Secrets of the Whales Review – Captivating, Beautiful, Fascinating
- Details
- Category: Film
- Published on Monday, 19 April 2021 14:19
- Written by Janet Walker
National Geographic and world renown underwater photographer Brian Skerry take viewers on the exciting, magical, enchanted journey into the depth of the world’s oceans on the hunt to capture and photograph these majestic and magnificent underwater mammals.
Executive produced by James Cameron and narrated by Sigourney Weaver Secrets of the Whales is a four-part expedition. Each dynasty is featured with episode one dedicated to the Orca Dynasty, followed, in episode two, by the captivating Humpback Song, in episode three we meet the delightful Beluga’s and their unique Kingdom and finally in episode four the mesmerizing Ocean Giants, the Sperm Whales.
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Our journey begins by introducing viewers to Orca’s. The large black and white mammal is known as killer whales and as we see, they are tamer than their reputation suggests. At least when it comes to photographer Brian Skerry who at one point, after the Orca is successful in his hunt for Manta rays, is offered the half-eaten Orca delicacy.
The four-part series, Secrets of The Whales, provides stunning imagery of these rarely seen creatures and plunges viewers deep within the epicenter of whale culture to experience the extraordinary communication skills and intricate social structures of five different whale species: orcas, humpbacks, belugas, narwhals, and sperm whales.
Given a front row seat, from the safety of our living rooms, Secrets of The Whales takes viewers deep into the world’s oceans, and other bodies of waters, from the frigid waters of the north pole to the balmy waters of the south, on migratory paths to birth, to eat, to meet up in annual reunions.
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We become observers to the culture as each of these species of the deep, go hunting for food. Watching the young sea lions enjoying the beach life, sun, sand, and surf, not knowing the Orca is creeping into the surf, waiting for the precise moment, catching the right wave to grab those who drifted a little too far from the shoreline.
We meet the only pure white mammal, the Beluga, who have the most advanced language of all whales. We understand the migratory patterns of the female humpback’s who travels 3000 miles, fasting, while feeding their young, toward the warm Australian waters.
Foraging for a decent meal, when you are a 40-ton mammal, we see has been perfected by what is called bubble netting. The whales use their sonar, and language which we hear, to force herring or other small fish into a round circle and the humpbacks smack their tales to startle the fish and then scoop large quantities.
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Filmed over three years in 24 locations, throughout this epic journey, we learn that whales are far more complex and more like us than ever imagined. The four-part series provides many documented first’s, beliefs about the species culture, but until now never proven.
Viewers will see for the first-time evidence suggested that Belugas give themselves names while allows groups to keep track of each other and proof that baby belugas share their moms’ call signs. The series also records the first cross-species adoption ever recorded as a Beluga pod adopts a lost narwhal as part of the pod. Also, a first, we see 30,000 humpbacks charging down the coast of Australia towards Antarctica and use breeches to talk to each other.
We see the first-time scientists learn that a baby sperm whale suckles from its mother until they saw this footage, first time ever a sperm whale calf is recorded feeding.
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They mourn the loss of their young, they use the sand and seaweed to scrub away the winter skin, they nurture their young to survive on their own, and pass down traditions within their pods which have kept them alive, and their culture flourishing.
As with any deep dive into the ocean waters, the dangers to its inhabitants which are a direct result of abuse, neglect, and misuse by humans, is also seen. Plastics, netting wires, fish lines, all can cause these majestic creatures to die.
Needing oxygen to breathe, they need to breech the surface and if they are caught, which is also shown, they can die. The National Geographic divers cut a fish line that had entangled an Orca or he would have clearly died.
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National Geographic’s Ocean Issue available in May 2021, will also feature many stunning images of these stately and noble oceanic creatures. The issue will be published online at natgeo.com/planetpossible
An accompanying National geographic specialty book is available for pre-order https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Whales-Brian-Skerry/dp/1426221878
All four episodes of Secrets of the Whales will start streaming on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22nd. See it.
Country: USA.
Runtime: Four Episodes (48-59minutes).
Release Date: April 22, 2021
Producer: Red Rock Films.
Director: Brian Armstrong, Andy Mitchell.
Writer: Brian Armstrong, Andy Mitchell.
Executive Producer: James Cameron, Maria Wilhelm, Brian Armstrong and Shannon Malone-deBenedictis.
Composer: Raphaelle Thibaut
Cast: Sigourney Weaver (narrator), Brian Skerry, (National Geographic Explorer and Photographer).
