This show unfortunately is more entertainment than real archeology. I had high hopes when I read that he would be using Lidar but its been more hype than substance. Lin definitely likes his tech toys but I'm often not sure what real benefit some of them bring.
The first episode he must have used the word "treasure" over twenty times. As a history buff I'd be far more excited by scrolls than gold. Still it's worth a watch and in truth no worse than most so called archeology shows today. Just don't expect any in depth searching. Other than the Lidar they never dig a site.
33 Reviews
Satisfying on so many levels
betterdaystoall19 December 2021
For the inquisitive mind this is above and beyond satisfying. The host asks all the right questions and arrives at grand discoveries. Some amazing architectural wonders that once we're. A totally mind opening and worthy show. Not to mention the host's phenomenal physical, mental and oral abilities. I watch a good amount of documentaries and a lot of National Geographic ones and this is quite captivating. Who wouldn't like to know about old civilizations and their lost cities?
Worth watching!
iulianabartha18 November 2019
Top Notch Scientist-Meets-Indiana Jones in this Lost Cities Series!
shivani-9476419 November 2019
Wow - absolutely LOVED this series of the Lost Cities with Albert Lin! Hands down best series ever!!! As a scientist myself, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Natgeo's expeditions evolve to use cutting edge technology such as lidar and drone image mapping to determine and re-map these cities to what they must have been hundreds of years ago! So cool to learn new wonders about the world, our shared history hidden in these mysteries Albert and his team have uncovered for us. Albert's enthusiasm and depth of knowledge shows as he teaches the audience how to pull clues together in his exploration... feels like you're right there with the crew flying, driving, digging, running, laughing, and going on the ups and downs of the expeditions. It felt like being with a real-life Indiana Jones! Two thumbs up and 10 stars - looking forward to another series with Albert! Keep up the great work! Thank you for the relentless pursuit to set history straight with these new powerful stories... the world definitely needs it now more than ever!
Want to like but the host is about as empty as the content.
jmbwithcats29 February 2020
Unfortunately, Lost Cities on Disney+ seems to be much ado about nothing... omg people lived here before us? And? Nothing is learned from this series. I love stuff like this, but it's a bit silly. Finding two similar symbols 2000 miles apart isn't insane. People were sailing 2000 years ago, but people act like our technology is so advanced that people of history were just hunter gatherers with no communication or network or travel or innovation. But one thing I've learned in my life is that where there's a will, there's a way... and without technology, you use whatever you have on hand, and you make it happen.
And these become the foundations of mysteries, mysteries that I think are not mysterious at all to anyone but the arrogant and the ignorant.
The host of this series asks no interesting questions and uncovers really nothing and the episodes go essentially, nowhere.
And these become the foundations of mysteries, mysteries that I think are not mysterious at all to anyone but the arrogant and the ignorant.
The host of this series asks no interesting questions and uncovers really nothing and the episodes go essentially, nowhere.
Loving every moment of it! ~ Leogic
isthmermahar18 November 2019
Hey! This series has been not only informative, interesting and persuasive, but also a hands-on look at the future of technology and history molded together! Not only does it deserve a 2nd season but hopefully ten more! Albert is the perfect cast for the role as his prosthetic leg shows all of us with disabilities what man is capable of, despite the every day trammels that hold us back. 10/10 would recommend. <3
Lin is so irritating
katasrifi24 February 2024
I love this show for its history. Lin overshadows.it by his ego and grandstanding..ok..we know u lost a leg..we sympathize and get it...but then flying off OUTSIDE a helicopter?? Seriously? Ego ego ego. And taking credit for other finds?? Whatever dude. And btw..quit standing in front of the screen when others are trying to see their Civilization!(The Clouds)..gah! Acts humble and sincere..but..its fake..ego..misogynistic. Love the show..but hard to get through with this guy!..Give credit where credit is due, not just for yourself. Narrative is fake and over the top. I can just think that Lin orders his 'helpers' to send the drones, they are just talking crap about how he communicates to them. Respect!
Great Show
tonyl-1341910 March 2020
Just Discovered This
misspeabody-5507324 November 2019
I turned on National Geographic today and this was on. I was immediately caught up in the message as well as the history shown in the series. It takes me places I can't go and ultimately connects the human family. The narration is interesting and informative and the sites he chooses are magnificent. Best of all are the stories he constructs thru his research. I've been watching for hours now and I am hoping there is a new season.
Could be such a good show....
thanhguy14 October 2020
So much of the camera focus is on the host and not on the views he's looking at. He is always the center of attention. His face is always half of the tv. I don't hate the guy at all. And I'm glad an Asian guy is getting camera time. But the main focus should be on tbe cities; not on him.
After you read this comment, go watch an episode and tell me you don't notice it.... I dare you.
After you read this comment, go watch an episode and tell me you don't notice it.... I dare you.
Love this show
cschubert-7751218 November 2019
I am enjoying this series. It's not the typical history/archeology show. Its adding new cutting edge technology to not only show us what the cities could have looked like but helping those who are currently investigating the sites by giving access to that technology to advance their work. Great photography and narration.
Finally a legit "archeology/explorer" type show
aprilw-7326418 November 2019
Love love love every episode albert lin does. Where he goes, what he discovers & the people he connects to. Finally a show on ancient archeology that actually answers the real questions people have and doesn't leave you hanging. Finally a show on archeology and our ancient past that leaves you with actual scientific answers instead of leaving you with nothing except more questions. Will be so disappointed if this show gets cancelled anytime soon!
Great Show
kp-6757330 May 2020
I enjoyed everything about this series. I was really sad to see there are only 6 episodes. I want more! The host is an inspiration on many levels. He's positive, interesting, inspiring, curious, intelligent & charismatic. Mr. Lin was great! I want more episodes ASAP! I've recommended this show with my students/families as a great show to watch as a family and discuss/reflect afterwards. Loved it!
Excellent programming.
eedj18 November 2019
Remarkable
buddysdad200418 November 2019
Self-Indulgent Host
horschkj14 December 2021
This series has so much potential. But it's all about Albert Lin. In the episode I watched there were so many shots of his face. And even his shirtless torso. Why was it necessary to waste 5 minutes of the episode watching him surf? Everything is so contrived. And his reactions fake.
But the worst part was Lin's time on the research vessel in the Black Sea. They were trying to make it seem like he was part of the team, but he was obviously just in the way. He kept saying WE'RE looking for or WE found... who is we??? You have absolutely nothing to do with this expedition. These are not your discoveries. You have done absolutely nothing but show your face on camera. It angered me. You made this archeologist's life of research all about you. It's incredibly vain.
But the worst part was Lin's time on the research vessel in the Black Sea. They were trying to make it seem like he was part of the team, but he was obviously just in the way. He kept saying WE'RE looking for or WE found... who is we??? You have absolutely nothing to do with this expedition. These are not your discoveries. You have done absolutely nothing but show your face on camera. It angered me. You made this archeologist's life of research all about you. It's incredibly vain.
Excellent series with a masterful story teller.
anarata-4224018 November 2019
Inspiring for everyone!
jennyay-469897 February 2023
Lost Cities is such a remarkable series. You get to watch the discoveries Dr. Lin and his team uncover as they find them! It is genuine and makes you feel as though you are there with them. It is not over produced with music, or hyper-jump camera angles. Dr. Lin talks to you as though you are on the journey with him. Do you, or someone you know, want to be an explorer? Watch this show!! Hopefully Nat Geo will give us lots of Albert Lin & Team expeditions. Even watching the reruns (fourth time through right now!) are captivating. This show has given me sparks of courage to start my own exploring and deep connections with nature. I'm a huge fan of the science, technology, history, and archaeology presented in this show. Dr. Lin's passion, enthusiasm, and knowledge truly shine.
"Ghost Hunters" but with archaeology
anae-7823412 June 2023
I was surprised to find out this was produced under the National Geographic banner. Its that bad.
Lost Cities with Albert Lin doesn't incorporate much science or history. I don't know how he became the host of this series. He doesn't seem to have the background needed for a show like this - and neither do the writers. He likes trying to say dramatic things though. And he fails.
Albert Lin looks at a map and makes a ton of assumptions about what happened there - hundreds, thousands of years ago. He goes off a desert path, up a rocky hill, and is SURPRISED to find rocks and thorns. Yeah - he really does seem like an "indoor" type of guy. Worst - the science is lacking. Like when they find a skull in a "cave" on the side of a hill, its declared - with no investigation or evidence - that the skull predates the Incas. I guess its possible, but the trouble is - the area has been occupied by humans for thousands of years. How do they KNOW that the skull is that old?
The entire show operates like one of the Ghost Hunters. See an image on a screen. Go to that location. Make a bunch of assumptions. Pretend to be in awe.
Lost Cities with Albert Lin doesn't incorporate much science or history. I don't know how he became the host of this series. He doesn't seem to have the background needed for a show like this - and neither do the writers. He likes trying to say dramatic things though. And he fails.
Albert Lin looks at a map and makes a ton of assumptions about what happened there - hundreds, thousands of years ago. He goes off a desert path, up a rocky hill, and is SURPRISED to find rocks and thorns. Yeah - he really does seem like an "indoor" type of guy. Worst - the science is lacking. Like when they find a skull in a "cave" on the side of a hill, its declared - with no investigation or evidence - that the skull predates the Incas. I guess its possible, but the trouble is - the area has been occupied by humans for thousands of years. How do they KNOW that the skull is that old?
The entire show operates like one of the Ghost Hunters. See an image on a screen. Go to that location. Make a bunch of assumptions. Pretend to be in awe.
I am amazed again...
mp-125-18230824 December 2020
By the level of stupidity of most of American documentations. I mean the US is still leading in science, has amazing unbelievable expensive but good universities and I all documentaries they produce are made for an audience whom is intellectual challenged by binding their shoes. Lost cities is no exception to this. I mean they make such great and even demanding TV shows, we here in Germany have super awful, horrible, dumb TV shows but our documentaries for 5-year-olds are more demanding than anything from Nat Geo, Disney+, Netflix, ... why?
I felt lobotomized by this show
Average due to the host
florentgaglio-3478129 September 2021
It could be a 7 star show but the host is very difficult to like, you see him more walking, jumping than anything else. Constantly over reacting, fake astonishment or disgust. Come on the show is not about you. For a 10 star show, producers need to put more emphasis on science, scientists, history or archeology. BBC is so much better.
The "amazing" "incredible" Albert Lin Show
dfulker21 February 2021
It's such a disappointment. I was half expecting Daffy Duck to make an appearance. This is not archaeology. It's facile, anodyne and annoying. Albert Lin reveals himself to be an arrogant academic. What's new? His manner with real archaeologists is off-hand, rude, condescending and typically 1950s American. He was especially rude to the Peruvian archaeologist. I cannot imagine that he will be invited back, anywhere. Except, of course, he's got the dollars and the technology. He really ought to buy a thesaurus. Amazing? Incredible? Unbelievable? Is the vocabulary of a 12 year old. Watch this show, by all means ..... on Mute.
Boring.
joemama-961268 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Somehow this guy goes to some of the most interesting places in the world and makes it as boring as possible. Watching someone set up cameras, and scan walls is a waste of a documentary on something as compelling as Petra..
Worst show
adjusting22 November 2021
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
