Mantracker (2006–2012)
8/10
Absolute love and miss this show!
27 November 2018
I absolutely adore this show, and miss it to a massive extent. The knowledge as well as odd decisions, the mistakes and the skills both the trackers, and the "prey" had was a fantastic combo. Both sides were fooled and had by each other off & on again, while the prey predictably tended to make a few more mistakes, or even react instead of playing smart, and make boneheaded and brazen decisions.

I will however admit that the 7th season, with Chad clearly went a completely different direction, and it went from legitimate and real to entirely melodramatic and pretty clearly pre-dictated and set scenarios and encounters. I mean the attitude and the stupid little "bad boy" type of things and persona Chad has in it is just plain hollywood like. The guy even throws himself blatantly on purpose for flair down a snow covered hill while in chase of a prey. I feel as if Bonterra intentionally did this knowing good & well without Terry, the show would likely plummet is viewers and ratings, so why not effectively add to the reasons for it's sudden collapse. It seems fitting and intended.

All in all, it is certainly not for the traditional television viewer or fan, since it is far more of a niche show & genre.

The complaints often are "what's the point, and how is it possibly intense or enjoyable for anyone if there is no prize after eluding the trackers?" and "It's scripted since the prey almost always talk about how horrifying it is to just barely escape capture from Terry while it's always running and barely escaping him every episode."

I would imagine the reasons behind these occurrences should be as obvious as seeing your reflection in the mirror to anyone with a brain, but it would seem this isn't the case somehow. Quite strange.

The people who "apply" to become "prey" are those who are looking to elude a 20+ year Search & Rescue tracking specialist, who has consistently worked with police as well from time to time to find suspects and others that they're looking for, but cannot seem to locate. It's in some annoying conditions and terrain. The vegetation often is thick as heck, so it is constantly whacking you everywhere. It causes lots of noise to move through. The whole thing is for those whom wish to prove to themselves and everyone else out there they can manage to evade this seasoned vet and out wit him in his own element and environment. To do that is for them exactly what they're looking for, and it's more than just bragging rights for them, trust me on that. Look to the majority of avid outdoors folk across the world, and they'll likely inform you of the same thing. And since we live in this tech-laden era, Instagram is loaded with these avid outdoor enthusiasts to which on their pages, you will see posts raving about how huge of an accomplishment just backpacking and hiking through remote wilderness and all conditions really is. For them, they don't want nor need any kind of gratification or "prize" like money or material possessions. No bragging rights. Just the euphoria and proof that they can and will continue to accomplish tough, enduring activities in the outdoors.

And when the only thing you're trying to do is out wit, and out pace that wily 20+ year vet of tracking, bundled with all the mentally draining vigilance, observance, tracking & strategizing on the fly that the prey have to do, it makes perfect sense why they all wind up saying the same thing each time. It's because, it does kick in your primal instincts to flee with surging adrenaline coursing through your veins, as that is the last thing you need or want, is to be caught by the predator, which is the trackers. All you're focusing on and able to think about or consider is getting the hell out of their reach and finding a place to lie low and avoid getting snagged by them.

This review turned expose is brought to you by all those who seem to be very ignorant of the obvious, and claim it's all scripts and boring because there isn't some cash wod or material item to be won.

In short, I recommend Mantracker to everybody who is not the typical everyday TV viewer. This is a very niche show, and not for those of you who are all about the drama, hard cash prizes, insults, blood, gore, sex, and so on that hollywood is drowning itself in, and people seem to think is all that & more.
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