Mankind: The Story of All of Us: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 16 Ratings

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4.8

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4.8	Your Score
4.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 16 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

History | The History Channel | History Channel | Season Premiere Date: November 13, 2012

Summary: Narrated by Josh Brolin, the 12-hour documentary miniseries traces the beginnings of humanity from hunter-gathers to the modern civilizations we have created.

Genre(s): Movie/Mini-Series, News/Documentary, Documentary

Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E13. Speed
Air Date: December 18, 2012
tbd
S1:E12. New Frontiers
Air Date: December 18, 2012
tbd
S1:E11. Pioneers
Air Date: December 18, 2012

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Linda Stasi

Nov 13, 2012

This excellent series has too many of the usual experts and way too many ridiculous sound effects. Read full review

Verne Gay

Nov 12, 2012

It aims for epic, and sometimes hits epic--but it's a bit shallow. Read full review

Mark A. Perigard

Nov 13, 2012

Mankind: The Story of All of Us is that college freshman survey course, a buffet of tasty data, a little bit about a lot. It might leave you hungry for more. Read full review

Uncle Barky Ed Bark

Nov 12, 2012

Stuck on hyper-drive and stuffed with hyperbole, Mankind: The Story of All of Us is history a-go-go from a programmer that used to obey a few speed limits. Read full review

Gail Pennington

Nov 13, 2012

Historical re-enactments almost always seem cheesy, especially when accompanied by a soaring score and melodramatic narration (by Josh Brolin). But these are arguably better than most. Read full review

Matt Zoller Seitz

Nov 13, 2012

The series' bludgeoning aesthetic is silly, but it works. Much of History's programming aims to intrigue viewers who might never crack open a book, while assuring literate history buffs that the filmmakers know what they're talking about. Read full review

Keith Staskiewicz

Nov 12, 2012

[Mankind is] filled with overdone battle reenactments, unqualified celebrity talking heads, and slo-mo iron smelting set to electronic dance music. Read full review

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User Score

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4.8

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User Reviews

heyitsmegrif4

Dec 28, 2012

A wonderful experience on the small screen excuse the soumd effects and enjoy yourself.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

martnote

Dec 4, 2012

Wow, great show! But the sound effects are driving us crazy. We watched half of the second episode silently, with the sound on mute! Why all the whooshes and banging of drums? I think it brings the show down to the level of an advertisement and makes the narration much harder to follow.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

nashnewa

Jul 21, 2013

Story of us all? Really? Looks to me the only story about the Americans and English inventors, explorers and revolutionaries. The film barely even touches on the Age of Enlightenment or the Renaissance, or the contributions by Japan, India, Russia, Germany, French and all other greatStory of us all? Really? Looks to me the only story about the Americans and English inventors, explorers and revolutionaries. The film barely even touches on the Age of Enlightenment or the Renaissance, or the contributions by Japan, India, Russia, Germany, French and all other great nations. Thanks to the China Wall and their invention of gunpowder, the Chinese gets some mention. There is really no mention of music and literature. And hello, there are also other significant religions like Buddhism and Hinduism that deserve mention. Do Asians, Africans, Australians (oh yes, they mentioned the Aboriginals!), Russians, Scandinavians (yes, they mention the Vikings!) count at all because it sounds like they didn't contribute much to human kind. I just hope whoever wrote the script and directed the film will never be world history teachers of our children. Just watch this as entertainment. And seriously, why do they have some TV news reader among the experts to talk about history when he has no expertise at all. But I like the ex Navy Seals guy among the interviewees who says the most obvious things. I like the way he is dramatic. Humorous. I would rate this 3 out of 10 but thanks to the great graphics, animations and photography, the saviours of this awful show… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

oldbrit

Dec 12, 2012

the show is entertaining but its history is flawed and revisionist . It is full of self loathing for the west, portraying the crusades as an evil conquest of muslim lands instead of an attempt to stem islamic expansion into the west . It was a response to muslim attempts at world dominationthe show is entertaining but its history is flawed and revisionist . It is full of self loathing for the west, portraying the crusades as an evil conquest of muslim lands instead of an attempt to stem islamic expansion into the west . It was a response to muslim attempts at world domination . It then went on to perpetuate the myth of islamic science and tolerance . The renaisance in Europe was a direct result of a christian and jewish brain drain from islamic tyrany . Who put up the money for this show , Saudi Arabia?… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

Observer2

Dec 12, 2012

I've watched this series and saved the episodes for possible watching by visiting grandchildren. Having seen all the episodes through episode 15, my wife and I have decided that we wouldn't want our grandchildren to watch the series. Much of the photography is well done and the series isI've watched this series and saved the episodes for possible watching by visiting grandchildren. Having seen all the episodes through episode 15, my wife and I have decided that we wouldn't want our grandchildren to watch the series. Much of the photography is well done and the series is fairly entertaining, but we are dumbfounded by the number of historical factual inaccuracies and the burdensome biased political philosophy that is stated as historical fact. The writing is so bad, I tried to find out who the writers were. I discovered that no names are credited for the series, and I understand as I would want to hide my name as well. My wife and I have just deleted the series from my DVD.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

hobbesdj

Dec 22, 2012

This series has great visuals, but other than that it is downright terrible. First, It completely skips over ancient Indian civilization (mohenjo-daro anyone?), an ancient people that every ancient historian considers vital to the development of world civilization. I was also equally amazedThis series has great visuals, but other than that it is downright terrible. First, It completely skips over ancient Indian civilization (mohenjo-daro anyone?), an ancient people that every ancient historian considers vital to the development of world civilization. I was also equally amazed that the series skipped over the transformation of Rome from a Republic to an Empire (Julius Caesar and Augustus anyone?). Rulers have been calling themselves Caesars/Czars/Kaisers for thousands of years, but no mention of Caesar? Incredibly, the series also omits Charlemagne and the Franks (the group who would lay the foundations for France and Germany), the Byzantine Empire, and perhaps most incredibly of all, Napoleon. I find it absolutely mind-blowing that these subjects wouldn't be included in a history of the world. World War I and II were glossed over, and far too much time is spent on less important events like the invention of the crossbow. The American Revolution and Civil War are similar overblown in their effect on the world. Last but not least, many of the 'facts' presented are either untrue or simply opinions that would be ignored in the academic community. An example of this is the coverage of the American revolution - the involvement of the French is left out and the documentary describes the British surrendering solely to the rebels at Yorktown. In reality, the British surrendered to a mixed army of American rebels and the French army - a victory mde possible by the naval victory of the French over the British off the coast of Virginia. I had really hoped to show this series to my students but instead I will tell them that this is simply an entertainment show that is not to be taken seriously as a historical documentary. Other than Mike Loades I have never even heard of any of these 'historical experts'. I have absolutely no idea why Brian Williams from NBC, a news commentator, is featured in a historical documentary series. There is a plethora of respected historians who could have been consulted for this series - but instead the history channel decides to settle with Brian Williams and a few unknown authors. They should have consulted historians such as Kelly DeVries (UMD) as they did in other more serious historical documentaries. Stay away from this one if you want a serious historical overview of human history.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Mckenzie21

Aug 4, 2017

I got this series as a gift. I could only enjoy it as historical fiction though as there was sadly no proof to any of the assertions that the History Channel was trying to pass off as fact.
Actors, celebrity chefs and news anchors are not credible sources for citing historical facts. WhereI got this series as a gift. I could only enjoy it as historical fiction though as there was sadly no proof to any of the assertions that the History Channel was trying to pass off as fact.
Actors, celebrity chefs and news anchors are not credible sources for citing historical facts. Where were the archaeologists? The anthropologists? Where were any of the academics one could trust to talk about human history? No evidence was shown at any point to provide back up for baseless claims. Farming Mother? Show me the bones, the location, the proof that this individual actually existed. Let me see how this hypothesis was reached.
Randomly inserting "Scientists say...." is not a way to make this a trust worthy documentary.
The History channel is failing at an ever increasing rate.
This is not a documentary. This is Historical fiction, Story telling.
I'm debating whether to purchase anything with the History Channel logo ever again.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Seasons & Episodes

67

Series Overview
Season 1

67
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: November 13, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E13. Speed
  Air Date: December 18, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E12. New Frontiers
  Air Date: December 18, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E11. Pioneers
  Air Date: December 18, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E10. Revolutions
  Air Date: December 11, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E9. Treasure
  Air Date: December 4, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E8. New World
  Air Date: December 4, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E7. Plague
  Air Date: November 27, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E6. Survivors
  Air Date: November 27, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E5. Empires
  Air Date: November 20, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E4. Warriors
  Air Date: November 20, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E3. Inventors
  Air Date: unknown
- tbd
  S1:E2. Iron Men
  Air Date: November 13, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E1. Inventors
  Air Date: November 13, 2012