Phoebe Waller-Bridge explores one of the smartest creatures in the ocean in “Octopus!”
During this year’s Earth Day season, Amazon Prime Video released “Octopus!”, a two-part documentary narrated and executed by Emmy Award winner Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The documentary hopes to “transfer viewers to otherworldly depths of one of the smartest, most mysterious forms of life on Earth, thus following the giant Pacific octopus from birth to death.”
The documentary directed by Niharika Desai shows a wide variety of characters, each with its own special connection to this fascinating creature. The film introduces a profound story of dedicated scientists designed to protect them to protect their adventure explorers, even their understanding of them, and even Tracy Morgan, who is deeply fascinated by them. The creators promise that the audience will experience emotions, from laughter to tears, while considering their role in the world.
One of the most fascinating insights comes from an unconventional source – Luis Lamar, the series Underwater Photographer. As Ms. Waller-Bridge observed, he spent as much time on the octopus as any researcher, especially since it often takes a long effort to get these creatures to shoot in collaboration. Mr. Lamar shared an unforgettable experience of sneaking around the entrance of a cave 140 feet underwater, where he encountered an octopus that could be 30 to 40 feet long (the creatures can weigh 400 pounds) with suction cups similar to dinner plates. He reflected on the power of such a huge existence and pointed out: “If you tick them, they can easily crush you. This idea is always in your mind…”
Based on what we have learned, octopus and species (such as killer whales, pies) and great apes are considered to have a level of awareness worthy of our respect. However, whether their forms of intelligence are comparable to ours remains an open question.
When people question the weirdness of the documentary to Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the work itself can offer a lot. It’s fun and inspiring and sure to show a completely unique emotional depth.
