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The Grizzly Man Diaries
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this nature docuseries is far more kid-friendly than the feature-length documentary Grizzly Man. While that complex, provocative film delved into the life (and grisly death) of self-taught naturalist Timothy Treadwell, this series was put together almost exclusively from footage that Treadwell shot during the 13 summers he spent living among wild grizzly bears in Alaska. Animal-loving kids who don't know anything about Treadwell's eventual fate will be enthralled by the show's breathtaking images and Treadwell's ability to cultivate a relationship with the bears. That said, those who are familiar with what happened to Treadwell and his girlfriend may find that the knowledge flavors some of the images with a sense of dark foreboding.
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What's the story?
Timothy Treadwell spent 13 summers living with grizzly bears in the Alaskan wilderness, capturing some of the most amazing footage ever recorded of these noble animals in their native state. Year after year, he would return to the same spots, studying how bears live, hunt, and interact with each other. The self-taught naturalist claimed to have developed a special relationship with his subjects and would often spend time only a few feet from the bears, sometimes touching them and playing with cubs. His powerful footage has been collected into the documentary series THE GRIZZLY MAN DIARIES, which is amazing not only for what it teaches us about bears, but also for what it teaches us about a man who may have loved them a bit too much.
Is it any good?
Though there's no doubt that Treadwell greatly expanded the world's understanding of grizzlies, his lack of formal research training and his unorthodox techniques made him a lightning rod for criticism. Many people warned him that his methods were risky and that his supposed relationship with the bears was one-sided. Sadly, these critiques proved true when Treadwell and his girlfriend were attacked and killed by his beloved bears in October 2003 (a fate that was explored in the documentary Grizzly Man).
But Treadwell's sad end is not the main focus of this series. Rather, it's comprised of his video footage, combined with still photos and diary excerpts. All of these present an amazing understanding of animal behavior; the images, often shot from just a few feet away, are truly incredible. Treadwell was a failed actor and recovering alcoholic, and studying bears and promoting bear conservation became his life's work. And in Grizzly Man Diaries, his words -- either narrating his films or from his diary -- show a man who seems most at home in the woods, alone with his bears.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about Treadwell's research methods. Was he wise, brave, or just foolish to spend so much time so close to wild bears? Parents, if the subject of Treadwell's eventual fate comes up, ask your kids whether they think what happened to him was inevitable. Also, do these amazing nature videos inspire you to be more conscious about wildlife conservation?
TV details
- Premiere date: August 22, 2008
- Cast: Timothy Treadwell
- Network: Animal Planet
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Science and Nature, Wild Animals
- TV rating: TV-G
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