Ep 1. The Blue Planet

The Blue Planet - Episode 1 of the Blue Planet: Seas of Life series, takes viewers on a remarkable journey through the oceans and highlights why these watery worlds are so important to life on Earth. The episode begins with footage of Earth from space before giving a time-lapse journey through the world's oceans - an incredible visual experience with the use of cutting edge camera technology.

The crew takes us on an exploration of the watery depths and its underwater inhabitants; from open-ocean creatures like blue whales - the largest animal to ever exist; to penguins and sea lions in the rough and unpredictable tides of coastal waters. The documentary feels like an aquatic adventure with stunning visuals and a variety of sea creatures.

Throughout the show, David Attenborough narrates with his well-known smooth style, with his voice matching the calmness of the sea it describes. Attenborough effortlessly imparts his knowledge of these incredible creatures with precision and in-depth detail. The show is educational and entertaining, focused on the beauty of sea life and the importance of preservation.

The episode introduces the viewer to the two different types of oceans; tropical and temperate. In tropical oceans, it's all about the coral with a wide range of creatures, including over 8,000 species of fish, thriving among the coral reefs. One of the most exciting facts shared is that anywhere from 6,000 to 30,000 creatures can live among a single coral head of around two meters in diameter. The stunning color and variety of life on display are enough to mesmerize even those without an affinity for aquatic activities.

The temperate oceans are equally fascinating, encompassing a significant part of the globe where huge underwater kelp forests grow. Here, Attenborough introduces us to sea otters who love to snack on some of the sea creatures that live among the kelp. We meet grey whales, who come to the kelp forests every year in search of food on a migration pattern over 10,000 miles, sometimes traveling for as long as eight months.

The show goes on to shed light on oceanic wildlife with never-before-seen footage of sharks on the hunt, including great whites jumping out of the water to catch seal pups. The Blue Planet also shares that an average of ten people globally, which is surprisingly few given the amount of human oceanic activity, are killed by sharks each year.

The highlight of the episode is the captivating footage of dolphins surfing in the wake of boats, an impressive display of aquatic acrobatics. But in these moments of beauty, The Blue Planet also delivers some sobering messages, depicting how human activity is affecting the oceans and its inhabitants, with overfishing and habitat destruction taking a toll on sea life.

As the episode concludes, Attenborough poignantly reminds us that we are all connected to the ocean, and its health is essential for the world we live in - a valuable and humbling takeaway for viewers.

The Blue Planet - Episode 1: The Blue Planet, is a stunning documentary that is not to be missed. Through stunning visuals and engaging narration, it's an in-depth look at the wonderful and mysterious world that lies just beneath the surface of our planet's vast oceans. It's not only informative and entertaining but also encourages viewers to consider the impact of humanity on this vital ecosystem.