Hi readers, I was flicking through the TV during the week, when I thought I saw Will Smith. So, I flicked back, and there he was. I hadn’t seen him on TV since he gave that Chris Rock (an insidious man if ever there was one) a good slap. Then Will just disappeared. This didn’t really linger in my mind or anything until I saw him again.

And he was going to Antarctica as part of a new documentary series! I’m guessing this has something to do with him seeking redemption. Well, if he’s brave enough to do that, I’m won over already.

I love Antarctica. Well, the idea of it anyway. I might survive for thirty seconds or less in that environment. Richard Parks, the former Welsh rugby player, was his companion. They climb up ice walls and visit three Brazilian researchers in a very remote base.

In fairness to Will, he brings good humor. When talking about the researchers, he says, “What’s our evacuation plan if they start tripping?”

At another point, he shows the proper way to look at a map if you’re in a film.

As a series opener, it succeeds on multiple levels: it’s visually stunning, emotionally grounded, and intellectually engaging. By the end of the episode, Pole to Pole feels less like a traditional documentary and more like an invitation to learn, to care, and to keep watching.

I give the first episode five stars out of five.