A Comprehensive Review of the "River Monsters" Television Series on Animal Planet

Something I always enjoy while fishing is how it drives my imagination. I often think of the tremendous amount of fish species that exist and the extreme differences in their environments, but what I ponder most is “What’s it like and what does it mean to different peoples around the world.”

In recent years, the TV show River Monsters, on Animal Planet, has been my (1080P) window into the above mentioned curiosities. The host, Jeremy Wade, adds credibility to the program: 

Jeremy Wade is a writer and TV presenter with a special interest in rivers and freshwater fish, who has been traveling (mostly solo) to the world's remoter rivers for 30 years.

He has a degree in zoology from Bristol University and a postgrad teaching certificate in biological sciences from the University of Kent, and has worked as a secondary school biology teacher.

In keeping with the show's title, Wade travels the globe during each episode, following legend and folklore about a different finned freshwater beast. Some accounts are from eyewitness testimony, while others are the result of physical struggle, injury, and even death of humans. Surely, in order to bolster viewership, there must be some degree of sensationalization within the broadcast, but River Monsters keeps it classy and comprehensive.

The program is rich in cultural immersion, with emphasis on the significance fishing has for various peoples. In each area Wade fishes, he and his crew deal directly with local residents. Sometimes it's for gathering intelligence and guidance, and other times for acceptance and approval. In numerous countries, they link up with fishing guides, translators (if necessary), scientists, village elders, law enforcers, political liaisons, and storytellers. During season six, "Jungle Terminator" leads Wade to Brazil in search of a type of electric eel. He travels 500 miles up river, through territories of warring tribes, only to arrive and discover that the village chief's mother has fallen ill and is on the verge of death. The footage of their communication during such circumstances seemed quite authentic, despite their cultural differences.

Also interesting is when Wade partners with local fisherman. Seeing the different methods and equipment used around the world is at times humbling and impressive. In the episode "River Monsters Goes Tribal" he travels to the Solomon Islands, where he discovers traditional fishing techniques using vines, bows, even a spider web/homemade kite combination. He actually catches a grey reef shark on a hand line from a homemade canoe (one of his career goals). Watching the fisherman gather local natural resources and modify them into fishing gear is interesting and informative.

On random Saturday mornings on ESPN 2, you can catch American bass tournaments or an occasional (and very outdated) fishing information show, or perhaps you have a two-thousand channel cable TV package with listings such as The Outdoor Channel or the World Fishing Network, but there simply isn't another fishing program as informative or diverse as River Monsters. It is a well-produced show that commands attention while educating viewers in an entertaining way. As a fisherman, I'm truly looking forward to the next episode.