Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Nature show features nighttime predators, mating rituals.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Earth at Night in Color
What's the Story?
EARTH AT NIGHT IN COLOR uses groundbreaking technology to film wild animals in the dark. Each episode takes place in a different environment, from the jungle to the forest, and even in big cities. British actor Tom Hiddleston narrates as big cats, bears, birds, and other exotic creatures are filmed throughout their nighttime routines, which include traveling, hunting, looking for mates, and taking care of their families.
Is It Any Good?
A fight between a crocodile and a jaguar should be a marquee event, but it's blocked by water and plant life so that only a vague outline of the tussle can be made out. That's the type of visibility issue that comes up a lot in Earth at Night in Color. The series does all the major things expected from a nature show, but the series is sloppy when it comes to the details. The new filming techniques that can observe wild animals at night are exciting, but they're not yet to the point where all of the action can be seen clearly. The most exciting parts are often obscured, either by the night vision or because the cameramen couldn't get close enough to the action.
Tom Hiddleston sounds like he's doing an impression of someone narrating a nature show, and too much airtime goes to talking about the technology they're using and how it's never been implemented before. As a rule, if Earth at Night in Color were truly as awe-inspiring as the producers make it sound, they wouldn't have to spend so much time bragging about it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about nighttime. Where do some of the episodes take place? What special challenges does nighttime present in that area? How did the featured animals adapt or use nighttime to their advantage?
What do animals do at night that can't be seen in the daytime? What did the filmmakers learn about these animals using the new technology?
Did you have any favorite animals from the show? What did you like about them? What did you see on Earth at Night in Color that you'd never seen before?
TV Details
- Premiere date : December 4, 2020
- Cast : Tom Hiddleston
- Network : Apple TV
- Genre : Educational
- Topics : Animals ( Bugs , Wild Animals ) , STEM
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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