Hiding in Colour

While 2021's 'Life in Colour' is not one of the best or most ground-breaking works of master David Attenborough (incomporable in the nature documentary field)'s consistenty high quality filmography, it is still excellent and it is a shame that it didn't last longer. A long way from being a waste of a great subject matter, that was quite different as far as his filmography goes, and actually manages to do something fresh with material that risks being old hat.

The first episode "Seeing in Colour" was wonderful. This second episode "Hiding in Colour" for me was even better. Although not quite as beautiful visually as "Seeing in Colour", "Hiding in Colour" is a little more informative, animal deception has seldom been this unsettling in nature documentaries in a while, and the information is easier to understand consistently (with there being nothing that was over-complicated, the only complaint had with the previous episode and the polarised light part).

"Hiding in Colour" is wonderful in every way. It is extremely well made visually, as to be expected with anything Attenborough-related. Gorgeous scenery exquisitely photographed, stripes and spots have not looked this vivid in a while, the blue stripes on the blenny almost chillingly so. The music has a nice atmosphere and is nicely varied in emotion, not over-emphasising the more ominous parts when predators are at work.

Narration is easy to understand while never being simplistic and is always educational and well backed up. It was fascinating hearing about how tigers and zebras used their markings to deceive prey or confuse predators, while the blue blenny (not a common finding in nature documentaries) part was particularly educational. Familiar material doesn't feel tired and the mature tone doesn't get too dark.

Even in the hard hitting sequence with the blenny (the closest the series comes to having the uncompromising approach that Attenborough's documentaries are known for). Attenborough delivers with sincerity and sonority, in that wonderful listen to for hours voice he has. The animals are of amazing variety, are beautifully photographed and are rich in colour and personality.

Concluding, wonderful. 10/10.

Once again dazzling photography reveals how creatures use their coloration to hid from enemies or to stalk them. We get to see a Bengal tiger, a cheetah, and a crab spider, camouflage themselves in order to stalk or attract their prey. We also see a bird that lays its eggs in another bird's nests and allows that bird to raise its offspring. Once again, ultraviolet light seen by certain creatures makes them either vulnerable or vice versa. Excellent work.