MovieChat Forums > The Legend of Mick Dodge (2014) Discussion > the glaring contradiction and the very r...

the glaring contradiction and the very romantic allure

posted 10 years ago by cherrysk
16 replies | jump to latest

I like watching Mick Dodge. For the middle-aged hippie who fantasizes about leaving society and stress behind this show creates an incredibly sexy and imaginary allure -- Mick Dodge, Mountain main, sexy bearded man with compelling blue eyes and tattooed feet, who makes us laugh, has a lot of eccentric and soul-mate friends, and a great outlook on life. Most of all he sees the madness in "civilized" society. You too can be like him, or if a female, you can find a man like that to love -- all you have to do is leave your shoes behind and go out into the deep woods - run with the deer, wipe your bum with moss, eat grubs and go to the earth gym. So.....what's this guy doing in a reality TV show? Will he give all his money to the movement against clear-cutting? What's his purpose here? Jane Goodall left the Gorillas when she realized that she could work for their cause back in civilization - but if we did what Mick Dodge is doing, the rain-forest would be quickly over-crowded - the allure is really imaginary.

Mick's got a long-time soul-mate partne who is a Shaman and Reiki healer (It's Cedar - where he goes to get his stash for the winter) -- woman are deeply mystical creatures says Mick - uh huh, right -I'm feeling mystical right now.

[–] Brennan-8 10 years ago

"You too can be like him, or if a female, you can find a man like that to love" - WTF?! There are female hermits, recluses, loners.

Women who love solitude and nature is a whole literary genre now.

[–] CaramelSquares 10 years ago

Yep! Look at Sue on "Life Below Zero".

Terrible things Lawrence. You've done terrible things.

[–] chas437 10 years ago

Most of the material is fictional. Nobody rides a big river hanging onto a log. Its way to dangerous.

More fictional reality crap on cable networks.

I'll take Punctuality

[–] wcastleman65 10 years ago

He is a Marine with no responsibilities, no wife and kids, no full time job so why can't he ride the big river riding a log if he wants to? Driving in the big city is a lot more dangerous IMO.
He lives in the rainforest to stay away from people. I am a fellow Marine who happens to be pretty good at spotting folks with PTSD, Mick has a major case of it, hence why he prefers to stay away from the city and people. One has to earn his trust and he keeps the circle of friends very small. Typical for those who have to deal with PTSD. Watch, learn and enjoy while you can.
Semper Fi Mick! OOH RAH!

[–] chas437 10 years ago

Its all staged and fictional.

But if you enjoy the diversion, then good for you.

I'll take Punctuality

[–] i_dont_even_try 10 years ago

Yep. More obvious than most.

[–] Aeneas21 9 years ago

Do you have proof for your accusation or are you just being a hater? I noticed this isn't your first anti-Mick Dodge post on this board. Why do you feel the need to slander him?

[–] chas437 9 years ago

Is it slander to observe that this show is completely staged? Like I said, people should enjoy the show, just be aware its typical 'reality TV', and a lot of things this guy does are not believable.

I'll take Punctuality

[–] Aeneas21 9 years ago

While most reality TV shoes are indeed staged or scripted partially or entirely, Nat Geo reality TV shows like The Legend of Mick Dodge, Life Below Zero, and Live Free or Die are not. Why do you keep saying it is when it isn't? I definitely understand the feeling of betrayal when a reality TV show is purported as being real but not all shows are like that. It's easy to get cynical but that can lead to a lapse in proper judgement.

[–] chas437 9 years ago

I say its staged because it is. Every episode is a new little story. I've spent time on the Olympic Peninsula, and I'm well aware of the natural environments of the Pacific Northwest. The first thing I noticed about that area is that it rains constantly, and its a huge struggle just to stay dry.

A few things are obvious. Mick's little outfits are always new and clean, and honestly, they look like something you could by in a western souvenir shop. If a person really lived completely off the land on the Olympic Peninsula, without power, or hot water, they would at least be covered in mud. They would also need more modern clothing.

Also, its very unclear as to what Mick's staple diet is, but there is very little to live off in that environment, especially if one is against hunting. Its just not believable that Mick isn't buying food somewhere.

The way he runs around in the woods is just stupid. Nobody who really lived in the rainforest would ever do that, its way too dangerous and one would surely trip and fall on their flat on their face within minutes, but hey, it looks cute on TV.

I could go on an on...

I'm not saying everything he does is staged, I have no doubt he's an outdoorsman who spends a lot of time in the woods, but the show, as presented is not realistic. Its a cute show, but if anyone takes it literally, they are seriously mistaken.

A real subsistence lifestyle in that environment would be a very grim existence. Even the native peoples who were evolved to live in that area faced dire problems and even starvation.

I'll take Punctuality

[–] Ltrazordaddio 9 years ago

While most reality TV shoes are indeed staged or scripted partially or entirely, Nat Geo reality TV shows like The Legend of Mick Dodge, Life Below Zero, and Live Free or Die are not.

 Say WHAT ?????? Just because a cheaply produced, scripted, staged, faked pos, garbage "Reality Show" is on NatGeo, doesn't make it less a pos.

If I go to a 4-Star restaurant and order their finest steak, and they bring me a plate of dog poop... don't expect me to ask for the A-1 just because it's a 4-Star restaurant... and if they say it's steak.. it has to be steak.

NatGeo still has some quality programming, but sadly they have been slipping farther and farther into the cesspool of cheaply produced, pos, garbage "Reality Shows" that Cable TV has become.

LIFE BELOW ZERO and LIVE FREE OR DIE are probably two of the most cheaply produced, scripted, staged, faked pos, gabage "Reality Shows" on Cable TV, and are a disgrace to NatGeo... they are nothing but canned hunts intended to make the killing of animals entertainment.

Sorry, but NatGeo sucks for airing the garbage Reality Shows they do....

If you deflect the topic of the thread from the show to me, our discussion is over 

[–] Aeneas21 9 years ago

That is *literally* untrue. I know for a fact that Life Below Zero is NOT scripted. Just because you believe something doesn't make it true.

[–] slipjohn1 9 years ago

Sorry, but they are scripted to a degree. Life out there isn't as adventurous as they make it seem. Mick is put in a lot of these situations by the producers. He is a real guy with a real love of nature, but his life isn't what we see on TV. I know you want to believe it, but reality TV is only loosely based on reality.

[–] Aeneas21 9 years ago

Yes slipjohn1 they are scripted to the degree that they create a premise for a new episode in order to have something interesting to film but as far as dialogue in the show it is not scripted or random spontaneous events that transpire within the episode once there is a focus for the show (such as the focus finding and making food for the harvest celebration with his friends).

[–] merrykate-1 9 years ago

The danger is that river logs tumble and can take you under in a minute. And as someone living on the Olympic Peninsula, I can tell you that particular river is very cold; being in the water for as long as he'd planned, at that time of year, would lead to death by hypothermia. Anyone with his supposed level of woodmanship would know better.

[–] pindsvinne 9 years ago

Scripted or not, it's fun to watch as pure entertainment. "Reality TV" is the way of the future with cast demands of 7 figure salaries per episode. The "stage" is better looking than episodic TVs usual sound stages. Mick Dodge or Charlie Sheen, I'll take Mick any day.

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