‘Chasing the Rains’ Recap: ‘Blood and Dust’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Chasing the Rains’. To revisit the Series Premiere, click here.
​
When it comes to our modern world, there are certain possibilities we deem to be unfathomable. Take for instance, the thought of having issues with our water supply. After all, we live in the civilized and modern world, where access to clean water is the norm, and where emergency reserves are just a shopping warehouse away. So, it seems impossible to think that there might be a day where we struggle to get our hands on water, much less have to uproot ourselves and our family to go out in search of it. But that is, one of the comforts of the modern world, that we are fortunate enough to have access to clean water as we please, whereas in some parts of the world… that simply is not the case. 
​
For there are places where people struggle to have access to it and where uprooting lives to get to water, is actually quite common. And it is important we learn such facts and acknowledge them, to find appreciation and humility in how lucky we are to have the good stuff on tap, and to perhaps give us enough pause to find a way to ensure that everyone has access to clean water, and that is why the BBC America series, Chasing the Rains, continues to impress. For it imparts upon us those lessons, and even leaves us wondering if by chance perhaps we can do something for the animal kingdom as well… since the next episode of this show, made it clear that wildlife does indeed go through complete and utter hell to enjoy a drink of what we sometimes pour down the sink because it’s been out for too long.

A feat that ‘Blood and Dust’ accomplished, by taking us through the next leg of the journey for Kuleta the cheetah and Phoenix the wild dog. For when we caught up with them here, they had left their homebases to find food and water and ran into some stunning challenges along the way. Phoenix for instance, had to deal not only with keeping her pack together and keeping them fed, but she had to battle hyenas that saw her family as their ticket to survival. Leading to some harrowing moments and brushes with trouble as she did her best to keep the pack thriving. As for Kuleta, well she outright ran into heartbreak and struggle in her journey. For her quest to find food and water for her cubs, led them into the Pridelands, where not all of her cubs made it out alive because of the many lions that live there. Making it clear the risk and devastation that comes forth in chasing the water we all need.
 
But while those segments were unnerving and tough to watch, there were some bright spots to be found in this tale. Since despite the losses and struggles, both mothers did find their babies food and water through sheer tenacity, and we were also privy to ingenuity regarding how some species and people for that matter, gather water in these dry times. Since we came to learn that elephants can dig and can find deep wells of water to live and sustain their thirst and even humans have figured this out. Since they too will dig deep and grab the water they need for their own thirst, and for whatever other purposes they require. Giving rise to the reality that life always finds a way, but also that perhaps… it doesn’t have to be this difficult in some respects.

After all, if humanity banded together and made sure that clean water was available for everyone on the planet, there would be no childhood searches to quench one’s thirst. Not to mention… water supplies could be shared by wildlife and that could offer them safety and help them to thrive. But until that day comes… there is indeed a powerful and risky, and sometimes devastating struggle to obtain water in this world. One that we now have a better understanding of thanks to this brilliant documentary and its no-holds barred approach to showing us a side of the world we simply did not know existed. Which is humbling to say the least and it leaves us eager to see, what other lessons this fascinating journey is going to send our way when it comes to its conclusion, next week. Until then.  

---

Powered by JustWatch