Watchin' The Detectives

 So, we are here and you are here!  That's a good start!    Before we get into content, we'd like to give you an overview of what we're trying to do here. For many years, Mandy and I have shared a mutual love of documentaries. We've gotten to the point where, (unless it's a movie) the only programming we have on when the television is on is educational programming, and more to the point: documentaries. (where she finds a near continuous supply of them, it continues to boggle the mind) We'll also watch entertaining educational programs (let's use Mythbusters as an example) a good portion of the time as well, but mostly it's straight up documentaries/series. This has led to us having an encyclopedic knowledge on a wide range of topics (like the known sciences) but also many other niche interests that many would find "mundane," or even 'boring." In our quest to continually have education programs on, we have found that the more narrow a d...

     So, for my first review I'm going right to the heart of the matter: the presenter that got me interested in documentaries in the first place, and with one of his (and possibly of all-time) best documentary series.  (my father also played a big part in my love of documentaries as well)   I'm talking about the maestro himself: Michael Wood.   Besides David Attenborough, Michael Wood was absolutely instrumental in fostering my love for documentaries. He weaves an incredibly compelling tale and has a sense of wonder and compassion that most lose in their childhood. His passion for his subjects and the way he has a reverence for the cultures he's visiting (without getting too preachy) puts him in the running for one of the best documentary  presenters of all time. I'd watch him read a phone book; and in some instances it's come very close. Going through 400 yr old tax records while looking for any written record of William...