Frozen Planet is by far the best show currently on TV. In a world of celebrities and reality shows, it’s a refreshing change from the singing competitions and Z-list celebrities that now fill our TV guides.
For those who have not seen the show, it centres around the life of various animals living in the Antarctic and Arctic. With conditions and the climate continually changing, it documents how animals have to adapt in order to survive. Not only that, we get a glimpse of fierce battles between giants, hunting for food and watching babies grow up.
Image Via Guardian.co.uk
While there are many animals featured, I think the stars of the show are the penguins. I can’t get enough of their waddling ways. Adelie, Puffin, Emperor or the ones with little mohicans on their head; the species of penguin doesn’t matter. Watching hundreds, possibly thousands of them marching in unison with their arms out brings a huge smile to my face. I can’t watch without thinking they’re speaking to one another, similar to BBC’s tongue in cheek animal documentary Walk on the Wild Side.
It’s not only the animals that are the stars of the show. Who can forget David Attenborough’s fantastic narration? His well-informed observations add so much to the animals’ behaviour. Every insight leaves me mesmerised. It really gives you a sense of how clever these animals are – especially when it comes to foraging for food. Who knew whales worked as a team to produce a wave to knock a seal off an ice floe and into the water? Only on Frozen Planet would you have found that out.
Capturing the moments and editing the show has to be applauded too. Hours of footage is condensed into an hour segment, leaving us with only the very best footage. The aerial shots are breath-taking, documenting the changing landscapes as the ice comes and goes due to the seasons. Filming underwater we see the full picture of an attack. The slow motion shots are jaw dropping. Every water droplet, ice chip and movement of hair is captured; it’s just a shame I’m not watching it in full HD or in 3D.
The segment towards the end of the show is just as interesting. Animals are no longer the subject of interest as the camera is turned on the crew. We follow their arduous attempts at filming the animals, getting close to the action for that money shot. I’m so jealous as they must have the best jobs in the world.
A fascinating and faraway place is made to come alive straight into our living rooms. Frozen Planet really does bring us closer to a place where most of us will never have the pleasure of travelling to.
Do you agree Frozen Planet is the best TV show currently? What has been your favourite moment so far?
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November 17, 2011
TV