Return of the Ice

The episode is set in North Europe, 5 million years into the future. The episode focuses on three hypothesized species: (1) Shagrat, a descendant of the marmot that has grown in size and developed thicker fur and a smaller nose to protect it from the cold; (2) Snowstalker, a descendant of the wolverine that has evolved sabre-teeth and white fur for camouflage; (3) Gannetwhale, a descendant of the gannet which has grown to immense size to replace the sea mammals. The episode explains that the onset of the ice age was very fast, so many animals died out. The ones that did survive had to have quick generations so they evolved fast. This is why rodents were successful. The episode follows the story of a female Snowstalker teaching her cubs to hunt, the Gannetwhale's breeding season and the mass migration to the south of the Shagrats.

Writing:
  • Victoria Coules
  • Pierre de Lespinois

Stars:
Release Date: 2002-04-02
Seasons: 1
TMDb: 7.4/10
  • Country: CA, GB, US
  • Language: English
  • Runtime: 325

Other episodes for this season

Welcome to the Future
Episode 1 - Welcome to the Future
Return of the Ice
Episode 2 - Return of the Ice
The Vanished Sea
Episode 3 - The Vanished Sea
Prairies of Amazonia
Episode 4 - Prairies of Amazonia
Cold Kansas Desert
Episode 5 - Cold Kansas Desert
Waterland
Episode 6 - Waterland
Flooded World
Episode 7 - Flooded World
Tropical Antarctica
Episode 8 - Tropical Antarctica
The Great Plateau
Episode 9 - The Great Plateau
The Endless Desert
Episode 10 - The Endless Desert
The Global Ocean
Episode 11 - The Global Ocean
Graveyard Desert
Episode 12 - Graveyard Desert
The Tentacled Forest
Episode 13 - The Tentacled Forest