Beyond Survival with Les Stroud

Stroud is at his best when explaining survival skills like hunting, fishing, and trapping. This is his realm, and though he may not know the tribes’ specific techniques, he can discuss how they work and what makes them effective in specific situations. It’s also fun to watch him participate in rarely seen tribal rituals, especially when they require him to use some of the local intoxicants. He’s game for anything, and when he gets dizzy, he lets us know.

But Stroud is a survivalist, not an anthropologist. His descriptions of primitive hunting techniques are interesting and informative, but at other times he does little more than offer play-by-play commentary of what he’s seeing -- which adds little value, since its the same thing the viewers are seeing. His earlier show, Survivorman, focused on his strength: outdoor skills. By focusing on rarely seen tribes, Beyond Survival moves away from Stroud's strength. The indigenous tribes are fascinating, but Stroud’s anthropological analyses aren't always that enlightening.