The Lion Thing

Yes folks, the BBC have managed it again. The people of the nation have already begun to fall into the slump commonly diagnosed as the ‘January blues’. After an exceptionally lethargic, glutton-filled Christmas and the impending horror of overdue essay deadlines and exams, what better form of epic escapism than our very own national treasure: David Attenborough. Whilst we battle the usual winter misery and head back to the hustle and bustle of our ‘concrete jungle’, Attenborough’s husky, dulcet tones guide us through a much more distant jungle: Africa.
After working for over 60 years at the forefront of wildlife documentaries, it’s no surprise that yet another of his programmes has become an instant success, with over 6.5 million viewers on the first night. In many ways David is the extra Granddad we never had – his boyish passion, jovial manner and plodding determination epitomise his British-ness and have led to his longevity as a presenter. So every Wednesday at 9pm, we tune in to see our favourite grandfather’s creation; one which, I dare to assert, is truly magical. Sorry, but I’m a sucker for a baby elephant or a comic meerkat. Aren’t we all?
From the Atlas Mountains in the North of Algeria, to the fiery Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, the jungles in the Congo and the expanses of the turbulent Atlantic Ocean in the West, Attenborough’s latest masterpiece is a programme four years in the making. It took 79 expeditions, was filmed in 27 different countries and a monumental 6,500 malaria tablets were consumed. Both educational and amusing, the sheer cinematic beauty and magnificence (even if perhaps hyperbolised by Attenborough’s narration) sucks us into a new, dangerous world, where amateur photographers and biologists alike can experience a visual orgasm.
The programme’s cleverly orchestrated musicality works in tandem with Attenborough’s sensationalist narration to litter the show with humour and tragedy in equal measure. Attenborough has previously been plagued with criticism for indulging in anthropomorphism, the personification of the animals. I, however, believe his friendly narrative voice is necessary for the success of the clips, merely emphasising that animals are surprisingly human in their temperaments. This is seen best in the interplay with the Black Rhinos. Highly endangered, these massive animals have been written off in the past by experts, as solitary, aggressive creatures; but Africa digs deeper. This wildlife documentary explores their most intimate night-time interactions and the rhinos are found to be both comical and endearingly flirtatious. Under the stars, one male lumbers over to a nervous, unsuspecting female, dangling a pair of antelope antlers over his nose, much like an flamboyant form of ‘peacocking’ on a drunken night at Evolve. This time he’s in luck however, and his outlandish display wins him a few precious moments of naughty cavorting. Unfortunately for her, he turns out to be a disappointment and what’s a girl to do, she pulls the sleep card. As David Attenborough well points out, ‘a girl can only put up with so much’.
Perhaps most fitting about Attenborough’s first episode, Kalahari, was now much-YouTubed giraffe battle. Like a showdown in a Wild West movie, the old bull swaggers onto the scene chewing on leaves from the surrounding oasis, waiting confidently as a young female is spotted. Then, out of nowhere, a young buck arrives beginning the old rival stake-down for the glory and ownership of both the filly and the much needed water. Whoever loses will be exiled. Sound familiar? John Wayne’s got nothing on these guys. The clever slow-motion footage captures the grace and power of their extraordinary necks, as they thwack each other with such force that they both crumple to the ground like intoxicated students devoid of balance after a heavy night at Pop!. The old buck wins, seeing off the pretender, who lies as if dead, for a good few minutes. Attenborough has wizened over his years, but he can’t hide the approval in his voice of the older bull’s victory. Much like the giraffe, Attenborough remains at the top of his game and isn’t going to give up just yet. Watch this space.