David Attenborough Wows Again: ‘Kingdom’ Makes Nature More Awe-Inspiring Than Ever!

While observing a leopard’s pursuit in Kingdom, the most recent documentary narrated by David Attenborough on BBC, I’m reminded of a previous YouGov poll which revealed that half of the British population would decline a free lunar trip, with 11% citing the lack of activities as their reason. This intriguing glimpse into the mindset of the British populace (imagine if space had a theme park like Alton Towers?) makes me ponder whether this also sheds light on the intense pressure television producers face to captivate the notoriously hard-to-please human audience with visuals that once would have been met with awe.

Back in 2017, Blue Planet II captivated the largest audience of the year, drawing 14.1 million viewers who watched dolphins surf during prime time television. Nowadays, Kingdom, consisting of six parts, has been relegated to an afternoon time slot, with programming priorities seemingly favoring updates on the most lackluster performances in celebrity dance shows.

Despite these changes, Attenborough and his extensive team continue their diligent efforts. The BBC describes Kingdom as “one of the most ambitious projects” ever embarked upon by its Natural History Unit. The project, which took five years to film, zooms in on the lives of four animal families from Africa — leopards, hyenas, wild dogs, and lions — as they vie for supremacy in a lush Zambian river valley.

The scenario is akin to Game of Thrones, except here, Cersei is a hyena and the competition is for a meal, not a throne. The introductory credits, where images of animal dynasties overlay a map of their territories, might just make you expect to see Sean Bean’s face appearing at the northern frontier.

Winter isn’t coming; rather, it’s a group of leopards. We meet Olimba, the valley’s reigning queen for ten years, as she imparts survival lessons to her offspring, Moyo and Mutima, at a local mud bath. While Moyo, who is brave yet somewhat naive, blithely frolics through the water, unaware of a lurking hippopotamus, his sister Mutima watches from a distance with a familiar, knowing look. Although calamity is avoided for now (it’s only 11 minutes into the show), the scene might as well be flagged as “FORESHADOWING”. Those of a tender heart should refrain from growing too fond of Moyo/Jon Snow.

As Olimba hunts to nourish her cubs, a new contender, Storm — a rival queen and wild dog — arrives with her pack to claim the catch for themselves. Outnumbered, Olimba is forced to retreat up a tree, a humbling scene for such a regal beast.

At this point, if you find yourself rooting for the leopards, nature throws in a twist. As Storm savors her victory, hyenas, typically double the size of wild dogs, appear to snatch the feast. Suddenly, your loyalties may shift. Go Team Wild Dog! And Team Leopard too.

Yet, one must admire the pregnant hyena Tandala. While her clan engages in the hunt, she remains aloof, basking by the water, her eyelids drooping. Despite the risk of attributing human traits to animals, by the time Tandala stashes her snack in the river to keep it from her pesky kin, it’s hard not to picture your mum hiding treats from your dad.

Wildlife documentaries often highlight the raw struggle for survival, and Kingdom places this theme front and center. The visuals of supporting characters — from elephants and giraffes to zebras — gathering at the river are particularly striking, offering a glimpse into what seems like an earthly paradise.

The final act introduces another threat to the leopard’s reign, culminating in the hour’s most heart-wrenching scene. When Moyo disappears, Olimba spends a restless night searching. By dawn, Moyo is found deceased, likely the victim of a lion attack.

We may have seen similar narratives unfold before. Yet, there’s something profoundly moving about witnessing a mother’s cry for her lost child in the Attenborough series, even in 2025. No matter how familiar these scenes become, they continue to tug at the heartstrings.

The episode concludes on a suspenseful note when Storm’s new litter faces a lion ambush. With seven puppies safe in a den and one stranded outside, Attenborough leaves us hanging with a teaser for the next episode: “Can Storm save her pup in time, or will it confront the lions alone?”

Monotonous? Maybe. Breathtaking, thrilling, and poignant? Absolutely.