Watch Prehistoric Planet

Prehistoric Planet is a new docuseries available on Apple TV Plus that explores the world of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures that lived in and around Earth's oceans 66 million years ago. The show uses state-of-the-art CGI technology to create photorealistic images of the creatures and their habitats. The first episode, titled "Coasts," focuses on the oceanic dinosaurs that roamed the seas during the Cretaceous period.

The star of the episode is the Mosasaurus, one of the largest marine animals of all time. Narrated by the legendary Sir David Attenborough, the show takes viewers on a journey through time to witness the majesty of these creatures. The undersea creatures featured in the show are massive, fluid, and near unmanageable, making for an exciting viewing experience. Anytime Sir Attenborough mentions that the area we're watching is "home to oceanic predators," viewers know they're in for a good time.

The show is not just about the oceanic dinosaurs, as the title suggests. "Coasts" also explores the place where the land meets the sea, showing how the two ecosystems are interconnected. Viewers watch bird-like dinosaurs soar over oceans before taking refuge in trees. The CGI used in the show is a mixed bag, with water dinos proving some of the most challenging to render due to the ocean's waves and the creatures' sheer size.

While Prehistoric Planet promises the "latest paleontology learnings," it is not immune to some of the cliches of the documentary genre. Each vignette is a dramatic epic, with the swelling orchestra serving as a cue for when the tides will change. As Sir Attenborough's narration reminds us, few baby dinos make it through the climactic showdowns, narrowly living on to dino another day.

Despite the trite moments, there are grand cinematic ones as well. Viewers witness a dinosaur emerging from a cloud of dust after a scuffle or ammonites converging in a shoal to mate and bioluminesce. As mature dinosaurs make quick work of baby turtles, viewers can't help but wonder how turtles ever made it to the shore, let alone to our time.

The show breaks down the five episodes into biomes, further divided into brief glimpses of an instructive mini-narrative about the dangers in a dino-eat-dino world. The oceanic predators may be the stars of the show, but the other creatures that lived in and around the coasts during the Cretaceous period also get their time in the spotlight.

Prehistoric Planet is a show that will appeal to dinosaur enthusiasts and anyone who loves nature documentaries. The show's use of CGI technology makes it feel like viewers are traveling back in time to witness these prehistoric creatures in their natural habitats. With Sir David Attenborough's narration guiding us through the various biomes, viewers are treated to a journey through time that is both educational and entertaining. Whether you're a fan of the Jurassic Park movies or the Walking with Dinosaurs series, Prehistoric Planet is a show that is not to be missed.

Prehistoric Planet is a series that ran for 2 seasons (10 episodes) between May 23, 2022 and on Apple TV+