Original air date: 11 January 1995
Above is a graphical presentation of a timeline for the episode, a more detailed text version is below
Selected sequences
Different timescales
Before the advent of relatively easy computer graphics filming plants was practically impossible. This series would never have been produced using the technology of the Trilogy. With more modern technology with computer graphics and blue screen technology (where a part of the screen stays still while Attenborough does his duties on the rest of it) this series finally became possible. No need to explain what is going on in the above frames (from 1’26-1’36 in the film). Attenborough leaves the screen on a normal timescale while the lower plants (and snow) around him progress much faster.
Probably the most memorable part of the programme, if not the whole series, was the final bit – traveller in time made available by BBC.
Maybe, having this as the final part of the starting programme rather than somewhere further inside the series, was the reason BBC decided against starting by talking about the start new life of a plant (Flowering) which might have made the whole series look more logical.