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Photo Credit: The Kid Cl

Haven’t had a chance to check out the new series? Here’s my take.

While normally a fan of anything National Geographic produces, I’m withholding judgment on this one for a bit. Don’t get me wrong, the camera work and editing are still up to their usual standard. But I’m finding their subject matter a bit repetitive.

I realize the whole point of the show is to highlight as many traveler’s tales of international captivity as possible.  That’s not my issue. What I take issue with is just how often they’re selecting the “we got caught smuggling drugs” stories to produce and air. I’m not waving a morality flag here. Far from it. I just think for all the talent the organization has access to, they could have provided a greater diversity in their plot lines.

Are there some other types of stories covered? Yes. And I’ve appreciated those, as I’ve appreciated a few of the smuggling episodes. But to launch an entire series and be several episodes in before you switch to something besides yet another young person who tried to smuggle drugs . . . I just see it as poor scheduling on their part. Even juggling the episodes around a bit would have made a huge difference in the way I viewed the launch of the series.

Perhaps it was just an oversight by the production team and a greater diversity of story lines will be forthcoming. Like I said, I’m withholding judgment at this point in the hopes that this potentially powerful travel series can still live up to what I’ve come to expect as National Geographic standards. As always, I remain open to other opinions and impressions. Got one? Feel free to join in the discussion in the comment section below.

Posted on July 31st, 2008 by webmaster
Filed under: Art and Entertainment