Sir David Attenborough's Dynasties was SO dramatic
The dulcet tones of Sir David Attenborough returned to screens on Sunday (November 11) with Dynasties - but it was another David who won the nation's hearts.
Filmed over four years, the five-part series follows five extraordinary animals and documents their struggle for survival against rivals and the forces of nature.
This week's premiere episode followed a "remarkable troop" of chimpanzees in Senegal, west Africa; most specifically, an alpha male called David who has ruled over the troop for three years.
And, it was this David for whom fans were truly rooting.
Related: Sir David Attenborough has ONE strict rule when filming nature documentaries
David started the episode as leader of the troop.
However, problems arose when two other primates started to jostle for the position of group leader; and tensions rose even further after fires destroyed three quarters of the group's territory, food, and water.
This led things to take a political and then tragic turn - as the younger males attacked David and moved to another location, leaving him for dead.
So naturally, it was a very hard time for everyone:
Watching David the chimp get roughed up on David Attenborough #Dynasties pic.twitter.com/MfaRfua1VM
- Daniel Jenkins (@Daniel_Jenks) November 11, 2018
I hope the little bastards who jumped David in the middle of the night get a fucking good hiding. #Dynasties
- Mark van door (@marky_red) November 11, 2018
Oh no...not David 😭😭 the bastards! #Dynasties
- Laura (@ljtay06) November 11, 2018
Things you can always expect from an Attenborough documentary
-introduces to an animal you’ll become emotionally invested in
-that animal to be dramatically injured
-your heart ripped from its chest as your new animal pal lies helpless
-stark reminders of nature #Dynasties- Kate (@uhh_kate) November 11, 2018
David’s fb status “full of snakes round here can’t trust no one am me own best friend now xx” and all his mates are like “msg me Hun” #Dynasties
- Megan (@xMeganPx) November 11, 2018
Nonetheless...against all the odds, David survived and just ONE week after the savage attack, made the long journey to find the group.
Leaving Twitter viewers to stan a true legend:
The U.K. when David the chimp pulled through, and made a come back #Dynasties pic.twitter.com/7sCzNHEK5U
- TBarwickBarrett (@BarrettBarwick) November 11, 2018
"David is back."
(The entire nation) #Dynasties @BBCEarth pic.twitter.com/vYbEANcgc9- Lewis Scott (@LewScott97) November 11, 2018
My man, David... #Dynasties pic.twitter.com/2Ig31GPB7S
- Joe Cooper (@piglet_joe) November 11, 2018
David I love you #Dynasties pic.twitter.com/zDJb6iaXmy
- Jo Jones (@milotrixie2016) November 11, 2018
#David #Dynasties get in David lad. Result! pic.twitter.com/4BO7tDx6yg
- Nic (@NicStavris) November 11, 2018
My guy David #Dynasties pic.twitter.com/WnKKyXArT0
- Sam Benjamin (@SjBenjamin1) November 11, 2018
YES DAVID #bbc #Dynasties #david #DavidAttenborough pic.twitter.com/lQG3selWPh
- PJD55 (@pjd555) November 11, 2018
COME ON DAVID 🐵🤞🏽😬 #Dynasties pic.twitter.com/uAnHejCSQe
- G e o r g i a 🐝 (@GeorgiaMKent) November 11, 2018
GO GO DAVID!!!! YOU CAN DO THIS BUDDY!!!! #Dynasties
- Lorna. (@lornerful_) November 11, 2018
Mate this is like The Revenant, up the David!!!! #Dynasties
- benmiller (@BMiller_x) November 11, 2018
Eventually, it all worked out for David, as he became the longest reigning alpha in the group's history.
He also made enough of a recovery to becomes the father of an adorable new baby chimp:
All of David’s hard work has paid off, in the form of a new baby 😍#Dynasties pic.twitter.com/vbZj1bxaPS
- BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) November 11, 2018
All's well that ends well, eh?
Dynasties continues next Sunday (November 18) on BBC One.
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