The Climb on HBO

I can’t believe how little actual climbing footage there is.

Also they somehow found the least interesting boulder problem in the world.

Scott Dwrote:

Seems like the commentary is really lacking depth. You've got a Scottish climber and you don't talk about how strong Scottish climbers headgame is and why? Bringing up frozen turf climbing etc would have been a great educational opportunity for the public and tie things into the competitor's culture, the pedigree of their local community, and larger climbing themes. Sharma has never struck me as an intellectual powerhouse, and there's nothing wrong with that, people have limitations, but they should have paired him with someone like Andy Kirkpatrick who could have provided the detail and greater context that would really make the show pop.  

Fingers crossed for Scottish turf climbing in Episode 6.

WAIT. 

IS THAT APRIL'S MUSIC?

Ostrich Societywrote:

This show would be way better if they chose people who could climb harder. I find it completely uninteresting to watch people struggle on routes easily Onsighted by todays standards.

In your gym, sure. Outside, in moist conditions, with the pressure of competing, and being filmed, and being criticized, on something you've never done - not the route, but the discipline - eg DWS, and it's a whole different game. Stop spraying.

 This show should feature aspiring professional climbers who haven’t gotten their big break yet.

That's exactly what they're doing. It was explained in the first minute. Were you asleep?

ryan climbs sometimes wrote:

who is jason monoa? 

Duncan Idaho

 I think part of the competition should involve who can sleep in the valley longest without getting caught.

Kevin Crumwrote:

 I think part of the competition should involve who can sleep in the valley longest without getting caught.

and without paying. Also who has done the most pitches without a shower.

Marc801 Cwrote:

In your gym, sure. Outside, in moist conditions, with the pressure of competing, and being filmed, and being criticized, on something you've never done - not the route, but the discipline - eg DWS, and it's a whole different game. Stop spraying.

That's exactly what they're doing. It was explained in the first minute. Were you asleep?

Damn man, you really took offense to my comment. Not sure where the spray was, maybe in reference to the fact that v4 and 5.11/12 are grades commonly Onsighted? My comment wasn’t directed at you, just so you know. I was just saying it would be a much better concept with far more talented climbers, then gave an analogy about how boring a show it would be if it featured a different sport. It’s only mildly interesting because it features climbing in Spain with Chris Sharma as the host. 

The producers and/or Chris Sharma selected a group that are all around the same ability level so it’s clear that’s what they were going for.

If you enjoy watching it I’m not gonna pee on your rainbow. It’s just not for me.

Colonel Mustardwrote:

Duncan Idaho

nah bro, he grew up in iowa

/s

Don Frijoles wrote:

Turned it on and watched the first three episodes while eating dinner this weekend. Agree that it's not as bad as it could have been, and so far avoids most of the toxicity of typical reality shows. I generally agree with Alissa Doherty's summary.

Some of the editing makes me wonder if the results are really what happened. A few of the contestants don't climb with the typical precision and grace of someone that can onsight 5.12. I understand that there isn't enough time to show every climber do the entire climb, but it seemed odd that they didn't show the crux moves on the successful sends for these contestants.

Interesting mix of contestants. Mostly American, with a couple of exceptions. The "international" group of climbers has no representatives from the Alps?

Anyone notice Jason Momoa is not there with the competitors? His scenes were filmed separately from the rest of the show.

IIRC there was a note at the end of episode 1 that said something to the effect of the footage was edited in a way that didn't impact the competition. I'm thinking maybe they took a few burns on the routes for different shots etc. Esp in the Siuriana one, in the wide shots we don't see any camera men but then the next cut you get these really tight shots etc.

I read upthread that one of the women is a 5.14 climber. Note that she isn't being featured much, yet. 

We are seeing the 20 year old lanky kid just show up out of nowhere and float everything just like what frequently happens in real life. I hate that shit. But have been around long enough to see a lot of them get chubby in college and fall off. But there's always more of them coming.

I predict the hard sending woman will emerge as a surprise winner towards the end of this. The kid will fail on something due to inexperience and making a mistake.

Anyway, my wife trudged out to belay me for over a decade without ever actually buying in to the life and she is really getting into this, which might lead to my getting out more. So thumbs up from me. 

A V wrote:

I can't get behind this - reality TV format is cancer, no matter how well done.

Have you watched The Great British Baking Show? They're all so supportive and nice to each other even though it is competition. It's wonderful.

Greased hold competition!

Dr Logic wrote:

This. And Making It and Lego Masters (and "nailed it", but everyone goes in with the idea is going to be a catastrophe, so everyone has a good time). Really wholesome programs. Everyone seems to just be having a good time and there is zero interpersonal drama. Positive reality TV is possible. 

exactly, I think there is a huge thing in reality TV that conflict=entertainment that doesn't necessarily need to be there. Or maybe its a demographics issue based on viewership? Don't know, don't want to see a real houswives of climbing type show though.

Bolting Karenwrote:

exactly, I think there is a huge thing in reality TV that conflict=entertainment that doesn't necessarily need to be there. Or maybe its a demographics issue based on viewership? Don't know, don't want to see a real houswives of climbing type show though.

Real Vanwives

Dr Logic wrote:

This. And Making It and Lego Masters (and "nailed it", but everyone goes in with the idea is going to be a catastrophe, so everyone has a good time). Really wholesome programs. Everyone seems to just be having a good time and there is zero interpersonal drama. Positive reality TV is possible. 

Top Chef is also mostly free of conflict as compared to other reality tv.

Michael Abendwrote:

Real Vanwives

Ironically: those are imaginary.

I hope there's an offwidth squeeze chimney episode. If they stick to just sport and boulder problems it's pretty clear who the finalists will be.

Bolting Karenwrote:

Have you watched The Great British Baking Show? They're all so supportive and nice to each other even though it is competition. It's wonderful.

i haven't but i could watch another 25 seasons of The Great British Pottery Throwdown (same supportiveness i take it).

Dr Logic wrote:

The Climb seems to be falling in the grey middle ground. I really would enjoy it more, even without more climbing footage, if they would just go fully positive and drop the drama (and terrible dramatic soundtrack).

did anyone see Dark? The soundtrack is the same.... I am not sure how well it works for climbing.

i finished the three episodes, sure it could be better but it is good enough. all of these people climb well enough to be interesting, and the weakest people have been bounced. I don't see what the problem is exactly with the talent. I would think even for pretty damn good climbers onsighting v6 in front of cameras and peers with 100k on the line could be tough. 

90 Day Fiancée: Climbers’ Edition is coming soon

Long Rangerwrote:

Ironically: those are imaginary.

OK, then, Imaginary Vanwives. But isn't that just Mitsuko from Archer?