River Monsters
8.27.3
Biologist and extreme angler, Jeremy Wade, is on the hunt for freshwater fish with a taste for human flesh. Jeremy travels the globe risking life and limb, to investigate freshwater mysteries and uncover the truth about the dark secrets of our planet's rivers.
Callum reviewed
November 3, 2025•
ChatGPT said:
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (out of 5) River Monsters – Hooked on Legends
Jeremy Wade is one of those rare hosts who makes you feel like you’re sitting beside him, quietly dangling a line into the unknown. In River Monsters, he travels the world in search of freshwater giants — creatures that have inspired folklore, terrified locals, and occasionally taken a bite out of more than just bait.
Each episode blends biology, anthropology, and a dash of old-fashioned adventure. Wade doesn’t just chase the fish — he chases the stories behind them. As a New Zealander, it’s hard not to draw a line between our own Taniwha legends and the massive eels lurking in our rivers. For years I’d never connected the two, but seeing Wade’s research unfold, I suddenly could — and learned a few new tricks for catching them (purely theoretical, of course).
What sets River Monsters apart is its quiet reverence for nature. Wade, like a calmer, more contemplative Steve Irwin, brings equal parts knowledge and wonder to every cast. He’s not wrestling beasts; he’s uncovering truths, giving myth a face and science a voice.
Pairing: A thermos of strong black coffee and a misty riverbank at dawn — patient, grounded, and full of stories waiting to surface.