The World of 'Expedition' | Part II

[@eirsh8747]

I absolutely love Darwin IV, it really feels like a unique alien planet instead of a copy and paste of earth.

[@explunky8452]

I absulutely agree

[@ivy4360]

Yes everything about this feels truly alien instead of some big eyed green humanoid and green goo monsters piloting UFOs.

[@sametsahin6863]

Human mind is incabable of creating new shapes and creatures this probably took immensly mind destroyingly long time

[@explunky8452]

@Pᴀᴡɴ Sᴛᴀʀs🇫​ᴀɴ It's not because it's based off of our understanding of evolution and our understanding of biology on earth that it's automatically earth-like

[@Felahliir]

There's a couple flaws though: the lack of eyes in a planet with perfect lighting, and the fact that so many fast animals rely on echolocation. The flying jet thing would be blind when using it's jet engine since it's so loud.

[@ivy4360]

Words cannot describe how beautifully unique this project is, I’ve seen pictures of emperor sea strider and other organisms but never knew where they are from until now.

[@treetheoak8313]

There is a TV special going into a little more detail of some of the creatures anatomy. Clips from that special where used here.

[@marilynlucero9363]

Journey to Darwin IV (Alien Planet) Look it up on KZbin, you will love it no doubt.

[@ibranmlr6139]

Indeed

[@aldgate]

The fact that the narrator, managed to survive so long, despite their main tactic being "oops lucky it didn't eat me" is honestly more mysterious than the planet. Great video though, very entertaining.

[@spacedoutorca4550]

I guess he counts as a cameraman. The cameraman can survive absolutely anything.

[@aldgate]

@@spacedoutorca4550 true, very true

[@_knightsbane_3615]

Luckily most things he encountered had their "eyes" on larger prey.

[@captain_buggles]

Most of them probably think he smells weird and tastes disgusting, and he's probably outright inedible to them, since not even all that many earth carnivores prefer to eat us. So ironically I think he'd be more likely to die of territorial herbivores, like the alien equivalent of pissing off a rhino or something, lol.

[@arlibrarian]

The tv special had robots performing the expedition.

[@elpistachio]

That sad part about the Rimerunner encountered in the book is that it is slowly dying as Barlowe noticed a few Beach Quills embedded in its body.

[@magnarcreed3801]

It could survive. Not all injuries result in death.

[@pifflesomepuffnadder855]

@@magnarcreed3801 Let's just hope those particular Beach Quills will run outta venom before the Rimerunner gives in.

[@adamfarrell661]

No I read that chapter it's a species of parasites eggs that suck energy and nutrients from their hosts before hatching.

[@monkewithinternetaccess6107]

I think a speculative biology book about potential life on the moon Enceladus would be awesome. There’s a lot of potential.

[@skipperofschool8325]

Europa and Titan too

[@monkewithinternetaccess6107]

@@skipperofschool8325 Those too, I’m just a sucker for underwater civilizations. I love the aesthetic.

[@skipperofschool8325]

@@monkewithinternetaccess6107 same ngl

[@darealshinji]

​@@skipperofschool8325 Isn't Titan a bit too cold? Or are you talking about silicon based Life?

[@willoliver9036]

​@darealshinji There are methane oceans on titans surface which could host either silicon or exotic carbon based life, and there is likely an water ocean beneath

[@aero.axel_]

I remember watching this documentary years ago and could not get enough of how amazing it was!

[@TiddyTwyster]

Same, I only recently discovered what it was based on a few weeks ago I just thought it was more stereotypical Discovery channel stuff lmao

[@Methus3lah]

I wonder if the story of this strange human traveler would be passed down in eosapien oral tradition. There probably wouldn’t be a full-on cargo cult, but maybe they’d perceive this odd, spindly, ground-bound creature as a spirit of the earth underneath them.

[@arthurpettigrew3074]

Perhaps noting that it (the human) seemingly being unaffected by the most extreme temperatures and navigating around the native life despite its dimunitive size and seeming lack of defense would make the human traveler seem even more unusual.

[@apothecurio]

I like the idea of the eosapien potentially seeing the human sit down and floating to the Human to see that the human is drawing it.

[@derpco.69420]

Guys guys guys you won’t believe it I saw a fucking human. No way Jim there just a myth. Then prove this!! * dramatic entrance for the human* hello. AHHHHHHHH WTF JIM WTF IS THAT. It’s a human bob. What? It’s a human bob. Oh….. huh.

[@youtubealt243]

Tales speak of the small beast that moves with legs on its side and can survive the most dangerous temperatures the world provides. Small but heavy, it’s surprisingly strong and a smart fighter, able to detect passive energy radiating off our star and reflecting off its enemies, the beast can examine its target without needing to make a sound. They fight through blunt force, tearing forces and constriction using their limbs

[@DwAboutItManFr]

Wasn't the traveler a robotic probe?

[@Sonjaslostson]

Darwin IV remains, to this day, my absolute favorite speculative biology project and inspired my love for similar projects.

[@OnionChoppingNinja]

I just realised something. The skewer propels itself through combusting methane they internally generate. The skewer is quite literally a living fart propelled jet aircraft.

[@matthewparker5277]

They're kind of like the a**blasters from the tremors movies lol

[@WisteriAvis]

From earth cuttlefish to Snaiad marine lifeforms and Spacers in All Tomorrows, we can all see evolution favours fart cretures.

[@cevatkokbudak6414]

​@@matthewparker5277I'm both scared and want to search that word

[@kelpyyyyy]

Darwin IV was a massive part of my childhood, actually. I've been a bit obsessed since I was about 5 or 6. Great to see a new video on it.

[@joschuaknuppe5849]

I wish Barlowe had added a few more chapters or at least pages to the reprint of the book that came out last year. Sooooo much more stories to tell and organisms to explore.

[@benmathews2762]

I remember watching the show when it came out and being completely mesmerized. It's nice to see new creatures that I didn't see before!

[@thingwhatever]

#TRUTH

[@hectorgperez]

I can't get enough of these speculative biology works and alien worlds, I really can't, thanks for sharing them with us.

[@toubi4316]

I can relate.

[@guillaume_beaumont]

I've watched some speculative biology before but finding your channel by complete chance has gotten me into the wider genre as a whole. Thanks for uploading videos like this!

[@ylussjoel]

I swear nothing makes me happier than a Curious Archive upload before going to sleep.

[@Astro_Aladfar]

Same here.

[@CHKNFNGRZ]

I get mine right as I wake up! Hello from the other side of the planet!

[@chipsdubbo4861]

Bit ashamed to say this, but as a kid I actually thought this was a real documentary, I also fell for the Mermaid one, and the Megalodon one, and the Dragon one. I was way too trusting of anything which described itself as a "documentary" as a kid.

[@JuntosXlaLibertadMileyBuIIrich]

Lol i felt for that documentary for the norse troll too which was made like 15 years ago and i was entering adulthood back then

[@АртёмДубравин-ы6у]

@@JuntosXlaLibertadMileyBuIIrich I hope your creepy uncle never described the back of his van as a documentary.

[@ominous-omnipresent-they]

To be fair, the shows did disclose their speculative nature.

[@IceSpoon]

That Dragon one was *almost* too real tho lol

[@pailhorsegaming6762]

I loved that mermaid one

[@seano4977]

I remember watching this documentary years ago. I absolutely loved it. It revolved around two AI probes investigating the planet. If I remember correctly the primitive intelligent species were not friendly.

[@jackkraken3888]

Yep the video is still on KZbin somewhere. I actually loved the AI drones/probes they were pretty cool. I think the had to make the EOsapiens like that so that the first drone gets killed by it and the second drone has to find out what happened.

[@miming3679]

Bruh as a kid I thought they were real. I cried when the robot died

[@qwertydavid8070]

@@miming3679 top ten saddest cinema deaths

[@somniumoflight276]

I think it wasn't so much they weren't friendly as some sort of equipment the probes were using were being seen as a threat, because I remember the second probe didn't get attacked at first until it used said equipment... though it's been a while since I've seen Alien Planet so I could be wrong!

[@theishiopian68]

@@somniumoflight276 no you're absolutely correct. The probes were named Ike and Leo, and Leo had been kidnapped by the eosapiens. When Ike came looking for Leo, it encountered the eosapiens. Surrounded, Ike launched a drone to assess its situation. This spooked the eosapiens and they attacked Ike, destroying it. It's also implied that the drones are what caused them to attack Leo, iirc.

[@AsterOrion97]

Never expected to see a video like these pop into my recommendations, you’ve really made me happy with these in-depth looks into one of my favorite books (and documentary), and it’s great to know that I am not the only one out there who finds this world to be both beautifully fascinating and terrifying, these were two great videos, you’ve really made my day.

[@lizerdspherex]

I kinda feel bad that it took almost 14 years for the book to get recognized enough for a movie despite coming out at the height of UFOs and extraterrestrials back on the 90s. (It's release being January 12, 1990) I would've cherished it all my life, and I mean that literally.

[@scraperindustry]

I watched the Discovery show as a child and didn't think I would see it again. It feels like unlocking a long lost memory! Thank you so much for this great video

[@pass6749]

You should try checking out the creatures in the world of "made in abyss". It has so many cool and unique creatures in it and is illustrated beautifully.

[@mochicinno_]

My favourite KZbinr talking about my favourite manga??? Yes pleaseeee

[@volante56]

FR. Anime creatures review lets go

[@rockkiller124]

Heavy reminder that Bondrewd is the best dad

[@synphilia4776]

@@rockkiller124 Bondrewd did nothing wrong. *shoves cartridge under rug*

[@soulbend]

Your editing of the show and combining it with Barlowe's book is an excellent way to present this world. Truly well done.

[@TobeWilsonNetwork]

Expedition was one of my favorite books growing up. The allusions to some sort of geological recent extinction on Darwin really fascinated me; the shrinking seas, that skeleton the probes find, really wish Barlow had made an Expedition II. He has a few pieces of concept art for the sequel on his website for the curious

[@whereskentuckybruce8245]

I would have loved more of this type of stuff as a child, I had a good book about how earth animals would live on other planets. While it was simple, with a Pluto hippo having thick fur due to the low temperature and a Mercury lizard having silver skin to reflect the extreme sun, I really liked it. I’m glad I found it now

[@sivanlevi3867]

My favorite lifeform is the Stripewing, a mountain-dweller that is a rather clumsy walker, but glides with the majesty of a pterosaur. They live in flocks and use the stripes on their gliding wings to identify one another in a manner similar to zebras.

[@aluisiofsjr]

It looks like a Pegasus.

[@sivanlevi3867]

Just without eyes or very good walking legs. I think the Springwing fits the Pegasus bill better.

[@nickolausafon5458]

Darwin 4 is what started it all for me. This movie inspired me to look into planet-building and alien biology. I discovered exobiology (renamed by now). And things like Alien Planet will always blow me away. This definitely gained my support. And Thank You for a two part cover.

[@panthera9151]

Some of these creatures give me similar vibes as those from the Made in Abyss manga/anime. Perhaps how peculiar the creature designs seem at first, but once you take into consideration the conditions they live in it starts making sense.

[@alestiiidaeno_last3075]

This program got me into the world of speculative evolution. Thanks for covering it!

[@joraluzmala]

A tiny side info on the sac-back: The specimen with the sac on its back is a male, while all buried ones are females (the lone male has a harem). The sac-back is one of few creatures from Darwin IV with two sexes (also with a strong dimorphism, since females have shovel like forelimbs and no sac on their backs). Most of Darwin IV animals are hermaphrodites. Also, female sac-backs seem to give birth to live young, since in the books Barlowe states that they are pregnant Also the umbrella-shaped sensory packet of the rimerunner might be a vestigial light gathering organ, since it has an iris-like opening on the front. So this creature is probably the only life form from Darwin IV that might still have some sort of eyesight

[@jimmydastewgod2337]

Dude your uploads always make my day, i literally wait for youre vid notifications

[@CuriousArchive]

Glad you like them!

[@frostreaper1607]

Thank you for breathing new life into Alien Planet, copies are hard to find and even then the quality is naturally really low but I think you did a perfect job by using snippets and art together!

[@TheSandwhichman108]

I once came up with my own version of an alien planet. The geology of it was it was mostly covered by oceans pair of land masses each the size of Oklahoma. The land mass up north is a lush swampland rainforest with almost constant rainfall and the southern half was a dry arid desert with various canyons dotting the landscape that fill with water from the ocean during hightide. The atmosphere is roughly the same as earth except there’s a moderate concentration of 30% helium in the atmosphere as well as a greenish color caused by air born algae and other plant material drifting through the skies. Tides on this planet can last as long as two months.

[@sienielain9222]

What are the plants and animals like?

[@TheSandwhichman108]

@@sienielain9222 Well it was a while ago and I don’t remember what plants I thought of but I remember a few animals

[@TheSandwhichman108]

@@sienielain9222 One of them was a creature I called the propeller wasp. I took inspiration from sycamore seeds as they twirl around with a single wing drifting through the high winds of the desert feeding on airborne plant matter. During low tide at the end of the dry season they lay there eggs in the canyons and then die and the larva hatch once the canyons fill with water. There larva have a flattened leaf like shape for swimming through the water. After about three weeks of growing and eating they head to the soft sandy bottom and create a balloon shaped cocoon around themselves and once the tide recedes they disconnect from the ground and float into the updrafts and pop like a balloon releasing the adult form.

[@magiv4205]

@@TheSandwhichman108 That sounds amazing!

[@TheSandwhichman108]

@@magiv4205 Another creature I thought of was the Lurker. Which is an equivalent to a shark on this planet. It’s a slow moving predator with an extendable jaw appendage resembling a tongue. I know it sounds a bit unrealistic but if you look at alot of predatory fish species on earth even sharks there jaws actually are designed to extend and grab prey cause if you look at how a sharks bites down on prey it’s jaw actually does extend one of the best examples is the goblin shark. This is something similar but taken to a far more advanced level. Why waste energy chasing prey when you can just drag towards you.

[@guy7912]

What I love about this, is because it's so unique but oddly possible Of course these things can't exist on earth - Alien planets are different, all unique - all possibilities are possible We can only speculate of course, but if you really think about it- The universe isn't so strange after all, we can find similarities while still so different. It's a nice thought to have.

[@octopusoup]

I remember seeing this as a kid in the school libraries. The images were so fantastical yet felt so real. Following through this expedition on Darwin IV was a genuine joy.

[@telacrap]

I loved this documentary as a kid! So happy to see someone else recognized it and made a video about it!

[@the_gaming_hyena24]

YES!!! I am literally so thrilled that u are covering this book/movie

[@missmiagi2147]

I loved watching this when it first came out on TV and DVR was a new thing. I watched it so many times! I had no idea it was based on a book though. Glad I found your channel friend...great job!

[@IGameChangerI]

Sad that you didn't include the Flipstick as it's my favorite animal from the book, but happy you did include the Blisterwing

[@twistedyogert]

What I find interesting is that most of Darwin 4's creatures don't have eyes. They only use echolocation.

[@benjamindebo9283]

Been eagerly waiting this. Love this channel. It deserves more views

[@vinnygranata8363]

I’m glad this was covered by the channel, I loved this documentary as a kid and I’m really glad to see it come back on your series. I really hope there will be another alien “documentary” based off some of the stuff you’ve covered

[@josephcotton6726]

This is what I’ve waited my whole life to watch

[@lombardo141]

Some of these never made the TV a show version. Thanks for this .

[@noahjester8471]

Imagine being an Eosapien (probably not how it's spelled, sorry); you've been watching this strange creature that appeared in a storm of flame as it simple moves around aimlessly. You think it's looking for something. Yet, the creature acts like a newborn, seeing everything for the first time. Strange... After crossing the oceans and mountains, it just... Goes back to where it first appeared. You confront it, brandishing the club you made. It stops, and just... looks at you. Not for a sign of weakness or any valuables to take. You and the stranger linger for a while; the creature isn't an immediate threat, so you decide to return home. It does the same.

[@mordoendergon]

I wonder, will you ever do a video on Natgeo's "Extraterrestial"? I feel that your treatment of it, would finally give it the recognition it deserves, as I deem it to be one of the most underrated, but detailed SpecEvo works out there...

[@horse14t]

Yes please!

[@quailking8265]

Yet another high-quality video from curious archive!

[@rozenzoon]

I remember watching this when I was younger. The ending is still getting my wonder again years later

[@puck4801]

Skewers are my spirit animal. _Look_ at them swoop and bank... Jet-powered, flexible-wing flight has got to be the most free sensation there is.

[@actuallySHRIKE]

Yoooo just watched part one with my partner last night. Really nice to see that we can watch part 2 ASAP!

[@coleterry6845]

Anybody else go to the discovery channel store when they were a kid and grab this absolute GEM of a film?

[@speculativemusings3593]

Is there any chance you can make a video/series about the various life forms in the Starcraft Universe? I know it’s not quite like your usual content, but I like the idea of approaching the Terrans, the Protoss, and the Zerg from a scientific perspective.

[@No-kb9oy]

This is probably one of my favorite science fiction books of all time. The art is so strange and alien, and that’s how it should be, because multicellular alien life would not look much like anything on earth.

[@TheFilipinoukulele]

The best part of my day

[@persianking44]

If it hasn't been mentioned before, it's worth noting that Wayne Barlowe was a conceptual artist for Pacific Rim and Avatar. The man knows his alien lifeforms lol

[@starlight0313]

It’s mentioned in Part 1

[@ElJorro]

The observation subplot in the documentary had me on the edge of my seat back in the day.

[@mfrinavkvercxi]

I REMEMBER seeing those images on discovery 20 years ago. I was so fascinated as a kid

[@0777coco]

finally got around to binge agents of shield again, just into season three i got in the mood to watch some more about alien speculative biology

[@theidahotraveler]

just found you this is my 3rd video and im loving your channel thank you and the imagination is amazing.

[@samuelbattershell3413]

If you are taking request, I would recommend doing a video on Peter Dickinson's The Flight of Dragon. It's the first book to reify dragons.

[@clintelkins9630]

I love your field research storytelling

[@shuginubi]

truly, we cannot fully comprehend what could evolve on the humid dense atmosphere planet without oceans.

[@KirkCedrick]

I always look forward to your videos! Keep it up! Someday, I hope to be able to support your channel

[@Guydude777]

Stunning work! I need to consider buying the book for myself.

[@vincentclark5739]

Yes! I hope for another installment from Darwin IV

[@dipenhazarika50]

Thanks for the second part ! And it's awesome

[@Rhyme_Zil14]

This is good content Keep it up!

[@CuriousArchive]

Thanks, will do!

[@Rhyme_Zil14]

@@CuriousArchive *y e s s i r*

[@melphegor]

I always look forward to these vids man

[@jaisonfire1]

10:26 imagining that thing clubbing something to death seems so hilarious to me

[@DarthInsomnis]

Can you imagine what modern CGI could do with a revamp of Darwin 4? It would look sick nasty.

[@Lumberjack_king]

Darvin 4 is definitely one of the stranger speculative alien worlds and definitely ahead of its time most projects like to keep it safe and make earth like planets but not darwin 4 and. More recently snaiad and others

[@captainalie9264]

Thank you again so much for this, truly appreciate it.

[@wrenveteto820]

Yay I’ve been waiting for this

[@nexus6mc2182]

Thank you very much, Curious Archive. Very cool

[@desperatelyseekingrealnews]

That's some imagination and artistic ability, so glad this channel was recommended.

[@jeremy1860]

I loved the Discovery Channel adaptation of the book when it first premiered 😊

[@tp5487]

Wow you deserve at least 1M subs

[@AntarosSweet]

I've been a fan of Barlow since I was a teen. I love his depictions of hell.

[@alexisbeauregard458]

Hey you should make a video about Serina again. Lots of interesting stuff!!

[@michaelalbino1006]

I remember watching Alien Planet and thought it was the coolest documentary special on the Discovery Channel. The Skewer is my favorite Darwin IV species. I plan on getting "Expedition" and reading it. Seeing the Skewers, Rugose Floaters, Ebony Blisterwings and Eosapiens got me thinking. Do the aforementioned species ever need to land to rest or can all aerial species of Darwin IV remain on the wing?

[@-insertnamehere-5503]

Woooh part two!

[@elmcerran4885]

I think that would be great a video about Man After Man, The Future is Wild or All Tomorrows.

[@elizabetho.7484]

Your channel is the best

[@reformedorthodoxmunmanquara]

This makes me incredibly giddy. This is SO cool

[@josmeijers2818]

I love your video's dude, keep them coming !

[@ChronitonMechanics]

Some of the two legged creatures also reminds me of the alit and especially the kagouti from morrowind...wich sure has its share of alien feel too.

[@HunterOneMillion]

Perhaps the Rimerunner developed a single leg as a resistance to lightning strikes. If you didn't know, you should take short hops with both feet together when in a lightning storm to prevent the ground current from killing you via a difference in the voltage at each leg, creating an electric current that runs up through your body.

[@bronwenable]

Birdie, birdie in the sky dropped some whitewash in my eye I didn't laugh, I didn't cry. I just thanked God cow sized organisms don't fly.

[@ME262MKI]

Oh nice, the expedition didn't ended like in that TV series

[@DraptorRonin]

Good work on NOT deploying aerial equipment around the Eosapien. It’s too bad you couldn’t bring back some of their Gyrosprinter-Marmalade Spreads (that taste like Lasagna, Pizza, and Taco’s, all together at the same time. Put it on some garlic bread, and you have some authentic Dawrinicana right there!)

[@ockertoustesizem1234]

i remember watching the documentary for this years ago. i remember the scenes where the gyrosprinters are running on two legs and when one of the two blimp machine things sent to explore the planet gets destroyed

[@randomguy2918]

Even to this day I hope expedition 2 would be a thing I just want to venture back to my childhood

[@906087]

You're much more furlough than the documentary was. Wish they did a sequel

[@mortkebab2849]

Bladder Horns: Colourful and extravagant displays are for male to female courtship rituals, which you show for the case of the Bird of Paradise (the brown bird is a female) while competition between males is more basic and direct, such as making oneself look bigger, and charging into the other male.

[@darthcinnamn1195]

CA!! You should jump into the archive and explore the wonderful creature biology of Avatar!

[@blitzkreg335]

I frigging love this.

[@newhek]

Skewers are basically stealth Valstrax, that's so cool.

[@konradlorek3043]

I actually have some plans of writing a speculative biology and the further advancements of mankind book, and maybe after a decade, when it would become popular, Curious Archive may review it, who knows.

[@Y4WN]

Thing is, it becomes worthy when you die, because if you die and what you said was right, they will want more, that's capitalism, they will make more Perfect example : rappers

[@Y4WN]

So my advice is this : work all your life for that book and your family will be rich

[@misanthropicservitorofmars2116]

@@Y4WN thing is, that’s not always the case. Nor is it even the most likely case. Plenty of people achieve success in life. Look at Mozart or Michelangelo. Your comment was dumb and you should delete it.

[@misanthropicservitorofmars2116]

Go for it dude. Work hard follow your passion. Keep improving your craft. You got this. It takes lots of time and effort to achieve your dreams, but it’s easily doable if you can commit.

[@Y4WN]

@@misanthropicservitorofmars2116 I think I have every right to say everything I want, secondo sorry for being sassy but Beethoven retook the work of Mozart's and made it even better 🧐 so who telling you someones going to take his book and do something better with it, but because he made effort through his whole life maybe it will be even greater than what he made therefore achieving the « legendary » status Ok, my second comment was complete nonsense but I think I have every right to say whatever 😌

[@vodaz9109]

From the animated documentary, I noticed that the electric mushroom-like creatures weren't included in these.

[@gabrielsfilms2086]

how is curious archive still alive? like dude feels he's being watched and goes "eh, whatever. lets continue exploring!!!"

[@mrto0tsboi]

That Darwin IV explorer just became a god is some eosapian religion