Caçadores de Tempestades

Most of us have seen storm chasing documentaries in our lifetime, wondering in awe at those magnificent, terrifying acts of nature called tornadoes. The problem, though, is that after awhile, we're used to the script: A team comes in with either the latest technology or just a rogue group of storm chasers, goes into a dangerous storm, and captures some cool footage and/or data. That's all well and good, but in the end, it's not much more than eye candy.

Storm Chasers, by contrast, takes this to a whole new level. By expanding single shows into full-season episodes, and by focusing just as much on the individual storm chasers as the storms themselves, we get to know them as real humans and not just random people. We become interested in how the individuals react differently to the exact same storms, and after awhile we learn what their hot buttons are and what makes them tick. We see the contrasts in Josh's methodical style, Sean's aggressiveness and lack of patience, and Reed's frat-boy-like attitude. It's almost as much fun to watch the personalities bounce off one another as it is to watch them pursue their targets. Part of those differences stem from the fact that the lead characters all have different goals. Josh wants to gather radar- and probe-based data from tornadoes; Reed wants to get up-close film of tornadoes to sell to media outlets; and most notably, Sean wants to take his 16,000-pound behemoth Tornado Intercept Vehicle right into a tornado, film it from the inside, and sell the footage to IMAX.

That said, it really wouldn't be accurate to describe Storm Chasers as a reality show. This IS about storm-chasing, and that remains the focus of this show. There is some excellent footage throughout the series. It gets downright terrifying on more than one occasion, because remember, having gotten attached to the individual characters, you don't want anything bad to happen to them. Considering that this is a non-staged, nonfiction story makes this all that much more intense.

Whether you're a tornado guru or don't even know the difference between a cold front and a warm front, odds are very good that you'll like Storm Chasers. It has a style comparable to Deadliest Catch; chances are if you like Deadliest Catch, you'll like Storm Chasers as well. Personally, I absolutely love it. I'm currently halfway through the DVDs of the second season, and I'm completely glued to it. It is that good.

Out of all the Reality Series, this has me at the edge of the seat

I love the tornado footage but Sean is just so moody and just hateful that it makes me haye watching any scenes with him. Reed makes me smile and it breaks my heart watching Tim before his passing. Just try to enjoy the footage and ignore the drama!

I loved seeing Reed introduce the dominator, I would prefer if he was the main one focused on the show! He takes Sean's BS very well and just enjoys what he does. Sean's attitude makes me completely not interested in watching his movie. I really hope that Reed will have his own show with the lighthearted and loud fun view of storm chasing! Never stop chasing!

I really love this show. I love extreme weather and would love to go chase. This site was great and would love to see it come back. Reed was a peace of work. He was an A hole really. The way he put joel out and left him was completely unacceptable. You don't do that to no one especially someone you call a friend no matter how mad you get. Sean well lets just say he was a pointless addition to the show. Tornado alley wasn't even a movie just another documentary. But the overall show is amazing how they capture real life tornadoes and show what they actually can do. Both twister movies are great but this show is the real thing. Need more.

I watched this when it first aired and recently watched it again, in part to remember all the people who have since died, and to see if my original opinion had changed. It did! I'm dropping my rating from a 5 to a 3 because it's even more excruciating now. I was reminded that even if (let's be generous) say 90% of the "reality drama" was manufactured, these guys are STILL the biggest bunch of egotistical, whiny, transparent and one-dimensional tool-bags ever to grace cable TV -with two exceptions. Josh Warman is an excellent scientist, and a credit to the profession. Tim Samaras and company as well, rest their sousl.

Casey and Timmer, however, seem to thrive on being the most colossal jackasses possible. When Casey spends 1% of the time claiming to care about the science (while alienating Wurman, his only link to science), and 99% of the time whining about his 1 in a million shot (for a movie which ironically apparently kind of...sucked), You can tell what his real motivation is: Money and Glory. That's it.

And Timmer... I get the impression he's the kind of guy who walks into a room, sleazily introduces himself to everyone, one by one, as "Hi. Reed Timmer. Extreme meteorologist". Hell, he's billed as that in the credits. Not content to simply be a meteorologist, he's *extreme*. While he at least has the education, his motives are blatantly financial as well. His being on the show was an unfortunate confluence of reality and bro culture that darn near killed Discovery channel.

Yes, the videos are good, and kudos to them for going out and getting them. But it gets really tiring, every time there's a storm to chase, to hear them practically wetting themselves with the same tired lines: "that's about to go huge!!!" and "that's going to be a huge tornado!!!" etc. All while canned heavy metal guitar relentlessly crunches away in the background. Meanwhile, Casey needs to act pissy, show us his sad face, and remind us -yet again- how much he really needs his money shot... Just in case we forgot since the previous chase 10 minutes earlier. Not since Roger in RENT has anyone been so singleminded.

If the show had focused more on Wurman, Samaras/ and the Vortex/Twstex projects, it would hav been so much better. Perhaps a little drier, maybe not quite as as "extreme", but a hell of a lot less annoying. Wurman and his laconic snarkiness could have carried the thing. Alas, it was not to be. At least now you can find tons of excellent videos on YouTube, and without all the whiny drama.