Phoebe Waller-Bridge Explores One of Ocean’s Smartest Creature in ‘Octopus!’

For this year’s Earth Day season, Amazon Prime Video has released “Octopus!,” a two-part documentary special that will be narrated and executive produced by Emmy Award winner Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The documentary is expected to "transport viewers into the otherworldly depths of one of the most intelligent and mysterious life forms on Earth as it follows the Giant Pacific Octopus from birth to death."

The documentary, directed by Niharika Desai, showcases a diverse array of characters, each with their own special ties to this fascinating creature. The film presents deep stories from the dedicated scientist working to protect them to the adventurous explorer seeking to comprehend them, and even Tracy Morgan, who has a deep fascination with them. The creators promise that viewers will experience various emotions, from laughter to tears, while contemplating their own role in the world.

One of the most fascinating insights comes from an unconventional source—Luis Lamar, the series’ underwater cinematographer. As Ms. Waller-Bridge observes, he spends as much time with octopuses as any researcher, especially since it often requires a lengthy effort to get these creatures to cooperate for filming. Mr. Lamar shares a memorable experience of sneaking around the entrance of a cave located 140 feet underwater, where he encountered an octopus that could have measured 30 to 40 feet long (these creatures can weigh up to 400 pounds), with suckers that resembled dinner plates. He reflects on the power of such an enormous being, noting, “They could easily crush you if you tick them off. That thought is always in the back of your mind...”

According to what we have learned, octopuses and species such as killer whales, magpies, and great apes are recognised as possessing a level of consciousness that merits our respect. However, whether their form of intelligence is comparable to ours remains an open question.

While people question the choice of this documentary as strange for Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the piece itself has much to offer. It is fun and enlightening and will surely show an emotional depth of something entirely unique.