Will Smith puts his acting chops to the test as he scales a staggering 300-foot ice wall in the premiere of National Geographic's 'Pole to Pole.' The West Philadelphia native joins forces with polar explorer Richard Parks, who pushes him to reach the top of the imposing glacier.
As Smith begins his ascent, the biting wind howls around him. "You know the wind is blowing now too, right?" he yells up to his guide, as if it's a familiar challenge. In contrast, when Parks made the trek himself, there was no wind. The icy terrain seems unforgiving, but Smith perseveres, eventually reaching the summit with an unmistakable grin.
Smith's motivation for tackling this extreme feat is personal and profound. He was compelled to make the show after the 2017 passing of his mentor Dr. Allen Counter, a Harvard neurobiologist who dubbed himself "Black Indiana Jones." Counter had invited Smith on several expeditions, but he regularly missed them out due to other commitments.
As the journey progresses over 100 days, starting at the South Pole and culminating in the North Pole, Smith is paired with guides like Parks and experts from various fields. They break down complex concepts like atmospheric rivers, which can bring rain and snow to distant locations, and explain how ancient ice holds secrets of global history.
Through his interactions with these experts, Smith navigates a delicate balance between enthusiasm and humility. He's quick-witted and charming at times, often making humorous remarks that lighten the mood. However, when reminded of the dire conditions, he acknowledges it's time to focus on the journey ahead.
The first episode of 'Pole to Pole' is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+, with four episodes available. Over seven episodes, the series promises a thrilling exploration of all seven continents. Smith's camaraderie with Parks adds an entertaining layer to the show, as they exchange banter and share laughs despite the unforgiving environment.
Through his journey, Smith seeks not only personal redemption but also a deeper connection with the natural world. As he traverses some of the planet's most inhospitable regions, he finds himself confronting the harsh realities of climate change and our impact on the Earth.
As Smith begins his ascent, the biting wind howls around him. "You know the wind is blowing now too, right?" he yells up to his guide, as if it's a familiar challenge. In contrast, when Parks made the trek himself, there was no wind. The icy terrain seems unforgiving, but Smith perseveres, eventually reaching the summit with an unmistakable grin.
Smith's motivation for tackling this extreme feat is personal and profound. He was compelled to make the show after the 2017 passing of his mentor Dr. Allen Counter, a Harvard neurobiologist who dubbed himself "Black Indiana Jones." Counter had invited Smith on several expeditions, but he regularly missed them out due to other commitments.
As the journey progresses over 100 days, starting at the South Pole and culminating in the North Pole, Smith is paired with guides like Parks and experts from various fields. They break down complex concepts like atmospheric rivers, which can bring rain and snow to distant locations, and explain how ancient ice holds secrets of global history.
Through his interactions with these experts, Smith navigates a delicate balance between enthusiasm and humility. He's quick-witted and charming at times, often making humorous remarks that lighten the mood. However, when reminded of the dire conditions, he acknowledges it's time to focus on the journey ahead.
The first episode of 'Pole to Pole' is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+, with four episodes available. Over seven episodes, the series promises a thrilling exploration of all seven continents. Smith's camaraderie with Parks adds an entertaining layer to the show, as they exchange banter and share laughs despite the unforgiving environment.
Through his journey, Smith seeks not only personal redemption but also a deeper connection with the natural world. As he traverses some of the planet's most inhospitable regions, he finds himself confronting the harsh realities of climate change and our impact on the Earth.
! He seems super dedicated and driven, especially since it's for his mentor Dr. Allen Counter 
. The fact that he's paired with experts like Richard Parks makes sense, I mean, who doesn't want to learn from the best? 
But what really gets me is how he's not just about the personal achievement, but also using this as a platform to raise awareness about climate change 
. Fingers crossed for the next episodes and that he reaches the summit! 
Will Smith is like a total rockstar, tackling that 300ft ice wall with ease! 
And paired with Richard Parks, it's like they're two peas in a pod, banter and all 
. I love how Will breaks down complex concepts into easy-to-understand bits, too - genius 
. Plus, the fact that he's using this journey to learn about climate change is so inspiring 
. Can't wait for more episodes! 
. I love how he's not afraid to make jokes, but also knows when to keep it real and acknowledge the harsh conditions they're facing.
. And on a personal level, I can get why Will's doing this - like, we've lost so many amazing people and it's time to step up. It's gonna be a wild ride, for sure 
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! Scaling a 300-foot ice wall is no joke, and for his personal reason (RIP Dr. Allen Counter), he's putting in the work 
. The way he balances enthusiasm with humility is super relatable – we've all been there when trying to push ourselves out of our comfort zones 
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. It adds a nice layer of depth to the series, and I'm loving the dynamic between Will and Richard Parks 
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. We're all about reaching new heights (literally or figuratively), but sometimes we need to take it one step at a time and focus on the journey rather than just the destination 
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the thing is, will smiths whole thing seems more like a publicity stunt than actual scientific research. and what if he just happens to stumble upon some climate-changing info while climbing an ice wall? doesnt that kinda diminish the whole "message" of the show? also, isnt scaling an ice wall 300ft tall kinda extreme even for a hardcore climber? seems like will smith is more interested in being in a cool tv show than actually doing any real research 
I'm living for that West Philly native's determination! It's amazing how personal this journey is to him - paying tribute to his mentor Dr. Allen Counter, who inspired him to tackle this challenge. The way he balances enthusiasm with humility is so inspiring too 
BUT SERIOUSLY THOUGH, CLIMATE CHANGE IS SUCH A BIG DEAL AND I LOVE THAT HE'S RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT IT THROUGH THIS SHOW
. And what's with the whole "personal and profound" motivation thing? Can't he just be honest that he wanted to get a good Instagram post out of it? 
I'm not buying it... Smith seems cool and all, but let's be real, he's still gonna need like 5 team members to keep him safe on this trek 
. And don't even get me started on the whole climate change angle... like, we already knew that, guys 
he seems like a pretty determined guy 
but also super funny 
And can we talk about how personal his motivation is? 
. And don't even get me started on the ads on Hulu – it's like they're trying to make me pull my hair out 
. But I guess Will Smith's ice wall climb is kinda cool, and I love how he's all about the science behind climate change. On a scale of 1-10, I'd say this show is a solid 7/10 – it's not perfect, but at least it's trying to educate people about something important 
! And to think he's doing it for his mentor, that's what makes it so inspiring 
!
. And can we talk about how cool it is that he's learning about all these scientific things on the way? Atmospheric rivers? Ancient ice holding secrets of global history? Mind blown! 