Whale Wisdom
By Joly Herman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Whales show playful intelligence in delightful documentary.
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Whale Wisdom
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What's the Story?
From an orca whale curiously inspecting a manta ray, to a pod of humpbacks singing for hours, WHALE WISDOM spans the globe to follow and befriend different species of whales. Narrated by nature series maestro, David Attenborough, this documentary follows marine biologist Rick Rosenthal, who swims among orcas, steps over elephant seals, and dodges hunting humpbacks to understand more about whales the world over.
Is It Any Good?
This richly rendered, lovingly told, and expertly explored documentary follows whales from Polynesia to Norway. Whereas some nature documentaries strive to create connection, Whale Wisdom doesn't try to force the viewer to love whales. By observing their ability to problem solve, their tenderness and devotion to each other, as well as their sense of play, the viewer is allowed to naturally fall in love with these beautiful oceanic creatures. And by allowing its subjects to shine, the results are both beautiful and awe-inspiring.
Kids will be enthralled by the way that whales work together to solve problems. But they will also love seeing them do things that kids themselves love to do, such as surfing and singing. Parents will enjoy discovering bucket-list destinations -- the easy-going nature of the marine biologists make the locations seem very accessible. But the tenderness and capacity for wisdom that these great creatures are shown to possess is the show's greatest takeaway.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Parents can talk about how the whales and humans work together in Whale Wisdom. In what ways are whales teaching humans about intelligence? How do whales teach humans about play?
Both the whales and the marine biologists in this show exhibit the character strength of curiosity. What are you curious about? Where will it lead you?
Did you find any of the scenes in the show upsetting? If so, which bits?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 16, 2020
- Cast: David Attenborough
- Network: Max
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: Ocean Creatures , Science and Nature
- Character Strengths: Communication , Curiosity , Teamwork
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: May 17, 2023
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