National Geographic is handing the microphone to Ryan Reynolds for its new nature series, Underdogs, which kicks off Sunday at 9:00 PM ET. The premiere episode, “Superzeroes,” sets the tone for the series by celebrating the outcasts of the animal kingdom—the creatures often overlooked in favor of more majestic beasts.
With Reynolds’ signature wry narration, the show introduces a team of unlikely heroes, each possessing a hidden talent that makes them surprisingly formidable. Forget lions and eagles; this is a lineup of nature’s misfits. We meet the glass frog, whose transparent skin makes it nearly invisible. Then there’s the honey badger, a creature whose reputation for being indestructible is well-earned. And let’s not forget the pistol shrimp, which can snap its claw so fast it creates a bubble hotter than the surface of the sun.
Underdogs aims to reframe what we think of as “superpowers” in the wild. The series leans into the weird, the unconventional, and the downright gross, finding the brilliance in animals with questionable hygiene habits and awkward courtship rituals. It’s a refreshing and often hilarious departure from the solemn, sweeping nature documentaries we’re used to. Instead of awe, the show goes for a mix of humor and genuine appreciation for the creatures that don’t usually get the spotlight, making it a perfect fit for Reynolds’ comedic sensibility.
“Underdogs” premieres Sunday at 9:00 PM ET on National Geographic.
