All the Sharks is now streaming on Netflix.
All the Sharks has a killer hook: take the thrills of a wildlife documentary and mash them up with the format of a global competition series. Four teams of shark-loving duos travel to five marine hotspots, think the Maldives, Galápagos, and South Africa, to photograph as many different shark species as they can. Points are awarded based on rarity, so common sharks like tigers and blacktips only get you so far, while spotting a hammerhead or sixgill scores big. It’s a clever way to gamify marine biology, and on paper, it sounds like the perfect binge for fans of Blue Planet and The Amazing Race.
Unfortunately, once you press play, it quickly becomes clear that All the Sharks is less must-see TV and more decent background noise. The underwater cinematography is often beautiful, sure, but the editing is choppy, the structure meanders, and there’s very little tension to sustain the competition format. Some of the dive footage is clearly stitched together to manufacture excitement, and much of the in-dive commentary sounds like it was recorded in a studio later and slapped on after the fact. It’s not egregious, but it’s enough to break the immersion.
That said, there’s one undeniable bright spot: host Tom “The Blowfish” Hird. A marine biologist with a braided beard, manbun, and genuine passion for sharks, Hird brings a quirky energy that lifts the show whenever he’s on screen. He’s got the charisma of a Discovery Channel vet crossed with a metal band roadie, and he’s the rare host who actually seems to know what he’s talking about.
If you’re deeply into marine life or want something to toss on while doing chores, All the Sharks might be worth a casual stream. But Netflix has served up far better unscripted content, and this one, sadly, never really makes a splash.
I give All the Sharks a C-.
TV and City 