This is my 2nd review. My first was around 2011, and I had occasion to re-read it & all the others. After doing so, I am back to warn you: a few reviews here (esp. the guy who doled out 3 or 4 stars) are underscored by the same arrogance that gets you killed when you undertake dangerous journeys with the wrong mindset.
To begin with, WATCH the mini-series. I got mine from Amazon. It's a nice box set. I also read Huntford's book, the basis for the screenplay-and it lambasted the British thoroughly for carelessness & arrogance.
This series does not paint Amundsen as a kindly saint, nor does it gloss over his errors. It does show clearly that he was an excellent 'Project Manager', experienced in winter travel and in dealing with dogs. After all, it is cold and snowy in Norway. They deal with pack dogs there. Where in blazes would Scott learn that stuff? It rains all year in England-it doesn't snow much. Anyway, he was a ship captain, not a professional explorer. And, as it is shown, his seafaring record was not unblemished. What he was: a good writer. His diary was a romantic, flattering account of an English gentleman-no doubt, as genial as the Officer who wrote about the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Dashing? Yes.. but 60,000 casualties. Well, with Scott, we only get 5.
Anyway, this non-specific stuff about 'recent evidence' AFTER Huntford's book was written... what could that be? Apparently, it is that the Antarctic was 9 degrees colder than 'normal' on Scott's return trip. Heard it all before-it's not 'new'. Someone is trying to 'snow' you: the Antarctic is always cold (despite the rare mild weather reported in Feb-2020). Amundsen came back briskly, with dogs. His team gained weight on the return trip. Scott's men were on foot, man-hauling their loads, and underfed. The series shows that clearly.
There is no rational reason to rate this series anything under 9, except pure Anglo-Saxon sentimentality. Well, guess what? That's what got Scott killed in the first place.
10/10
To begin with, WATCH the mini-series. I got mine from Amazon. It's a nice box set. I also read Huntford's book, the basis for the screenplay-and it lambasted the British thoroughly for carelessness & arrogance.
This series does not paint Amundsen as a kindly saint, nor does it gloss over his errors. It does show clearly that he was an excellent 'Project Manager', experienced in winter travel and in dealing with dogs. After all, it is cold and snowy in Norway. They deal with pack dogs there. Where in blazes would Scott learn that stuff? It rains all year in England-it doesn't snow much. Anyway, he was a ship captain, not a professional explorer. And, as it is shown, his seafaring record was not unblemished. What he was: a good writer. His diary was a romantic, flattering account of an English gentleman-no doubt, as genial as the Officer who wrote about the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Dashing? Yes.. but 60,000 casualties. Well, with Scott, we only get 5.
Anyway, this non-specific stuff about 'recent evidence' AFTER Huntford's book was written... what could that be? Apparently, it is that the Antarctic was 9 degrees colder than 'normal' on Scott's return trip. Heard it all before-it's not 'new'. Someone is trying to 'snow' you: the Antarctic is always cold (despite the rare mild weather reported in Feb-2020). Amundsen came back briskly, with dogs. His team gained weight on the return trip. Scott's men were on foot, man-hauling their loads, and underfed. The series shows that clearly.
There is no rational reason to rate this series anything under 9, except pure Anglo-Saxon sentimentality. Well, guess what? That's what got Scott killed in the first place.
10/10