Last Man Standing

I've always been sceptical of reality T.V. shows, especially seeing as half of them seem to involve an island in some way or another. But when I randomly came across this through my channel hopping trying to find something decent, I was amazed after finishing the first episode.

Amazed firstly by the ingenuity of the concept, taking 6 contestants and pitting them against the various traditions of various cultures that test the athletes in various skills. This has largely played off quite well, with a traditional stick fight between Zulu warriors and the contestants my personal highlight, however there were a couple episodes in which it was apparent that it may not always be the case of tradition, but more of something they thought up of to do,or that hasn't always been practised as vigourously through the ages as was apparent in a hilltop marathon in Mexico, which ended rather disappointingly, but still proved a test of determination and stamina nonetheless.

secondly, what makes this show what it is, is the excellent choosing of contestant, 6 in all, 3 from the U.S. and 3 from the U.K. All chosen for different attributes. The most notable of these contestants is a professional Strongman called Brad, whose sheer size and determined mentality make him a strong contender in almost every physical challenge, and probably the most notable contender of the show, yet in this show it is easy for everyone to have different favourites. Another, Jason is a BMX racer whose is notable for the aggressiveness he brings to every challenge, Richard, an Oxford graduate, though lacking in size brings a typical Britishness with him of always giving it his best. Mark is a professional kick-boxer and Dancer from Birmingham and presents himself as the steady head of the show, always rearing to go into the next challenge with a tactic. Raijko is a spiritual mind guru, who believes in mind over body and Corey is liken to being Richards American counterpart as a Harvard graduate from Alaska.

All these contestants bring such a variety to the show that makes you eager to see how each one of them will perform and see how their own particular values of meeting the challenges being it mind over body, strong aggressiveness or just pure strength really make for an entertaining show. Making it one i've book-marked to watch each week.

Overall it is truly a show that the producers have thought about a lot, one which draws in the audience and keeps them hooked in on the show. And of course lets not forget Richard Hammond as the presenter, who out there can not love him.

Last Man Standing is an action packed reality show, pitting 6 competitors from the UK and America against secluded and largely untouched cultures in traditional tribal games. The scope on this show is amazing; the contestants travel all around the world to places never before filmed and engross themselves in the natives culture, undertaking all aspects of life in the wilderness before competing.

The 6 contestants contribute greatly to the entertainment of the show and it is clear the producers worked hard in selecting competitors who would thrive in the unfamiliar conditions. Their camaraderie in and out of the events offers a pleasant contrast to their physical endeavours and provide many memorable moments. Each competitor contributes different talents and characteristics which reflect on how they approach these new situations. The different events suit different abilities so it is not always the strongest man who wins which brings a nice change to things. Notable competitors are American Strongman, Brad who enters each task with a determined, primal ethos, cementing his physical presence and providing a spectacle for the locals. Rajko, dubbed as a fitness Guru, is a very down to earth character who realises the importance of training the mind as well as the body and can be seen as the spiritual contender, allowing us to see how religion holds up in alien and at times paganistic cultures. U.S. BMXer Jason prides himself on his aggressiveness and is a very black and white character, not dabbling at all in the spiritual endeavours of life and can be see somewhat as the 'Anti-Rajko'. Kick boxer by day and Salsa dancer by night, Brit Mark is marketed as the most technical contender, and also brings a level headed outlook on life during Last Man Standing. Richard, the intellectual athlete, has led a relatively comfortable life yet strives with a determined fervour to compete to the best of the abilities considering his weight disadvantage and can always be relied upon to offer a philosophical conclusion. Finally, another intellectual athlete, Corey is also an endurance specialist, partaking in rock climbing and long distance running.

At times during the events, I found myself becoming very emotionally involved with our athletes plight, given the nature of the tasks and also the time in which we are given to get to know the contestants. Upon arrival in a new area, the athletes are assigned families to live with and spend much of their time adjusting to this new world as well as training for the upcoming task, often with the villages fabled champions. This gives us an opportunity to experience the villages and environment, bringing a documentary like approach to parts of the show.

Overall, Last Man Standing is a highly entertaining, enlightening and engrossing show, well worth watching. The show originally aired on BBC Three and was recently re-run on BBC Two but your best bet now is to purchase the complete series on DVD.

Here's looking forward to the next series!