Forgotten Planet

Forgotten Planet, first aired in 2011, is a captivating documentary series by 3net that explores the eerie, evocative reality of places deserted by humans. It encapsulates both the fascination and terror that systematically deserted spaces evoke, presenting them in a profound exploration of both cultural history and human nature's resilience in the face of decline and decay.

The series sheds light on various abandoned towns worldwide, ranging from an entire deserted island in Japan to a once-booming gold mining town in California, the significantly impacted areas around Chernobyl to the remains of American Detroit's auto-manufacturing plants. Each location unraveled brings its unique tale of life, prosperity, decline, and abandonment.

The unique aspect of Forgotten Planet is the show's uncanny ability to dissect the remnants of these ghost towns and extract the emotional, historical, and cultural essence leftover from human residency—much like an archaeologist meticulously digging through the remains of an ancient civilization. The series approaches its subject with investigative rigor, unearthing the layers of history and lives that were once in full swing in these now desolate and decaying sites.

The documentary originates from the intriguing premise that the abandoned towns, cities, and industrial complexes provide a gripping, poignant narrative. Each episode introduces a location, using a combination of urban exploration footage, historical archives, digital recreations, and expert interviews. The history of each location is brought to life in detail, allowing viewers to go on a paranormal time travel journey, feeling the spirit of humanity left behind.

Forgotten Planet also delves into the macro reasons for these mass abandonments—often presenting a grim image of environmental catastrophe, economic collapse, disaster-prone geographical features, or simply large-scale demographic shifts that lead to urban decay. In doing so, the series gets to the heart of these dilapidated locations, answering questions like why a place was abandoned and how it reached its current state.

In contrast to the grimy aesthetics, the series invests heavily in high-quality graphics, animations, and other production aspects that bring to life the photographed remains. This stunning visual narrative makes each place a picturesque post-apocalyptic landscape that allures the viewers with its haunting charm.

The series does not just focus on the locations' physicality; it also unearths the psychological aspects of abandonment. It delves into the hope, despair, fear, excitement, and other emotions that were part of the abandonment process. Forgotten Planet explores these topics through the lens of human-centric storytelling - manifesting convincingly in the form of personal anecdotes, photographs, and letters presented in each episode. This facet adds an additional layer to the documentary, highlighting that these abandoned landscapes are not just non-occupied pieces of land, but spaces that were once bustling with hopes, dreams, activities, and, most importantly, life.

The commentary coupled with the tour of the site is essential because it simultaneously explains and visualizes the history of the place. But perhaps, the real punch it packs is in its ability to tap into our shared fears about the collapse of civilization—right from its small-scale manifestation in a ghost town to a dystopian future where cities have been deserted en masse.

Forgotten Planet is a significant departure from most travel documentaries' light and breezy presentation. It forces us to confront our worst fears about modern society and its potentially fleeting presence on the earth's surface. Despite its distinct gloom, it also manages to be educational—a history lesson of sorts—detailing how human occupations and civilizations have ebbed and flowed over the years.

In conclusion, Forgotten Planet is a thought-provoking journey that takes the audience into a rich tapestry of emotions and history. The series excels brilliantly in its eponymous task—transforming the forgotten into the unforgettable, stimulating viewers to think about the places we live in and how they'll look when we're gone. Every emptiness evokes a presence that underlines a clear message: Nothing lasts forever, including us and our seemingly invincible urban habitats—all told artfully through the tales of these fascinating, deserted monuments of human activity and ambition.