I’m pretty sure Ryan Reynolds could make a root canal fun and entertaining. And if you needed more proof beyond the actor’s sassy, foul-mouthed antics as Marvel’s Merc with a Mouth, Deadpool, then do yourself a favor and check out Underdogs.
The new National Geographic nature docuseries landed on Disney+ a couple of months ago, and between its stunning images, incredible creatures, and Reynolds’ spot-on commentary, I am cringingly obsessed. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
Nature’s Full of Weirdos
A stunning five-part nature documentary series, Underdogs is not like any I have ever seen before. The usual fare from Nat Geo, while always compelling and gorgeous, tends to focus on the natural world’s most majestic and impressive animals—lions, Great White sharks, herds of powerful and elegant gazelles—you get the idea. Underdogs, on the other hand, is a reluctant look through spread-out fingers at the freaks, geeks, and just plain bizarre creatures of the animal kingdom. But once you look, you can’t look away.
Underdogs’ five 40-minute episodes each focus on a different compelling theme, with the weirdos to support them.
It kicks things off right with Superzeroes, which features unassuming creatures with incredible defensive abilities. With some mind-boggling photography, we get up close with a parasitic jewel wasp as it turns a cockroach into zombie, head to the ocean floor to witness the pistol shrimp shock a predator to death in slow-motion, and watch the indestructible honey badger somehow fend off a pack of wild dogs.
Do you have any idea how a mama koala feeds her babies? You’ll have to wait for episode two, Terrible Parents, for that. But as Reynolds hilariously points out after the scene is blurred out: “Apparently that’s a bit graphic … for National Geographic?” It’s poop. She feeds it poop, OK?
Remaining episodes include Sexy Beasts, which gets busy with Happy, a fun-loving hyena as he tries to get lucky with vicious females; The Unusual Suspects, which highlights some clever con-artist macaque monkeys; and (my favorite) Total Grossout—I’ll just let you guess what that one covers, but it involves, yes, more poop.
Reynolds Makes the Show
As far as National Geographic series go, Underdogs is easily on par or beyond, with its “how the heck did they get that shot” photography from the likes of renowned natural-history specialists, Wildstar Films. Not only is the premise of shining the spotlight on some of the lesser-known creatures on the planet unique, but they couldn’t have chosen a better person to narrate it.
Reynolds’ trademark irreverent wit, lighthearted sarcasm, and even topical one-liners is my favorite part of the series. On the honey badger: “Their skin is tougher to get through than my five-year-old’s dance recital.” Ouch. He’s funny, clever, and adds the perfect accompaniment to the series’ weird and wonderful creatures.
Combined with a great soundtrack featuring Katrina and the Waves, Billy Eilish, and Green Day, who provides the sereies’the theme song, Underdogs is the best nature docuseries I’ve seen in a long time.
Where to Stream It
All five episodes of the National Geographic show is available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu, and the whole thing is easily bingeable in a single weekend … like I did.
Disney+ features an excellent selection of nature shows and documentaries through its access to National Geographic programming.
