Origins: The Journey of Humankind

2017

Origins: The Journey of Humankind

6.7 | TV-14 | en | Documentary

Hosted by Jason Silva, Origins: The Journey of Humankind rewinds all the way back to the beginning and traces the innovations that made us modern.

WATCH FREEFOR 30 DAYS

All Prime Video
Cancel anytime

Watch Now

Seasons & Episodes

EP8 The Road Ahead

Apr. 17,2017

Freedom of movement has given us freedom of mind. The flow of people and materials exposes us to new ideas, new ways of life and new understanding. This is the story of how transportation turned society inside out. How engines and animals powered the rise of civilization. And how the innovations that drive humanity forward made us modern.

EP7 Into the Unknown

Apr. 10,2017

When it comes to the edge of the darkness, the bend in the horizon or the distant stars, humans can't help ourselves: exploration is in our nature. We have climbed to the summits of the earth, peered into the depths of the oceans and planted our feet on the moon. Our primal curiosity has sparked new inventions and revealed the mysteries of the universe.

EP6 Building the Future

Apr. 09,2017

The human race has moved from bone huts to skyscrapers. Today, we are seemingly everywhere ... everywhere we want to be. Our walls and structures dominate the landscape. They don't just protect us, they define us. They represent our dream of the modern world. "Shelter" is the story of how we shaped the world around us, and how that world shaped us back.

EP5 Progress of War

Apr. 03,2017

War brings out the best and worst in humanity. It has revolutionized medicine, transportation and communication, and changed how we live and how we think.

EP4 The Writing on the Wall

Mar. 27,2017

If knowledge is power, communication is the jet fuel, the delivery system, the gift we give each other that links the modern world. But it has a dark side.

EP3 Power of Money

Mar. 20,2017

Money is the most successful story imagined by humans, because it's the only story everyone believes. From a simple act of trade to the greed for gold to today’s global economy, the meaning of money and what we value changes as civilization evolves. If modern money is a reflection of who we are, what does it say about us?

EP2 Cheating Death

Mar. 13,2017

Microscopic armies have waged war on humanity for thousands of years. Medicine is our great weapon to fight back against invisible, unthinkable death.

EP1 Spark of Civilization

Mar. 06,2017

Harnessing fire gave us the power to create, to destroy and to transform. But it also taught us hard lessons about what we can and cannot control. This is the story of how fire transformed our biology and carried us from the savannah to the moon.

6.7 | TV-14 | en | Documentary | More Info

Released: 2017-03-06 | Released Producted By: Asylum Entertainment , Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/origins-the-journey-of-humankind/

Synopsis

Hosted by Jason Silva, Origins: The Journey of Humankind rewinds all the way back to the beginning and traces the innovations that made us modern.

Stream Online

The tv show is currently not available onine

Cast

Jason Silva , Mark Monroe

Director

John D. Boswell

Producted By

Asylum Entertainment ,

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime.

Watch Now

Trailers

Cast

Jason Silva

as Himself - Presenter

Origins: The Journey of Humankind Mission Pluto

Mark Monroe

as Narrator

Origins: The Journey of Humankind

Reviews

SnoopyStyle This is a National Geographic series about everything human and our world. It's a big subject. It's too big. The show is noise and fury without enough enlightenment. There are eight episodes. Each one tackles such a big part of human existence that it can't possibly cover them in one hour episodes. The show has a cast of educated presenters and host Jason Silva. Most of it is a series of reenactments, talking heads, and always the fast-cutting flashy connective sequences.There are some issues with accuracy. It's problematic because one expects better from National Geographic. Did we really discover fire in 12,000 BC? Despite the importance of accuracy, the biggest problem is the show's scattered disjointed way of tackling each issue. It feels like the host Jason Silva is attacking me with his wild hand gestures and words. He's looking directly into the camera and barking at me. The flashy jolting presentation doesn't allow anything to sink in. The show jumps from one place and time to another and then another and another. It's too disjointed for anything educational to sink into the audience. By the end of each episode, I could only remember bits of disconnected information which leaves me with no new insight or new understanding. Apparently, all of transportation leads to the discovery of Marilyn Monroe. I don't know why that's important. It might be worthwhile for dumb people with no concept of science or history. For an educated audience, this really only skims the vast history of man. With such a big subject matter, this show could never dig that deep.

Dave Stephens I am watching this on National Geographic on the African satellite service DSTV, and really just wanted to thank the other reviewers for convincing me I'm not going mad! It is awful. I particularly liked the description of the presenter being 'caffeinated' and 'wooden'. I'd add 'totally irritating' to the list. Comparing this heap of rubbish to the amazing scientific documentaries produced by the BBC is like comparing offal with prime fillet steak.

yooniverse Hyper, electronic/industrial melodramatic soundtrack, lots of flashy CGI with rotating/panning camera work, cinematically contrived, fast-paced cut scenes. It's a documentary with ADD.The host/narrator, Jason Silva, is absolutely the worst I have ever seen/heard. Is he high on coke? it's jarring--I can't stand his overly emphatic speech mannerisms. The tone has a quality of being very condescending/patronizing, as if he needs to make you understand just how important everything he says is. He needs to see how to convey the sense of wonder in presenting knowledge--maybe watch Carl Sagan, James Burke, David Attenborough, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and many other successful narrators. It's also hard to "connect" with the narrator when the stupid camera constantly breaks eye contact with the narrator with off-angle camera work.Material itself is fine, in my opinion. Yes, it over-dramatizes too many minor points with lots of hyperbole, but I get that it's an interpretive work. It has educational value. Just hit the mute button when Silva appears and lower the volume a bit for the rest of the show. I tried watching that way and found that I missed nothing, confirming that he adds nothing to the presentation of the material. My blood pressure and stress levels came down, and was able to enjoy the show.

puzzledresearcher Many of us who like documentaries have lamented how American television outlets, such as the National Geographic Channel, have dumbed-down the genre. (In the case of NGC this was not unexpected especially after Fox got involved with them and took significant ownership.)"Origins" is further evidence of the sad state of this genre.One key problem is the presenter. Nominally this series is anthropology illustrated, and typically such a presenter would be an expert in the field. That is not necessary though as often a great orator or actor can present in a documentary; but here we get neither. The presenter is too forced, too fake. If this series is aimed at 5 year-olds (as the narration may suggest) using exaggerated speech might be acceptable, but this series is being presented as something for the wider audience.Then there is the content. Oh dear, the content. The opening scenes of the first episode focus on "fire" and the present goes on about man harnessing the power of the sun (cue image of our star) and... wait.. what? The sun? Our star runs by nuclear fusion, but then the narrative switches to humans with wooden fires...The show doesn't get better.This is just television for busy parents, to place their children in front of the screen to keep them occupied.