‘Underdogs', Narrated by Ryan Reynolds, Celebrates Natures Unsung Heroes

Geek Dad

15-06-2025

Hold on to your binoculars, folks, as Nat Geo gets up close and personal with the outcasts of the animal kingdom in Underdogs , narrated by Ryan Reynolds. From their hidden talents to their unconventional hygiene choices to their unsavory courtship rituals, Underdogs celebrates the unique behaviors of the animals who don't usually get to be the stars of the show. What Is Underdogs?
Underdogs is a five-part television series that showcases a different aspect of the underdogs' bizarre mating strategies, surprising superpowers, deception, dubious parenting skills and gross-out behaviors. It features a range of never-before-filmed scenes, including the first time a film crew has ever entered a special cave in New Zealand—a huge cavern that glows brighter than a bachelor pad under a black light thanks to the glowing butts of millions of mucus-coated grubs. All over the world, overlooked superstars like this are out there 24/7, giving it maximum effort and keeping the natural world in working order for all those showboating polar bears, sharks and gorillas.
From Reynolds' Emmy Award-winning Maximum Effort and Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning Wildstar Films (a Fremantle company), National Geographic's Underdogs premieres with the first two episodes on June 15 and will be simulcast on the ABC network. Underdogs will also be available to stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. The remaining episodes are broadcast the following two Sundays. Let's take a look at the each of the five episodes. 'Superzeroes'
Ryan Reynolds assembles a team of 'Superzeroes,' apparently pathetic animals with unexpectedly awesome superpowers. Forget about the cheetah's speed, the eagle's eyesight or the elephant's brute strength, and say hello to the invisible glass frog, the indestructible honey badger and the pistol shrimp who can fire bubbles that are as hot as the surface of the sun. A honey badger walks through the grass in southern Africa. (National Geographic/Karl Davies) 'Terrible Parents'
Reynolds reveals some highly questionable parenting strategies from the animal kingdom's worst parents, the underdogs. From a goose who lays their eggs on the top of a cliff to a koala that feeds its baby poop, it's uncertain if they are bad parents or just misunderstood. But no matter how bad you think you may be at parenting, you can't be as bad as these guys. Koalas rest in a tree in Cape Otway, Australia. (National Geographic/David Marks) 'Sexy Beasts'
Forget the birds and the bees, Ryan reveals the steps to finding 'the one,' underdog-style. From the 'first attraction' in giant-nosed proboscis monkeys to the importance of wingmen in turkey courtship to foreplay in flying foxes, these guys have re-written the rule book on messy and complicated relationships. A fruit bat hangs in the canopy. (Credit: National Geographic) 'The Unusual Suspects'
Ryan Reynolds puts the spotlight on the underdogs who get ahead by sneaky tactics. From the master-of-disguise frogfish to a butt-biting jackal and a multi-headed caterpillar playing the decoy, these are the masters of deception and deceit. And bringing all these hustlers together is the greatest con artist of them all—a cunning macaque who feeds on the spoils from unsuspecting tourists. Cinematographer Roger Munns sets up filming equipment on the sea floor to film a hairy frogfish lying in wait. (National Geographic/Jason Isley) 'Total Grossout'
Ryan gives his unique take on the animals who use gross-out tactics to achieve their goals, from defending their home to finding a mate and wining at the game of life. His cast includes manatees that use flatulence to control their buoyancy and cave-dwelling fungus gnats that create beautiful, illuminated fly traps from the mucus lit by their bioluminescent butts. A hippopotamus stretches its large jaws open and displays its massive canines and crushing power. (National Geographic/Doug Parker) Why You Should See Underdogs
I used to think nature documentaries were boring. However, over the past several years, National Geographic has created some wonderful series that are not only informational and educational, but also very entertaining. When I learned that a new series narrated by Ryan Reynolds was coming out, I wanted to check it out. Just as Reynolds puts his own brand of humor in the many different things he does, he is now part of a nature show along those same lines. As a result, this is a nature documentary series unlike any other you may have seen in the past. Expect to see some disgusting things that animals do in real life and to be shocked at some of their behaviors. After reviewing these episodes, I recommend Underdogs . The series is rated TV14 and may not be appropriate for some children since it covers some more mature topics and contains some scenes of violence in nature as well as images that are just gross. In my opinion, I would recommend for high school age children and older.
Be sure to watch Underdogs when it premieres Sunday June 15th on NatGeo TV as well as ABC and begins streaming the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.
Here is a trailer for the series. Liked it? Take a second to support GeekDad and GeekMom on Patreon!