S1, E1: Dramatic pictures of stunning and unexpected Antarctic scenery lead into an introduction to the area as a whole. The opening program then focuses on the great 'ice machine,' beginning the story of how the ice governs the wildlife that thrives here. Amid vast icebergs in the nutrient rich sea, 650 million tonnes of krill – small shrimp like crustaceans – provide food for numerous species of fish, seals and birds. Krill also attracts whales, and despite the notorious difficulties of filming them, the crew have obtained remarkable footage of these splendid mammals enjoying the bounty.