Planet Earth: Blue Planet II
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Stunning nature documentary is excellent watch-together TV.
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Planet Earth: Blue Planet II
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What's the Story?
In PLANET EARTH: BLUE PLANET II, British naturalist David Attenborough takes viewers on more stunning tours of the world's oceans. Using high-definition video captured from more than 6,000 hours of dives over a four-year period, the show is evidence of the expansive oceans' immense diversity and delicate ecosystems that harbor species ranging from beautiful and graceful to downright bizarre. Set to a score by Hans Zimmer, Attenborough's latest series aims to teach viewers about the ocean world and to encourage mindfulness about conservation practices to protect it.
Is It Any Good?
This sweeping series is a beautiful watch and an awe-inspiring educational tool for families. Seventeen years after Attenborough's first Blue Planet, installment two benefits from cutting-edge videography and production value as well as Zimmer's musical talents. From drone footage of dolphins and whales hunting together en masse to slow-motion footage of cascading waves so sharp you can make out individual water droplets, Blue Planet II eclipses its predecessor in sheer beauty even as it brings viewers closer than ever to some of the most clandestine ecosystems on Earth.
Beyond its mesmerizing visual appeal, Blue Planet II's impressive educational content has vast cross-generational appeal, making it an excellent pick for families. Kids and adults alike will love seeing the world's beautiful, graceful, skilled, and yes, downright odd species at work and play in their natural environments, and so much can be learned from the experience. And with Attenborough circling back to the topic of environmental protection numerous times in each episode, there's something to think about after the show's end as well.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about climate change and the oceans. Did you learn anything new from Planet Earth: Blue Planet II? How has human influence had a negative impact on the health of the planet's water? How does this affect different species? Do you think things are changing for the better now that this issue is more prominent? What can you do to make a positive change?
What unique characteristics do different species have to help them survive their respective environments? Could this also be said of the human species? As we learn more about our animal counterparts, are there cases in which they come to seem more human than we originally thought?
What advances in science and technology make series like this one possible? What further improvements will we need if we're to learn even more about the ocean's most remote places? What benefit is there to us to do so? How does curiosity drive new discoveries?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 21, 2018
- Cast: David Attenborough
- Network: BBC America
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: Ocean Creatures, Science and Nature, Wild Animals
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: September 21, 2019
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