Presents in two parts, 'Reluctant Ally' and 'Friendly Foe', a comprehensive study of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers as a single ecosystem.

The Cousteau team follows the Mississippi River on an exploration that winds through the mists of American myth and memory to examine the waters that brought life to a continent. From Louisiana to Minnesota, Calypso's divers discover a river that offers ghostly reminders of the past. The 2-part mini-series presents a comprehensive study of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers as a single ecosystem. It shows the Mississippi's icy origin in Minnesota to its destination in the Gulf of Mexico, and looks at the land, wildlife, people, history, folklore, and modern technology associated with the area. In the second part, Cousteau and crew retrace the path of pioneers along the Missouri, then voyage past modern locks and classic paddle-wheelers on the mighty Mississippi.—Anonymous