By Kyley Warren
Netflix’s new limited series “Down to Earth” features actor Zac Efron in the role of television host, as he travels the world with wellness expert Darin Olien in search of understanding how different cultures interpret sustainable living.
In the series trailer, Efron explains that the pair are looking to “investigate the ways people are taking action toward a sustainable future.” The goal of the series is to inspire people to find new perspectives on some old—yet still, seemingly relevant—problems with consumption.
The Series Breakdown
The duo takes their exploration global as they visit eco-communities from around the world in search of green ideas and inspiration. Their journey—at least what was filmed—leads them to France, Puerto Rico, London, Iceland, Costa Rica, Peru, and Sardinia.
In one episode, viewers are transported to Iceland to visit Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Station, the largest geothermal power plant in the world. In another, the focus is on the International Potato Center in Lima, where farmers are using cryopreservation techniques to preserve the DNA of species. And in the final episode, audiences can get a glimpse of Iquitos—where ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic plant, is commonly used as a holistic alternative for medical treatments.
Inspiring Sustainable Travel
The series is meant to spotlight the next generation of climate activists, as well as the unconventional, everyday practices that can be adopted in order to travel more sustainably.
The series has no shortages of strange dishes such as dung-smoked offerings, grubs, and durian stink fruit. But beyond providing more education on exotic meals, the show, at its core, is about consumption. Or as Efron put it, it’s about understanding the problem with excess consumption, “from our food to our power.”
To learn more about Netflix’s new hit series, visit www.netflix.com.
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Kyley Warren is a freelance writer and editor based out of Arizona.
Photo courtesy of Netflix.
