For reporting and analysis that breaks down the ecological challenges and realities of an evolving climate, New Hampshire Public Radio’s “ Outside/In” is a dependably fascinating collection. A fruitful place to start depends on what you want from a particular show. Pair It With: There is no shortage of nature-focused podcasts in the world. There’s a workmanlike matching of action and delivery that zeroes in on the more practical side of nature just as well as it can the fantastical. After an octopus snatches crabs off a tidepool surface, Pascal explains that this has to happen at least 5 times a day for the fast-growing cephalopod to stay nourished. While some shows are able to wring an incredible amount of drama out of interspecies battles, there’s something almost as effective in recognizing that any particular predator/prey dynamic can easily be an unremarkable fact of daily life, too. The “Animal” approach to underwater showdowns is another way that Pascal makes for a good complement. Watching those prehensile limbs ripple through a small area is just as impressive as any squid spray or outstretched attack pose. The most striking moments - not coincidentally when this footage is allowed to play out in real time, not sliced up like sashimi - come when they’re in confined spaces, for protection either in caves, simple structures of their own making, or found shells on the ocean floor. Luminescent at times and with an ability to color-shift camouflage, there’s so much to take in when these octopuses (the show’s preferred plural) are in motion. It’s just that Pascal’s steadiness here really helps keep all the globe-hopping segments cohesive.Īside from the vocal components here, this octopus episode also benefits from having one of the more visually dynamic subjects in all of nature. It’s not that slightly more enthusiastic narration isn’t welcome (Laura Carmichael’s work on “ A Wild Year on Earth” really is excellent). There’s a ripple of awe and a tinge of danger when predators start circling, but for the most part, this is the kind of narration you want when focusing on creatures who glide gracefully and exacting through the ocean water. Whether or not it’s informed by his other big role where you don’t see his face, there’s a certain even-keeled approach here that lets the animals on screen be the real stars. Instead, Pascal gets to revel in the straightforward majesty of these eight-tentacled marvels.Īlthough, it’s key that Pascal’s narration isn’t marked just by wonder. It helps that this episode largely dispenses with imposing human impulses and psychology on animals. Setting aside the fact that these episode topics seem dictated by previous Netflix algorithm success - If these are the nature-doc counterparts of sorts to “Tiger King,” “Dogs,” and “My Octopus Teacher,” should we be expecting a “Kangaroo Jack” reboot soon? - Pascal’s part in this is a savvy tweak to expectations. ‘El Conde’ Gave Birth to a New Camera and an Ongoing Pablo Larraín-Ed Lachman Collaboration It’s the final chapter on the octopus that’s the standout here, due in part to the contributions of Pedro Pascal. Rashida Jones talks about big cats, Bryan Cranston connects foxes and wolves to household dogs, and Rebel Wilson brings a lighthearted touch to the world of marsupials. For the new Netflix original “Animal,” a different household name helps set the stage for each corner of the animal kingdom. Give the audience a POV of the animal in question? Use some special lenses to show activity at night? Zero in on neon-colored creatures so otherworldly they seem alien? All have been (and probably will remain) viable options for other series.īut as long as you’re using one, picking a narrator can be one of those key choices. Any decision to stray away from the familiar rests on the edge between distracting and distinctive. There’s a well-established nature doc series format.
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