LION Review: National Geographic’s Kio Will Steal Your Heart

There is something slightly unfair about putting an adorable lion cub at the center of a nature documentary and expecting us not to become emotionally invested. National Geographic's LION introduces viewers to Kio as a young cub growing up in Kenya's Maasai Mara, and before long, watching him survive, learn and find his place within the pride starts feeling surprisingly personal. After following these lions for four years, the filmmakers have created a beautifully photographed coming-of-age story where nature handles the script.

Executive produced by Jon Favreau and Mike Gunton, LION follows a real pride living in the Maasai Mara as Kio begins the long journey from vulnerable cub to adulthood. National Geographic premieres the series on August 19, with streaming beginning August 20 on Disney+ and Hulu.

The heart of LION is unquestionably Kio. Watching him grow gives the documentary a natural emotional through-line. He isn't simply one animal among dozens appearing briefly before the cameras move elsewhere. Viewers are given enough time with him to understand his place within the pride and become invested in what happens next. His curiosity and vulnerability make the early portions particularly endearing, but LION gradually reminds us that being adorable doesn't provide much protection in the wild.And nature does not care about our feelings.

Kio rests under a croton bush, sheltered in the heart of the prideìs territory as he waits for Summer to return. (National Geographic)

There is always another challenge waiting. Growing up in the Maasai Mara means learning how to survive in an environment where food, territory and safety can never be taken for granted. The documentary doesn't need manufactured cliffhangers to create tension because Kio's surroundings provide plenty on their own. That balance between tenderness and danger is where LION works best. One moment can have you smiling as Kio interacts with his family, while another reminds you how quickly circumstances can change for the pride. Knowing these aren't characters following a predetermined storyline makes those moments hit differently.

The four years spent documenting the pride also pay off on screen. There is an intimacy to the footage that would be difficult to achieve by simply dropping cameras into the Maasai Mara for a few weeks and hoping something interesting happens. The filmmakers capture behaviors, relationships and milestones that allow Kio's development to feel like an actual journey.

Visually, LION delivers exactly what viewers expect from National Geographic, and then some. The Maasai Mara is breathtaking, with sweeping landscapes sitting alongside remarkably close encounters with the animals inhabiting them. The photography makes the environment feel enormous without losing sight of the smaller moments happening within the pride.

Some of the most memorable footage isn't necessarily the biggest or most dramatic. Watching Kio observe the adults, interact with the other lions and slowly learn how his world works can be every bit as compelling as the sequences involving immediate danger. That's an important distinction because LION doesn't rely solely on predator-versus-prey spectacle to keep viewers interested. Instead, the series allows the lions' relationships to carry much of the story.

That's also what makes LION accessible for viewers who don't normally seek out nature documentaries. There is plenty to learn about lion behavior and life in the Maasai Mara, but the information never overwhelms Kio's story. You don't feel like you're sitting through a wildlife lecture with pretty footage playing behind it. You're watching a kid grow up.

Granted, that kid has paws, very sharp teeth and will eventually be considerably larger than everyone watching from their couches, but the emotional idea remains surprisingly familiar. Kio has to learn from the lions around him, understand his environment and gradually become capable of surviving without the protections afforded to a tiny cub. It becomes difficult not to root for him.

And perhaps that's the greatest accomplishment of LION. Lions aren't exactly an unfamiliar subject for wildlife television. We've watched them hunt, raise cubs, defend territory and roam the African plains countless times. Finding a fresh emotional entry point therefore isn't necessarily easy. Kio provides one.

By giving viewers the opportunity to stay with him rather than simply observe him, LION transforms familiar wildlife footage into something warmer and more personal. The breathtaking cinematography will get your attention, but Kio is the reason you'll want to keep watching.

National Geographic's LION is heartwarming without ignoring how unforgiving nature can be, educational without feeling like homework and visually gorgeous without allowing the scenery to overshadow its central story. Four years of filming ultimately give viewers something far more rewarding than a snapshot of life in the Maasai Mara: the chance to watch one little lion begin figuring out exactly who he's going to become.

Yes, we're emotionally attached to a lion cub now. Thanks a lot, National Geographic.

LION premieres August 19 on National Geographic and streams August 20 on Disney+ and Hulu.