Les Secrets des manchots

I am surprised that some of the low ratings that are based solely on the narrator's voice. As a photographer and filmmaker, the images are simply extraordinary, and it is essential to remember that documentary shows of this nature are 90% visual and 10% audio. Perhaps the narrator is not David Attenborough, but to discount the entire show just because of her voice seems unjustified.

Bertie Gregory's work is simply a masterclass. His patience and his range of compositions are without equal, and I remember gasping several times, admiring what he did in the field.

If I had one complaint, it would be the overdone editing at times that creates a narrative that is too cute. But overall, the one-of-a-kind visuals showing our natural world in all its splendor should be celebrated, leaving us with a sense of wonder.

Fascinating show. I really enjoy penguins, and Bertie Gregory does a great job filming them. He captures many playful moments, and goes a little into depth on what multiple months look like for a few different penguins. Particularly emperor penguins and their journey to adulthood.

What brings the show massively down is having to listen to Blake Lively try to narrate it the whole time. Goodness, it is nothing personal, but she's trying to be David Attenborough and just can't do it. Not her fault, but please don't let her narrate any more nature docs. Perhaps she thinks the audience is only 5 year olds that have never seen a penguin. Idk.

I'm also not sure the script was double checked, because episode two has to mention the Earth is getting warmer at least 80 times. Not attempting to start a global warming debate, but relax people I just want to watch some penguins live.

Not sure if this is helpful, but just some thoughts I had. Better narrator with some plot enticing and you're easily looking at 6 or 7/10 instead.

Beautifully filmed account of these amazong birds, while also at times giving some insight into how these programmes are filmed.

Narrating anything, but especially wildlife documentaries, is a skill. This one is let down by a narrator you can hear is trying so hard to be quiet and soft, almost whispering. It doesn't sound natural. Unlike Tom Hanks, for example, in the recent Americas series.

Also, to the reviewers upset at seeing the reality of nature, maybe nature documentaries aren't for you. Stick to cartoons. The camera crew absolutely should NOT interfere in nature. They should just film and observe. The whole point is showing nature in its full, and sometimes heartbreaking, glory. It's not a zoo.

Beautiful footage of many different types of penguins. Yes, some scenes are difficult to watch but it's nature and honest. The section on Rockaronis was pretty interesting, a new species. Once I watch a penguin show, I go down the penguin rabbit hole and need to find more as they're just so fascinating and adorable.

Bertie does a fabulous job and it would have been great to have Bertie narrate the whole thing rather than just bits of him here and there. Blake Lively's reading is oddly paced and bland. Very disappointing as we're subjected to it across the shows. I'd love to watch this again in a bit as it's beautiful and so educational but . . . Her voice. Do better NatGeo!

The penguins are beautiful. Blake Lively's voice is not. She sounds like someone's coworker would when you show them a picture of your baby and they think the baby is demonically ugly but can't say it. So bored. So boring. It was like having to clean your ears in a world where all Q-tips are replaced with sandpaper. I don't care about what she does but I hate her for disgracing these innocent penguin's lives with her horrendous vocals.

Anyways I ended up putting it in a Hungarian dub. I don't speak Hungarian but it's better than Blake Lively's stupid voice. No idea what the Hungarian lady is saying but it's great.