“Monsters of the Deep” isn’t exactly reinventing the submersible wheel, but it is taking us down, down, down to the inky depths where things get genuinely weird. Forget your friendly neighborhood dolphins; this episode focuses on the truly bizarre creatures residing over 1,000 meters below the surface.
Sure, we’ve all heard whispers of the giant squid. But how often do you get a televised sit-down with experts who can explain the logistics of having three hearts? Steve Backshall chats with Dr. Nathan Robinson about the enigmatic cephalopod, attempting to separate fact from kraken-sized fiction. And yes, the Megalodon makes an appearance, because no deep-sea documentary is complete without a nod to the prehistoric eating machine.
Beyond the marquee monsters, the episode also introduces us to some of the ocean’s less celebrated, but equally unsettling, residents. Ever heard of the Cookiecutter shark? Let’s just say its name is deceptively cute. New discoveries, like the Ichthyotitan, add a further dash of “what the hell is that?” to the proceedings.
One of the more fascinating tidbits the episode offers is the sheer size difference between deep-sea creatures and their shallow-water counterparts. Apparently, everything’s bigger in the abyss – up to 700 times bigger, to be exact. Credit where it’s due: the CGI in this two-part documentary series is pretty impressive, bringing these largely unseen behemoths to life on the small screen. Just don’t expect any warm fuzzies here; this is strictly a “nature red in tooth and claw” kind of deal.
“Monsters of the Deep: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” airs Sunday, December 29, at 8:00 PM on Channel 5.
