The first episode of 'Serengeti' "Destiny" was watchable but was very inconsistent and disappointing too. It looked fabulous, the animals were lovely and it had great moments, but the over-dramatisation to talking-down-to and hokey effect, the bland approach to the material and that the target audience was not clear brought things down and were sadly hindrances throughout a vast majority of 'Serengeti', marginally improving in the last two episodes.
"Conflict" is pretty much more of the same, quality-wise that is. In that it has the same good things as "Destiny", but also the same not so good things. So pretty much a prime example of why 'Serengeti' is as relatively difficult to rate and review as it is. If asked whether "Conflict" is better or worse than "Destiny", to me they're neither. Actually put them on the same level generally for the same reasons good and bad, while finding that the conflict is blander here.
By all means, there are things that "Conflict" does very well. looks great on the whole. It is beautifully filmed, intimate in all the appropriate places without being claustrophobic and expansive enough to sweepingly cinematic effect without trying to do too much or be too gimmicky. A big standout in this regard is how the sunlight is captured on film, it's not everybody you see sunlight this spectacular on camera. The editing was problematic in the series, but this is one of the better looking episodes in this regard. Some did not like the animals being humanised, that wasn't a problem for me.
Actually liked the realism and humanity brought to them and it helped make them and their situations easy to root for, something that the series did generally do quite well in. They look amazing (have not seen baboons looking this much so in a long time) are easy to care for here as are their situations. The cheetah cubs are absolutely adorable and there are moments of real heart and charm, like them in the evening sun.
It is a shame that once again the music is intrusive in sound (too loud) and placement (too constant). And also that the narration is even more of a dud, very stilted and preachy. Hard not to cringe at statements such as accepting failure is the hardest part of leadership and patience bringing rewards, things we know already from experiencing it every day in our own lives. John Boyega clearly knew that the writing was bad, because he delivers with very little enthusiasm and with no subtlety.
Furthermore, as far as conflict and tension goes there is far too little of either and it's pretty bland. With the series again going down the too child-friendly and safe route, with too much gloss and cutesiness. All of this brings the episode down badly.
Overall, worth a one time look but doesn't improve on any of the things that made the previous episode so flawed. 5/10
"Conflict" is pretty much more of the same, quality-wise that is. In that it has the same good things as "Destiny", but also the same not so good things. So pretty much a prime example of why 'Serengeti' is as relatively difficult to rate and review as it is. If asked whether "Conflict" is better or worse than "Destiny", to me they're neither. Actually put them on the same level generally for the same reasons good and bad, while finding that the conflict is blander here.
By all means, there are things that "Conflict" does very well. looks great on the whole. It is beautifully filmed, intimate in all the appropriate places without being claustrophobic and expansive enough to sweepingly cinematic effect without trying to do too much or be too gimmicky. A big standout in this regard is how the sunlight is captured on film, it's not everybody you see sunlight this spectacular on camera. The editing was problematic in the series, but this is one of the better looking episodes in this regard. Some did not like the animals being humanised, that wasn't a problem for me.
Actually liked the realism and humanity brought to them and it helped make them and their situations easy to root for, something that the series did generally do quite well in. They look amazing (have not seen baboons looking this much so in a long time) are easy to care for here as are their situations. The cheetah cubs are absolutely adorable and there are moments of real heart and charm, like them in the evening sun.
It is a shame that once again the music is intrusive in sound (too loud) and placement (too constant). And also that the narration is even more of a dud, very stilted and preachy. Hard not to cringe at statements such as accepting failure is the hardest part of leadership and patience bringing rewards, things we know already from experiencing it every day in our own lives. John Boyega clearly knew that the writing was bad, because he delivers with very little enthusiasm and with no subtlety.
Furthermore, as far as conflict and tension goes there is far too little of either and it's pretty bland. With the series again going down the too child-friendly and safe route, with too much gloss and cutesiness. All of this brings the episode down badly.
Overall, worth a one time look but doesn't improve on any of the things that made the previous episode so flawed. 5/10
