Ancient Discovery: BBC’s 2005 Egypt Docudrama

Last week a recommended title popped up in my Netflix streaming queue. Its title was simply “Egypt,” and I scrolled past it wondering when exactly I would be in the mood for a documentary about ancient Egypt. But a few nights later I took a closer look and decided to give it a shot. I was much rewarded.

Made by the BBC in 2005, “Egypt” is a six-part docudrama with emphasis on the drama. Narration is minimal, the script and acting are terrific, and production values are top notch. The series was shot on film and on location at Egypt’s great ruins, and has nearly a 5/5 rating on Netflix.

If you’ve an interest in ancient civilizations, British colonialism, or simply saw “Raiders of the Lost Ark” as a kid and later chomped popcorn during the “Mummy” trilogy with Brendan Fraser, then you’ll love this.

The series consists of three stories, two segments each. The first, which takes place before and after World War I, centers around the discovery of the tomb of King Tut and features some cool interiors in the British Colonial style, blending things brought along from Merry Ol’ England with local arts and furnishings. The third story concerns the translation of hieroglyphics. The Rosetta Stone is pictured above in the study of English scientist Thomas Young.

You can also find full episodes from the series on YouTube.