‘Down to Earth With Zac Efron’ Reminds Us Caring About the Planet is Super Sexy

Down to Earth With Zac Efron is back for Season 2, and much like our planet, the travel host is only getting hotter.

It’s no secret that Efron has reigned as a Hollywood heartthrob for the past two decades. He serenaded us in the High School Musical movies, Hairspray, and The Greatest Showman. He turned up the charm in romantic book-to-screen adaptations of Charlie St. Cloud and The Lucky One. He stripped down as Matt Brody on Baywatch. And more recently, he rocked a sexy ‘stache in The Greatest Beer Run Ever. But the actor’s most attractive role to date is undoubtedly co-hosting Netflix‘s original travel series, Down to Earth.

The delightful series, which debuted in July 2020, quickly claimed the top spot on my list of most soothing pandemic binges. The first eight episodes follow Efron and wellness expert Darin Olien as they travel the world to highlight and learn about healthy, sustainable, under-appreciated ways of life. They get schooled on renewable energy in Iceland, jet to Paris to taste tap water, visit a wildlife refuge in Costa Rica, assist with hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico, and embark on a series of other purposeful adventures. After Efron was forced to quarantine in Australia at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, he fell in love with the land and invited Olien and the crew over to film, which is how Season 2 became Down to Earth: Down Under.

The second batch of eight episodes, which dropped on Netflix November 11, filmed exclusively in Australia. The charming duo can be seen learning about protected lands, taking part in sacred cultural ceremonies, talking regenerative farming, and snorkeling along the breathtaking Great Barrier Reef. Efron’s excitement and love of adventure are back in full force, and the fact that he never approaches the series as an expert makes his presence all the more refreshing and relatable. It’s clear the actor is there to listen, learn, raise awareness, and devote his precious time to inspiring viewers not to take this world for granted. And that, my friends, is incredibly sexy.

In Down to Earth, Efron’s sparkling eyes, sweet smile, and smokin’ hot bod are present throughout, but his emotional intelligence, empathy, passion, and genuine desire to better himself and the planet are what make him such a winsome host. Watching Efron engage in meaningful conversations with locals and experts, delight in the sheer power of human connection, and ask engaging follow-up questions gives the series added layers of depth. Seeing the duo bond with wildlife and go the extra mile to treat their crew (which includes Efron’s real-life brother Dylan) like family warms the heart. And the fact that Efron’s personality shines through in every single scene — whether he’s chowing down on a delicious meal, dropping nerdy pop culture references, or wearing white pants and shoes to get down and dirty — is a major bonus.

The series is a soothing balm that’s equal parts inspirational and educational. But Efron and Olien not only open our eyes to different ways of life and stress the urgency of taking action to create positive change, they remind us that caring about the planet is super sexy. Efron’s played his fair share of dreamy roles over the years, but none compare to watching him live life unscripted with an immense sense of purpose, social consciousness, and an eagerness to learn and make an impact. Down to Earth is an unexpected gem of a series that shows Efron in a new light, raises crucial awareness on environmental issues, and  — to put it simply — matters.

Down to Earth With Zac Efron: Down Under is now streaming on Netflix.