The Trials of Life

The third of David Attenborough's Life series takes a different approach than his previous two series, with each of the 12 episodes focusing on a different aspect of life, from birth, to living together, communicating with other, and continuing the line.

This is a significantly more educational series than nature documentaries made today. It's apparent that as well as wanting the viewer to marvel at the wonders of the natural world, Attenborough also wanted the viewer to learn. There's a lot crammed into each episode, with countless species covered, some for only a minute or less, while others have a larger spotlight.

The sheer breadth and depth of this series is extraordinary. As with Attenborough's previous series (The Living Planet), the underwater scenes are the only ones that don't really stand up to more modern series. Otherwise, this is a real treasure that will be enjoyed by young and old alike.