‘The Wild Sides’ Recap: ‘Growing Up’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Still from ‘The Wild Sides’ Courtesy of BBC America.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the finale of ‘The Wild Sides’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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It really is quite amazing how resilient and strong nature can be. Because no matter the odds and no matter the stresses, life simply finds a way to survive on Planet Earth. For the animals that populate the globe know deep down it is either fight to see tomorrow or nothing at all, and that survival instinct really does accomplish wonders to say the least, and truly… we’ve had a sampling of how powerful it can be courtesy of the BBC America series, The Wild Sides. For we’ve watched the animals of the Mashatu Wilderness in Botswana, find water despite living through a drought, and thrive, despite the danger surrounding them. All of which has made for incredible television, the kind that came to an end in an equally as incredible manner.
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For ‘Growing Up’, the finale of this series, took the time to showcase quite the incredible new dynamic in this part of the world. In that, rather than feel secure in having water and food once again and retreating to old haunts… every species that migrated to the riverbank… decided to stay. For resources were there, as was easier hunting grounds, and that fruitful nature outweighed the stresses and dangers of having a tiny community of wildlife present by the river. So, the vast majority of the species that we’ve followed in this journey, laid down roots. In fact, they began to give birth to generation after generation, and rather than teach these young ones how to forage in difficult places, they simply showcased the majesty of the riverbank, and the water and food it provided. Which in turn may make it seem as though there was a sense of laziness present, but that wasn’t the case.

Instead, it led to accelerated and focused learning for the predators of this new world. Which led to incredible scenes that showcased how those lessons worked well, and of course… it also showed how nature adapted to having all these species in such close quarters. Since the prey learned how to spot that which hunted them to avoid death, and they of course…. could close ranks as needed to live. Minimizing losses, but they still occurred. For the predators adapted as well and found food despite some dry spells and well… what we witnessed in this story was nothing short of the birth of a tiny eco system. One born out of a desperate need for water and food and one that grew into something supremely efficient and dynamic, and it truly featured all the ups… and downs of the natural world.

Since the scavengers of this tiny world only needed to sit back and patiently wait to enjoy a meal. Because close proximity made life easy for them and hard for those hunting, since fights would of course break out over delicious foods. Not to mention, being in such close proximity to trouble sometimes motivated internal fights in an effort to relieve that stress permanently. And sadly, those fights were amplified and sorrowful in this tiny little animal society. Because in standard living spaces, the brewing of a fight would give those who wanted away from combat, all the time they needed to evacuate. But here, we saw a fight amongst the baboons just explode, and that cost a little one its life. Making it clear that hard times were amplified in this incredible little place.

But that doesn’t seem to matter all that much to the residents of this riverbank. For they are comfortable there now, and thriving, despite the risks of more droughts and dry spells ahead, and other dangers. Because they adapted and figured out the best way to survive in an environment that only gives each of them of a sliver of a chance to do so. But that is what nature does, it grabs hold of that chance and never lets go and does what it must to turn that into a positive and well… that was a powerful message to send our way to close out this dynamic series. One that really pulled no punches and informed us of nature’s chaos and its outright inspirational beauty. For it was quite amazing to see desperate and thirsty animals, transform a near wasteland into a lovely and thriving home, one that continues to endure.

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