Treasure Quest

Parents say
Based on 3 reviews
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this educational/reality show about oceangoing explorers/treasuer seekers, while interesting, is more focused on how much money can be made on the finds than on their historical significance. The featured company has been in trouble with the law over what they've recovered, and the line between what makes a recovery appropriate vs. inappropriate is a little on the blurry side. But there's no language, sex, or violence to worry about, and tweens who dream of treasure hunting may find it interesting.
Community Reviews
Biased review and horribly unfair.
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Odyssey has not been in trouble with the law
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What's the Story?
TREASURE QUEST follows the adventures of Odyssey Marine Exploration, a company that uses advanced science and technology to find historical shipwrecks -- with the intent of recovering lost fortunes in old coins and other valuables. The process is difficult and often frustrating, as the crew members battle bad weather and even governments in their quest to find riches left behind long ago.
Is It Any Good?
Considering that the true reality of these expeditions is that they usually involve a lot of sitting around and waiting while looking at screens, the show does an excellent job of building suspense. Some of it is inherent -- such as when the boat is buzzed illegally by a French Navy plane, or when the crew tries to temporarily recover an elephant tusk even though bad weather makes it all but impossible.
But because the show doesn't gloss over the fact that there are also far more misses than hits in these searches, it can be a little slow at times. Still, ultimately, it's more interesting than not, although younger kids might get a little antsy during the hour-long episodes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how TV's version of "reality" can be affected by things like narration and what footage producers choose to leave in and/or edit out. How does that change a show's messages and storylines? In the case of this particular show, how do you think it would be different if the narration focused more on the items being found and their historial significance, rather than what they're worth? Ultimately, does this show feel more like reality TV or an educational series? Why?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 15, 2009
- Cast: Rob Naughton
- Network: Discovery Channel
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: February 24, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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