LONDON Sometimes in Planet Earth II’s more intense scenes of animal interaction you know exactly who to root for let’s be real, nobody was cheering for the snakes in that intense chase scene with the baby iguana during the “Islands” episode.
However, the show’s most profound moments often come when the audience can’t quite choose who they want to come out on top.
Sunday night’s episode provided one such nail-biting scenario when a hungry pride of lions attempted to tackle a large water buffalo.
#PlanetEarth2 pic.twitter.com/FjXNcm4DI3
BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) December 4, 2016
This led to a gripping question being posed on Twitter: are you ‘Team Lion,’ or ‘Team Buffalo?’
Sunday dinner, Christmas decorations, relaxing Sunday..then watching a brutal battle between a pack of lions & a water buffalo #planetearth2
Linda O’Sullivan (@Lindylegs) December 4, 2016
‘Team Buffalo’ was impressed by the water buffalo’s display of undeniable badassery in the face of a freaking LION ATTACK.
Water buffalo to lion ‘come at me bro’ #planetearth2
M-cat (@mimi12398) December 4, 2016
Only a massive buffalo could get attacked by 5 lions and still have an unimpressed look on it’s face. #planetearth2
Adam (@AdamTodd310389) December 4, 2016
What the…? That lion just bit the buffalo so hard and the buffalo didn’t even blink and was all like… #PlanetEarth2 pic.twitter.com/tFYsnuMxQL
Helen Clarkson (@helenrclarkson) December 4, 2016
Whereas ‘Team Lion’ was utterly smitten by the lion cubs, and who can blame them because can you say cuteness overload?
So small yet so fierce #PlanetEarth2 pic.twitter.com/sYzEKAXRa4
BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) December 4, 2016
Lion cubs. 10/10, would risk death to cuddle #PlanetEarth2
Jonnafang (@jonnafang) December 4, 2016
If Simba gets eaten by a buffalo then that’s Christmas ruined ! #PlanetEarth2
Tony Shepherd (@tonysheps) December 4, 2016
This little cat is ‘Team Lion’ by association, we assume.
My cat heard the lion cubs squeal, so he jumped off the sofa, walked over and he’s now WATCHING #planetearth2 Whuh? pic.twitter.com/1Thk2ZDCzU
Sarah Brierley (@brierley14) December 4, 2016
And on ‘Team Undecided,’ people grappled with the harsh reality of nature.
This is too much. Like, I was cheering for the buffalo but then remembered that the baby lions gotta eat #planetearth2
captain (@plantanimals) December 4, 2016
When you want the hungry lions to be able to eat, but you also want the buffalo to escape #PlanetEarth2 problems
Fiona Clapperton (@FeeClapperton) December 4, 2016
In the end spoiler alert the water buffalo walks away wounded but alive, and the pride of lions (including the adorable cubs) must look elsewhere for their next meal.
Regardless of which side you take, at the end of the day we can agree that we’re all ‘Team Attenborough.’
David Attenborough could narrate a pigeon orgy in a bin and i’d still go away feeling smarter #planetearth2
TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) December 4, 2016
BONUS: Rare shark breach caught on camera
Read more: http://mashable.com/2016/12/05/lion-buffalo-planet-earth/