River Hunters

Beau Ouimette and journalist‑presenter Rick Edwards team up for a breezy walk‑about around the River Trent, right by the imposing Newark Castle. It’s essentially a one‑hour History Channel‑style episode that leans on their banter and a few on‑location re‑enactments to set the scene. Think of it as a “travel‑meets‑history” hybrid, with the castle’s stone walls doing most of the heavy lifting. The programme traces how Newark became a linchpin in the English Civil War, explaining why both Royalists and Parliamentarians fought tooth‑and‑nail over this river crossing. Beau points out the old earthworks while Rick narrates the back‑and‑forth of sieges, supply lines and a few infamous skirmishes that turned the town into a mental battlefield. There’s a tidy segment on the 1646 siege, complete with a quick‑draw map and a few costumed extras that give you a flavour of the chaos without getting bogged down in minutiae. Honestly, it’s not a groundbreaking documentary, but it’s surprisingly good for a half‑hour slot. The pacing does drift a bit when they linger over the river’s wildlife, and the reenactments look a tad ropy by today’s standards. Still, the chemistry between Beau and Rick keeps things lively, and the on‑site footage feels proper immersive—much more engaging than the stiff studio‑talk of older BBC history specials. Rated PG‑13; there’s some mild violence and a few graphic battle illustrations, but nothing that’ll upset younger viewers. First terrestrial broadcast this week, it slots nicely between news and reality‑TV, making it a decent filler for anyone keen on a quick, no‑frills dive into Civil War drama without the heavy academic jargon.