Home > Documentary TV Show > Captain Cook: Obsession and Discovery

Captain Cook: Obsession and Discovery

2007

Seasons & Episodes

  • 1

EP1 A Likely Lad Oct 28, 2007

James Cook journeys from life as a barefoot farm boy to commanding his own ship on one of the British Empire's first great scientific expeditions. Influential patrons help the bright boy to an apprenticeship in the merchant navy that would make him a ships' master. But with an eye for the main chance Cook switches to the Royal Navy. War with France propels him to Canada, where he discovers his life's work. He revolutionises the accuracy of naval mapping and the way the world is recorded. In further adventures, his genius for precision navigation helps Britain win the war and control of North America. Cook's reward is command of the great scientific expedition to the Pacific Ocean and the newly discovered exotic and sexually liberated Tahiti to record the 1769 Transit of Venus. When the observation is complete, Cook opens secret orders and learns he is to solve one of the world's great mysteries. He must find the Great Southern Continent. The real challenge has just begun.

EP2 Taking Command Nov 04, 2007

Captain James Cook sets sail on the history-making adventure in search of one of the great prizes of 18th century exploration, the fabled Great Southern Continent. If Britain can find and map it, they can claim it for the Empire. Cook takes on board an additional passenger, Polynesian priest and fellow navigator, Tupaia. Cook's first encounter with New Zealand's Maori people is a disaster, so he turns to Tupaia who acts as go-between for later landings. Over six months, Cook circumnavigates both North and South islands, proving to Banks and the gentlemen aboard that New Zealand is not the Great Southern Continent. Continuing east into the unknown and landing in Botany Bay, Cook is challenged by what he encounters - Australia's flora, fauna and Indigenous people. Unlike his experience of the Pacific islanders, the Aborigines want nothing to do with the visitors. Cook's landing at Botany Bay will make him an iconic figure in modern history, but not unless he can navigate his way out of the maze of the Great Barrier Reef - a potential disaster that could kill them all.

EP3 Beyond Speculation Nov 11, 2007

Cook continues his relentless pursuit of a Great Southern Continent, putting fable and mystery to rest. Despite his great skills sailing and navigating across the world, Endeavour runs aground and is nearly lost. As a patched up Endeavour crawls its way north again, Cook commits the most controversial act of the voyage: he claims the entire east coast of New Holland for Britain, without permission from local inhabitants. To this day, Cook's claim is still not accepted by Aboriginal people. Stopping for emergency repairs in Batavia, infected water turns Endeavour into a death ship. Until now Cook has not lost a man, but by the Cape of Good Hope, Cook has lost over a third of his crew. Back in London, enduring trials of life are also taking their toll on the Cook family. In his absence, Cook's wife Elizabeth must bury a second child. Cook's maps confirm his brilliance. He is promoted to Commander to lead a new voyage that will add an incredible third of the world to the map. It makes him a great British hero but the massive responsibility is taking its toll. He is losing control; only his obsession with discovery drives him on.

EP4 Northwest Passage Nov 18, 2007

Cook's passion for exploration continues as he searches for the mythic North West Passage, but is it a journey too far?
7.2| 0h30m| en
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Reviews

ClassyWas Excellent, smart action film.
FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.
Skyler Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.
Janis One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.
Myrna Weber 'One problem with learning about history in the school room is that many incredible feats are reduced to dates and basic details. If only all tales were recounted like Captain James Cook's in this fantastic four-part documentary. Gripping stuff.' — Daily TelegraphThe program removes Cook from the comfort zones customarily created for him and shows him as both a brilliant but flawed and driven man. He left an extraordinary legacy in scientific terms. This was effected by dedication to his purpose and his duty which overrode the demands of his personal health and safety leading ultimately to his death. As it is interesting to the scholar as well as to the neophyte, Captain Cook: obsession and discovery sets a new standard for a well- researched history which is vivid, exciting and accessible.' — NSW Premier's History awards'THUMBS UP! Narrator Vanessa Collingridge manages to draw the viewer into this majestic journey with her bountiful enthusiasm.' — Sydney Morning Herald'An intriguing examination of the way technology, society and the man's own talents combined to produce a figure who, quite literally, changed the world.' — Sunday Age'It's a lively presentation of history supported with good vision of the exotic scenes Cook encountered: tropical orgies, New Zealand cannibals and hip-throbbing Tahitian dancers.' —Weekend Australian"Must See TV' — Daily Telegraph'The location work in Yorkshire, Canada, New Zealand, Tahiti, Hawaii and Australia is wondrous to see.' — Sydney Morning Herald, Show of the Week'This enthralling documentary carefully balances the insights and narrative of British author Vanessa Collingridge and re-enactments of Cook's expeditions without interfering with the enthralling story that unfolds.' — Sydney Morning Herald'5 Stars!' — Time Out Magazine
Gilmarien I was looking forward greatly to seeing this series, since Cook -- and even more so Banks -- have been central figures in my own research into the scientific discourse of the eighteenth century. Unfortunately, I gave up halfway through the first episode, due to the distasteful -- almost embarrassing -- style of the presenter, Vanessa Collingridge. She seems to be unable to make up her mind whether she's running a game show, presenting a soap-powder commercial, or trying to get a date with the cameraman (or the audience). Her high-pitched, breathless, girlish delivery, her perpetual flirtatious smile, her naively over-dramatic style, made at least this viewer very uncomfortable. They also deprive her of any authority -- which is a pity, since she probably knows quite a lot about her subject. All in all, a great disappointment.
TaxPayer99 "I am interested in history ... Vanessa Collingridge in the documentary series, 'Captain Cook: Obsession and Discovery', so often expresses the character of Cook and his deeds in his voyages of discovery in these fashionably emotive terms that I had trouble remembering that this was the narrative of actual historical events, of historical facts, the words 'obsession' and 'passion' and their derivatives being repeated so often in this series." "fashionably emotive" ... "policially correct" ???Look up the word hypothesis in the dictionary Kobalt64, you may actually learn something about history.
silverblue-4 A sad fact of life these days seems to be a lack of interest displayed by "Generation Y" for historical studies. There has been a noticeable decline in the numbers of High School students who wish to continue studying history into tertiary level; the events of 200 years ago seem remote and uninteresting - anything further back is too far to look. The reason why Captain Cook: Obsession and Discovery is so important is that it is intended to speak to these young people; to help enthuse and excite curiosity about events which were and still are so important to the history of the world. It is a series which is clearly not meant to satisfy died-in-the-wool historians, with, for instance, detailed analysis of the workings of late 18th century sailing ships. For example, Vanessa Colleridge refers to the rigging of the Endeavor as looking like a "Spider's party". Cringe! As someone who enjoys the wonderful writings of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series of books I find this somewhat frustrating. However, information on the Endeavor's rigging can be found elsewhere, and I know where to look. The insights provided by the likes of Professor Andrew Lambert and Emeritus Prof. Robert Clancy add valuable ballast to the programs. Fortunately Colleridge allows their opinions to flow without the ignorant interruptions which can so often destroy the value of having such people included. The overuse of hyperbole and an occasional drift into the shallow waters of cliché can jar and the sudden switches in location can be confusing. However, I cannot fault Colleridge's depth of knowledge, and her enthusiasm is obvious and infectious. The quality of the re-enactments is high-class and the overall production is very good, with the locations chosen providing good background to the historical content. As for the overwhelming PC-ness which has been claimed elsewhere? PC has itself become a comfortable, politically correct term which is nowadays mostly abused and overused by people who don't like certain points of view. There is nothing overwhelmingly PC about admiring a woman who had to stay at home and watch several children suffer and die, with her husband thousands of miles away. Even historians should be allowed some degree of compassion and empathy. IMHO Vanessa Colleridge has succeeded in creating a series which, it is to be hoped, will engender an interest and enthusiasm amongst the intended "Generation Y" audience for further study of the life and times of Captain James Cook, and his all-to easily overlooked wife Elizabeth. For this reason the series deserves a good pass mark