| Edge of the Earth | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Documentary |
| Created by |
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| Directed by |
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| Composer | Tyler Strickland |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Drew Holt |
| Cinematography |
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| Editors |
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| Running time | 60 minutes[1] |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | HBO |
| Release | July 12 (2022-07-12) – August 2, 2022 (2022-08-02)[2][3] |
Edge of the Earth is a 2022HBO documentary televisionminiseries that follows four differentextreme sports expeditions undertaken by elite athletes. Each episode follows a different group traveling to a remote area. Theoutdoor sports highlighted aresnowboarding,kayaking,rock climbing, andsurfing. Everywhere the athletes go, they witness the impact ofclimate change andindustry on the landscape and society. The series was filmed during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[1][2][4]
The series was created and directed by brothers Todd Jones and Steve Jones, founders of production company Teton Gravity Research (TGR).[1] Talks to develop the series began between TGB and HBO in the summer of 2019. There were early plans to shoot in China, but this did not occur due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The show was filmed during the pandemic and, as a result, the athletes and filmmaking crew underwent regulartesting. The pandemic also led to logistical challenges as the team navigated areas withtravel bans. The production team consisted of more than 60 people in total. In each location, cinematography was handled by experts in their respective sports.[2]
| No. | Title | Directed by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Into the Void" | Todd Jones & Steve Jones | July 12, 2022 (2022-07-12) | |
Jeremy Jones leads a group of fellow elite snowboarders in an attempt to descendMount Bertha inAlaska'sGlacier Bay National Park and Preserve, as the mountain has never been snowboarded or skied. The group hikes up to their destination, encountering both heavy snows and unseasonably warm weather. Jones talks about his non-profit organizationProtect Our Winters, which is fighting for government action against climate change. | ||||
| 2 | "Raging Torrent" | Todd Jones & Steve Jones | July 19, 2022 (2022-07-19) | |
InEcuador, a trio of whitewater kayakers aim to be the first ones to crossLlanganates National Park via the Chalupas River. They encounter more challenging conditions than expected, face low food rations, and an injury from a machete accident. The group fights over whether to continue and how to better communicate so they can proceed safely. In the end, they must call off the trip. | ||||
| 3 | "Reaching for the Sky" | Todd Jones & Steve Jones | July 26, 2022 (2022-07-26) | |
Climbing team and romantic coupleEmily Harrington andAdrian Ballinger travel to the incredibly remote Pik Slesova inKyrgyzstan. Their goal is to accomplish the first individualfree climb ascent up a challenging route. Their original plan is to hike to the mountain. However, both contractCOVID-19 despite beingvaccinated and taking precautions. After two weeks ofquarantine in an hotel, they test negative for the virus. The couple fly byhelicopter to the mountain and begin their ascent. After several grueling days, they summit and are elated. | ||||
| 4 | "The Great Unknown" | Todd Jones & Steve Jones | August 2, 2022 (2022-08-02) | |
Grant Baker is among a group of elite surfers who go in search of new beaches with the potential for massiveswells on the western coast of South Africa. During the expedition, they struggle to find good waves, and thoroughly plan out safety protocols for surfing in the unfamiliar areas. AnAustralianmining company threatens to destroy around 50 kilometers of pristine, untouched shoreline, and activists struggle to save the area. | ||||
Scott Hines ofDecider praised the show, writing it avoided "being corny" by making "something that’s simultaneously breathtakingly beautiful and utterly terrifying."[4] Michelle Bruton atForbes felt the show did a good job appealing to both those involved in action sports and those where were more casually interested.[2] Graham Averill atOutside likened the extreme sports as "almost a sideshow" and wrote "The films are at their most compelling when they focus on the human element of the expeditions."[1]
Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022 I 'Edge of the Earth' finale airs on HBO