‘Dynasties’ Recap: ‘Emperor’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

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​To me, the mark of a good documentary goes beyond a mere presentation of fact. Not that the facts aren’t important, because they are paramount to this style of show, but let’s be honest. Entertainment helps our minds to absorb what we learn, so having a powerful and engrossing story is equally as important as the material that’s presented to us and that’s precisely why I’m such a big fan of BBC America’s Dynasties. Because this particular series has taught us plenty about nature and how cruel it can be over the past few weeks, all while enthralling us with moving stories about animals fighting to survive to see another day and it would seem, that the network made sure to save the best for last when it comes to this series, since last night’s episode of the series, ‘Emperor’, was hands down the most powerful chapter in this magnificent story.
 
Because this particular tale, one that took us to Atka Bay in Antarctica, definitely provided us with one harrowing story. After all, the biting cold of Antarctica should keep just about any living thing away from it, but these penguins come here year after year to breed and rear their young and they face incredible odds in making that happen. For powerful blizzards ransack this part of the world, the kind that drop temperatures to -76 degrees below Fahrenheit, forcing these brave birds to huddle for warmth and shelter while they wait for their eggs to hatch and these blizzards sometimes force them to lose their way, even after their babies have hatched since some of these birds found themselves trapped in a deep ravine after a storm cleared, making escape so difficult that some penguins abandoned their young, or fought with all their might to escape with their babies.
 
Yet, while it was devastating to see the cold claim some of these birds, and see babies abandoned by their mothers, there was some serious beauty to be found in this story. For this particular tale, really took the time to dig into the mating rituals of the Emperor Penguin, and what we learned was incredibly fascinating. Because these birds go through quite the in-depth process to select a mate, and once they’ve found the right bird, they work together to ensure that their chick is as safe as can be. Which means that the male must help in rearing the child and keeping the egg safe, and it was just beautiful to see these couples work together in unison and trade off responsibilities. But while all that was magical in its own right, perhaps the true highlight of the night, is the sheer fact that this story had some happy endings to provide us with.
 
Case in point, the fact that the documentary team stepped in to help when these penguins were in dire need of an assist. Because the ones that were trapped in the ravine, were likely facing starvation and death, and rather than let that happen, the team took the time to build a few steps and a tiny ramp for the penguins to follow and they did just that, saving countless lives. But what matters most in this tale, is the sheer fact that the harsh and brutal winter in Antarctica, had a far less devastating impact on this colony than expected. For only one-third of the chicks didn’t survive the winter, and that’s a wonderful number to hear since it means this dynasty of Emperor Penguins will continue to thrive and that truly is the finest way this series could have come to a close.
 
For sadly, this story, does signal the end of our journey when it comes to Dynasties, since there are no other episodes to follow this one. Which means, all we have left when it comes to this documentary, are mere memories and that’s a good thing. Because this is a series that will stay with me for some time, due to the fact that it offered up such powerful and moving moments, and because I did learn quite a bit about nature and how hard it can be on the creatures that roam this Earth. But what matters most, is that this documentary series served to remind us, to appreciate every single moment we experience in this life, because just like that, tragedy and loss can strike and well…I cannot thank BBC America enough for providing all of us with another incredible documentary and I simply cannot wait to see what amazing stories about our world they will bring to the table in the future. Until next time. 

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