SAS: Who Dares Wins vs. The Selection: SOE (Spoilers)


I think the best part of SAS: Who Dares Wins, the show this is based on, is the moment at the end when the guy/s who pass are told something along the lines of "If we ever see you again, come and tap us on the shoulder and have a beer with us" or "From myself and the team, you are part of the team." That is what makes all the blood, sweat and tears worth it. To be told by the men you have come to respect so much that you have something in you that belongs in their world is probably the best reward you could ever receive. It's about acceptance. It's about belonging to a family; being a part of something bigger and better than you. It's a part, in some cases a large part, of why all the Instructors or Directing Staff (depending on the show) attempted and ultimately passed their Selection, and where the UK show acknowledges that kinship between the Staff and the recruits, albeit in a small way, this show doesn't. It left me disappointed at the end.

I also like how the Staff of SAS: Who Dares Wins spend a large part of the show not just doing physical training, teaching and testing, but also takes a look at each participant's character and then try to tailor what they do with that participant to expose their weaknesses and improve them. They seem to be trying specifically to create better people as an end result. The Selection didn't appear to do that at all. For the most part the Instructors appeared to be looking for weaknesses, but not to improve them-only to exploit them, "Don't show me weakness or I will attack." And while there is certainly a place for that, it isn't something for every moment of every day. A couple of the Instructors did seem to be trying to help some of the participants on an individual basis by giving encouragement or explaining why something was done or what was coming so they could start preparing mentally, Instructor Grey particularly comes to mind in that regard, most of them came across as more interested in making people drop out. I don't know if those parts of the show were edited out or if they just never existed in the first place, but their absence made the Instructors appear to be poorer leaders than the Staff on SAS and left me saddened and disappointed as well.

Overall, I liked the show, but not as much as SAS. If I were in a position where I could apply to and be accepted to either show, based on what I've seen, my first choice would be SAS -even if I had to use a 4-holer, open-air latrine with a bunch of guys. Again, based on what I've seen, I would not have a problem opening up to the DS of SAS so they could work with me, but I would be very guarded with what I shared with most of the Instructors in The Selection. I'm afraid I would view the Instructors as "the enemy" until it was over.

I do, however, hope there is a second season and it is something I would definitely participate in despite everything I've just said. And despite everything he says and how he comes across, my favorite Instructor is Instructor Care...go figure....
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I've stood watch on the Enterprise, sailed with Capt Kirk, and learned engineering from Scotty.

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