dangers of handling explosives themselves.