This series was interesting to me in a soap opera kind of way, as a look at the rather bizarre trajectory of Jean Michel Cousteau's career. The younger among you may not remember that Jacques had a younger son, Philippe, who was deeply involved in aviation, film making, photography - he accompanied his father on the Calypso, the dynamic and capable heir apparent to the throne. He was a dedicated and accomplished eco-warrior - when he was with the Cousteau Society they actually pushed for environmental issues! He was poised to take over the empire, and looking at his film work at the time it was everyone's guess that the Cousteau legacy would have prospered under his leadership and youthful vision.
Jean-Michel, on the other hand, had little interest in all this. He was not especially close with his father. He pursued a degree in architecture, and was concerned more with administration. His interest in the oceans was limited to involvement in a ritzy eco-resort. (For which he was accused of profiteering and some questionable environemntal dealings.) This is not to be critical of JMC, just to ascertain his character. His initiation of this new TV series came as a surprise to those who have followed the Cousteaus over the decades.
After Philippe died suddenly in the late 70's the wind seemed to go out of the Cousteau organization's sails. JYC's films became dark and pendatic. He complained that the organization was "like the wind. All movement and no direction." Predictably, JM was brought in to work on a few television series with his father, assuming his younger brother's role. But he just didn't have the charisma, and his heart just wasn't in it. He sparred constantly with his father. JM floated in and out of the work, with some reluctance. He was pulled back in for some big productions, notably the Amazon series et al, where he turned out to be most effective as an administrator.
I ran into each of them occasionally some decades ago, and the men were very different. Jacques, while pensive, driven and affable, was very uncomfortable, even inarticulate, on camera. Jean Michel was reserved to the point of being stilted - it was like talking to an accountant. Very bad on camera. Philippe, however, was comfortable on camera, friendly and intelligent, with a little impatient streak that could make him a bit irrascible.
So JMC's emergence with a good series at this late stage in his life was a welcome surprise!
As you also probably know Jacques, the quintessential Frenchman, had a young mistress, Francine, whom he willed the Cousteau society to. This wrankled JMC. One big issue has been the ship Calypso, which has rotted away at a shipyard in Rochelle, France after being severely damaged by a barge in Singapore shortly before JYC's death. There have been offers to restore her and make her into a marine museum, but legal wrangling between JYC's old flame at the Cousteau Society, JMC, and Philippe's grandchildren have scuttled all efforts, and the Calypso is now beyond saving.
Basically, there are three organizations vying to take advantage of the Cousteau legacy: Jean Michel's Ocean Futures, Philippe's grandchildren's organization, and the Cousteay Society. Their involvement with the oceans and with each other has consisted to a large extent of petty legal battles with one another. For example, both Jean Michel Cousteau and Philippe's grandchildren have tried to use the Cousteau name for their own organizations, notably Jean Michel Cousteau's eco-resort and a new, proposed "Philippe Cousteau Foundation." Both were torpedoed by Francine's long legal reach.
Who knows what motivates people? In a way there has been a race between the three Cousteau legacy organizations, organizations which have been petulant and vindictive with one another, to see if any could actually put together something substantial in the public eye again. I suspect this series was JM's way to show the others he is in charge.
Counting down to Bonaire in October...seems so far off.
