There are only so many ways to capture the majesty of sharks in reality television programming. In a genre all-but dominated by Discovery Channel’s Shark Week and National Geographic’s SharkFest, how can a contender like Netflix make a splash in the shark space? How about steal the hook of the Pokémon Snap games, but replace every Pokémon with a breed of shark?
That’s effectively the premise of All the Sharks, a new reality competition series coming to Netflix this summer.
Netflix says All the Sharks is a “fin-tastic,” “first of its kind reality competition where four teams of shark FINatics travel the world trying to find and photograph every shark imaginable in hopes of claiming the $50,000 prize.” In practice, this looks like a Pokémon Snap trainer visiting shark-filled locations in hopes of photographing a rare spawn, centering it in frame, and capturing the beauty/terror of nature. Points for good snaps are displayed onscreen — at least in the trailer for All the Sharks.
You know what? I don’t hate this idea. Cribbing from Pokémon Snap for a reality show isn’t the worst idea — I’ll take this over reality-TV Squid Game — and maybe Netflix should expand the idea. Who can photograph the hottest, most rare singles spawning across Temptation Island in a spinoff of that sexed-up show? Why not add an extra layer of excitement to the The Great British Baking Show, capturing Noel Fielding’s plumage (aka ostentatious designer knitwear) across the habitats of Berkshire, England? Make the Queer Eye team photograph and physically capture their makeover subjects. These ideas are free, Netflix executives.
All the Sharks comes to Netflix on July 4. Keep an eye peeled for shinies, which I assume exist in the world of sharks.