"A new world revealed."
Planet Earth II - Symbolism & Philosophy
Symbols & Motifs
Urban Leopards
The leopards of Mumbai symbolize the blurred lines between wilderness and civilization. They represent the ultimate adaptability of some species, but also the inherent conflict and danger that arises when animal and human worlds collide. Their ghostly presence in the city streets at night serves as a powerful metaphor for nature's persistence in the face of human encroachment.
Featured in the final episode, "Cities," the leopards are shown using eerie night-vision and thermal imaging as they stalk through the urban landscape, hunting pigs and other domestic animals. This sequence highlights one of the most extreme examples of a large predator coexisting, often unseen, alongside a dense human population.
The Iguana Hatchling
The lone iguana hatchling running a gauntlet of racer snakes symbolizes the overwhelming odds stacked against new life and the sheer, desperate will to survive. Its struggle became an iconic representation of the series' focus on intense, personal animal dramas and the brutal realities of the natural world.
In the first episode, "Islands," a newly hatched marine iguana must race across a beach to safety while being hunted by a seemingly endless number of snakes. The sequence, shot and edited like a Hollywood action thriller, became a global phenomenon and is often cited as the most memorable moment of the entire series.
The View from The Shard
David Attenborough's final monologue delivered from the top of The Shard in London symbolizes humanity's dominant, yet disconnected, position over the natural world. Looking down on the sprawling metropolis, he makes it clear that this human-built world is now the most powerful force on the planet, and with that power comes the ultimate responsibility for the future of all life.
This is the closing scene of the final episode, "Cities," and of the series as a whole. It breaks from the purely observational style to deliver a direct, poignant message about conservation and our relationship with nature. It's a call to action, framed by the ultimate symbol of human ingenuity and expansion.
Philosophical Questions
What is humanity's responsibility to the natural world in an increasingly urbanized planet?
This question is the central focus of the final episode, "Cities," and the series' concluding message. Throughout the first five episodes, the series showcases the intricate, self-contained worlds of various habitats. However, the finale shatters this illusion of separation by demonstrating how animal and human lives are increasingly intertwined. By showing both the successes (peregrine falcons) and tragic failures (disoriented turtle hatchlings) of animals in urban environments, the series forces the viewer to confront the consequences of human expansion. Attenborough's final monologue explicitly frames this as an "awesome responsibility," suggesting that as the architects of this new world, we are now its sole custodians.
Is there an ethical line in dramatizing nature for entertainment?
Planet Earth II's cinematic style, with its dramatic musical scores by Hans Zimmer, character-driven narratives, and thrilling editing, raises questions about the representation of 'truth' in nature documentaries. The famous iguana chase is edited like an action movie, designed to elicit maximum suspense and emotional response. While factually accurate, this presentation pushes the genre towards entertainment. The series prompts a debate on whether this dramatization is a necessary tool to engage a mass audience and foster empathy for wildlife, or if it risks misrepresenting animal behavior and creating a spectacle out of real life-or-death struggles.
Core Meaning
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.