Human Planet
 

It's on Discovery right now.

I loved Planet Earth and Life. I've been looking forward to this.

However, it's narrated by Mike Rowe.

http://trollcats.com/wp-content/uplo...t_trollcat.jpg

I'm doing the Hoarding: Buried Alive thing followed by Sister Wives.

<----just felt like sharing

I try not to miss these events. In HD they're probably the most gorgeous tv shows on right now (actually, not even in HD but HD is incredible).

ETA: This one was controversial because of some of the narration - something about why some of these communities chose to remain insular?

Haven't seen it yet, but often in the process of showing insular communities you expose them to "western" or "modern" ways. It's like a mix between the rule that you can't study something without changing it and the Prime Directive in Star Trek.

Is that perhaps the controversy here? A quick Google doesn't show me anything..

I'm watching it now.

:eek: A whale pulling a boat instantly beats Hoarding and Sister Wives. Bam.

I'm watching the Kennedys, so I'll have to catch Human Planet later.

(I like Mike Rowe.)

I think it was more something about the narrative itself.

Also, I didn't think I'd be so upset about a community hunting whales when they need them to survive.

My guide says there are two new episodes until 10:00 and then they re-aire at 11:00 after Deadliest Catch.

You were upset by that? You Western "civilization" folks sure are judgmental. :p

When I turned to Discovery, I initially thought the boat was riding the whale. I was like WTF. Then I realized they were hunting the whale. Yeah, I know.

I don't know - I'm more upset that these communities need to hunt potentially endangered species to survive and more established communities that don't necessarily need them have hunted them darn near into oblivion for very little gain. Like, this community gets one every few months or so and they survive - they're not the reason some whales are endangered.

However, this community got a sperm whale which is categorized as "vulnerable."

He can hold his breath for up to 5 minutes. I tried the challenge that the narrator proposed. I lost because, even if I could hold my breath for more than 1 minute if absolutely necessary, I'm terrified of uncontrolled large bodies of water and the mere thought damn near gives me a panic attack.

OMG. Holding his breath five minutes at a time.

Well and if you see cetaceans as having some form of sentience it's concerning as well. Privileged to be able to make such distinctions but concerning nonetheless.

Also holy crap waterfall fishing.

The Brothers have arrived. :D It's about to be a big ol' fish fry.

Victoria Falls is terrifying. Yikes.

This is crazy incredible, though. BBC always wins.