Our Living World review: Informative docuseries infused with wit

Narrated by Cate Blanchett, Our Living World depicts the interconnected nature of creatures and ecosystems that sustain life on Earth. The docuseries is now streaming on Netflix.

Story

The four-part documentary series delves into the intricate connections among creatures of all sizes on our planet. 

The first episode explores the interconnectedness of life on Earth, while the second episode examines how the Sun, Moon, and other factors influence the lives of these creatures. 

However, this natural rhythm faces disruption due to human activities, which is addressed in the third episode. It highlights the impact of climate change on various life forms.

Despite these challenges, the fourth episode offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that nature still has the capacity to save humanity—if only we are willing to give it a chance.

Positives

Apart from the suspenseful hunting sequences commonly found in nature documentaries, Our Living World also features plenty of amusing moments, such as banana fiddler crabs enticing mates. 

The series captures adorable moments in the wild, such as a baby ape learning from its family, among others, which adds to its charm.

The docuseries adeptly combines these sequences with interesting and unique facts about life and its interconnectedness on the planet. 

It depicts how even the smallest actions of a species, seemingly of little value, contribute to the intricate network that sustains life, making every action meaningful.

It is not just the wonders of nature that keep the audience invested; the dialogue is also witty. It adds to the onscreen imagery and often draws laughter from the audience.

Cate Blanchett’s narration skillfully delivers the humor. Her voice is a constant presence, but it never detracts from the onscreen events.

The docuseries also boasts stunning visuals that keep the audience invested, offering detailed observations, both familiar and unfamiliar, of various species in their natural habitats.

Negatives

Our Living World is not devoid of clichés commonly seen in every nature documentary. After a point, the novelty of predator-prey chases and territorial fights with new rivals wears off, as there are too many of them. 

Additionally, while at times the music compliments the scenes onscreen, there are also times when it is a little too distracting.

Verdict

Our Living World offers a unique and engaging exploration of the planet’s natural networks, but it does so in an entertaining fashion.

It highlights the alarming impact of human activities on the planet’s ecosystem while also instilling hope that nature can still heal if given the chance.

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