So this series was bound to be controversial right from the premise. This show deals with various topics I have researched myself, such as NDEs, ADCs, Verified Reincarnation cases, Deathbed Visions etc. But unfortunately the documentary also focuses to heavily on more dubious 'evidence', such as mediumship and ghost hunting which is difficult to take seriously. There is skepticism (no idea why some are claiming there isn't unless they simply weren't paying attention), just not self-identified skeptics. But despite this, the skepticism isn't consistent throughout. Overall, the only episodes I'd recommend are the first, fourth, fifth and sixth, but even the fourth and fifth ones aren't as well-researched or presented as they could have been.
But what baffles me more are some of the ignorant and blatantly biased reviews from people on here who a) aren't familiar with these more legitimate topics yet fancy themselves scientific experts and b) haven't watched MOST of the documentary, let alone all of it! Giving the entire documentary 1 star after only watching two of the SIX episodes seems a bit flawed to me, especially when you can't actually give a proper explanation of why the ENTIRE series warrants 1 star.
However, I simply cannot rate this higher than I have due to the glaring flaws in the content and execution.
When watching the series, keep these things in mind:
1. Don't pretend that there aren't legitimate scientists and doctors involved in at least the first episode who are seen as experts in their fields. Just because they have conclusions and beliefs that don't agree with yours, doesn't mean you can dismiss them. Their involvement in this series shouldn't taint their reputations because of fallicious 'guilt by association' thinking. And no, they aren't 'pseudoscientists', especially when you look into their backgrounds and realise some of them actually started out as total skeptics of stuff like NDEs and Deathbed Visions. In fact, one of them has even contributed to more skeptical literature at times, and another criticises the use of past life regression therapy.
2. Yes, there ARE skeptical points raised. Albeit briefly, which was a bit of a drawback. If more focus was given on these refutations, then perhaps more people would have payed attention to when, in the NDE episode, they give examples of WHY it isn't just 'drugs in the brain' or hypoxia/anoxia. Just because there aren't self-identified 'skeptics' doesn't mean there isn't skepticism.
3. This series evidently isn't designed to be comprehensive and so should encourage further research into the topics that are the focus of the best episodes (which most agree are the ones on NDEs and Reincarnation). There are many more doctors and scientists interested in these studies than just the ones featured in this documentary, most of whom are well-aware of the skepticism, such as the overblown and SPECULATIVE DMT theory, which has at the time of writing this review has not been proven at all and has been grossly exaggerated as 'scientific'. You can find plenty articles explaining why.
Regardless of what some skeptical scientists who have barely looked into the topic or done any studies of their own say-in contrast to those who HAVE studied them for many years and some of whom are featured in this documentary-SOME of these phenomena are/have not so easily 'debunked'. Take some time to do more research before jumping to conclusions and consider that both the supernatural and neurological explanations can be flawed. And really? Borderline slanderous accusations that some of these people or academics who have had experiences or have studied them in-depth are just 'in denial' or 'liars'? Really? I can see that for the mediumship and ghost hunting stuff of course, but there comes a point where it sounds more like conspiracy thinking when, for example, hundreds of thousands if not millions of people are estimated to have NDEs.
Ignoring the shady and even laughable stuff on mediumship and ghost hunting, and the documentary is at least decent. There's some pretty good editing and recreations in here of testimonies or personal accounts for example. It can be a bit cheesy at times, but not too bad. The less scientific content does NOT invalidate the rest of the more scientific content in this series however. I do hope viewers will be smart enough to, when coming away disappointed, at least recognise that you can't dismiss absolutely everything in this documentary when clearly more effort was put into some episodes than others.
If you're a militant atheist who has already made up their mind and already knows what to expect. then this won't convince you so don't bother. And don't, for the love of God (no pun intended), just rate this low because it contradicts your beliefs. This series feels inconsistent in effort in trying to give a more balanced take. It didn't need to include mediums and ghost-hunting lumped in with more credible experiences, because then how can someone new to this be expected to take it seriously?
Does this documentary provide definitive evidence or hard proof? No, of course it doesn't. This is actually admitted a few times, including in the first episode. But it should have treated this subject with greater caution, even if they weren't (according to the director) necessarily trying to win people over or change their beliefs completely.
Edit: And people continue to prove my point. For example: no, they do NOT say a flat ECG means brain death. They say how the brain is 'not functioning' in these states, which does NOT mean total brain death.
But what baffles me more are some of the ignorant and blatantly biased reviews from people on here who a) aren't familiar with these more legitimate topics yet fancy themselves scientific experts and b) haven't watched MOST of the documentary, let alone all of it! Giving the entire documentary 1 star after only watching two of the SIX episodes seems a bit flawed to me, especially when you can't actually give a proper explanation of why the ENTIRE series warrants 1 star.
However, I simply cannot rate this higher than I have due to the glaring flaws in the content and execution.
When watching the series, keep these things in mind:
1. Don't pretend that there aren't legitimate scientists and doctors involved in at least the first episode who are seen as experts in their fields. Just because they have conclusions and beliefs that don't agree with yours, doesn't mean you can dismiss them. Their involvement in this series shouldn't taint their reputations because of fallicious 'guilt by association' thinking. And no, they aren't 'pseudoscientists', especially when you look into their backgrounds and realise some of them actually started out as total skeptics of stuff like NDEs and Deathbed Visions. In fact, one of them has even contributed to more skeptical literature at times, and another criticises the use of past life regression therapy.
2. Yes, there ARE skeptical points raised. Albeit briefly, which was a bit of a drawback. If more focus was given on these refutations, then perhaps more people would have payed attention to when, in the NDE episode, they give examples of WHY it isn't just 'drugs in the brain' or hypoxia/anoxia. Just because there aren't self-identified 'skeptics' doesn't mean there isn't skepticism.
3. This series evidently isn't designed to be comprehensive and so should encourage further research into the topics that are the focus of the best episodes (which most agree are the ones on NDEs and Reincarnation). There are many more doctors and scientists interested in these studies than just the ones featured in this documentary, most of whom are well-aware of the skepticism, such as the overblown and SPECULATIVE DMT theory, which has at the time of writing this review has not been proven at all and has been grossly exaggerated as 'scientific'. You can find plenty articles explaining why.
Regardless of what some skeptical scientists who have barely looked into the topic or done any studies of their own say-in contrast to those who HAVE studied them for many years and some of whom are featured in this documentary-SOME of these phenomena are/have not so easily 'debunked'. Take some time to do more research before jumping to conclusions and consider that both the supernatural and neurological explanations can be flawed. And really? Borderline slanderous accusations that some of these people or academics who have had experiences or have studied them in-depth are just 'in denial' or 'liars'? Really? I can see that for the mediumship and ghost hunting stuff of course, but there comes a point where it sounds more like conspiracy thinking when, for example, hundreds of thousands if not millions of people are estimated to have NDEs.
Ignoring the shady and even laughable stuff on mediumship and ghost hunting, and the documentary is at least decent. There's some pretty good editing and recreations in here of testimonies or personal accounts for example. It can be a bit cheesy at times, but not too bad. The less scientific content does NOT invalidate the rest of the more scientific content in this series however. I do hope viewers will be smart enough to, when coming away disappointed, at least recognise that you can't dismiss absolutely everything in this documentary when clearly more effort was put into some episodes than others.
If you're a militant atheist who has already made up their mind and already knows what to expect. then this won't convince you so don't bother. And don't, for the love of God (no pun intended), just rate this low because it contradicts your beliefs. This series feels inconsistent in effort in trying to give a more balanced take. It didn't need to include mediums and ghost-hunting lumped in with more credible experiences, because then how can someone new to this be expected to take it seriously?
Does this documentary provide definitive evidence or hard proof? No, of course it doesn't. This is actually admitted a few times, including in the first episode. But it should have treated this subject with greater caution, even if they weren't (according to the director) necessarily trying to win people over or change their beliefs completely.
Edit: And people continue to prove my point. For example: no, they do NOT say a flat ECG means brain death. They say how the brain is 'not functioning' in these states, which does NOT mean total brain death.