Critic Reviews

With each episode dedicated to one of the planet’s five oceans, the series is first and foremost jaw-dropping. As much as its starry narrator will grab the headlines, the photography is the star here. .... For the most part, Obama acquits himself well in his new role. His voice, which has always been steady and soothing, was made for this.

Obama can also sound as if he’s trying just that bit too hard. When the cuttlefish try to impress each other at their annual ball, it’s all folksy asides, such as “Deep breath. Here goes!” and “Here comes trouble!” .... Still, it’s thrilling to have the perspectives of the cameras rigged to the back of humpback whales or zipping alongside a pod of spinner dolphins.

Our Oceans is a fascinating look at the environment that takes up the vast majority of our planet, the ecosystems that exist under the surface, and the manmade threats the oceans face.