Human Planet

Human Planet, one of the BBC/Discovery Channel's grandiose explorations of life on Earth, focuses on how people have made extraordinary adaptations to life in the world's most remote, punishing, and bizarre corners. From jungle tribes living in tree houses as high as office buildings to rainforest fishermen at the top of waterfalls to tundra dwellers traversing frozen rivers, Human Planet tells their remarkable stories in sweeping, hi-def fashion. Beautifully (and improbably) shot by a small team of quick-thinking filmmakers and engineers, the miniseries is arguably the most impressive since Planet Earth revolutionized the nature documentary in 2006. What makes the program so fascinating is the human element. Watching it, one can't help but feel a connection with these people, however distantly related they may be. Sure, there's a bit of guilty voyeurism involved as we watch from our couch, but the series never feels exploitative, especially with epilogues that show the crew interacting with their subjects. Not only do they attempt to immerse themselves in each culture, but collaborate with the people they are filming, often overcoming technical obstacles with the help of locals. This approach is effectively moving, demonstrating the truly unique nature of the human species and its ability to cooperate and adapt.