Top Rated Documentary TV Series on PBS - Page 3

Full Steam Ahead

2016

Full Steam Ahead

2016
9.3
With the help of Victorian steam enthusiasts across the country, historian Ruth Goodman and archaeologists Peter Ginn and Alex Langlands journey back in time to the era of steam which shaped modern Britain.
A Chef's Life

2013

A Chef's Life

2013
9.3
A character-driven documentary and cooking series that takes viewers inside the life of Chef Vivian Howard, who, with her husband Ben Knight, left the big city to open a fine dining restaurant in small-town Eastern North Carolina.
Earth: A New Wild

2015

Earth: A New Wild

2015
7
A fresh look at humankind’s relationship to the planet’s wildest places and most fascinating species. Using advanced filming techniques, this series will provide visuals as stunning as the best natural history programs. Distinguishing itself from nearly all other nature films, however, the series turns the cameras around, showing the world as it really is—with humans in the picture.
Long Lost Family

2011

Long Lost Family

2011
3.3
Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell present the documentary series which aims to reunite family members after years of separation, and offers a lifeline for people who are desperate to find long-lost relatives.
Reinventing China

2023

Reinventing China

2023
7.5
China's history of the last 200 years seems like a boomerang, returning to the West what it once unleashed. The series reveals how devastating the struggles for identity and power have been for the population since the fall of the "Middle Kingdom," and how closely these tragedies are intertwined with our own. Great hopes were placed in a wide variety of visions for the future—and each time, bitter disappointment ensued. From the decline of the empire to its resurgence as a superpower, China's history is both a dream and a nightmare, in which human life is of little value.
Seeing Canada

2017

Seeing Canada

2017
5
Travel documentary series in which Canadian journalist Brandy Yanchyk explores the vibrant cities, culinary delights, world-class attractions, unique characters, and natural wonders of Canada. Through Brandy's charm, sense of humor and adventurous spirit, the audience has a chance to learn something new about even the most familiar of destinations.
SciGirls

2010

SciGirls

2010
5.5
Scigirls is a show about teen girls getting involved with science by doing different experiments and studies.
Retro Report on PBS

2019

Retro Report on PBS

2019
4.5
Making sense of the present by revealing the past. Journalists Celeste Headlee and Masud Olufani connect the present to the past through four distinct and varied stories, and New Yorker humorist Andy Borowitz adds his signature wit.
Broken Bread

2019

Broken Bread

2019
8.5
Broken Bread showcases inspiring people who are making a difference in their communities through food. Restaurant entrepreneur, social activist and acclaimed chef Roy Choi takes viewers on a journey through his hometown, the city of Los Angeles, exploring complex social justice issues while meeting inspiring individuals and organizations who use food as a platform for activism as well as a catalyst for change.
We'll Meet Again

2018

We'll Meet Again

2018
9.5
Witness dramatic reunions of people whose lives crossed at pivotal moments. Each episode introduces us to two people who were affected by momentous events in American history. We follow them on a journey of detection as they look for a long-lost friend, family member or significant stranger.
Shakespeare Uncovered

2012

Shakespeare Uncovered

2012
7.5
Celebrity hosts guide viewers through William Shakespeare's plays in performance. Each episode serves as a primer for newcomers to Shakespeare while serving up enough historical and theatrical insights to enchant lifelong fans.
Star Gazers

1976

Star Gazers

1976
10
Star Gazers is a five-minute astronomy show on American public television previously hosted by Jack Foley Horkheimer, executive director of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium. After his death in 2010 from a respiratory illness from which he'd suffered since childhood, a series of guest astronomers hosted until 2011, when Dean Regas, James Albury and Marlene Hidalgo became permanent co-hosts. On the weekly program, the host informs the viewer of significant astronomical events for the upcoming week, including key constellations, stars and planets, lunar eclipses and conjunctions, as well as historical and scientific information about these events. The program is available free to all Public Broadcasting Service public television stations, educational institutions and astronomy clubs. A month of episodes can be recorded from a satellite feed which occurs approximately two weeks before the official broadcast dates.
Prue Leith's Cotswold Kitchen

2024

Prue Leith's Cotswold Kitchen

2024
2
Prue Leith’s Cotswold Kitchen on ITV1 sees the Bake Off judge join her husband John to share their favourite dishes.
Shadow of a Wheel

2023

Shadow of a Wheel

2023
6
The story of 31 inexperienced teenagers, biking a daunting coast-to-coast 3,600 miles in the summer of 1982, to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis, unaware of how this grueling adventure would resonate throughout the rest of their lives.
A Taste of History

2009

A Taste of History

2009
7
A Taste of History is a TV cooking series that explores America’s culinary beginnings from the birthplace of American cuisine. This innovative series brings America’s history to life and makes it vibrant as we step back in time and get to know the founders of our country through the food they ate and the recipes they prepared.
Colombia - Wild and Free

2022

Colombia - Wild and Free

2022
10
Journey to South America to explore the magnificent flora and fauna of Colombia, from the wild, largely deserted Pacific coast to the snow-covered volcanoes of the Andes, from the plains of the Orinoco region to the rainforests of the Amazon.
Australia's First 4 Billion Years

2013

Australia's First 4 Billion Years

2013
8
Of all the continents on Earth, none preserves a more spectacular story of our planet's origins than Australia. NOVA's four-part "Australia's First 4 Billion Years" takes viewers on a rollicking adventure from the birth of the Earth to the emergence of the world we know today. With help from host and scientist Richard Smith, we meet titanic dinosaurs and giant kangaroos, sea monsters and prehistoric crustaceans, disappearing mountains and deadly asteroids. Epic in scope, intimate in nature, this is the untold story of the land "down under," the one island continent that has got it all. Join NOVA on the ultimate Outback road trip, an exploration of the history of the planet as seen through the window of the Australian continent.
The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song

2021

The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song

2021
The 400-year-old story of the black church in America, the changing nature of worship spaces, and the men and women who shepherded them from the pulpit, the choir loft, and church pews.
No Passport Required

2018

No Passport Required

2018
8
Join chef Marcus Samuelsson on an inspiring journey across the U.S. to explore and celebrate the wide-ranging diversity of immigrant traditions and cuisine woven into American food and culture.
Nazi Megastructures: Battle Ready

2017

Nazi Megastructures: Battle Ready

2017
2
A close look at the engineers who designed powerful military technology for the Nazis and who also encouraged a technological revolution that would forever change warfare.