It’s Shark Week!
The most jaw-some time of the year! Discovery Channel has been premiering shark themed content every year for nearly 35 years, and we have very mixed feelings about it. While there are some gems on Discovery Channel and it brings many people closer to an appreciation and love of the ocean and sharks, much of their content can be damaging and promote fear where sharks are concerned. Because of this, we wanted to start Shark Week 2023 out with a “What Sharky Shenanigans Does and Does NOT Watch on Shark Week” so you know what looks to be a skip versus what looks to be GREAT! So, without further ado, here is the content schedule and what we will be watching!
Note: This is our take via show tagline and not an end all be all, we will likely look at shows after the fact to see if anything interesting is shown.
https://www.discovery.com/shark-week/schedule
Sunday, July 23
Belly of the Beast: Feeding Frenzy: 8 p.m. ET
A look inside what a great white shark feeding frenzy looks like from the inside of a fake life-sized whale. Always white sharks, always their feeding habits, this looks like a skip for me, but mostly because its basic and nothing too special.
Jaws vs. The Meg: 9 p.m. ET
A look into what may have taken down the Meg, thank you Discovery for finally saying the Meg is extinct and backtracking on your horrible 2014 “The Meg is Alive!” show. I will be watching, but only to make sure Discovery actually says the Meg is extinct for once.
Serial Killer: Red Sea Attacks: 10 p.m. ET
An attempt to figure out the cause behind three fatal shark encounters in the Red Sea. I am very much so not a fan of the name, I and feel like this will likely be sensationalized too much, it’ll be a skip for me, I’ll read the paper when someone actually writes one.
Shark Week: Off the Hook: 11 p.m. ET
Never before seen behind the scenes footage of Shark Week over the years. I may watch the highlights later; I feel like I might be frustrated in the moment as they focus on the “thrills” and “most terrifying” moments. Skip.
Monday, July 24
Great White Fight Club: 8 p.m. ET
“Experts” set out to prove the female white shark rules the ocean. Repetitive of many years of Shark Week specials. I’m good thanks, skip.
Monsters of the Bermuda Triangle: 9 p.m. ET
Scientists tracking a porbeagle shark that disappeared into the Bermuda Triangle. Porbeagle is promising, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one on shark week, likely weird pseudoscience nonsense with the Bermuda Triangle but it’s a watch for me to support the under-appreciated porbeagle.
Alien Sharks: Strange New Worlds: 10 p.m. ET
ALIEN SHARKS!!!!! While this sounds ridiculous, it’s one of the most underrated shows they have ever done. This is the one show you SHOULD watch. This focuses on the unknown and very odd-looking sharks of the ocean that are never in the limelight. HIGHLY recommend.
Tuesday, July 25
Mako Mania: Battle for California: 8 p.m. ET
Mako dominance over white sharks in hunting territories. May be interesting. Seems to focus more on the hunting grounds than actually trying to get sharks to fight. It’s a watch for me.
Raiders of the Lost Shark: 9 p.m. ET
Shark “experts” look for a large shark that disappeared in South Africa. Anytime there’s shark “experts” I get nervous. Find someone with an actual expertise please. And why do you keep looking for sharks that disappear? Skip.
Monster Hammerheads: Killer Instinct: 10 p.m. ET
Dr. Guttridge is a favorite of mine, I love his research with Hammerhead sharks, he is seeing if the size of some of these hammerheads are growing due to eating smaller sharks and discovering this vis tissue samples. Science! We love it, watch.
Wednesday, July 26
Air Jaws: Final Frontier: 8 p.m. ET
Eh. It’s fun to watch sharks jump. But nothing crazy, watch or don’t, it’s fun and nothing too crazy.
Florida Shark: Blood in the Water: 9 p.m. ET
Looking at why sharks bite in Florida. Seems excessive and mildly weird. I’m skipping because it seems to show that the sharks are fueled by something in Florida which is odd.
Cocaine Sharks: 10 p.m. ET
No. Just no. Skip.
Thursday, July 27
Jaws in the Shallows: 8 p.m. ET
Shark encounters in New Zealand and “terrorizing” locals. Well guess what? They live there. Get out of here. Skip.
Monster Mako: Fresh Blood: 9 p.m. ET
Mako vs. White shark again. Feels familiar. Like This was on Tuesday? Pick one you don’t need both.
Shark vs. Snake: Battle of the Bites: 10 p.m. ET
Sea snakes taking out tiger sharks off western Australia. Maybe? But doubtful, sea snakes have very small teeth. Though I like the new concept for once. Maybe.
Friday, July 28
Tropic Jaws: 8 p.m. ET
White shark attracted to Bali’s beaches causes panic. I’m good, we should know by now that that’s not really a worry. Skip.
Deadly Sharks of Paradise: 9 p.m. ET
Tracking tiger sharks to determine increase in shark attacks over last 33 years. More people live and visit the coast. Case Closed. Skip.
Haunting at Shark Tower: 10 p.m. ET
Cinematographer head to a tower after a shark encounter. I don’t really get it. Skip.
Saturday, July 29
Dawn of the Monster Mako: 8 p.m. ET
Filming a 14-foot Mako shark around Portugal. Cool I suppose. Seems like a tag line from every shark week ever but whatever. Watch or don’t up to you.
Mega Sharks of Dangerous Reef: 9 p.m. ET
Biggest white sharks ever are never seen. Okay? Weird ending to the week. No thank you. Skip.
