The highly anticipated return of Blue Planet III on Sunday night evoked strong emotions from viewers, with the opening episode featuring the tragic death of a humpback whale, leaving many in tears.
Narrated once again by the esteemed Sir David Attenborough, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, the series' first episode focused on tropical seas. It documented the arduous journey of a humpback whale seeking better waters, culminating in its death. Viewers watched as fish gathered around the deceased whale, with its body consumed by the morning.
The episode also highlighted the ongoing effects of climate change on marine ecosystems, illustrating how rising water temperatures can render coral reefs toxic.
Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) buzzed with reactions from viewers. While some expressed their sadness over the whale's fate, many also praised the show for its "beautiful and mesmerising" return. One viewer commented, "Oh FGS it's WAY too early in the series for a Humpback to be dying! You could have broken us in gently at least!" Another added, "The camera work, lighting and David Attenborough's voice create the most beautiful television. How anyone can watch this and not think we must do everything possible and more to preserve our planet; That poor whale;" Meanwhile, others simply hailed the show as "Absolutely mesmerising television. Welcome back... Sunday evening sorted."
Blue Planet III is the first installment since 2017, with filming for the new series taking four years. Sir David Attenborough, a veteran of natural history broadcasting since 1954, has been a consistent presence, with the original Blue Planet premiering in 2001 and its successor in 2017.
The Daily Mail's TV critic, Christopher Stevens, awarded the opening episode a five-star review, describing it as "extraordinary."