When it was first announced that Walking With Dinosaurs was coming back with a new series, like many fans of the original series, I was extremely excited. The original 1999 was extremely formative and is one of the reasons why I first visited the Natural History Museum for the first time that year. The subsequent series Walking with Beasts (2001), Walking with Cavemen (2003), Sea Monsters (2003) and Walking with Monsters (2005) were just as captivating, with each vividly etched in my mind. These series leave a lasting legacy of inspiration and stunning visuals for the time, which still hold up today (despite some minor scientific inaccuracies). After watching the new series I was disappointed as this ‘reboot’ that fails to capture the magic and scientific rigor of the original 1999 series. Frustratingly, it is a missed opportunity for the BBC and its partners, to fill the gap in dinosaur-related content following Planet Dinosaur (2011).
The narration lacks the gravitas and informative tone that made the original so compelling, instead opting for over-dramatised storytelling that oversimplifies or even distorts key scientific facts. While I admire Bertie Carvel’s narration, but there doesn’t appear to have been any attempt to use Kenneth Branagh and maintain the continuity of the original. The same can be said of the special effects, the original series and its sequels used Impossible Pictures with direction from Tim Haines. However, this new series lacks the creative direction of Haines and Impossible Pictures, instead opting for Lola Post Production, further severing the continuity. Composition is also important, Ben Bartlett did this to legendary proportions in the original, yet he was not involved with the new reboot.
The visual effects, though technically advanced, often feel overproduced and oddly cartoonish, stripping the dinosaurs of the naturalistic presence that made the original so believable. Perhaps most disappointing is the lack of focus on new discoveries, despite the wealth of palaeontological breakthroughs in the past two decades, the series recycles outdated tropes and ignores more nuanced reconstructions of dinosaur behaviour and appearance (although we do get feathered theropods and more modern interpretation of other species). In trying to appeal to a broader, younger audience, the series sacrifices the very depth and authenticity that made Walking With Dinosaurs a landmark in science communication. My personal view is therefore that it is a let-down for long-time fans, and a poor introduction for newcomers.
Some scenes feel rushed, with a noticeable difference in render quality throughout a sequence which breaks up the magic of production. I also feel that there is some lazy design with the special effects (which may be a factor of limited time), such as in episode 3 where the Gastonia were not seen to be actively eating plants, just rustling them. There is little interaction with the digitally created dinosaurs with their environment, which again breaks the illusion of these being real-life animals that we’re watching. Another example within the same episode, occurs when the Utahraptor manage to flip an adolescent Gastonia over (that is questionable in itself), they aren’t seen using their sickle claw as previously described by the on-site palaeontologists. Perhaps the scriptwriters haven’t heard of Chekhov’s gun, this was yet another missed opportunity. The episodes also focus too heavily on the Cretaceous and do not appear in chronological order, there are a number of other awesome ecosystems and species in the Mesozoic that could have been featured, instead of repeating the same species that have been in every other dinosaur documentary since the original series. Yet another missed opportunity.
One of the most disappointing aspects of the series is its inconsistent sound design, particularly evident in pivotal scenes like the fall of the mortally wounded T. rex (seen in episode 2). Instead of delivering a moment of emotional and dramatic weight, the scene feels oddly flat, hampered by awkward, sluggish animation that lacks the physical realism expected from modern CGI. The dinosaur’s movements are stiff and poorly choreographed, making the fall feel unconvincing rather than tragic. Worse still, the accompanying sound effects, meant to emphasise the impact and final breath of this iconic predator, are curiously muted and generic. It hits the ground without even making a thud or disturbing the ground as it does so. This scene, intended as a climactic turning point, instead underscores the series’ broader issues with immersion and technical polish.
Despite its shortcomings, the 2025 series does have several strengths that deserve recognition. The series boasts cutting-edge CGI and beautifully rendered prehistoric environments. The attention to detail in these landscapes such as lush Cretaceous forests, arid Late Jurassic plains, and dynamic weather systems, creates a visually immersive experience. While some dinosaurs may appear slightly stylised (as mentioned above), many sequences are breath-taking and cinematic in scope. Compared to earlier iterations, the 2025 series features more fluid and life-like movement in its creatures. Animators clearly studied biomechanics and animal locomotion, resulting in more life sequences that feel dynamic and natural (for the most part).
I also enjoyed the scenes of the palaeontologists in the field at the dig sites, as this demonstrates to the audience what it is that palaeontologists actually do. This is crucial for general audiences because it humanises the science and reveals the real, often painstaking work behind our understanding of prehistoric life. It also helps demystify the process of discovery, showing that knowledge about dinosaurs doesn’t just appear in textbooks or CGI documentaries, it comes from dedicated scientists carefully unearthing fossils, analysing rocks, and piecing together ancient ecosystems. However, the editing of these sections interspersed with the dinosaur sequences does seem slightly erratic to me, as well as feeling like filler material in some cases. I would have preferred to have a 10 to 15-minute long section at the end of the episode similar to the newer Attenborough series where we get to see how and where the camera team were able to get the sequences featured in that episode, instead of breaking the immersion of the audience.
Overall, I feel that the series has some merit but to call it Walking With Dinosaurs is clearly not warranted. I suspect that the BBC and the other partners were acting fast trying to ride the wave caused by Prehistoric Planet, demonstrating that there is a never-ending public appetite for factual and scientific series on dinosaurs and other ancient ecosystems. However, this new iteration of Walking With Dinosaurs does not compare to Prehistoric Planet, instead feeling rushed in places and unsure of what it is trying to be. It feels to me as if the name was only used to try to lure people in with nostalgia and instead if a different name had been used such as ‘Digging Dinosaurs‘, ‘Beyond the Bones’ or ‘Reclaiming the Mesozoic’, then perhaps those direct comparisons would not have been made. Perhaps the BBC were trying to draw comparison with the 2013 Walking with Dinosaurs movie, which we’ll not mention here. If you’ve watched the series, let me know what your thoughts were in the comments below.
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