As said many times, David Attenborough is a national treasure. He may apparently dislike the term, but it is hard to not say that about such a great presenter who has contributed significantly to some of the best programmes (of the documentary genre and overall) the BBC has ever aired/produced.
It is really hard picking favourites, let alone a definite favourite, among what Attenborough has done because he has done so many gems, it is the equivalent of trying to choose your favourite ice cream flavour or your favourite operatic role (for examples) and finding you can't pick. 'Attenborough's Life that Glows' may not be at his very finest, but for a documentary centred around bio-luminescence and natural light, their causes and the consequences it is the perfect place to start and lives up to its glowing name.
Visually, 'Attenborough's Life that Glows' as always with Attenborough's work looks great. It is beautifully filmed, done in a completely fluid and natural, sometimes intimate, way and never looking static. The specially designed cameras and how they reveal these lights are used very cleverly. The editing is always succinct and smooth and the scenery is spectacular. Very nice music too as always.
Regarding the content, 'Attenborough's Life that Glows' does a great job entertaining and educating, it provokes a lot of thought and fascinates. Found myself finding that there was less information to usual that was familiar to me, which was a good thing.
The presenting by Attenborough helps significantly. He clearly knows his stuff and knows what to say and how to say it. He delivers it with his usual richness, soft-spoken enthusiasm and sincerity, never talking down to the viewer and keeping them riveted and wanting to know more. Nothing is episodic, and if there is an ever so minor complaint it is that it did feel to me a little too short.
Overall, a treasure that really does glow. 10/10 Bethany Cox
