‘Secrets of the Octopus’: Intelligent and Inviting

Acclaimed director James Cameron worked with National Geographic to produce "Secrets of the Octopus." National Geographic

TV-PG | 3 episodes | Documentary, Nature | 2024

Earth Day 2024 sees the release of “Secrets of the Octopus,” a three-part, two-hour-plus long docuseries produced by National Geographic Films (NGF) and Oscar-winning director James Cameron.

Employing the same blueprint of similar NGF productions about whales and elephants, “Octopus” is a fascinating and mesmerizing affair. It combines brains, brawn, body, heart, soul, humor, and some of the most exquisite and breathtaking underwater (and aerial) photography I have ever seen. Although designed for the small screen, it practically begs for a full-tilt IMAX presentation.

A mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus), with striped skin patterning, stretches out all eight arms across black volcanic sand. National Geographic for Disney/Craig Parry

Shot in Australia, Indonesia, the Caribbean, Canada, Central America, and on the Turks and Caicos archipelago, “Octopus” examines a handful of the nearly 300 different species of octopuses and, while there is a great deal of behavioral and physical overlap, each comes with some kind of unique trait.

Golf Ball to School Bus

With adults of the order ranging in size from a golf ball to a school bus, all octopuses begin their short lives (3 years max) no bigger than a grain of rice. Males die shortly after the fertilization of a mother’s eggs, and the female dies from starvation not long after releasing up to 100,000 hatchlings into the wild.

This unique, some might say cruel, way of entering the world presents a myriad of challenges to all octopuses. They spend the entirety of their lives as loners, rarely socializing, and adapting to their various environments with a set of unique tools that truly sets them apart from every other animal on Earth.  

According to what is presented here, octopuses are older than dinosaurs and are among the most intelligent beings on the planet. They have three times more brain capacity than humans! They have REM sleep, indicating that they dream. They can shift shapes to such a degree that they can pass through spaces as small as their own eyeballs. Octopuses can also completely change color in less than a fifth of a second, often assuming the texture and complexion of inanimate objects such as coral and rock formations. This is particularly impressive as octopuses are color blind and “see” with their skin.

A giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) jet propels over kelp in shallow waters off Vancouver Island. National Geographic for Disney/Maxwel Hohn

Scarlett the Day

Among the half-dozen or so specialists appearing on screen is Dr. Alex Schnell, an Australian marine biologist who has spent 15 years studying octopuses. She spends most of the time onscreen bonding with a day species (or big blue) octopus she nicknamed “Scarlett.”

Dr. Alex Schnell on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. National Geographic for Disney/Craig Parry

Almost instantly, Dr. Schnell and Scarlett connect via eye contact and physical touch. The latter leads the former on a “tour” of her hunting grounds. The pair shows up again in the second and third episodes.

Profiled next is the Southern blue-ringed octopus, a genus that wards off potential enemies by “brightening” its skin, a sign indicating that they are prepared to do battle but would rather not. If pushed, they can attack with a venom called tetrodotoxin that is 1,000 times more lethal than cyanide.

Taking the chameleon talent a step further is the mimic octopus that hails from the Indo-Pacific region. It can not only change shape and color, but can also imitate or impersonate other marine animals—something that confounds its two premier predators, the damselfish and lionfish.

A southern blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena maculosa) displays bright blue rings, a warning that the venom in its bite is deadly. National Geographic

Then, there is the coconut octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus). As its name suggests, it finds refuge in coconut shells found on ocean floors. Small coconut octopuses will also use clam shells as shields against predators, such as the deadly and highly aggressive mantis shrimp.

Cameron and Water

Not usually known for brevity, Mr. Cameron exhibits a great deal of it here. As one of the executive producers and the uncredited director, Mr. Cameron was the ideal choice to spearhead this project. Some of his previous features (“Piranha II,” “The Abyss,” “Titanic,” and, to a great degree, the ongoing “Avatar” franchise) are set in, on, or near the water, and his knowledge of marine life is extensive. The final portion of the third installment spent alongside Dr. Schnell proves this point in spades.

As impressive as the visuals and wealth of information presented are, perhaps Mr. Cameron’s biggest coup here was in drafting actor Paul Rudd to provide narration. Wisely playing it straight and delivering in a lower-register near-whisper voice most of the time, Mr. Rudd slips in the occasional comedic one-liner or rejoinder at the most unexpected time, which goes far in keeping the production grounded, family friendly, and not too serious or “sciency.”

Apart from some minor repetition of material, “Octopus” is a riveting watch from start to finish and should not be missed.

Poster for the TV docuseries "Secrets of the Octopus." National Geographic

The series is now streaming on the National Geographic channel, Disney+, and Hulu.

‘Secrets of the Octopus’ Director: James Cameron (uncredited) Narration: Paul Rudd Episodes: 3 TV Parental Guidance: TV-PG Release Date: April 21, 2024 Rating: 4 stars out of 5

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