That is not to say that 'Swarm: Nature's Incredible Invasions' isn't good. It is, very. Saw it with it being one of the twenty two BBC Wildlife Specials, eighteen of these up to 2008 narrated by David Attenborough and the rest from 2009 to 2014 by David Tennant. The latter being where 'Swarm: Nature's Incredible Invasions' falls under.
As far as the BBC Wildlife Specials go, 'Swarm: Nature's Incredible Invasions' is perhaps my least favourite. Again, not because it's bad but because the others illuminated me more, as well as resonated with me more. Also that they focused on animals that were more of interest to me and that they did better jobs at showing more than one sides to the animals in question, were a little more diverse, showed stronger how the animals adapted and their struggles and had scenes that were more memorable.
There is though a lot to like about 'Swarm: Nature's Incredible Invasions', although the first episode is better than the second, being better paced and the content gone into depth more. It looks great, beautiful scenery and for the techniques used (done wrong it could have looked really amateurish) the camera work was fluid and natural, not quite cinematic but intimate and clever making us feel like an invisible presence amongst the swarms.
Music score fits very well, not too grandiose or too inappropriately quirky. It is better than a couple of the Attenborough documentaries (though elsewhere all of those are superior) at not being too intrusive.
'Swarm: Nature's Incredible Invasions' is interesting and does very well at entertaining and teaching, if not quite as well as the rest of the specials at illuminating with them having more of a balance of the familiar and the not so familiar. The animals are diverse and are at points strikingly human, their swarms are sights to behold and with such an intimacy it does make for a few moments that move or makes one squirm. The killer bees especially.
David Tennant's narration is simply splendid. He delivers with enthusiasm and sincerity, making one want to know more while never talking down to the viewer. The series never felt too episodic and there is a real sense of a story being told with a real honesty and animals worth relating to.
Overall, very well done. Just not quite living up to its incredible name. 8/10 Bethany Cox
