Along with learning how to survive, another aspect of the genre I enjoy is the outdoor and wildlife photography. Les Stroud hit the nicest notes in his shows in regards to this, including his oft-repeated hunting disclaimer that, he respected natural life and it wasn't to be taken lightly; the hosts of Dual Survival, particuarly Cody Lundin, also admirably emphasize conservation of natural resources. All of the various hosts are great at what they do and knowledgeable, but I would point out that Cody and Dave are American archetypes, and that is probably why I love their show the most. I miss the photography emphasis that LS had, but DS isn't shabby in this regard, it just doesn't seem to be a major concern of the editors. If I had to fault the show, I would say they could improve with better music. Hopefully subsequent seasons will have DVD releases (please!) as I do not use streaming formats.

There are three reasons to watch a reality-survival show on TV: knowledge, scenery, and entertainment. This show does well on all three points.

Both of the hosts pretty well know what they're doing, and are good at explaining what they're doing for the most part. Even if you've read every manual there is, you might learn something new from these guys. It's also helpful to visually see the process and results of the things you've read about. Unless you're a wilderness expert already, and who really is, you'll probably learn something.

The site locations are creatively varied. The cinematography is also generally good, so you can get a fair sense of what these environments are like. Dual Survival is a travel show, as much as it's a survival show.

Where general entertainment value is concerned, the co-hosts really are what distinguishes this show from all of the others. The "odd couple" theme (throwing a hippy and an army sniper together) is kitchy and formulaic, but it happens to work in this case. Both guys are laid-back and uptight in slightly different ways, and they have enough in common to generally get along. Watching feels like hanging out with friends on a jacked-up camping trip, and that's the best possible outcome for a TV show, whether it's a sitcom or a reality show.