Tubegazing: Galápagos

Galápagos (National Geographic Channel, Sunday, March 18, 9 p.m. ET): Anyone who's ever made the daunting trek to the craggy volcanic mountain chain known as the Galápagos knows that just getting to this equatorial wonder is a challenge. But that was the easiest part for the National Geographic camera teams who spent nearly three years creating this elegant four-part series on the living lab that inspired Darwin's earliest speculations about evolution. To document the island's unique creatures – which include blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, and large tortoises (r.) – the team filmed in high definition on active volcanic fields and below the surface of 40-foot churning surf. The series allows one to go back a few million years in time the armchair way – a real world expedition could cost you thousands. Grade: A