I'm continuing to enjoy this new series by Channel four, the second episode was really interesting. If you don't watch it then I wouldn't bother reading the rest of this post!
I always enjoy seeing social dynamics develop and there has been some strong characters coming out of the woodwork.
The first one of these is Anton, the 40 year old survival trained guy. he's clearly not comfortable living with the group and I have a feeling that he thought it was going to be a much more "survival" affair and I think this is partly why he's gone off to live in the woods. I can't help but like the fellow for striking out on his own but then I wonder how much he's contributing to the group, like working in the garden to provide food. If he wants to continue to take a ration then I hope that the house building is in his own time not the 6 hour working day they agreed on, that said I think the group should be more accepting of his ideas and allow him some material to build it.
Tom is the other very strong character that's emerged so far. He's a natural leader in some ways that he does business, like organising everyone for work each day, but then he also seems very bitchy, with whispers of what people are up to and who's not pulling their weight. He's also seems to have it in for Anton and I get he feeling that if it's not what he want then he'll whine and moan about it.
Stephen the chef seems like a top guy, keeping everyone happy with great food, but then I felt that he inflamed the situation with Anton with how he approached him in the wood. I do think that this guy is going to be a key player through the whole thing though.
I still think that construction has taken too much priority over food. The garden and stock should be the important thing to start with, not building a steam lodge or a tepee. it would only take the pigs a night time of feasting to ruin all their gardening and hard work which could cut the whole thing short.
I was also disappointed with the junk food delivery by boat. The last thing I want to watch is Big Brother or the programme to go anywhere near it.
One thing I've been mulling over in my mind about the whole experiment is peoples places in Eden and how that would work. I think how would I place myself in there, as a carpenter that would be my role but I know I'd want to be in the garden and with the stock just as much. Do the people with the "important" trades get an opportunity to do other things or are they pigeon holed into their trade and have to run that area of Eden?
What did you think of the second episode?
What would your role be in Eden?
we watched the 2nd episode, I felt for Anton I do like him, Tammy the life coach, what the hell is that about I think thats her name, all she want to contribute is a massage service she needs a good kick up the rear end and pull her weight, I do wonder why they are not going fishing and foraging in groups to subside there diet of potatoes, I think they should have the stuff from the boat confiscated and should not have been allowed to have contact with them, it was a clear breach of the contracts they agreed on.
ReplyDeleteI like Anton as well, I just hope that he'll pulling his weight else where as well. It's and if some of them think they'll stay living communally for a whole year. I'm surprised they're not eating more seaweed or collecting it for the garden.
DeleteThe boat thing really annoyed me. The whole point is to go without junk.
I love the thought of these programme's, but oh so often they make it easy for them with sudden extra's turning up to help them out. Maybe I expect too much.
ReplyDeleteI think maybe we do. Although we are seeing something that's very heavily edited. I think the boat thing was really bad.
DeleteWe're really enjoying Eden so far, I agree with you that episode 2 was really good (up until the moment the boat brought 'goodies' for them... annoyed me a little as I didn't think that was what this series is about).
ReplyDeleteMy favourite is the chef Stephen, I'd definitely be best friends with the chef! He's cooked them all some fantastic dishes considering the little variety they've got. I'm worried if they don't get their butts in gear soon then all of the seeds etc. will be spoilt, that should have been a first priority - especially seeing how many sunny days they've had during filming. Looking forward to next week's episode! Glad to have found someone to talk to about it! :-) Emma
I like the chef as well although like I said I think he approached Anton in such a way to enflame the situation before he even saw the others. It's bullying what they're doing to Anton and Stephen is on his side at least.
DeleteI couldnt bring myself to watch it anymore. I watched a fantastic series on History, called Alone where men and women had seperate camps on Vancouver Island and had to literally survive alone. Build a shelter, catch food and light fire by their wits all on their own. Truly amazing...
ReplyDeleteSounds a good series, we don't get Sky here so I'll have to have a look on YouTube to see if I can watch it for free! Ahev you read Alone In The Wilderness by Dick Proenneke? It's a great book and told in an amazing way, he builds everything for himself from just a few tools in the wilds of Alaska.
DeleteIve already said a lot about it. Tara has no function as Dawn said in the above comment. With bad back issues, how can she contribute. She could cook and Stephen do her work? I think all the jobs should be rotated every week. And if there is a harvest or a job that needs extra hands then it would be all hands to that. the teepee and the steam lodge is completely useless.
ReplyDeleteThey should send more people to help Anton, maybe 2 afternoons a week. I have been to Orkney in the winter, the wind is wicked. It is a tell tell sign when all of the trees grow bent over away from the water that the wind is fast and hard. You walk bent over. Winter living quarters are needed. Clever people when applying for the series, would look at how people built houses years ago, before all the technology of triple glazed windows etc. More single storey, dug into the ground, so the wind doesnt hit the building so hard. The houses also have a wind break in front of the door in and out. And then later this was made into an air lock/porch to stop the cold air going in and the hot air escaping.
They are wearing thermals in the programme. Its April there right and they have just had snow. What do they think it is going to be like in Winter.
They have a shepherdess and a game keeper, why arent they asserting themselves?
Tom apparently is an outdoor instructor? I dont know what that is. But what I do know is he likes the sound of his own voice and wants to tell everyone else what to do or manipulate them into doing what he wants by gossiping.
There is a vet on there also and a fisherman.
In Toms own words in this interview, they need to prepare in the summer for the winter? then why so resistant to Anton?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2016/07/12/eden-meet-the-contestants-of-channel-4s-wildly-ambitious-reality/tom--outdoor-instructor-25/
I could go on about this for hours.
Great link, I'll look through those later.
DeleteI think the preparing for winter should be their whole way of thinking, look to Alaska and places like that you can see that the whole of summer is spent preparing for winter. Soon they'll need to build huge stores of firewood to last them all through the winter, and I imagine it could be a long one in the depths of Scotland!
As for Tara, if the back issues are bad then she shouldn't have gone, knowing she can't pull her weight, that said if she's got on there in the hope that she'll keep moral up then I guess a place will develop for her, I'm just not sure someone dedicated to massages is what's needed when you're trying to set things up and every pair of hands counts!
Talking of the vet, With the first episode and the goat incident a lot of people were angry at the vet for letting it happen, but I feel that a vets training is far more reactionary - they seal with something they see, when the problem comes to light. They aren't necessarily trained in husbandry that's why I think the shepherdess is more to blame, although having an animal die of bloat this year I can see how these things happen.
I sometimes feel we are living as close to Eden as one can in the modern world. Our town and surrounding area are cut off from the outside world by fjiords either side, the sea at the front and a mountain range at the back. Supplies come in by ferry, unless there is a storm, when they don't. As a community we are very aware of self suffiency. There is a lot of sharing of skills and information. Craftsmen and women are held in high regard. Helping your neighbour seems to be an entrenched behaviour. Living simply by the sweat of your brow is respected. Despite our tenuous life line to the outside world I feel safe here.
ReplyDeleteI was so interested in the show after reading your post I looked them up and found a few clips on YouTube. Wish we could get the series here in the US on Netflix. Very interesting show. I would be "The Medic" since I've been a nurse for 25 years but I could do lots of vet and garden stuff too. My hubby would be the builder. He's amazing that way. So, thanks for sharing info on this show!
ReplyDeleteThat's a creative writing! Here in Uk, finding satisfying double glazing cost is a tough job and so I feel agent is the best option rather than finding for the best here and there.
ReplyDelete