Dual Survival

I've really found this program entertaining. I'll miss Dave. But I trust the new special forces guy will be able to keep Cody alive. My analogy - Cody is like the gram-ma lost in the woods with bare feet and skirt and Dave is the guy that gets them home. If I had my choice of who to be lost in the bush with, hands down it would be Dave. I have spent much time in the bush and I am amazed at a what a master of bush-craft Dave is. Outstanding fellow. From not only building a functioning bow but also making arrows and actual arrow heads and fletchings... To rope work in rappelling off cliffs and belaying Cody down places Cody could not down climb with bare feet... To multiple ways of starting fire and transporting fire. .. Finding his directions ... making shelters and on and on!!! All the best to Dave in whatever direction he goes and really looking forward to Cody and the new special forces guy and their adventures!

I'm slightly surprised to be the first reviewer for what I consider one of the better reality shows on the air, but I am glad that I caught this show by accident. Dual Survivior is basically about a military guy(Dave Canterbury)and an ex hippie who used to live in a commune(Cody Lundin)who are placed in situations where their expertise in survival is required. Dave does more of the physical stuff like hunt, while Cody, who walks barefoot mostly, uses his knowledge of the land to create current remedies for the situation at hand. It's an interesting combination of brawn vs. brains, even though Dave is also very wise when facing survival and is a great hunter. He and Cody sometimes have differing opinions on how to best gauge their predicament, but it all works out in the end. I'm normally not a fan of reality shows, but Dual Survivor works for me because of the characters and their surroundings.

I haven't given a ranking, because I have no way of judging how accurate the survival information presented is. Which is what the program is supposed to be about. But it's actually about personal conflict. (More about that later.)

As human beings have become increasingly effete (the word means weak, not effeminate), programs about "survival in the wild" have become increasingly popular. Discovery has three or four shows about "making it" in Alaska alone.

I find it "quaint" that viewers actually believe the participants are in real danger. Only in "Naked and Afraid" do they seem to run any real risk, mostly because they're dumped in areas where there's little or no fresh water or food. Accidents can occur and mistakes made, but the producers aren't stupid enough to take chances. Serious injury or death could result in embarrassing lawsuits, regardless of how cleverly written the contracts are.

The underlying purpose of these shows is to create conflict -- people arguing with each other. The survivalists aren't chosen solely for their varying perspectives on survival skills, but (as when making a fire) how much "heat" can be generated by friction between them.

This was obvious from the start. Cody Lundin and Dave Canterbury made an irritating odd couple. This viewer found Lundin especially annoying. Though obviously heterosexual, there was something unmanly -- castrato-like -- about the guy. If I were a woman, I wouldn't let him within 10m (33') of me. Canterbury probably felt the same way.

Joe Teti and Matt Graham were the opposite. It's hard to believe Graham isn't homosexual (his offer to make Teti a suede loin cloth was charmingly hilarious). Though they argued (especially about Graham's proclivity to hang out and soak up the environment), Graham was often amiable about accepting Teti's way of doing things. It was this general lack of friction (it's surprising they haven't announced their engagement!) that likely explains the short run of their partnership.

The current pair comprises Bill McConnell and Grady Powell. They're probably the closest to what the producers had in mind from the start. Powell thinks McConnell is a braggart, but forgives him when he can't start a fire in an impossibly damp environment. (How much of this is real and how much dictated by the producers isn't clear.)

Which brings me to what provoked this series review (and the Summary line). McConnell and Powell are forced to spend the night without fire in a cold, damp cave. And get this -- they sleep apart.

Who's kidding whom? Are these guys so homophobic they won't lie together to keep warm? Or are the producers afraid of offending viewers?

Cowboys spread their bed rolls right next to each other. (Wanna see a photo?) It was mostly to conserve heat, as cloudless nights on the plain got very cold.

If you're trying to show people how to avoid freezing to death, you don't reject the simplest and most-obvious solution.

The Odd Couple meets Man versus Wild. This was my favorite of all the man v. Nature shows popping up in the late 2000s and early 2010s. A middle-aged alpha male veteran and no-nonsense hippie (both of whom have extensive survival skills) must put their differences aside and learn to coexist in harsh environments. Both of these guys were a pleasure to watch, even when they were in vehement disagreement.

Dual Survival is more than good, it's the best. Watching this is is fun, entertaining, and more of all you learn how to survive.

The series is starring two survivors, Cody Lundin and Dave Canterbury. They are both stranded together to survive, and to show survival techniques. Their personalities is a huge difference, Cody is more to the hippie way of living, he see the nature in a different way, and most of all; He walks barefoot, even in the most cold environments.

Dave is a more of "tuff" typical American, he hungers for meat and hunts greatly, he is an ex-sniper military and got loads of experience.

The unique match up, and their difference in thinking will add up to a fun and entertaining show. I recommend this show to everyone. It's a great and fun way to learn how to survive! The only minus that I see so far, is the lack of episodes but whatever! Quality over Quantity!