Review of New Zealand: Earth’s Mythical Islands (2016)
Seen in 2018.
Seen with Swedish-language narration on SVT.
A comparative success in the contemporary trend of merging nature documentaries with some anthropology and general touristy stuff. The third episode, in particular, does a decent—if upbeat—job with ancient and modern anthropogenic extinctions, treating little else.
The birds (pukeko, kiwi, kakapo) are amazing, as expected. The moas (extinct), giant earthworm-sucking snails (genus Powelliphanta) and starlight-simulating Arachnocampa luminosa would have fit nicely into the stories of H. P. Lovecraft.
References here: “Down to Earth: Flightless Birds” (2016).