i started watching Life in the Undergrowth and decided i’m going to make copies of the series and give them out to friends. i feel i need to spread the gospel of David Attenborough/Alastair Fothergill nature documentaries cuz i think i love them as much as i love beer (exhibit a exhibit b). Life in the Undergrowth is better than Planet Earth (which is still amazing) and just as good as the Blue Planet. they make the most ethereal and original nature documentaries ever. i’m always shocked at how they can record wildlife so intimately mimicking human behavior. not to mention there is humor and a perverse tone always, i think i counted 9 times where Attenborough said sperm in the first episode alone. slug sex is really disturbing. there is even a scene where 2 scorpions engage in a western kind of dual complete with faux ennio morricone music standing face to face a few inches apart and they can’t decided whether they should sting each other to death with venom or make a scorpion baby together. it’s brilliant. the writers, the music, narration, editing & photography are top shelf. did you know that some snails have mouths where their stomach is supposed to be? also there were some prickly centipedes that were so cute with their different colored stumpy legs, it reminded me of something from Spirited Away until they devoured their prey in slimy the blob style horror. what i like about this particular series compared to the other two is that Attenborough is narrating on location instead of from the studio so you can see him touch 3 foot long centipedes or hold a pinhead to a mite. he also walks amongst a plain of termite hills which is seriously not of this world.

i’m a total nature show junkie and i’m still amazed at how much more i keep learning about nature’s idiosyncrasies. It’s gonna suck when David Attenborough retires. i can’t believe he is 80 years old! Before I knew what he looked like, I pictured an elf or jockey narrating.

he rules. you can read up on his great career in wildlife broadcasting here.