"Life," the Latest Series from the Creators of "Planet Earth," Debuts This Sunday at 8pm

Tune in this Sunday, March 21, at 8pm on the Discovery Channel in the US for the premiere of Life, a brand-new documentary miniseries by the team behind Planet Earth. Make sure to set your DVRs!

In 2006, viewers were captivated by Planet Earth, a collaborative effort between the BBC and Discovery Channel that became the most costly nature documentary ever produced by the BBC and the first filmed entirely in high definition. This groundbreaking series, the result of four years of meticulous filming, offered stunning visuals and engaging storytelling, leaving a lasting impression across its eleven episodes. Now, the same team returns with Life, a series that aims to surpass its predecessor — and it certainly does. With 70 camera operators filming across 50 countries, the scale is immense. Check out the trailer:

Let me take a moment to explain how I approach reviewing documentaries as a blogger. Media outlets, such as PBS and various science-focused cable channels, send me their upcoming schedules, and I select programs that might appeal to the mental_floss audience. I request screeners, typically DVDs (often not the final versions), which arrive with a brief information packet or a link to promotional material. After watching, if I find the content worthwhile, I write about it. Admittedly, much of the material doesn’t make the cut, but when it does, I share my thoughts right here.

So, I was genuinely surprised when I received the press kit for Life. Typically, a documentary press kit includes a DVD (sometimes two for multi-part series) with a handwritten label and a few photocopied press sheets, all marked as "for press review only." However, the Life

press kit was extraordinary: a massive coffee-table book with an embedded video player — complete with speakers — and screeners available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats. (You can see a video of the kit here.) Initially, I was skeptical, thinking the elaborate packaging might indicate either a lackluster film in need of heavy promotion or an exceptional one that Discovery was eager to showcase. Thankfully, it’s the latter. After watching five hours of the series (including some in Blu-ray), I can confidently say it’s breathtaking and very much in the spirit of Planet Earth. Without a doubt, this is the finest nature documentary of the year. The press kit reflects the same dedication to innovation and quality that defined the making of Life, much like its predecessor.

The Good News

All the standout features of Planet Earth make a triumphant return: breathtaking photography, full high-definition visuals, extensive use of slow-motion (reportedly up to 2,000fps, as mentioned in producer interviews), impeccable editing, and each episode introduces fascinating creatures you’ve likely never encountered, performing extraordinary and often nearly impossible-to-capture actions. I frequently found myself marveling at how certain shots were achieved, but the sheer drama of the on-screen events quickly drew me in. While Planet Earth focused on habitats and the creatures within them, Life shifts the spotlight directly onto the animals themselves, though the underlying theme of adaptation remains central.

In Life, the creators have uncovered a treasure trove of astonishing behaviors — toads that curl into balls and leap off cliffs to escape giant spiders, fish inhabiting subterranean underwater tunnels, komodo dragons preying on water buffalo, and monkeys using tools to crack nuts. It’s nothing short of mesmerizing. Below is a clip from the Reptiles & Amphibians episode, though it doesn’t feature the cliff-jumping toad I mentioned earlier; that remarkable scene appears later in the episode (yes, they discovered two distinct toad species employing unique high-altitude escape strategies).

Another major highlight is the exceptional quality of the HD footage. After watching several episodes on DVD and being impressed, I switched to Blu-ray and was utterly amazed. The high-definition visuals truly elevate the experience, finally justifying that pricey HD cable subscription and high-end television setup.

Additionally, the series is suitable for family viewing, particularly for children mature enough to handle scenes of animals in peril and some mild depictions of natural predation. While there are moments of animal courtship (especially among fish and birds) and plenty of predator-prey interactions, the content remains appropriate for family audiences. The producers masterfully keep viewers on the edge of their seats, constantly questioning which creatures will survive. I won’t spoil the outcomes, but yes, some animals do meet their fate on camera.

The Bad News

Similar to Planet Earth, Life employs different narrators for its Discovery and BBC versions. The BBC edition features the iconic David Attenborough, while the Discovery version is narrated by Oprah Winfrey. (For comparison, Planet Earth used Sigourney Weaver in the US.) This decision sparked significant debate and frustration last time — why not stick to a single narrator for both markets? (And why not make that narrator Attenborough?) Having experienced Planet Earth with both narrators and Life with Winfrey, I can confirm that Attenborough is exceptional, though Winfrey holds her own. While the narrator choice isn’t a dealbreaker, many fans, including myself, prefer to wait for the Attenborough version on Blu-ray before purchasing. (I did this for Planet Earth and intend to do the same for Life.)

My only other minor critique is that some segments feel like standard nature documentary fare — albeit filmed in stunning HD by some of the world’s most skilled cinematographers. It’s difficult to call this a flaw, but after witnessing jaw-dropping scenes of animals performing the unexpected (like dolphins creating a "mud ring" to trap fish), even the merely impressive moments can pale in comparison. That said, every episode I’ve watched so far includes multiple "holy crap" moments, making them thoroughly engaging. My advice: expect a mix of the extraordinary and the simply excellent — the latter being perfect opportunities to grab more snacks.

Summary

Life delivers exactly what it promises: a seamless continuation of Planet Earth in terms of style, content, and quality. Given the breathtaking beauty and immense popularity of Planet Earth, this series offers another eleven hours of top-tier programming. Pair it with your Planet Earth Blu-ray collection, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for an unforgettable weekend.

To further pique your interest, here’s a video featuring the producers highlighting several groundbreaking "firsts" captured in the series:

Life makes its debut this Sunday, March 21, at 8pm on Discovery in the US. The premiere features two episodes airing consecutively, followed by another two-hour block the following week. For the complete schedule, visit the official Life site on Discovery. The series previously aired on the BBC in late 2009, so if you’re curious about specific episodes, you can find detailed information in Wikipedia’s coverage of the BBC version.