The episode ends with the Dogon people of Mali climbing a sheer cliff face to collect pigeon nests. One slip means death. This is not extreme sports; this is grocery shopping. As we move north in the HUMAN PLANET COMPLETE-Episodes 1-8 , Episode 3 reminds us that heat is not the only killer. The Arctic is a land of negative 40 degrees. Here, we meet the Inuit. The highlight of this episode is not the polar bear hunt (though that is terrifying) but the construction of a qamutiik —a sled of frozen salmon.

The emotional core of this episode is the in Brazil. Laguna fishermen wait for wild dolphins to herd mullet toward the shore. The dolphins signal (by slapping their tails) when to cast the nets. Humans and dolphins have been cooperating like this for generations. It is the only known symbiotic fishing relationship in the world.

We also see the "wolf hunters" of Kyrgyzstan. They fight eagles against wolves. The violence is raw, but the intimacy between man and bird is undeniable. Rivers give life, but they also take it. Episode 7 of HUMAN PLANET COMPLETE-Episodes 1-8 is the most dangerous episode to film. We start in Brazil where the Kayapo tribe believes a photograph steals their soul. They eventually allow filming of their pygmy peccary hunt. Then, we move to the Mekong River where a fisherman rides a waterfall using only a rope to catch spawning carp.

In the sprawling library of nature documentaries, few titles command as much respect as the BBC’s Earth series. Yet, while Planet Earth and Blue Planet focus on fauna and flora, one landmark series puts us — Homo sapiens —under the microscope. Human Planet is that rare gem. Released in 2011 by the BBC and Discovery Channel, this eight-part odyssey is a cinematic love letter to human ingenuity. For anyone searching for the HUMAN PLANET COMPLETE-Episodes 1-8 , you are looking at the ultimate collection of stories about mankind’s most extreme relationship with nature.

From the shark callers of Papua to the eagle hunters of Mongolia, this series is a reminder that we are not separate from nature. We are nature. Whether you are a teacher, a survivalist, or just someone who loves stunning cinematography, buying or streaming the complete box set is an investment in awe.