History lesson concise but powerful
In an era when the words "trump card" could be misinterpreted, the documentary has Donald Stratton. He was there, felt the blast, carried the injury and was around 75 years later.
There was a chilling moment when Donald Stratton surveyed the wall containing the names of the 1177 men who died when a Japanese torpedo devastated USS Arizona at Pearl Harbour.
Stratton, a survivor, returned to see the wreckage of the battleship 75 years after the 1941 attack.
It was poignant and he was clearly upset.
Only last week I visited Ground Zero 9/11 in New York, where the names of 2974 victims are inscribed on the walls.
The sight of the site was equally disturbing.
I thought I knew my way around the city and headed for Times Square.
However, two hour later I was back, completely lost, having walked in circles or, more accurately, squares.
In the two-parter, Pearl Harbour – Into The Arizona (Sky 74, Wednesdays), Stratton is the link between December 7, 1941 – ‘‘the day that will live in infamy’’ – and the National Parks Service’s mission to scan the Arizona using a radio controller sonar device.
It did it to complete a 75th anniversary documentary, but also let Stratton have a look.
Thousands of Barnacle Bills have attached themselves to the ship, but it’s possible to see the outline of the Arizona at the bottom of the harbour.
In addition, scientists have the ability to create a 3D computer model of the exterior.
It’s like a police identikit, but without the age, height, ethnicity and tattoos from TV2’S Police Ten 7.
The ship is a naval cemetery and no diver is allowed inside, but, ironically, the parks service has devised technology to penetrate the wreckage and let us see.
The documentary succeeds because it shows World War II footage – some unseen before – and provides a quick lesson as to why it happened.
If your interest in history is a mile wide and an inch thick, this is for you.
But, in an era when the words ‘‘trump card’’ could be misinterpreted, the documentary has Donald Stratton.
He was there, felt the blast, carried the injury and was around 75 years later.
There’s nothing better than a living eyewitness.
Docos are about people. One of the most ruthless chasers on The Chase (TV One, Monday-friday) is The Beast, Mark Labbett.
He has an MA in mathematics and would have been horrified when fellow chaser Jenny Ryan didn’t know how many eggs make up six dozen.
She didn’t have an answer, not even a paltry one, and suddenly Thursday’s Chase turned in favour of the four contestants.
It’s a fine series with enormous ratings because it has the key element of amateurs competing against the professional might of Labbett, The Governess and others.
They devour facts, like Weetbix, for breakfast and then salivate ready for the hapless contestants.
But Thursday was payback time. When Jenny Ryan faltered, the awesome foursome mounted a decent total and won most of the push backs.
Not one of them had the clueless look of someone whose wheels were still spinning even if the hamster had died.
The team’s only weakness was their knowledge of New Zealand-related questions.
Sir John Hunt led the team that saw Sir Ed ‘‘knock the bastard off’’ and the Tasmanian Sea doesn’t separate New Zealand from Australia. It’s Winston Peters. So there.
However, The Chase compere and ‘‘cheeky chappy’’ Bradley Walsh creates the environment and draws the viewers.
He can sing, dance, act, ask questions and is very much on the contestants’ side.
I contacted his agent recently and was assured he’d love to visit New Zealand in 2019.
One contestant, Tony, claimed his nine-to-five job was as a transformation manager.
I can think of many people I’d like him to transform, including someone in the White House.
By the time you reach series 20, you’re either a candidate for sainthood or you’ve exhausted every original idea.
Silent Witness (Prime, Thursdays) ran on empty several series back, but has returned like a 1960s rock band with one archetypal member left.
Emelia Fox as forensic pathologist, Dr Nikki Alexander, was close to inception and brings authority to the series, but her colleagues are less than memorable.
In a confusing new episode, Nikki analyses several deaths caused by illegal human trafficking and is then called to a van in a clearing south of London where the remains of refugees are likely to be found.
Fleas, buzzards and weevils play effective supporting roles, but weren’t listed in the credits.