National Geographic’s Mysterious Islands isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel, but in its defense, wheels are pretty useful. The series, which premiered October 24, generally offers a grab-bag of three or four vaguely related segments about islands and what makes them unique. Sometimes these stories are compelling, occasionally they feel like filler. In this week’s offering, titled “Lost Colony of Roanoke Island,” the show turns its lens to an island shrouded in mystery and historical intrigue: Roanoke.
Roanoke, for those who haven’t brushed up on their early American history lately, is famous for the disappearance of its English colonists in the late 16th century. What happened to them? Theories abound, from assimilation with Native American tribes to something more sinister. Mysterious Islands attempts to shed some light on this enduring enigma, not with definitive answers, but with a collection of curious discoveries. Skeletal remains will be unearthed, raising more questions than they answer. A rare and sizeable spider will be found, because every good mystery needs some creepy crawlies. And in a particularly morbid twist, the episode will focus on a disturbing scene of thousands of dead seals, a grim reminder of the island’s unpredictable nature.
Whether these elements add up to a coherent explanation of the lost colony’s fate is doubtful. The show relies on a familiar blend of CGI recreations, archival footage, and talking-head experts. It’s a formula that works well enough for surface-level intrigue, but rarely provides profound insight. Still, for viewers who appreciate a touch of the macabre alongside their history lessons, “Lost Colony of Roanoke Island” will likely offer a moderately diverting hour of television. Just don’t expect the mystery of Roanoke to be solved anytime soon.
Mysterious Islands airs Thursdays at 9 PM on National Geographic.
