Discovery Channel

Liveitloud

Liveitloud

Joined
Jul 1, 2006
Messages
2,901
So the last few weekends I have been bored and not been able to find anything to watch on TV. I went through my on demand listings and found 2 shows that I hadn't seen so I checked them out. I have to say that I have found them both really interesting and wondered if anyone else was watching.

The first one is called Dual Survival. It's about two survivalists from completely different backgrounds who get dropped into tough situations and have to survive until they can reach a place to get saved.

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/dual-survival/

The other one is called The Colony. It's about a group of people that are in a controlled experiment to see how they would survive in a post apocalyptic situation.



http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/colony/

Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on these two shows. I have found them both fairly interesting.
 
I have no interest in The Colony after the first season. There's no way to really pout people in a post apocalyptic scenario without them being in real danger. They won't have the mindset that they'd have in the real situation and that really skews things. The best thing about it was showing some truly stupid things people may do in such a situation.

There's a couple epic threads in WS&S and the ESEE forum on Dual Survival.
I'd like to continue one here, as it may be more civil than those were.

Personally, I like both Dave Canterbury and Cody Lundin. They were great choices for the show because they are so different in their approaches to the same situation. Dave is in the short-term survival mindset, Cody is in the long-term sustainability mindset.

Guys complain that a lot of their situations are contrived. And yes, they are. They have to be to meet the shooting schedules. If you wrap your mind around the fact that these guys aren't actually out there surviving, but showing some obstacles that may come up in such a situation and a way or two to deal with it, it's a much better show.

I like that they show failures -- often failure to make a fire. It shows two things:
1.) If "survival experts" fail at making fire, don't be surprised if you do, too (Dave said when the conditions are right, he's got about a 40% chance of making a friction fire).
2.) It shows the value of knowing more than one way to do things.
3.) Hopefully, it set the viewer into the though process that if they are in a place where they may be shoved into such a situation, it might be a good idea to have at least a basic kit so they don't have to rely on lower-probability primitive skills.
 
I would not read too much at what discovery has to say about survival.
From what I've seen so far...Most of the time is a controlled show and some times just plain silly. What I really want to see is the "behind the scenes" on this shows ;-)
Wanna know about survival? watch the programs about how the last native tribes live...that's as close as you can get...unless you go and live with them for a year.
 
I'm not too sure I would give the shows an A+ for authenticity but I do find them interesting. Probably the dual survivor more than the colony. As I was watching the colony they were talking about the people they were sending to start trouble and how they didn't know that the people were prompted not to hurt anyone.

Well, being a tv show that is somewhat scripted:
1. How could they not know.
2. And, if they did not know, why has there not been more violence.

If I were being attacked I would assume that it's kill or be killed so that part was pretty unbelievable.

On dual survival I found the guys different approaches to things very interesting. Their philosophies at times were in very stark contrast to one another but yet they worked together well to accomplish a goal.

From that standpoint it showed (to me anyway) the importance of teamwork in a survival situation. I must say though that I found myself leaning more toward Cody Lundin's style.

It is what it is, which is entertainment but, it was a pretty good way to waste an hour.
 
Liveitloud said:
It is what it is, which is entertainment but, it was a pretty good way to waste an hour.
Click to expand...

:D Don't waste it! Get out, chop some wood, start a fire with a fire-steel rod and brew yourself some coffee in a pot. It's a better spent hour.:thumbup:
And you'll learn more!

...but I agree those shows are entertaining at times, being educational is another matter
 
Last edited:
It's better than 99% of the other crap on the electric toilet.

I sharpen knives while I watch -- no wasted time here. :D
 
I like watching both of them, knowing full well they are both TV shows and not some documentary on real life survival. ;)
 
I haven't watched The Colony and don't ever plan too as I've never seen anything that shows any kind of entertainment value in the commercials that appeals or would appeal too me. :rolleyes: :p ;) :D

Dual Survival on the other hand has been mostly entertaining IMO. I like the interplay between Cody and Dave and I especially like the fact that Cody runs around barefoot!:thumbup: :cool: :D


​
`
​
 
I don't watch much TV anymore, just a couple of shows on PBS (Glove Trekker, History Detectives, and Doctor Who). The "educational" networks' decision to go over to reality programming was, in fact, one major reason why I dropped cable, since there was nothing to watch!
Having said that, I just looked at the site (I have Cody Lundin's book, so I was curious), and I like that fact that they actually have survival info ON it, such as a page on how to select gear. Perhaps this will do someone some PRACTICAL good.
 
I have really enjoyed the show. I think that the one that just aired is the last one for the season. I hope it comes back. While certainly not a comprehensive survival guide I got some good stuff out of it and they do make an interesting odd couple.

A question to anyone watching. Have you figured out what is hanging from Cody's necklace? It looks a bit like Thor's Hammer but everything I have looked up was close but no cigar. I googled and googled but still came up empty.
 
As a matter of fact, *I* can tell you: it's a mini-survival kit of his own design, built around a neck knife. (It's detailed in his book, 98.6 Degrees, which I fortunately have.)

It's a Mora Frost knife on a paracord lanyard, with several items taped onto it: a brightly colored BIC lighter, an untreated condom (not for that, but for holding water), and some extra duck tape, all covered with brightly colored tape for visibility. Elsewhere on the lanyard is a survival whistle.

You're welcome.
 
Dual Survival has been most enjoyable, no doubt the situations are contrived but then they have to be. Can I learn from what I see on these programs, I think I do but not as much as I do if I go out and do what I am learning. They certainly have a better place in my line up than Bear Gryls crap does, all he shows folks is how to die in a survival situation. I am also glad to see that Survivorman is making a come back with a new take on things. He will be going and studying with the natives who live the life and showing what he learns from them as he does so. This should prove very educational.

As fr the Colony, never had a notion to watch it.
 
Nicholas said:
As a matter of fact, *I* can tell you: it's a mini-survival kit of his own design, built around a neck knife. (It's detailed in his book, 98.6 Degrees, which I fortunately have.)

It's a Mora Frost knife on a paracord lanyard, with several items taped onto it: a brightly colored BIC lighter, an untreated condom (not for that, but for holding water), and some extra duck tape, all covered with brightly colored tape for visibility. Elsewhere on the lanyard is a survival whistle.

You're welcome.
Click to expand...

Thanks Nicholas but I was talking about the choker he is wearing but it's good to know about the other one. :)
 
I've enjoyed Dual Survival so far. It's even been fairly accurate as to technique etc.

The Colony doesn't interest me at all. Total contrived B.S.

Corp. I generaly sharpen knives when watching T.V. as well. Fact is my wife feels like somethins wrong if I don't have a knife in my hand.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top