Our Living World (2024) User Reviews

Attenborough it is not, but maybe we've been spoiled

[juliadamrow · 7/10 · 22 April 2024]

Started watcvhing this as I love any and all nature docos and learned a few bits. The photography is amazing, I can never help but think of the photographers and camera crew that endure god knows what to give us these visuals!

Carte Blanchet delivers the at times a bit pedestrian narration in an american accent for whatever reason, but it works. The pacing is good if slow at times, but I am not sure who wrote this stuff. At times, the words she was given to read are as out of place as a bandaid in a bathtub (you guessed it, this is an actual quote albeit inexplicably about hippos). It does give credence to how much of an art the narration of David Atrenborough in nature documentaries has been over at least my lifetime. I think this series would appeal to kids and the message "it all hangs together on this plan et" is not lost. So wirth a wathc as the episodes are relatively short.

Well worth a watch

[brummieman · 9/10 · 26 April 2024]

I found the program intensly interesting, a great visual and enlightening display of whats happening in the great outdoors while we sit worrying about what to cook for tea. Its also a welcome change from binge watching some stalker / murder drama on netflix.

The show has its few critics but overall it does a great job in introducing us to the biger picture of our planet and universe and to the lifestyles of many species apart from our own .

I recommed it, its visually satisfying, educational and entertaining. For me it wasnt one to binge watch but an easy filler to pop on at leisure knowing it would be satisfying.

Not for conspiracy theorist

[alfvatsalshah · 10/10 · 8 May 2024]

I cannot imagine people complaining about the science in a nature documentary. While I would say the words used in narration could be a bit quirky but the knowledge and connections that makes this world going is simply undeniable. This tries to explain how everything has a reason and this delicate way of life has been going on for hundreds of millions of years and how it is changing now. Also there are a few good stories of natures persuasive power and how animals and plants are constantly evolving but the accelerated climate change isn't helping. I also loved how some of the shots are taken makes me wonder how much hard work goes into all this!

Quirkiness over Informative

[moxy-94045 · 5/10 · 23 April 2024]

They really said wolves keep the herd moving in arctic. This is just misinformation. Herds move 99% of the time for seeking fresh food. This is the same every single herd animal in the world. Why would they say predators are the sole reason for herd movement? Also, the neverending quirkiness is kind of an insult to your intelligence. A fish turning off his heartbeats with a car alarm beeping sound. A few of these are okay I guess but I feel it's not needed endlessly throughout the show.

Good points: good music score, good camera work. Overall good narration by Cate Blanchett. Not bad for a weekend watch.

Dull compilation of Nature images

[saulyte12 · 4/10 · 22 April 2024]

I had high expectations for this series and was looking forward to premiere. Unfortunately, it was disappointing. I turned it off halfway through the 2nd series. The problem is poor direction and total empty, shool level texts, artificially attached to fantastic images. I would daresay that the script is directionless. It is like a motley patchwork or a lame attempt to imitate the legendary BBC series Planet Earth.

Camerawork is phenomenal, a real gift for nature lovers. In the dark winter evenings, maybe I will enjoy this documentary... without trivial text. Informativeness is important in documentary. It is lacking here. The generic enviromental musings about everything, and nothing, had little to do with the spectacular natural images. Cate Blanshet's monotonous voice and the boring texts put one to sleep. It's all been heard and seen in other similar projects and publications. Climate change and corporations are rapidly destroying nature and eco-activists are fighting for its survival.

Such lyrical films are blinding the public eye and do not tell the whole truth.

Incredibly bad science

[driggs-04721 · 1/10 · 29 April 2024]

Wow, I am astounded by the incredibly bad science in this nature "documentary". Reindeer create ocean currents? Hippo "Dads"? This should be a classic documentary on bad science.

I would rate this as anthropomorphism in its worst form. Why is even considered appropriate for children? Don't we want to promote truth in science instead of this drivel.

I picked this up as a Netflix documentary series. Since I am paying for Netflix, I hope that they provide my monies worth in the future. This was a very disappointing program and I hope to see fewer of this type of trash in the future.

I am not rating the narrator or the cinematography of this series as the vacuous story line outweighs any possible positives.