Top 10 Most Outstanding TV Documentary Series

In an increasingly less literate world, television has gradually become the primary source of knowledge for the masses. For instance, most people now turn to TV networks and cable stations for their news. Cultural critics have long warned against this shift towards relying on the small screen for both information and entertainment. Despite their efforts, the trend has only grown stronger, with TV nearly overshadowing the film industry in the 1950s, and now, along with the internet, it has effectively displaced print media.

However, not all is bleak in the world of television. Amidst a sea of trivial and meaningless content, there have been times when TV has fulfilled its initial promise to educate and inform the masses. Sometimes through government-enforced regulations, and other times thanks to the efforts of a few dedicated individuals who strive to elevate the quality of what is offered.

Thus, the television documentary series was born, and what follows is a list of the ten most remarkable series that have aired over the last four decades.

10. The Body in Question

Jonathan Miller’s History of Medicine, a 13-episode series first aired in 1978 on BBC and PBS stations in the United States. In this groundbreaking series, Miller seamlessly blended captivating visual images with lecture-style presentations to trace the development of medicine while also providing an entertaining explanation of how the human body works. A prime example is the excerpt where Miller’s longtime friend, Dudley Moore, is enlisted to help unravel the mystery of dexterity.

Victory at Sea was one of the earliest television documentary series, and one of the first to focus on World War II. Using previously unseen archival footage from the war, the series illustrated the extended naval struggle that ultimately led to Allied victory—from the Battle of the Atlantic to the island-hopping campaigns in the Pacific. The series became even more unforgettable due to the contribution of composer Richard Rodgers, who composed its stirring theme music.

Ken Burns’ iconic and widely praised series, which helped elevate author Shelby Foote to stardom, with his insightful commentary being one of the most captivating features of each episode. Touching, emotional, and deeply engaging, The Civil War is not only considered Burns’ finest work but also set a new benchmark for historical television documentaries. With David McCullough’s masterful narration and the evocative period music, this series became one of PBS’ most beloved productions.

Jacob Bronowski’s exploration of mankind’s scientific progress from its earliest days, this series was part of the pioneering trio produced for BBC 2 in the late sixties/early seventies, alongside Civilisation and Life on Earth.

This excerpt, though it ends abruptly, is a compelling address delivered at the site of Auschwitz, the infamous Nazi concentration camp.

For the first time in television history, viewers were taken beneath the ocean’s surface, in full color, to explore the depths of the sea and travel the globe to witness marine life. The series sheds light on the delicate balance of our oceans and the life that relies on them. Narration was provided by the iconic Rod Serling (until his untimely death in 1975) with his distinctive, authoritative voice, as well as by Cousteau himself, whose commentary, marked by his signature French accent, became just as iconic. Cousteau’s poetic reflections, reminiscent of the sound within a chambered nautilus, reminded us that he was not only the inventor of the aqualung and a passionate conservationist but also a deeply thoughtful and wise man, skilled in diving, filmmaking, and conveying the awe and reverence he felt for the silent, unexplored world beneath the waves.

Another of the early landmark color documentaries from the BBC, this one sees author Alastair Cooke offering his heartfelt tribute to America, his adopted homeland. In 13 episodes, Cooke explores the history of the United States, from its colonial roots to the cultural upheavals of the 1970s.

Another incomplete clip, unfortunately, the only one I could manage to find.

Through incredible interviews and archival footage, this nearly definitive documentary series captures the entire scope of WWII, beginning with the pre-war days in Germany, Japan, and Italy, and culminating in the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Laurence Olivier’s gently spoken narration imbued each episode with a pervasive sense of tragedy, making the series often feel somber and difficult to endure... yet one might argue this is precisely the way war should be portrayed.

I recall this series from my childhood and adolescence, and it never ceased to haunt me—from the opening theme and montage to the stark footage, all underscored by Olivier’s voice, filled with a certain implied sorrow, which I began to share with each new viewing.

From underwater lakes to close-up shots of sharks and blue whales, to a thrilling descent into the black abyss, this documentary is my top pick among David Attenborough’s explorations of life on Earth. His earlier works include the groundbreaking Life on Earth, followed by notable series like The Life of Mammals, Planet Earth, and of course The Blue Planet—each series boasts stunning cinematography, making it difficult to choose a favorite. What sets The Blue Planet apart is its powerful score, which enhances the sense of epic drama within the oceans.

Carl Sagan’s master work, one might say; the synthesis of ideas he’d presented in his various books up to that point, from The Dragons of Eden to Broca’s Brain. With great depth and yet with the care and elegance of an accomplished teacher, Sagan presents us with the wonder of the cosmos—all that is, or ever was, or ever will be. Similar to Cousteau in his use of occasionally near-poetic prose, Sagan’s program took countless viewers out into the void of space and inwards to the atom, and beyond.

Partly an exploration of the universe, partly an exploration of his philosophies of science and life, and partly a loving tribute to the men of learning and wisdom he admired (most notably Johannes Kepler, who first brought us understanding of how the planets move around the sun, and Eratosthenes, the ancient Greek scientist who first determined the circumference of the earth), Cosmos is one of the most poignant and moving television documentaries ever made—in no small measure due to the lovely musical score and (for the time) excellent computer-animated effects. Like most of the series on this list, it holds up today every bit as powerfully and successfully as when it was first broadcast.

It was truly difficult to choose between this series, the first documentary broadcast on the then-newly created BBC 2, and Cosmos, one of the widest-ranging and most wondrous (and life-affirming) of all these selections… but Kenneth Clark’s Civilisation wins out, for me, not only because of its historical importance (predating all other documentary series on this list with the exception of Victory at Sea) but because of the erudite skill and faith exhibited by its creator-host. Clark’s adeptness before the camera is matched by the unadorned elegance of his words, presenting, with a combination of wit and commanding brilliance, his views on how the art of civilization progressed from the fall of Rome to modern times. His manner is that of the friendly and gentle schoolmaster, and his love for the great heroes of civilization which he admires is plainly evident. His descriptions of the works (and person) of Antoine Watteau, for example, are done with delicate perception and poignancy, and it’s this style of Clark’s, more than anything, for which he became widely and rabidly admired towards the end of his life. Indeed, Civilisation was a wildly popular series (for a documentary) bringing Clark acclaim and attention which he’d never imagined he’d receive. (David Attenborough tells, in the DVD release of the series, of the time when Clark came to America for a public appearance. Experiencing the overwhelming adulation of the crowds of people that flocked to see him, Clark had to escape into a bathroom, where he cried for several minutes).

This program has a remarkable effect on the mind and senses, proven by the fact that my thirteen-year-old daughter, without any prompting from me, will sit and watch it, completely absorbed—not just because of the stunning art, architecture, and music, but also because of the warm, grandfatherly presence of Kenneth Clark. She was deeply moved (albeit briefly) when I told her that he had passed away many years ago. Teachers like him, who are so passionate about knowledge and art, are truly rare.

I strongly encourage anyone with even a passing interest in the history of art or Western Civilization to acquire or rent this series. In my view, its ability to move, inspire, instruct, and fascinate has not diminished in the slightest over the nearly forty years since it was first made.

Contributor: Randall