I don't know about you, but I had no idea July was considered "Shark Month." To be honest, aside from watching the Jaws movies way too early and doing an exciting school project about them, I'd never paid much attention to ocean animals. However, after all these years, Netflix has made me think about them from a whole new perspective. "All the Sharks" is first and foremost a competition, yes, but not the kind of competition we usually see on reality TV.
The show tries to create some drama, whether between the contestants or between the locals and the contestants; however, in the end, it's about watching marine biologists on a dream vacation, enjoying their time trying to find shark species, making the most of this opportunity. And you know what? I'm not complaining at all, because not only did I learn that rays are also part of the shark species, but I also got to see some beautiful sharks and marine life.
"All the Sharks" doesn't feel like a Nat Geo or Discovery documentary where people narrate information from an encyclopedia while holding wild animals and seem completely at ease. No, the only task here is to photograph as many beautiful sharks as you can and win money for a charitable cause of your choice. Of course, it has to have something to do with marine life.
I can't answer that question, but I can say that "All the Sharks" somehow manages to be entertaining and dynamic despite its very basic premise. There are four teams competing and a host who gives out very special and very expensive prizes to the winners of each round. At the beginning of the show, there are no elimination rounds. I don't know how it's humanly possible to travel to so many countries in about six weeks, but these guys manage to visit some of the most beautiful places you've ever seen—and no, I don't mean beautiful on land, but under the sea. The contestants are expert marine professionals and have a wealth of knowledge, which is the most interesting thing about the show. As soon as they see something, they shout, "Look, it's a tiger shark!" or "Oh, there's a yellow stingray!" And you wonder how they retain so much information.
If you're already a shark fan, this show can be a bit boring because you don't get to see them up close, but you do get to enjoy the marine diversity, within the limited scope it offers. I think it's one of those things designed for new fans, who might have no idea what they're getting into. Also, this show is on Netflix, and it's banking on "Shark Month" to revolutionize the industry, but I'm not sure how much it will work. The teams are quite fun, and I quickly picked my favorites as soon as I started the show. Spoiler alert: my favorites didn't win the competition, phew! As for competitiveness, there are moments, especially at the beginning of the elimination round, when couples talk badly about the other groups, and there's one team in particular that just doesn't quite fit in, so there's a bit of a ruckus, but overall, it's a pretty chill show for reality TV.
Now, I can't be the only one who doesn't mention the 50th anniversary of Jaws when referring to a shark show. I'm not going to lie, I'm still smarting from that experience, and I'm so glad it wasn't a movie, because then I'd probably still be afraid to go to the beach today. I don't want to be that person, but I feel like the movie has done irreversible damage to our perspective on wild beasts, and I think this show could heal some of our wounded soldiers. Especially when we get to see the variety of these sharks, all in different sizes, shapes, and even colors and patterns. For example, there's a shark called the pajama shark, and it's not even the cutest of them all.
Contestants also get to travel to a wide variety of locations, from the bustling city of Tokyo to Bimini and the Great Barrier Reef; the variety lies not only in the fish, but also in the places these enthusiasts visit. Seeing their enthusiasm and joy upon encountering these magnificent creatures makes you realize how rare and beautiful that feeling is. Instead of focusing on the competition, you're left wanting to snorkel in the Galapagos, or at least I am.
Overall, "All the Sharks" has wonderful potential, managing to hold your attention while also providing you with all the necessary information verbally. So, even if you have it in the background, you're getting a lot out of it. If you have kids, they might also want to be marine biologists after watching this show, or maybe just marine wildlife photographers.
There's no swearing, no hair-pulling, and no nail-scratching. It's definitely the most mellow competition you've ever seen, and it's great for family viewing. I know, that's so rare these days. So if you're interested in seeing the diversity of sharks in the world and want to experience an intense fear of missing out (no, seriously, these are places you haven't even dreamed of), give it a try. If you're someone looking for "The Traitor"-style strategies or "Kardashian"-style drama, this show is definitely not for you. I'd give All the Sharks 3.5 out of 5 stars.
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