Humans are changing our planet so rapidly, it's affecting earth's life support systems: our weather, our oceans and the living world.Humans are changing our planet so rapidly, it's affecting earth's life support systems: our weather, our oceans and the living world.Humans are changing our planet so rapidly, it's affecting earth's life support systems: our weather, our oceans and the living world.
Photos
- Self - Marine Biologist
- (as Dr Asha De Vos)
- …
- Self - Biologist
- (as Dr Niall McCann)
- …
- Self
- (uncredited)
- Self
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- Quotes
[Opening lines]
Self - Narrator: A perfect planet. Life flourishes on planet Earth thanks to powerful natural forces. The weather gives us predictable patterns of rainfall. Sunlight delivers energy to all parts of planet Earth's surface. Ocean currents carry nutrients around the globe. Volcanoes create and fertilize the land. Together, these forces have helped shape our living planet. But it's a fragile system. This baby elephant is dying of thirst. The latest casualty of our changing world. Luckily, rescuers have found him, so he has a chance. This young animal is likely a victim of a new force, one so powerful it threatens the future of life on Earth.
[Title card HUMANS appears]
- ConnectionsFeatured in Jeremy Vine: Episode #4.19 (2021)
"Humans" is a very good final episode, if my least favourite of the series. Then again, human-centric episodes of all of Attenborough's work (and nature documentaries in general) has always tended to be not as great as the rest of what comes before it. It is fascinating and emotionally impactful, though do prefer seeing more emphasis on animals and their behaviours and struggles. It is also the episode where the preachiness criticisms of the series is halfway understandable, as what "Humans" has to say could have done with more subtlety.
Like all the previous four episodes, "Humans" looks great. One can always count on the photography to be beautiful and the scenery nicely varied, suitably cruel and uncompromising, and "Humans" doesn't disappoint. The music doesn't come over as too constant or melodramatic, easy to do with the serious tone.
Attenborough delivers the narration, as ever educational and accessible, with his usual authority and honesty. "Humans" is a powerful episode that made me think hard without trying too hard. It is by far the bleakest of 'A Perfect Planet's' five episodes, even bleaker than "Weather", and it is also the episode where the subject of climate change is most emphasised (more so than "Oceans").
What "Humans" has to say about this aspect is fascinating and devastating, that is incredibly effective at making me more aware of this very important to address and relevant issue. Was aware that it was a major issue, but not so much that it had gotten that bad and is enough to make one act upon making things better.
Unlike "Oceans", there are times where the subject is handled a little too much on the laying it thick side. Evident from the more sombre than usual tone and Attenborough's stern, grave delivery when delivering the information. It takes itself a little too seriously too.
Overall, very good final episode but not as wonderful as the previous four instalments. 8/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jun 21, 2021