I will really try to not let nostalgia blind me as I write this review, and I will try my hardest to ignore how this amazing man, Steve Irwin, had his life cut short by tragedy, but I can honestly say that this show was amazing when it came out.
Crocodile Hunter helped redefine what it meant to be a nature documentary, well before massive hits such as Planet Earth came to be. Mostly because of how daring the main star was onscreen. Steve Irwin was no Survivorman who existed because he wanted to get famous, his love for wildlife came first and foremost, and that is seen through his actions and personality. One really feels a sense of wonder and amazement when he interacts with wildlife especially at times when he could have been killed at any moment. It had an element of realism to it that is not as well observed in modern documentaries that seem to be censored to only showing what should be seen, not what can be. Steve and his wife, Terri, did these things together because they loved their work and they wanted to help make the world a better place by showing the beauty of the world to those who lacked the knowledge and even existence of such beauty, and if one is looking for a show about people who love wildlife, this is it.
Being that this was aimed for younger audiences, it does have a sort of datedness that impacts it's rewatchability but Steve Irwin himself had an amazing legacy and this show is just one of the many testaments to it. It's truly sad to know that he is gone, but he will be well remembered for his honrable service to the conservation community. He may have just been an Australian who loved Crocodiles, but he left his mark and it will be cherished forever.
Crocodile Hunter helped redefine what it meant to be a nature documentary, well before massive hits such as Planet Earth came to be. Mostly because of how daring the main star was onscreen. Steve Irwin was no Survivorman who existed because he wanted to get famous, his love for wildlife came first and foremost, and that is seen through his actions and personality. One really feels a sense of wonder and amazement when he interacts with wildlife especially at times when he could have been killed at any moment. It had an element of realism to it that is not as well observed in modern documentaries that seem to be censored to only showing what should be seen, not what can be. Steve and his wife, Terri, did these things together because they loved their work and they wanted to help make the world a better place by showing the beauty of the world to those who lacked the knowledge and even existence of such beauty, and if one is looking for a show about people who love wildlife, this is it.
Being that this was aimed for younger audiences, it does have a sort of datedness that impacts it's rewatchability but Steve Irwin himself had an amazing legacy and this show is just one of the many testaments to it. It's truly sad to know that he is gone, but he will be well remembered for his honrable service to the conservation community. He may have just been an Australian who loved Crocodiles, but he left his mark and it will be cherished forever.