‘A Wild Year on Earth’ Recap: ‘The Year Begins’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘A Wild Year on Earth’.
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It is definitely safe to say that each and every one of us, can plan out our year with relative ease. Simply because our modern world affords us a great deal of planning resources. For we do a wonderful job of keeping track of time by way of calendars and digital devices and the important dates that we celebrate and keep an eye upon, also help us to know when the seasons are going to change, and we can plan for that accordingly. If anything, our modern world has made life a well-oiled machine, so much in fact, that we can navigate it with relative ease. But while we plan for birthdays and lay down new year resolutions without giving it a second thought because that’s simply how life goes in the modern era… we tend to lose sight of the fact that beyond our carefully controlled world, lies chaos. 

For nature doesn’t understand resolutions or birthdays or a holiday season. It only knows survival and savagery, if that helps some animals see another day, and while we are bundling up to enjoy ice skating in the middle of the winter or buying suntan lotion for our beachside vacation; nature is embroiled in an endless fight for survival. Because the natural world is constantly evolving and thriving and growing while we go about our day and well, that does leave one curious as to what exactly a year of that particular brand of chaos looks like, and thankfully… BBC America is taking the time to show us. For the brand-new series, A Wild Year on Earth takes the time examine how life away from our carefully planned world functions in an unrestrained manner and that allowed for ‘The Year Begins’ to provide all of us with some fascinating perspective on the world. 

Such as the fact that our view of the seasons and the passage of time, often relates to our location in the world. Because in January and February, those that live in the northern hemisphere see the New Year as a chilly affair, since winter is upon us and the animals surrounded by the snow and the cold, do indeed have to fight hard to see another day. Because food is scarce in the winter, which is why monkeys in Japan and the birds of prey of North America use patience and care when searching for food, since they know full well it will take time and effort to get exactly what they need. But while that hammered home the desolate nature of the winter, this episode was also quick to remind us that life also thrives in harsh conditions, as evidenced by the polar bears that roam the arctic and the otters off the coast of California that work to raise their young while the world collectively shivers. 

However, there was mention of the fact that perspective was the real focus of this particular tale and that was accomplished by showing us what life is like on the other half of the planet during this time of year. Because while those of us in the northern hemisphere shiver in the cold, everyone down south is working on their tan. For it is summer in the southern hemisphere in January and February and the animals in this region of the world… take full advantage of the plentiful food that accompanies the supremely warm temperatures and that led to the most difficult segment of the night. Since this particular part of our journey through the year… put the sheer savagery of nature on display. Which served to remind us just how chaotic and brutal our world can be since we were witness to the death of a baby hippo by way of the jaws of hungry predators, and we even came to learn that birds in Australia will even work to stoke fires if it means they can flush out a meal. 

Which made for some powerful and heartbreaking moments, the kind that in the end, weren’t designed to make us afraid of the world and what it can unleash when the moment is right. No instead, all of this was put forth to provide us with a sense of gratitude and humility. Because we are in fact, fortunate creatures to live in an environment that we have complete and utter control over, one that also provides us and our families with unprecedented safety and security. As for the humility aspect, well that comes out of the sheer fact that this documentary helps to remind us that we are a part of something special and powerful, since we are in fact, surrounded by teeming life and outright wonder and truly, all of these elements made this quite the special opening chapter to this documentary. One that will not only offer us a raw look at our powerful planet in the weeks to come but will also motivate us to appreciate the gift of life that we’ve been given, and it should be interesting to see what other powerful moments we are going to be treated to as we continue this voyage through a wild year on planet Earth. Until next time.

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