Get Out Alive!

I figured something out last night while watching the new NBC show, Get Out Alive With Bear Grylls. Bear gets trash talked in the outdoor communities quite a bit in the circles where authenticity and practical survival techniques are valued, mostly because of the stupid stunts that seemed to be the bread and butter of his old show, Man vs. Wild. But really, Bear Grylls is an enjoyable character to watch on TV, and part of that is because of the added element of adventure seeking that he throws into his activities. I mean, who hasn't done some inadvisable things for the sake of a bit of excitement? Jumping off a rock into water of unknown depth, or throwing rocks at a beehive, or messing with that snake on the trail... I think the problem is that the show was expected, scripted, and promoted to be a survival instruction type show, of which it was be a terrible one. If it was watched as just a recreational show where viewers watched a crazy guy eat eyeballs, wear seal skin suits, pole vault down mountains, and drink some seriously inadvisable fluids, well then, Man vs. Wild was awesome at that!

For whatever reason, Bear and Discovery called it quits on Man vs. Wild last year, followed by the announcement that NBC was picking up a new reality show featuring Bear. With nothing else on the agenda last night, I caught up on the three episodes that have aired of Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls. Where to begin...

First off, if you've tried and liked Survivor, the concept is similar with some key differences. Like Survivor, the contestants are competing for cash, there are immunity style challenges, elimination councils, a bit interpersonal conflict on-screen, and plenty of meals of beans and rice. In fact, it would be hard to not compare Get Out Alive with Survivor because there are so many similarities. On the flip side though, Get Out Alive doesn't focus as much on obstacle course style challenges, instead choosing to hone in on more practical wilderness skills like navigation, foraging, shelter, fire, and natural obstacles. Contestants aren't building a single camp and then just sitting tight for 30 days. They are on the move every day, travelling distances that aren't enormous, but do require a grasp of many basic wilderness skills as they move through different terrain and ecosystems. There are not tribes. Contestants are in teams of two, but all teams work together, not against each other, for most activities. Sure, there is the occasional cheesiness - Bear overwatching from a nearby tree where supposedly no one has spotted him, some aggravating product placement, and the requisite Bear Grylls drinking competition. But on the whole, the show has been enjoyable to me, most of the advice and analysis seemingly sound, and the character drama not overplayed. It's not a race. It's not a popularity contest. It's a team adventure and test of skills, endurance, and character.

The three episodes that have aired are available to watch for free here or for purchase in HD on Amazon.