Northern Wilderness, your thoughts?

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rancid badger

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
I had found myself losing interest in Mr Mears.

His last two series were not at all to my taste, indeed, 'wild food' was particularly disappointing.

I was a bit doubtful of how things might turn out after the first episode but having watched the 2nd, I can honestly say that, as far I'm concerned; episode 2 is by far and away his best piece of TV. If the rest of the series, is as interesting and beautifully made, I would be surprised if it did not collect an award or two.

I am in no way, any kind of Ray Mears 'sycophant', indeed, I consider myself quite hard to please but that 2nd episode really pressed all my buttons.

A hearty 'Well Done' from me:)

R.B.
 

VirusKiller

Nomad
Jul 16, 2007
392
0
Hogsty End
I fell asleep towards the end of the last episode (Sam Hearne) which is a first for me.

Ray did bushcraft very well, but he's not a good documentary presenter IMO. Even though he's quite right, there's only so much I can take of Ray saying "I have so much respect for <insert indigenous people here>"; I don't like the style. I don't think the production is terribly good either, with lots of repeated (i.e. budget constrained) shots.

I'll keep watching though, because the subject matter is interesting, even if the telling isn't (to me).
 

durulz

Need to contact Admin...
Jun 9, 2008
1,755
1
Elsewhere
I fell asleep towards the end of the last episode (Sam Hearne) which is a first for me.

Ray did bushcraft very well, but he's not a good documentary presenter IMO. Even though he's quite right, there's only so much I can take of Ray saying "I have so much respect for <insert indigenous people here>"; I don't like the style. I don't think the production is terribly good either, with lots of repeated (i.e. budget constrained) shots.

I'll keep watching though, because the subject matter is interesting, even if the telling isn't (to me).

Yup, that's just about how I feel.
I try not to have cynical thoughts when I also hear those magical words: 'I have so much respect for...', but there is a little voice at the back of my head thinking, 'yeah, yeah, yeah - I'm sure you do. Now just get on with it.'
 

rik_uk3

Banned
Jun 10, 2006
13,320
24
69
south wales
Fantastic series, Ray has matured and is presenting a wonderful show; I would have thought those with experience and knowledge would have moved on from expecting the chap to keep on lighting fires and building shelters (more for youngsters and newbies I would have thought).


The show is called Northern Wilderness, not Ray Mears Northern Wilderness Bushcraft:rolleyes:

Look on youtube if you need to see him light yet another fire or build yet another shelter.

A down side for some is the lack of kit on show to lust after perhaps?
 

Nonsuch

Life Member
Sep 19, 2008
1,862
1
Scotland, looking at mountains
I have managed to fall alseep at around minute 35 of all three episodes so far. I watch them again on Tuesdays to see the bits I missed. I agree the content seems a bit stretched out for 60 minutes

NS
 

Klenchblaize

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 25, 2005
2,610
135
65
Greensand Ridge
A would agree it lacked pace but maybe a leisurely approach to what RM clearly has a passion for is to be commended. He got there in the end as far as his point of an injustice was concerned and that clearly reflects both the power and class system of the day. So long as he comes good with a healthy slice of the hunting opportunities still on offer in the Canadian backwoods the programme will get my vote as excellent use of the licence fee. Fingers crossed!

Cheers
 

Bogman10

Nomad
Dec 28, 2006
300
0
Edmonton,ab,Can
4th was the weakest, but I still enjoyed it. 1,2,3, were great ( Western Canadian history was my favorite course in high school ).Being from Edmonton ( A original Hudson Bay Fort )
made me think of the last time I visited Fort Edmonton park, a recreation of the original, complete with actors. It is nice to see Ray hanging out in the places I do, and while he hasn't really taught me anything ( skills wise he has covered most everything in past series ) that growing up here I didn't know, I still enjoyed the presentation. After seeing the winter camping, it got me jacked up to start planing my own winter camping/ice fishing trips, complete with my new, this hunting season ,Canvas tent and wood stove! Now were did I put my ice fishing gear?
 

rik_uk3

Banned
Jun 10, 2006
13,320
24
69
south wales
Great episode, slow? naa, whats a matter with you guys lol

The pace reflected the broad spectrum of the episode, wonderful stuff.
 

Bogman10

Nomad
Dec 28, 2006
300
0
Edmonton,ab,Can
I'm really liking this series, rather more than the last one.

I am a huge Bushtucker man fan, and watch his show over and over. So the only episode I really liked of Walkabout was the 1st one. I watched the others too, but that is the only series so far that I have not watched at least twice ( most others many many times, too embarrassed to tell you how many, obsess much Kevin? )
 

locum76

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Oct 9, 2005
2,772
9
47
Kirkliston
to be honest I very rarely watch RM shows but i really like this series. I'm enjoying the history in it. I think his presenting style works well for history, also there is a fair bit of humour in it too. I remember thinking some of his early stuff was a bit pious, which put me off.
 

VirusKiller

Nomad
Jul 16, 2007
392
0
Hogsty End
After criticizing the first three episodes (and #3 in particular), I thought that #4 was superb. The whole episode just worked from start to finish. The bits of bushcraft in it were well interspersed and relevant.

I think I'm not keen when Ray gets too blearly eyed. This week's episode was more factual and the story was very well told. That's not to say that he can't express what he feels about something - at the end of the programme, in front of Franklin's statue, he was visibly angry when highlighting the injustice met out to Rae. And why not?
 

red dreads

Member
Nov 14, 2009
47
0
Eilean a Cheo
Absolutely loved parts 1-4,all had something of interest.

The finishing shots of building the Igloo were almost reverential, awesome photography with a stunning backing track.

And yes the opening soundtrack did sound familiar ,is it an orchestrated version of the music for "Tracks" RM'S tv debut programme?
 

Goatboy

Full Member
Jan 31, 2005
14,956
17
Scotland
Must say I'm enjoying the series a lot, and while watching him run down river in the birchbark canoe my mind wandered back to the 1978 TV series Centennial. It was set in Colarado not Canada but started in the 1700's with imigrants and fur trappers. Used to see it round at my Grans house and I so wanted to live life like Pasquinel the french fur trapper. I'm going to have to dig around Amazon now to see if I can pick up the book or DVD's.

I must say that although a lot of folk seem to find it "Bushcraft Lite" I enjoy the more holistic ethos based tack the program takes. I also find it more relative to me personaly as well I live in a temperate zone and love the woods. The Oz series were good but I've no huge ambition to go live there. Things bite, sting and generally try to mess up your day all around you there lol.

Cheers
Colin.
 

andybysea

Full Member
Oct 15, 2008
2,609
0
South east Scotland.
Ive enjoyed this series so far (watched on a Tuesday as eldest daughter and misses watch some travisty rip off show on a sunday night you know the one) anyway, have to agree with some was'nt that impressed with the last series Ray did but this one as i said i like and last one was my fave so far.
 

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