Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World

This is becoming a pattern with CNN films. I wrote a review of the Abraham Lincoln piece that they did last year: volume level for the soundtrack was so loud you could barely hear the narration. On Patagonia one minute the volume is too loud and the next too soft. And it's not Pedro Pascal's voice. Through an hour-long episode, I must be adjusting the volume 20 times. And I'm not counting the ones when they go to commercial - it blasts the speakers! Of course after the ad, I have to turn it up again. CNN: fire your audio engineers responsible for this incompetence! Do they even listen to the final version that's to be broadcast?

Yes, it is largely about humans, but this is what makes this documentary wonderful. Our species makes a bigger part of the population of the planet and we affect the environment in the most significant and devastating ways. The role of humans in this type of documentary usually centers on how we fail at being a responsible species. While it is definitely true, it was refreshing seeing people who try to reduce the negative effects other individuals had had on the ecosystem of Patagonia. Many stories were quite inspirational, especially from people who "switched sides", like the guy who went from being a hunter to being a protector. Seeing that there are people who try very hard to help the wild nature of Patagonia stay wild gave me hope. This series was just as educational, only in a different way.

I liked the interviews with native scientists and community members. I thought they gave context to the gorgeous footage of the wildlife. Very well done imho.

As for the commercials, you can just DVR it and fast forward thru them. YouTubeTV has seemingly unlimited cloud DVR.

Honestly, I did not enjoy this so-called documentary. It is full of humans. I expected to see the amazing nature of patagonia but instead saw so many people.

After watching the first minutes of the first episode I fast forwarded almost all the episodes.

I've seen a lot of people complaining that there are too many humans featured in this natural documentary. You guys are not watching the show properly. Yes, you have it right. There are humans involved. Lots. Maybe even the main focus. This is because these are stories about how humans interact with raw nature in a completely wild setting. How they live, and die, side by side. Look closer. If you want pretty shots of animals for an hour each episode there is every other Nat Doc that came before this. Fill your boots. This is bold, original storytelling.

Also, it's really damn beautiful to watch. Top job to the people that spent all those painstaking hours to create it.