Still from Human, about our ancient ancestors
BBC/BBC Studios
Human (BBC iPlayer/NOVA)
Ella al-Shamahi is the perfect guide to our ancient ancestors. IN Humanshe takes us on a brief tour of our 300,000-year past, including our tumultuous relationships with other apes. The paleoanthropologist weaves a complex story in which we are not the only ones with intelligence and creativity.
Highlights included a trip to Indonesia to see the remains of the “hobbits” (Man of Floresour meter-tall extinct cousin), as well as some tiny shells that ancient people turned into jewelry.
The series includes a fascinating analysis of tracks in a dry lake that hint at a mother's hasty journey, as well as Neanderthal tooth lines that suggest a longer childhood than we thought.
NASA astronaut Anna Fisher appears in Once Upon a Time in Space
BBC/KEO Films/NASA
Once Upon a Time in Space (BBC iPlayer)
James Blumer's latest project is a must-see series covering the history of space exploration from the late 1970s to the present day. It features many personal anecdotes, such as NASA astronaut Anna Fisher (pictured) revealing the hatred heaped upon her as the first mother in space, and Michael Foale's first-hand account of how the crew of the Russian Mir space station survived a collision that depressurized the station.
We also see Carl McNair watching footage of his father discussing how proud he is of Ronald, his brother and Carl's uncle – one of the first black astronauts to die in the Challenger disaster in 1986. “From slavery to space in four generations,” says Carl, overcome with joy and grief.
Wild dog puppy in the Kingdom
BBC Studios/Anna Place
Kingdom (BBC iPlayer, airs on PBS from 24 January 2026)
Even before airing, David Attenborough and the BBC's Natural History Unit's latest gem was aptly described as Game of Thrones documentaries about nature. This series is a blood-soaked Shakespearean drama that will leave you devastated within the first episode. It follows four factions – a family of leopards, a pack of wild dogs, a pride of lions and a clan of hyenas – in Nsefu in Zambia, a lush stretch of South Luangwa National Park.
Our story begins with the arrival of wild dog Storm and her team and a run-in with the elegant leopard Olymba. The situation escalates as rivals fight for food and space, and shocking violence ensues.
However, it's a privilege to witness these lives and you're sure to fall in love with them, especially the various family matriarchs and Flint, a three-legged wild dog caught in a poacher's trap. This is something that takes your breath away. Have some napkins on hand.
The late Jane Goodall with her chimpanzee mascot
Stuart Clark/Shutterstock
Famous Last Words: Dr. Jane Goodall (Netflix)
Legendary primatologist Jane Goodall unfortunately he died earlier this year. But she is among the influential figures interviewed about their lives over the course of Famous last Wordsa new Netflix series adapted from the Danish format, which will be released after the death of the characters.
Fittingly for a scientific trailblazer, Goodall's interview is the first to be published, and she is in brilliant form throughout the interview. She arrives clutching Mr. H, the cuddly monkey, and sits down with a glass of whiskey—medicinal, she emphasizes, so that her voice won't get tired during the long conversation ahead.
The rest of the episode is just as charming. And fortunately for all of us, Goodall's voice never wavered: she continued to fight for a kinder, more sustainable world until the very end. The interview covers a variety of topics, including her groundbreaking research, Shakespeare, animal grief, the supernatural, why she should never have gotten married, and Mr. X's backstory. But it's her warmth and wry humor that really makes this conversation so touching.
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