Amazing photography, do not listen to the previous reviews. I love my wildlife documentary's and yes no Sir Attenborough but this is up there with the best.
3 Reviews
Amazing even without Sir Attenborough
stephenchristie15 August 2019
Not so tense invasion
TheLittleSongbird20 July 2020
Was rather disappointed in the first two episodes of 'Serengeti', "Destiny" and "Conflict". Not because they were terrible, far from it, but because they left me conflicted and frustrated with their sometimes beautiful but too often strange execution. Which is pretty much my general impression of the whole series, am saying that with regret being someone who loves nature documentaries and has done for a long time.
The third episode "Invasion" is a marginal improvement, but don't like it as much as the previous reviewers sadly and respectfully (please don't hate me). Something that was a relief for me, after not being sure as to whether 'Serengeti' had enough to it to be worth sticking with after not being impressed with the previous episodes. The frustrations may still be there so the odd feeling has still not gone, but there are improvements in "Invasion", compared to the previous two episodes, too and more memorable scenes. Including one of the series' highlights which will be come on to later in the review.
"Invasion" does have flaws. The narration is as awkward-sounding, over-dramatised and heavy-handed as it was in the previous two episodes (if not quite as preachy as in especially "Conflict"), and the information presented when the episode isn't being so heavy on the drama is neither interesting or illuminating. Delivered in a very detached manner by John Boyega, seeming to indicate that he knew that the material wasn't any good. One of the biggest criticisms of 'Serengeti' is towards the music, and personally do have to agree. The overuse and over-scoring criticisms are not addressed in "Invasion", they're still there and it can induce nausea.
Like with the previous two episodes, "Invasion" lacks tension and edge, things that are needed for the subjects covered here, and is again too safe. It is one of the series' worst-edited episodes too, it is not always cohesive (it may confuse younger viewers), it can be repetitive and it is very obvious with too many differences in transitions from animal, location and weather in a very short space of time. Out of all the series' six episodes, this problem was at its most obvious most likely in this episode.
A shame because actually the rest of the production values are great. "Invasion" is truly beautifully filmed, intimate yet cinematic-like when necessary, bringing the breath-taking locations and rich colours to vivid life. Loved the animals and related to the emotions they were feeling and the situations they face, especially in the poignant crocodile sequence.
Furthermore, "Invasion" contains two of the best and most brilliant sequences of 'Serengeti' up to this halfway point, and they lift the episode to a higher level than what came before. One of which a series highlight. The standouts in this regard are the sequence with the crocodile and her young and especially the showdown between the lion and the leopard.
Summing up, an improvement and actually one of the better episodes of 'Serengeti' but could have been better still. 6/10
The third episode "Invasion" is a marginal improvement, but don't like it as much as the previous reviewers sadly and respectfully (please don't hate me). Something that was a relief for me, after not being sure as to whether 'Serengeti' had enough to it to be worth sticking with after not being impressed with the previous episodes. The frustrations may still be there so the odd feeling has still not gone, but there are improvements in "Invasion", compared to the previous two episodes, too and more memorable scenes. Including one of the series' highlights which will be come on to later in the review.
"Invasion" does have flaws. The narration is as awkward-sounding, over-dramatised and heavy-handed as it was in the previous two episodes (if not quite as preachy as in especially "Conflict"), and the information presented when the episode isn't being so heavy on the drama is neither interesting or illuminating. Delivered in a very detached manner by John Boyega, seeming to indicate that he knew that the material wasn't any good. One of the biggest criticisms of 'Serengeti' is towards the music, and personally do have to agree. The overuse and over-scoring criticisms are not addressed in "Invasion", they're still there and it can induce nausea.
Like with the previous two episodes, "Invasion" lacks tension and edge, things that are needed for the subjects covered here, and is again too safe. It is one of the series' worst-edited episodes too, it is not always cohesive (it may confuse younger viewers), it can be repetitive and it is very obvious with too many differences in transitions from animal, location and weather in a very short space of time. Out of all the series' six episodes, this problem was at its most obvious most likely in this episode.
A shame because actually the rest of the production values are great. "Invasion" is truly beautifully filmed, intimate yet cinematic-like when necessary, bringing the breath-taking locations and rich colours to vivid life. Loved the animals and related to the emotions they were feeling and the situations they face, especially in the poignant crocodile sequence.
Furthermore, "Invasion" contains two of the best and most brilliant sequences of 'Serengeti' up to this halfway point, and they lift the episode to a higher level than what came before. One of which a series highlight. The standouts in this regard are the sequence with the crocodile and her young and especially the showdown between the lion and the leopard.
Summing up, an improvement and actually one of the better episodes of 'Serengeti' but could have been better still. 6/10
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