ATLAS MINDUP SERIES

Host Sam Sheridan is no Josh Gates (not setting the bar very high here), but where Josh makes bad jokes that are sometimes funny, this show relies more on the incorrect usage of big words: 'Apocryphal' in a context clearly indicating that 'Apocalyptic' is probably what he meant, 'Hydrocarbon' rather than 'Radiocarbon' dating, etc. I don't want to get started on a rant about that, but it would be worth it! Classical art having nipples (both male and female), and butt cracks blurred over is absolutely ridiculous, especially on a National Geographic production. :P What's been bugging me lately, and it's not limited to this show, is the irrational editing-out of things like human anatomy, as if it's something shameful. It's disappointing, but haters gonna hate. I'd be happy as hell if my kids wanted to watch something like this, and I enjoy it too. I think some people need to just chill a bit and just accept this for what it is - entertaining education on subjects not in standard curricula. I've been fascinated my entire life by all of the subjects so far presented in this production, and though I may be sliding towards feeling more than a little disappointment about some of the mystery being taken away, I'm satisfied that there are possible and plausible answers to some of these enduring questions. All of this makes the show more appealing to a broader and, likely, a more youthful audience. I kind of enjoy the more accessible language, and find it refreshing, more entertaining, and much less stodgy than most docu-narration. I think, as is often the case, their comments merely reflect their own. Some people are finding inadequacies and fault in the host and his narration. Seriously, decide what you are and do it properly NG, you're either a documentary or you're a fiction, make your mind up and respect your content as well as the intelligence of your audience. Remember when Nat Geo used to be respected for it's well researched and well presented content? Yes, I'm struggling too, as it seems like such a long time ago now. The longer I watched this the angrier I began to feel that this is how Nat Geo is treating its viewers now. Very, very little is achieved in the time slot compared to other programs tackling the same subject. Moreover, the information that does get brought in is scanty and spread out over multiple advert breaks. When people are interviewed who have actual facts to expound they're either overlaid with over the top music or we're left struggling to focus on their data thanks to wobbly camera angles. Is this how we make data crunching look edgy now rather than showing what actual hard work looks like? Or is it just over compensating for the fact that clearly a team of researchers has already cribbed the data for him?

ATLAS MINDUP SERIES

In fact the series over all is more interested in Sam than the actual content he's meant to be investigating, as he poses in the dark in set piece rooms. The viewer is drowned in slow motion shots of the presenter doing not terribly much while he narrates very little of consequence. This series pretends to be a scientific look at superstitions and paranormal myths but is filmed more like a fiction. Just awful, as soon as the world's most annoying voice over started my heart sank.