Arriving (S01E01)

The premiere episode explores the myriad ways life enters the planet. Attenborough kicks off the journey by referencing the remarkable spawning of the Christmas Island red crab, with around 120 million individuals participating in this perilous migration to the ocean, where ancient marine species thrive. The giant clam stands out as a prolific marine egg producer, while land creatures like the mantis also lay thousands of eggs. In the Western United States, Attenborough observes a wasp burying and stocking a hidden burrow with caterpillars for her larvae. Other fascinating examples include snow geese protecting their eggs from arctic foxes, and the malleefowl nurturing its eggs with decomposing leaves, demonstrating its care by adjusting the sand mound around them. The sea louse reveals a tragic twist, sacrificing itself as its grubs drain her life force. Various mammals, including wildebeest and sea lions, showcase the birth of well-developed young.