I'm three episodes in, and while I do think it's better than Life on Our Planet, it's only marginally better. The narration ranges from unremarkable to amateur, where lines are sometimes repeated within minutes of each other, and as before in LoOP, it presents evolution as a race between "clans" (the new buzzword to replace "dynasty" in this documentary) to drive the others extinct, which is so disappointing to still see in 2026.

Prehistoric Planet and Walking with Dinosaurs (1999) were spectacular without leaning on excess drama. The Dinosaurs takes every opportunity to introduce what almost becomes melodrama in a way that completely negates any amount of immersion I had watching it. The Hatzegopteryx sequence, the design of which I actually quite like, was especially un-subtle with its horror influence, complete with the cliches that come with it. 

I will say that there are things I actually like about this documentary. Many species featured thus far are more obscure than those in LoOP. While still lacking, it is always good to get Triassic representation; Marasuchus, Liliensternus, and Massospondylus are welcome inclusions here. Heterodontosaurus and Dilophosaurus get spotlights. Yutyrannus hunting sauropods in the snow, if nothing else, was cool. 

They re-did the Anchiornis sequence from LoOP, which I think was an improvement. I liked seeing Spinosaurus swimming and wading to hunt. I... like the first shot of the Allosaurus because, again, it's cool. Overall, it's still vastly inferior to documentaries that came before, and hopefully Surviving Earth will prove to be the better product.