I originally posted this as a reply to a topic in MPISMS, but decided I was cheesed off enough to start a thread here
I heard about the show Supernature on the Discovery Channel, and set aside time to watch it. I knew I was going to be disappointed when the first paragraph in the program tells us that “maybe these birds have discovered the secrets of the Bermuda Triangle.”
Why should a nature show have to resort to Bermuda Triangle references?
Why did they feel the need to constantly mention ‘secret powers’ and ‘hidden forces’?
The biological world is amazing enough in its own right. It doesn’t have to be sold through hyperbole. Secret powers indeed.
More complaints:
–as far as I could tell, most of the nature footage was computer-generated! A nature show with fake animals! I don’t remember ever seeing National Geographic using pretend footage for their specials.
–MTV-style visuals. Quick cuts, rapid-fire editing. I hate this!
–Every 10 minutes or so, a plug for the Discovery Website with ridiculous click options: “Pick the best animal athletes” and “Choose the strangest animal parents.” WTF?
I am a biologist by education and profession. I also take issue with some of the claims made on the program, but I’ll not go into those here. Suffice it to say that the presentation itself has lowered my opinion of the Discovery Channel to sub-zero levels.