The reviews are unanimous in their approval, and they praise the same things. Nearly every critic singles out the photography: the Ultra HD footage, the aerial and drone work, and the closeness the new cameras allow. The chase of marine iguana hatchlings by racer snakes is mentioned more often than any other sequence, usually as the moment a nature programme turns into a thriller. Attenborough’s narration and Hans Zimmer’s score are credited with shaping the footage into drama, and the Cities episode draws particular attention for its treatment of animals living alongside people.
The reservations are few and mild. The Times suggests the series plays favourites among its species. Paste sees the hand of the editors more clearly than most, calling the drama constructed around the footage, and Vulture finds the treatment of climate change understated. Nobody dissents on the pictures. The spread runs from four stars to five, which is about as narrow as a consensus gets.