Thread by @raftingzalmoxes

I think that the aim of #LifeOnOurPlanet is not to show that 'our understanding of paleontology is now deepened', but to show that 'LIFE IS DIVERSE, HAS A DEEP HISTORY, AND THEREFORE NEEDS PROTECTION'. Emphasis on the last part. (1/?)

Throughout the series, we get entire sequences displaying numerous modern organisms within a family without getting too much depth into any single species. These sequences, however, are dazzlingly colourful and are a strong representation of the diversity of life. (2/?)

Past mass extinction events (with the exception of K-Pg) utilises mostly LIVE ACTION FOOTAGE, implicitly showing that 'HUMANS ARE CAUSING ANOTHER MASS EXTINCTION', a statement that becomes explicit in the final episode which literally shows a post-apocalyptic vision. (3/?)

The problem that many identified in LOOP is that its marketing agenda did not fully match its presentation. In trailers we got 99-100% prehistoric life, but ultimately what we have is something like BBC's 'Triumph of the Vertebrates': VFX sequences are NOT front and centre. (4/?)

Furthermore, the emphasis on extinct animals in trailers, plus the occasional scientific-uninformedness of the series, make problems of creature models/plants/etc. that appear throught the show all the more glaring for those who came to seek 'next-generation paleo docu'. (5/?)

BUT IS SCIENTIFIC-INFORMEDNESS OF THE MODELS REALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR LOOP? (6/?)

In fact, we can almost say that prehistoric animals are the 'BAIT', luring audience in, and thus allow the docu to thrust the portrayal of the diversity of the biosphere, the dangers our planet is facing and what we humans are doing to exacerbate the danger in their face. (7/?)

And once we get that straight, we can truly appreciate LOOP from a new perspective.
THIS IS NOT A FULL-ON PALEO DOCU. THIS IS A ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION DOCU THAT HAPPENS TO USE PALEO CONTENT AS A MEANS OF STORYTELLING. In that direction, I think it succeeded spectacularly. (8/?)

Remember that there are climate change deniers in the world. Also remember that Netfilx is a massive streaming platform with numerous viewers. In this way, the message of environment protection and biosphere complexity can reach many. THIS IS ALSO SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION. (9/?)

Finally, the next iteration of LOOP is fully focused on non-avian dinosaurs, meaning that it NO LONGER CHOOSES the path of 'environment protection show', and instead DOES choose to present 'how our understanding of paleontology has been deepened'. (10/?)
silverbackfilms.tv/announcing-the…

This means that, for the new iteration, long sequences showing modern life will become a digression, and blatant scientific-uninformedness like 'mammalian propaganda' and 'galloping sauropods' will no longer be that excusable.
...Still anticipating new LOOP, I guess... :) (11/11)

Final verdict: LOOP is 7/10 if it's only considered a paleo docu, but straight-up >8/10 if it's considered a biosphere protection show.
Tips for maximising enjoyability of LOOP: watch ALL EPISODES AT ONCE. WATCH ON THE BIGGEST SCREEN WITH THE MOST VIVID COLOUR DISPLAY.

utilise*

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