Planet Earth II

A decade after the original groundbreaking series, Planet Earth II returns to explore the world's most iconic habitats and the extraordinary ways animals survive within them. Narrated by the incomparable Sir David Attenborough, the series utilizes revolutionary technology—including ultra-high definition (4K), advanced camera stabilization, and remote recording—to provide an unprecedentedly intimate and immersive viewing experience. The camera is no longer a passive observer but an active participant, moving with the animals and showing the world from their perspective.

Each of the six episodes focuses on a distinct environment: islands, mountains, jungles, deserts, grasslands, and, for the first time, cities. From the dramatic chase of a baby iguana by a horde of racer snakes to the stealthy prowl of a leopard through the streets of Mumbai, Planet Earth II crafts compelling narratives of struggle, resilience, and adaptation. The series is a powerful testament to the fragility and wonder of the natural world, concluding with a poignant look at the growing challenge of wildlife coexisting with the ever-expanding human domain.

The core message of Planet Earth II is a profound celebration of life's tenacity in the face of immense environmental challenges. The series showcases the incredible, often brutal, ingenuity that animals employ to survive in diverse and demanding habitats. More subtly, particularly in its final episode, it carries a sobering reminder of humanity's ever-growing footprint on the planet. By showing how wildlife adapts to or struggles with urban environments, the series posits that the future of the natural world is inextricably linked to the choices humanity makes. As Attenborough concludes from a London skyscraper, the responsibility for maintaining our connection to nature—for the sake of both wildlife and ourselves—rests entirely in our hands.

While overwhelmingly praised, Planet Earth II did generate critical discussion regarding its presentation of the natural world. One prominent alternative interpretation, voiced by critics like Martin Hughes-Games, is that the series presents a dangerously misleading and overly optimistic view of the planet's health. By focusing on stunning, pristine, and drama-filled scenes in isolated reserves, it creates a 'beautiful, beguiling fantasy world' that largely ignores the ongoing mass extinction crisis and widespread habitat destruction caused by humans. This perspective argues that by lulling audiences into a false sense of security, the series may inadvertently hinder conservation efforts by failing to convey the true urgency of the environmental crisis.

Another point of discussion revolves around the series' cinematic and narrative techniques. Critics and academics have analyzed the show's high degree of dramatization, anthropomorphism, and emotional manipulation through editing and music. While this approach makes for compelling television, it can be interpreted as a step away from objective documentary truth and towards 'infotainment'. The argument is that by framing animal behavior as human-like emotional narratives—love, loss, heroism—the series might be prioritizing entertainment over a more scientifically neutral depiction of wildlife, potentially blurring the lines between observation and storytelling.

Planet Earth II was a monumental success, both critically and commercially, and its impact was felt across television and popular culture. Premiering a decade after its predecessor, it leveraged technological advancements in cinematography—notably 4K resolution, drones, and stabilized gimbals—to create a more immersive, cinematic, and emotionally resonant experience. Critics universally lauded the series as a sublime accomplishment and one of the finest nature documentaries ever made. It received numerous prestigious awards, including BAFTAs and two Primetime Emmy Awards, one for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.

The series had a profound effect on audience engagement. In the UK, it shattered viewership records for a nature documentary, attracting over 12 million viewers for its first episode and becoming a major national event. Significantly, it captivated a large youth audience, a demographic notoriously difficult for factual programming to reach. The "Iguana vs Snakes" sequence became a viral internet sensation, spawning memes and remixes and demonstrating the power of wildlife footage to capture the modern cultural zeitgeist.

The series' greatest legacy may be its subtle but powerful conservationist message. While some critics argued it presented a romanticized 'fantasy world' that downplayed the global extinction crisis, the final "Cities" episode and Attenborough's closing monologue directly addressed the need for humanity to reconnect with nature. This approach, blending breathtaking spectacle with a gentle but firm call to responsibility, influenced subsequent documentaries like Blue Planet II, which took an even stronger stance on environmental issues. Planet Earth II redefined the potential of the nature documentary, proving it could be both blockbuster entertainment and a vital force for raising global consciousness.

Audience reception for Planet Earth II was overwhelmingly positive, bordering on rapturous. On review aggregation sites, it holds exceptionally high scores; for instance, on IMDb, it was briefly the top-rated TV show of all time and as of 2024, remains in the second position. On Metacritic, it holds a score of 95 out of 100 based on user ratings, indicating 'universal acclaim'. Audiences consistently praised the breathtaking, revolutionary cinematography, with many calling it the most visually stunning television they had ever seen. David Attenborough's narration was, as expected, beloved for its warmth, wisdom, and authority, while the epic musical score by Hans Zimmer was frequently cited as a major contributor to the series' emotional impact.

The main points of praise focused on the show's ability to create powerful, emotional connections with the animal subjects through dramatic storytelling. The 'Iguana vs. Snakes' chase from the first episode was a standout moment that generated massive online discussion and was hailed as a television event. The final episode, "Cities," was also highly praised for its novel and thought-provoking focus on the relationship between wildlife and urban environments. Criticism from the general audience was minimal and rare, though some viewers found the depiction of animal hunts and deaths to be intense or upsetting, a testament to the series' raw and unflinching portrayal of survival.