Blue Planet

2001 • Discovery Channel

4.7

145 reviews

TV-G

Rating

Eligible

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Season 1 episodes (8)

1 The Blue Planet

9/12/01

The oceans dominate our planet while still remaining largely unexplored and mysterious. Their influence dominates the world's weather systems. They support an enormous range of life, from the largest whales to the smallest plankton, from hordes of sea birds to lonely, deep-sea fish. All this is governed by a complex system of biological and physical forces. This first episode demonstrates the sheer scale, power and complexity of the 'Blue Planet.'

2 The Deep

9/19/01

A place of mountain ranges, perpetual night, pressure extremes, and cold... and the strangest life forms on our planet. A true voyage into the unknown with constant surprises in store. Fish with grotesquely cavernous mouths and cruel teeth lurk one mile below the surface. Any light is living light, and a glow in the dark may be meant to attract the opposite sex, unless it is the deep-sea angler fish who already has her mate conveniently fused to the end of her nose.

3 Open Ocean

9/26/01

A void. Endless blue stretches in every direction. The sea bed is a staggering eight miles deeper down and the nearest island is 500 miles away. There is nothing save the burning sun above and the blackened abyss below. How, then, does life exist?

4 Frozen Seas

10/3/01

Life on the edge of a frozen sea is tough. Pack-ice at both poles is constantly on the move, and in winter freezes solid with air temperatures 70°C below freezing. Only in spring, with the retreating ice and light reaching the water, does life begin again.

5 Seasonal Seas

10/10/01

Shafts of sunlight radiate through a green sea. This blazing light is the vital source of energy used by the countless billions of plankton which grow every spring and summer in the world's temperate sea, the richest of all habitats.

6 Coral Seas

10/17/01

Bathed in warm, clear tropical water and brilliant sunlight, coral reefs are the rainforests of the sea. Surrounded by ocean deserts they are rich oases of life. Spectacular numbers make it necessary to stand out and survive. This competition is highly visible as brightly coloured fish compete for food, territory and mates. But the corals themselves are also dynamic. Incredible time-lapse photography shows the dramatic formation of a coral reef.

7 Tidal Seas

10/24/01

Tides govern marine life. Tidal marshes are one of the most productive parts of the world. Numerous plants support numerous animals, yet life is not easy: predators are attracted to these enormous quantities of food, forcing animals to seek constant protection from attack. Relief comes with the crashing waves, as the tides flow once more. Between the tides, when the sands become depleted of food and air, the worms, clams and shrimps just endure the expected pause.

8 Coasts

10/31/01

The boundary between land and sea is an exciting place, with animals constantly coming and going. From the open oceans, millions of seabirds are forced to come onto land to breed. Sea eagles steal kittiwake chicks from their nesting ledges. Turtles lay their eggs in the sand and marine mammals haul themselves out to fight on the beaches. Sea-lions emerge from the kelp to give birth, while killer whales come crashing in on the surf to snatch the sea lions' young.

About this show

This definitive natural history of the world's oceans covers everything from popular shores and teeming shallows to the mysterious open depths. Two-thirds of the planet is covered by the oceans and yet they remain largely unexplored and certainly under-filmed. This series changes all that and subsequently changes our views of the deep. Advances in underwater photography have opened the doors to unknown territories never before explored.

Ratings and reviews

4.7

145 reviews

Oliver Emmett Knox

July 13, 2021

BBC's Blue Planet is simply jaw-dropping. It is one of the greatest documentaries ever made on the ocean. The cinematography is astounding. This series has a lot of beautiful footage of the most impressive marine environments on Planet Earth. Various organisms such as fish, sharks, marine mammals, crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms and medusa are all shown in this spectacular documentary series. All eight episodes are informative and fascinating, with wonderful cinematography, beautiful and diverse marine environments, incredible marine creatures, engaging music and nearly perfect narration. Polar regions, deep sea, coral reefs, islands, open ocean, and mangrove swamps are all covered in each episode. The subject matter is indeed enthralling and very well written. The visuals are absolutely striking and the background music is absolutely fantastic. David Attenborough does an excellent job as the narrator of this amazing series. Blue Planet is without a doubt the most stunning and amazing documentary series about the ocean that I have ever seen! From the open ocean to tidal pools, coral seas to the deepest darkest part of the ocean itself, the BBC takes the viewer on an almost magical journey through the ocean. Entertaining, and educational at the same time. There are so many wondrous things in the oceans that are worth protecting and that deserve a lot of appreciation from humanity. Highly recommended for anyone who is a fan of BBC's nature documentaries, who has a strong passion for nature and who wants to learn more about the ocean and protect marine life.

Ijahi Terry

January 21, 2015

Love the series. Too bad when i had the chance to get the dvds i didnt. Ugh

11 people found this review helpful

A Google user

November 19, 2018

Its mind blowing how they got the photos on stuff you only wish you had a camra when you see such things

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