# Dynasties (2018)

> A narrated natural history documentary following five endangered animal families through their struggles for survival.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/70813

## Facts

- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 9
- Episode runtime: 58 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: documentary
- Network: BBC Earth
- Cast: David Attenborough
- TMDB rating: 9.1/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9130692/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: mild
- Tone: awe-filled, heroic, warm, intimate, sobering

## What critics say

Audiences broadly acclaim the series as a visually stunning and emotionally affecting nature documentary.

## Synopsis

Dynasties (2018-2022) is a British natural history docuseries produced by BBC Earth and narrated by David Attenborough. Across two seasons and nine episodes, the series follows five of the world's most celebrated yet endangered animals: penguins, chimpanzees, lions, painted wolves and tigers. Each episode concentrates on one animal family, tracking the parents, rivals and young who must find food, defend territory and endure harsh seasons in the wild. The engine of every episode is survival, with the threat of rival groups and the unforgiving forces of nature pressing on the family's future. Shape and scale come from a standard nature documentary format: each installment is a self-contained portrait of one species, filmed over long stretches to capture intimate, dramatic moments. The tone is awe-filled and warm, with a heroic register that frames animal behavior as a dynasty story, though the stakes of extinction and conservation give the footage a sobering edge. Fans of Planet Earth, Blue Planet and Our Planet will find resonance in the sweeping cinematography, patient natural history storytelling and the emotional pull of watching animal families fight for their survival.

## Shows like Dynasties

- [Life Story (2014)](https://ember.film/tv/55128)
- [Planet Earth II (2016)](https://ember.film/tv/60188)
- [Our Planet (2019)](https://ember.film/tv/71512)
- [Life on Our Planet (2023)](https://ember.film/tv/134573)
- [The Hunt (2015)](https://ember.film/tv/56925)
- [A Perfect Planet (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/95990)
- [Human Planet (2011)](https://ember.film/tv/29516)
- [Parenthood (2025)](https://ember.film/tv/162609)
- [Trials of Life (1990)](https://ember.film/tv/8857)
- [Planet Earth III (2023)](https://ember.film/tv/96739)

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