The first episode in the series, 'From Pole to Pole' provides a clear idea of what is to follow: breathtaking views of the planet, touching insights into the lives of animals as mothers nurture their young, gripping scenes of hunt, thrilling escapes, majestic courting, and the cycle of seasons that determines it all. Having seen
Planet Earth II (2016) relatively recently, I cannot help but compare the two. While the later documentary is more technically advanced, it is tinged with regret, showing the devastating effect humankind has had on the planet over the last decades. Planet Earth is a more hopeful work, in comparison - which is all the more troubling, since just nine years passed between the making of the two documentaries. How much ill have we accomplished in that short period of time.
'From Pole to Pole' is a wonderful introduction that can also be treated as a stand-alone story. As per the title, the episode takes us from Antarctica to the Arctic - and then back, through tundra, taiga, rainforests and deserts. We see the rarest cat on Earth (the Amur leopard), follow a herd of elephants, pick sides as a wolf runs after a calf. It is an amazing spectacle, delivered to the screen with great love and effort. And, of course,
David Attenborough could read the telephone book and I would listen; thankfully, he has much more engaging material here.