Oceans

Featuring eight one-hour episodes spread over three discs, the BBC series Oceans feels almost as vast as its subject matter as it chronicles the experiences of four “underwater experts” (an explorer, a couple of scientists, and Jacques Cousteau's grandson, environmentalist Philippe Cousteau Jr.) who spend a year traveling the world to the Indian, Atlantic, Arctic, and Southern Oceans, as well as the Sea of Cortez and the Red and Mediterranean seas (skipping the Pacific, the largest of all bodies of water). The expeditions are primarily scientific: we see the team exploring caves and shipwrecks in various locales, investigating the 95 percent reduction of the kelp forests off Tasmania, experiencing the extraordinarily pristine Red Sea near Eritrea (where marine life thrives in water as warm as human blood), diving beneath Arctic ice sheets, and observing stromatolites, the oldest life form on earth, off the Bahamas. Oceans also boasts some wondrous encounters with marine creatures, including Humboldt squid, sperm whales, a sixgill shark, and magnificent manta rays. Unfortunately, however, in trying to heighten the drama, Oceans too often feels like a scripted reality show, with the four principals issuing dire warnings about potential imminent disasters (which we know won't happen) and artificially creating suspense over events (such as a hammerhead shark sighting) that will. With the BBC's own magnificent Planet Earth series setting the bar very high, this is comparatively middling fare, albeit beautifully filmed, making it a strong optional purchase. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Graham)