Walking With Dinosaurs 2025

[andrewsaurus rex]

oh.....did not realize that. 

[Fembrogon]

I just watched the first episode (The Orphan) for myself via PBS's Youtube page. On one hand, it's exciting to have another new, high-profile dinosaur series to follow; on the other hand, I have to concede that, as others are already stating, the episode was.... not great.

Now, I don't think this is a BAD episode - I knew it wasn't going to match Prehistoric Planet's production values - but there were choices made in the story and structure I definitely question. For a nearly hour-long episode, the actual information supplied felt very surface-level, which I suppose is alright for average audiences; but surely there could have been some meatier tidbits thrown in as well, to entice more dedicated watchers and just to inform the GA that much more.
The storytelling was fine, although sometimes it felt a bit contrived: what kept Clover from following the old bull or the Edmontosaurs? The final battle was fun, but perhaps a bit cliche.
I thought the CGI was generally good enough, never distractingly bad. Some shots certainly looked better than others (Clover had some really good close-ups, while the Edmontosaurs definitely looked more plastic), and the digital models nearly all looked excellently detailed. The motion of the dinos was a bit hit or miss, but I think coming off of Prehistoric Planet's slow-motion photography it might feel more jarring than it really is.
Then we have the current-day cutaways. In principle, I don't hate them; but I don't care for how they were handled overall. I do like opening the episode on the real dig site to contextualize the story, and I must admit of the transitions between past and present sequences looked great. However, the individual scenes occur way too frequently, and once again feel shallow in content. I think condensing the dig site scenes to just two or three would have allowed better story flow, while also allowing more substantial info to convey. Also, just let the scientists talk to the camera; drop the obviously staged "conversations" and give it to us straight. The fact that the episode ends with an "Unearthed" segment makes the prior sequences feel that much more redundant, too.

All in all, it was an alright episode. I will certainly watch the rest, but even with already-tempered expectations, I wonder how positively I'll feel about this program overall by the end.

[Pliosaurking]

I haven't seen many of them yet. I just saw most of the Pachyrhinosaurus episode and the entire Luscotitan episode.  I thought they were fairly good. There are certainly several Dino documentaries much better however, and I'll say this doesn't really feel anything like the original series. I definitely would like to see the other episodes However.

[Noideaforaname]

The cutaways make it an absolute slog to get through.

I appreciate it's willing to show these animals oftentimes died unceremoniously, despite the names, somewhat anthropomorphized animations, and framing these episodes as "their stories" giving the impression this is show is on the kiddy side.

A neat little continuity detail is how an episode opens with a dead pliosaur washed ashore and later uses that same corpse to show an example of osteophagy.



Two episodes focusing on a baby ceratopsian, though, really?

[DinoToyForum]

The cutaways make it an absolute slog to get through.

The original WWD was (and is) eminently rewatchable, for us lot anyway, precisely because it's all set in a prehistoric world, so you can immerse yourself in it. It's rather like music or poetry in that regard. The new series flip-flops between palaeontologists in the field and dinos in the prehistoric world in an almost 50/50 relationship. So, that sense of immersion is gone, and the field scenes are not really rewatchable. As a consequence, I expect it's going to be a one-time-only experience for most viewers.

[GojiraGuy1954]

The cutaways make it an absolute slog to get through.

I appreciate it's willing to show these animals oftentimes died unceremoniously, despite the names, somewhat anthropomorphized animations, and framing these episodes as "their stories" giving the impression this is show is on the kiddy side.

A neat little continuity detail is how an episode opens with a dead pliosaur washed ashore and later uses that same corpse to show an example of osteophagy.



Two episodes focusing on a baby ceratopsian, though, really?

I feel like even if the dig scenes were absent, this show would still be spectacularly boring

[Joliezac]

I just watched the 2nd episode. I liked it a lot more than the first, although Spinosaurus is my favorite dinosaur so that's no surprise. I don't really mind the fossil bits too much since I'm not too familiar with many of the facts, however I wish there was a cut version where its just the prehistoric scenes. I really loved the idea of an adult spino caring for his family.

[dragon53]

[dragon53]

[andrewsaurus rex]

just saw the 'George' episode.   Not bad; i probably liked it the best of the first 3 i've seen but i still didn't love it.  Thin story telling and science.  The live action paleontologist scenes are REALLY starting to bug me.

[Dilopho]

I really enjoyed the final episode with Lusotitan, that was a very nice watch. They gave a lot of personality to them.
There's a nice little cameo from a pliosaur as a beach corpse too