Earth's Greatest Spectacles (released in some countries as Seasonal Wonderlands)[1] is a 2016 British nature documentary series created and produced by the BBC, first shown in February 2016 at BBC Two and BBC Two HD. The series takes on stunning seasonal changes based on the three locations where it reveals the dramatic process which occur for each year and showing how wildlife adapts to cope with the changes.
| Earth's Greatest Spectacles | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Seasonal Wonderlands |
| Genre | Nature documentary |
| Narrated by | Domhnall Gleeson |
| Composer | David Mitcham |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 3 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Jo Shinner |
| Producer | Paul Bradshaw |
| Running time | 59 minutes |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | |
| Release | 5 February – 19 February 2016 |
The series was composed by David Mitcham[2][3] and narrated by Domhnall Gleeson.[4]
Broadcast
editBritish television
editEarth's Greatest Spectacles premiered on British television on 5 February 2016, broadcast on BBC Two and BBC Two HD, which consisted of total three episodes.[5]
International
editThe series was set to broadcast internationally on BBC Earth channel. It debuted in Asia on each Wednesday starting from 20 July 2016,[6][7] in Nordic region on each Sunday from 14 August 2016,[8][9][10] and in South Africa aired each Sunday from 13 November 2016.[11][12][13]
The series premiered in Belgium on 24 March 2016 at the Canvas TV[14][15] and in the Netherlands from 17 May 2016 on NPO 2.[16][17]
In Japan, the series aired all three episodes on 30 September 2017 at WOWOW's BBC Earth monthly block.[18]
As for the United States, the first episode - New England, is aired at TPT 2 on 4 November 2017.[19][20]
Episodes
editOur planet is a place of constant change. Each year, the seasons shift and life is transformed. But there are places where the changes are so epic in scale they can be seen from space.
— Domhnall Gleeson's opening narration
| Episode | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "New England" | 5 February 2016[21] | |
|
The decidedly picturesque north-eastern region of the United States, known as New England, makes a gorgeous stage for one of the most formidable colour changes on the planet when the spectacular greens of summer make way for the glittering golds and ravenous reds of autumn. The first episode shows how this fantastic fiesta is generated by the battles between the trees and the forest's inhabitants. Chipmunks, moose, rattlesnakes and an odd mixture of caterpillars all play a vital role; but surprisingly the forest itself was made to be so colourful thanks to a combination of hard work by beavers, ants and humans. | |||
| 2 | "Svalbard" | 12 February 2016[22] | |
|
Norwegian archipelago Svalbard isn’t the most welcoming place, being in the Arctic Circle and spending months in total darkness, but when the sun does deign to deliver some sunlight, it’s almost as if a snowy sheet is whipped away to reveal fantastic fauna, winsome wildlife and spectacular sea creatures. The story uncovers the science behind this astonishing ugly duckling act. | |||
| 3 | "Okavango" | 19 February 2016[23] | |
|
The Okavango Delta is a lush wetland in the middle of the vast, featureless Kalahari Desert. The final episode begins in the dry season six months before the floods arrive, when the waterholes dry up stranding gasping catfish at the mercy of jackals and fish eagles. By April, the first month of the flood, the skies have begun to fill with returning birds and followed by a rich variety of wildlife, learning its unique natural phenomenon governs their life cycles. | |||
References
edit- ^ "BBC - Planet Earth II leads outstdanding factual slate at BBC Worldwide Showcase - Media Centre". BBC Media Centre. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- ^ "News - Earth's Greatest Spectacles". David Mitcham.
- ^ "Projects - Earth's Greatest Spectacles". David Mitcham.
- ^ "Domhnall Gleeson narrates BBC's "Earth's Greatest Spectacles" Series". Domhnall Gleeson.
- ^ "Prepare to be dazzled by Earth's Greatest Spectacles". BT.com. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ "Seasonal Wonderlands (Series preview)". BBC Asia.
- ^ "BBC Earth Asia Channel - New programmes coming in July 2016" (in Chinese). Sina Taiwan. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
- ^ "Earth's Greatest Spectacles (Series preview)". BBC Nordic.
- ^ "TV Guide - 14-08-2016". BBC Nordic.
- ^ "TV Guide - 28-08-2016". BBC Nordic.
- ^ "Seasonal Wonderlands". DStv. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
- ^ "'Seasonal Wonderlands' celebrated in new BBC Earth series". The Luvvie. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- ^ "Seasonal Wonderlands (Series preview)". BBC South Africa.
- ^ "Canvas TV - Seasonal Wonderlands - New England" (in Dutch). tvgids.nl. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- ^ "Canvas TV - Seasonal Wonderlands - Okavango" (in Dutch). tvgids.nl. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
- ^ "NPO 2 - Seasonal Wonderlands - New England" (in Dutch). tvgids.nl. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ "NPO 2 - Seasonal Wonderlands - Okavango" (in Dutch). tvgids.nl. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ "BBC Earth 2017 めぐる季節はワンダーランド (Seasonal Wonderlands)" (in Japanese). WOWOW. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
- ^ "TV Schedule - 04/11/2017". Twin Cities PBS.
- ^ "Seasonal Wonderlands: New England". Twin Cities PBS. 20 September 2017.
- ^ BBC Two - Earth's Greatest Spectacles, New England
- ^ BBC Two - Earth's Greatest Spectacles, Svalbard
- ^ BBC Two - Earth's Greatest Spectacles, Okavango
