I am sure that a lot of you have been watching new Netflix shows and watching a lot of movies during the quarantine. I had heard a lot of new airing on Disney+ and had to give them a closer look. I had heard a lot of things about the series that National Geographic released called “One Strange Rock”. The series is directed by Darren Aronofsky, who was also the filmmaker for “Black Swan”. My friend raved about this new series and would beg me to watch it with her but I wasn’t hooked. I looked into it more and saw that Will Smith is the narrator. I love Will Smith and now had a lot of time on my hands to watch new shows. With Earth Day coming up, I thought it was the perfect time to start watching!
My first impression was that Will Smith is the perfect host for the series. He is not only a hilarious and well-respected actor, but he also is so passionate about the subject which makes it more fascinating. This show embraces the uniqueness of the planet we call ‘home’ and teaches us how strange our planet can be. I was definitely not expecting to have my mind blown from a show that I anticipated to be an ‘adult version of Earth Science’ class. It is so cool because it connects biology, geology, astronomy, chemistry, and other scientific domains together. The show highlights the magnificent wonders of the world both on land, in outer space, and in the sea.
I asked my friend Kaitlyn Ferentini (Bucknell University Class of 2021) to answer some questions about her opinions on the show just to give you all an understanding of how mind-blowing the series can be:
What were your first impressions of One Strange Rock?
My first impression was that outer space and our planet is much cooler than I originally thought. It made me want to be an astronaut and be able to see the Earth from space.
How has this show challenged you?
This series challenged my cognitive model of myself and the human species as a whole. The complex, interconnectedness of all living organisms on this planet, no matter how big or small, amazes me. It also makes me wish that we watched cooler science videos in elementary school.
Would you recommend this show to others?
Yes, definitely!
How will you be celebrating Earth Day this year?
This year for Earth Day I plan on going on a hike with my mom on a local trail and enjoying nature.
Overall, I would highly recommend this show to anyone regardless of their interest in science or not. This show forces you to think about our planet and all of the organisms that coexist with us while still remaining entertaining to watch. Your mind will definitely be blown and Earth Day is a perfect time to watch!