"Love" was an excellent start to a fascinating and extremely well done nature documentary series that is a refreshing change if one wants to see something other than David Attenborough. It was really interesting seeing all the different ways animals behave when in love and in ways not often seen before and certainly not this up close. Which is why 'Spy in the Wild' is as fascinating as it is. So understandably hopes would be high for the second episode "Intelligence".
Which certainly did not disappoint to me and is much more engaging than how it sounds on paper, as on paper to me it sounded a bit mundane. It is every bit as great as the previous installment if falling short of being even better. It takes on a different subject than to "Love". This time "Intelligence" shows various animals and their methods of intelligence, as one can tell from the title of the episode. It is amazing too at how remarkably human some of these methods are, as some of the skills are what one would often see in human life.
It was, as said already, very interesting in "Intelligence" to see how the various animals depicted here show more human skills and more resourcefulness. And so intimately so. More so than a vast majority of episodes in 'Spy in the Wild'. Some of the behaviours and methods are remarkably creative when the animals show their intelligence, a bit standout being Spy Orangutan and her real-life counterparts that show very human skills that one does not expect. Seeing orangutans developing skills in sawing wood in so close up a way was a first to me and made my jaw drop.
As far as the spy animals go, again they are well used and not too much of a gimmick. Again, the way they look (and this was true of the whole of 'Spy in the Wild') varies, with Spy Termite coming off best with its unobtrusiveness being effectively handled. Less successful is the more obvious and stiff Spy Orangutan. It wasn't just the sawing wood that shocked in a good way, the methods the squirrel used defending their food from sea otters were pretty ingenious.
Once again, "Intelligence" is beautifully filmed, Borneo too looks wonderful as well as the rest of the sceneries, and the intimacy doesn't feel too claustrophobic. It is very clever too at times, particularly in the drogo and meerkat battle that was one of the examples of scenes that one is amazed at how it was caught on film. The music may not be as tonally varied as before, but it doesn't seem to jar at least and isn't too jaunty or intrusive.
The narration entertains and educates, holding one's attention the entire time, and while more understated and not quite as playful this time (not a problem at all, just an observation) David Tennant's delivery of it is never too dramatic and is always engaging and as intelligent as the animals themselves. Every episode of 'Spy in the Wild' has at least one good scene, "Intelligence" is no exception. In this case, the drogo and meerkat battle is the episode high point and one of the highlights of the whole series.
Concluding, excellent again. 9/10
Which certainly did not disappoint to me and is much more engaging than how it sounds on paper, as on paper to me it sounded a bit mundane. It is every bit as great as the previous installment if falling short of being even better. It takes on a different subject than to "Love". This time "Intelligence" shows various animals and their methods of intelligence, as one can tell from the title of the episode. It is amazing too at how remarkably human some of these methods are, as some of the skills are what one would often see in human life.
It was, as said already, very interesting in "Intelligence" to see how the various animals depicted here show more human skills and more resourcefulness. And so intimately so. More so than a vast majority of episodes in 'Spy in the Wild'. Some of the behaviours and methods are remarkably creative when the animals show their intelligence, a bit standout being Spy Orangutan and her real-life counterparts that show very human skills that one does not expect. Seeing orangutans developing skills in sawing wood in so close up a way was a first to me and made my jaw drop.
As far as the spy animals go, again they are well used and not too much of a gimmick. Again, the way they look (and this was true of the whole of 'Spy in the Wild') varies, with Spy Termite coming off best with its unobtrusiveness being effectively handled. Less successful is the more obvious and stiff Spy Orangutan. It wasn't just the sawing wood that shocked in a good way, the methods the squirrel used defending their food from sea otters were pretty ingenious.
Once again, "Intelligence" is beautifully filmed, Borneo too looks wonderful as well as the rest of the sceneries, and the intimacy doesn't feel too claustrophobic. It is very clever too at times, particularly in the drogo and meerkat battle that was one of the examples of scenes that one is amazed at how it was caught on film. The music may not be as tonally varied as before, but it doesn't seem to jar at least and isn't too jaunty or intrusive.
The narration entertains and educates, holding one's attention the entire time, and while more understated and not quite as playful this time (not a problem at all, just an observation) David Tennant's delivery of it is never too dramatic and is always engaging and as intelligent as the animals themselves. Every episode of 'Spy in the Wild' has at least one good scene, "Intelligence" is no exception. In this case, the drogo and meerkat battle is the episode high point and one of the highlights of the whole series.
Concluding, excellent again. 9/10
