Planet Green - Original Air Date: Unknown
The search for El Dorado goes back to the conquest of the Americas by Europeans. This show looks at the histories, checks out legends and stories -- including one that the Vatican is covering up the lost city's location -- and trudges through the mountains looking for clues and Incan treasure. In the rarefied air of the Andes, host Olly starts wondering if perhaps, when you come this far and worked this hard, your brain starts wanting the legend to be true, and you start seeing connections where there may be none. Indeed, this seems a plausible explanation, though the team is still finding ancient Incan roads -- leading to who knows where -- when the expedition runs out of time and supplies. Olly concludes that it's possible that somewhere in this unknown region a lost city still exists. I, for one, hope people keep looking. This program serves as a good primer on the legend of El Dorado and is entertaining throughout.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Solving History with Olly Steeds - Nazca Lines
Planet Green - Original Air Date: Unknown
I stumbled across this program one Sunday morning. It's a science/exploration series with a genial British host -- think a less frenetic Bear Grylls. This episode investigates and discards many of the well-known theories about the Nazca Lines. Theories dismissed include astronomical mapping and alien construction. The host, Olly Steeds, talks to investigators, archeologists, and grave robbers. He is given hallucinogens by a shaman and visits a Nazca graveyard. Finally, he settles on a scientifically supported theory, that the lines were sacred pathways walked by pilgrims to the site. Both studious and entertaining, this series seems a good one to watch in the future.
I stumbled across this program one Sunday morning. It's a science/exploration series with a genial British host -- think a less frenetic Bear Grylls. This episode investigates and discards many of the well-known theories about the Nazca Lines. Theories dismissed include astronomical mapping and alien construction. The host, Olly Steeds, talks to investigators, archeologists, and grave robbers. He is given hallucinogens by a shaman and visits a Nazca graveyard. Finally, he settles on a scientifically supported theory, that the lines were sacred pathways walked by pilgrims to the site. Both studious and entertaining, this series seems a good one to watch in the future.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
DESTINATION TRUTH - Siberian Snowman
SyFy - Original Air Date: 10/8/10
In a rare, single-story show, Josh and crew go to Russia to look for the Siberian Snowman, a.k.a. bigfoot -- which Josh notes is their most popular subject. (Gee, I never would have guessed from the number of times Monster Quest has done bigfoot -- by my estimation, about a third of their shows.) Naturally, the DT team plays with the locals before taking the Trans-Siberian Railway and hiking into the snow-bound wilds. They set up the usual camera trap stuff and then trudge into the darkness, hoping to find bigfoot and avoid hungry bears and wolves. They find what looks like a big nest, but Josh notes it might just be debris washed down by the stream. Some crew members get spooked by a noise coming downhill in the dark, and while they're running away, they find a strange fur sample. Meanwhile, Josh finds a long line of huge footprints (though it's hard to tell how big they might have been originally, as they look melted out). More tracks lead to wolves, which pursue Josh's team. (I want to know if the teams are packing heat. I would in these wilderness areas.)
Next day, they head to another Russian bigfoot hotspot. More poking around at night commences. In this location, something breaks their perimeter sensors, but they don't find anything, though another team turns up more "bipedal" tracks. Many sets of tracks, including what looks like an area where a big animal bedded down. Digging in the bed, they find no hair, but do find a urine sample. Later, they get a thermal hit, but can't locate what caused it. (This happens a lot in these shows.) Nor can they find its tracks. From there, it's back to LA for analysis. But the thermal hits are too distant for any ID. Their expert says whatever made the prints was heavy, and appears to be walking bipedal. The mysterious fur is from an ibex, though that doesn't account for the tracks. They don't talk about the urine sample. So, a mystery? Maybe. Though they never rule out bear.
In a rare, single-story show, Josh and crew go to Russia to look for the Siberian Snowman, a.k.a. bigfoot -- which Josh notes is their most popular subject. (Gee, I never would have guessed from the number of times Monster Quest has done bigfoot -- by my estimation, about a third of their shows.) Naturally, the DT team plays with the locals before taking the Trans-Siberian Railway and hiking into the snow-bound wilds. They set up the usual camera trap stuff and then trudge into the darkness, hoping to find bigfoot and avoid hungry bears and wolves. They find what looks like a big nest, but Josh notes it might just be debris washed down by the stream. Some crew members get spooked by a noise coming downhill in the dark, and while they're running away, they find a strange fur sample. Meanwhile, Josh finds a long line of huge footprints (though it's hard to tell how big they might have been originally, as they look melted out). More tracks lead to wolves, which pursue Josh's team. (I want to know if the teams are packing heat. I would in these wilderness areas.)
Next day, they head to another Russian bigfoot hotspot. More poking around at night commences. In this location, something breaks their perimeter sensors, but they don't find anything, though another team turns up more "bipedal" tracks. Many sets of tracks, including what looks like an area where a big animal bedded down. Digging in the bed, they find no hair, but do find a urine sample. Later, they get a thermal hit, but can't locate what caused it. (This happens a lot in these shows.) Nor can they find its tracks. From there, it's back to LA for analysis. But the thermal hits are too distant for any ID. Their expert says whatever made the prints was heavy, and appears to be walking bipedal. The mysterious fur is from an ibex, though that doesn't account for the tracks. They don't talk about the urine sample. So, a mystery? Maybe. Though they never rule out bear.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
BEAST LEGENDS: Winged Lion
SyFy - Original Air Date: 9/30/10
The show sets out to recreate the legendary griffon. They start with the body of a cave lion, then add in the face and hunting tactics of a Mongolian golden eagle. Then they add the eagle's talons to the front legs and give it wings with a 25' span (so it can lift Mongolian horses). They give it swept-back ears, too. Then they make a to-scale nest, out in Mongolia, for their beast to roost in. (The end result looks a whole lot like Bill the Griffon from my series The Twilight Empire -- returning to the web soon.) Finally, of course, they create a movie of the creature swooping over a city and generally terrorizing people. It doesn't carry off any horses, but it does take a motorcycle -- and some other techno gear -- to its nest.
The show sets out to recreate the legendary griffon. They start with the body of a cave lion, then add in the face and hunting tactics of a Mongolian golden eagle. Then they add the eagle's talons to the front legs and give it wings with a 25' span (so it can lift Mongolian horses). They give it swept-back ears, too. Then they make a to-scale nest, out in Mongolia, for their beast to roost in. (The end result looks a whole lot like Bill the Griffon from my series The Twilight Empire -- returning to the web soon.) Finally, of course, they create a movie of the creature swooping over a city and generally terrorizing people. It doesn't carry off any horses, but it does take a motorcycle -- and some other techno gear -- to its nest.
DESTINATION TRUTH - Ghost Fleet; Japanese River Monster
SyFy - Original Air Date: 9/30/10
The crew goes to the Micronesia check out Japanese WWII ghost wrecks and then to Japan itself to look for Kappa. Truk Lagoon is a graveyard of WWII ships, patrolled by tiger sharks, and reputed to be haunted. The team will conduct the "first ever" underwater paranormal investigation. (Quotes because I have no way of verifying this claim.) As always, they chat up the locals and hear spooky stories; supposedly, sunken vehicles can be heard running in the deep, 130 feet down. Into the drink they go, turning up human remains and unexploded bombs, just for fun. They also hear mysterious noises that sound like trucks running. At night, they check out haunts on one of the local islands and do some night diving, too. More shadows and sounds, both above & below, ending in the now-standard consult with Grant & Jason from Ghost Hunters. The spooky underwater sounds prove inconclusive; sounds carry a long way underwater. A Flir (infrared) hit they determine to be merely a local villager walking by. The underwatrer engine sounds, though, do sound like an engine, but is it paranormal? Josh considers their trip a successful expansion of paranormal research.
Kappa, once feared throughout Japan, have become pop-culture icons. But recently, reptilian creatures have been sighted in Japanese rivers. Could the turtle-like Kappa be back? The DT team samples the local kappa souvenirs and sees what purports to be the bones of a kappa foot. Then they stay in a micro hotel, with rooms like a double-wide coffin before heading to Tono to check out the rivers. They spot a giant koi fish, and Josh swims a frigid river to carry across a line to ferry equipment. Then they set up the usual perimeter and camera traps, 'cause apparently monsters only come out at night, so that's when they always look. (Point: Any night-hunting creature is gonna see -- and hear -- these guys, and avoid them, long before they can see it.) They feel something moving in the river, catch something on an IR camera, and frighten some bats in a cave. In analysis, the video is possibly a rare river otter, and the moving thing Josh felt an eel. The foot bones are likely from a canine. Thus, the show concludes, the Kappa remains a colorful myth, fueled possibly, by misidentification of known creatures.
The crew goes to the Micronesia check out Japanese WWII ghost wrecks and then to Japan itself to look for Kappa. Truk Lagoon is a graveyard of WWII ships, patrolled by tiger sharks, and reputed to be haunted. The team will conduct the "first ever" underwater paranormal investigation. (Quotes because I have no way of verifying this claim.) As always, they chat up the locals and hear spooky stories; supposedly, sunken vehicles can be heard running in the deep, 130 feet down. Into the drink they go, turning up human remains and unexploded bombs, just for fun. They also hear mysterious noises that sound like trucks running. At night, they check out haunts on one of the local islands and do some night diving, too. More shadows and sounds, both above & below, ending in the now-standard consult with Grant & Jason from Ghost Hunters. The spooky underwater sounds prove inconclusive; sounds carry a long way underwater. A Flir (infrared) hit they determine to be merely a local villager walking by. The underwatrer engine sounds, though, do sound like an engine, but is it paranormal? Josh considers their trip a successful expansion of paranormal research.
Kappa, once feared throughout Japan, have become pop-culture icons. But recently, reptilian creatures have been sighted in Japanese rivers. Could the turtle-like Kappa be back? The DT team samples the local kappa souvenirs and sees what purports to be the bones of a kappa foot. Then they stay in a micro hotel, with rooms like a double-wide coffin before heading to Tono to check out the rivers. They spot a giant koi fish, and Josh swims a frigid river to carry across a line to ferry equipment. Then they set up the usual perimeter and camera traps, 'cause apparently monsters only come out at night, so that's when they always look. (Point: Any night-hunting creature is gonna see -- and hear -- these guys, and avoid them, long before they can see it.) They feel something moving in the river, catch something on an IR camera, and frighten some bats in a cave. In analysis, the video is possibly a rare river otter, and the moving thing Josh felt an eel. The foot bones are likely from a canine. Thus, the show concludes, the Kappa remains a colorful myth, fueled possibly, by misidentification of known creatures.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
DESTINATION TRUTH - Ghost of Haboro; Mngwa
SyFy - Original Air Date: 9/23/10
The DT crew goes to Japan to investigate a ghost and Africa to see about a mythical beast. Haboro, Japan, was a mining town with a horrible safety record, and it's now purported to be huanted by ghosts. Locals note that it's not only dangerous because of ghosts, but because bears also live there. The team goes down the officially-closed road to town and sets up camp in the spooky buildings and apartment complexes. They spot some strange images on the Fleer (infrared) and encounter unexpected danger in rotted floors. They also see strange lights and hear strange noises. In the supposedly haunted 4th floor apartment, where they saw the Fleer hit, there's a makeshift shrine. Creepy. They return to the US with plenty of EVPs and the strange Fleer image. But could it be some kind of reflection? Josh and company think the place is haunted.
In Tanzania, the crew is looking for the gray-furred, catlike man-eater, Mngwa. They head for the Serengeti and talk to local witnesses. (I am impressed that some local hunters believe this creature to be real.) At night, they do some stalking in a jeep, and more on foot, and see quite a few native animals. (Kids, don't try this.) They see a lot of eyes in the dark and take some print casts. But video shows nothing conclusive, and the print proves to be that of a large, very dangerous lion. The crew concludes that the mngwa most likely no longer exists, though its legend remains.
The DT crew goes to Japan to investigate a ghost and Africa to see about a mythical beast. Haboro, Japan, was a mining town with a horrible safety record, and it's now purported to be huanted by ghosts. Locals note that it's not only dangerous because of ghosts, but because bears also live there. The team goes down the officially-closed road to town and sets up camp in the spooky buildings and apartment complexes. They spot some strange images on the Fleer (infrared) and encounter unexpected danger in rotted floors. They also see strange lights and hear strange noises. In the supposedly haunted 4th floor apartment, where they saw the Fleer hit, there's a makeshift shrine. Creepy. They return to the US with plenty of EVPs and the strange Fleer image. But could it be some kind of reflection? Josh and company think the place is haunted.
In Tanzania, the crew is looking for the gray-furred, catlike man-eater, Mngwa. They head for the Serengeti and talk to local witnesses. (I am impressed that some local hunters believe this creature to be real.) At night, they do some stalking in a jeep, and more on foot, and see quite a few native animals. (Kids, don't try this.) They see a lot of eyes in the dark and take some print casts. But video shows nothing conclusive, and the print proves to be that of a large, very dangerous lion. The crew concludes that the mngwa most likely no longer exists, though its legend remains.
BEAST LEGENDS: Megajaws
SyFy - Original Air Date: 9/23/10
The BL teams goes from the Caribbean to the South Pacific to recreate the shark god Dakuwanga. They research types of sharks, from bulls to reefs to the ancient megalodon. They swim with sharks and build a scale model on the beach from sand. They dive into the deep to find Dakuwanga's lair, and run into sea snakes on land. (The god can be either man, shark, or snake.) Then they create a CGI movie of Dakuwanga attacking a submarine. Just another day at the Beast Legends lab.
SyFy seems to have timed this episode to coincide with the release of Sharktopus (Saturday, 9/25/10), and that's fine with me, as (coincidentally) I'm flogging a shark story right now, too: "Monster Shark," which just became available on Amazon for Kindle and Smashwords for other ebook formats. I have special 99 cent pricing on the story until 10/2/10, so be sure to take advantage of it while you can. On Smashwords, you have to use the discount code: AY48G. Yeah, I usually don't plug my own stuff in reviews, but with this kind of timing, how could I resist? Enjoy.
The BL teams goes from the Caribbean to the South Pacific to recreate the shark god Dakuwanga. They research types of sharks, from bulls to reefs to the ancient megalodon. They swim with sharks and build a scale model on the beach from sand. They dive into the deep to find Dakuwanga's lair, and run into sea snakes on land. (The god can be either man, shark, or snake.) Then they create a CGI movie of Dakuwanga attacking a submarine. Just another day at the Beast Legends lab.
SyFy seems to have timed this episode to coincide with the release of Sharktopus (Saturday, 9/25/10), and that's fine with me, as (coincidentally) I'm flogging a shark story right now, too: "Monster Shark," which just became available on Amazon for Kindle and Smashwords for other ebook formats. I have special 99 cent pricing on the story until 10/2/10, so be sure to take advantage of it while you can. On Smashwords, you have to use the discount code: AY48G. Yeah, I usually don't plug my own stuff in reviews, but with this kind of timing, how could I resist? Enjoy.
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