Dual Survival (TV Series 2010–2016) Poster

(2010–2016)

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8/10
Best survival duo!
knight-aragot4 August 2013
I really love this show, you get to know a lot of useful information that can help you not only in a "survival" situation, but also in everyday situations (camping in the woods, hiking etc.).

What makes this show awesome, is that you don't have only one person showing you how to survive in different environments, but two experts - one, that has military training and most people can relate to (at least in his way of thinking) and second, who is a minimalist, has experience in primitive survival techniques and is walking around almost half naked (in shorts and barefoot, no matter of the environment), which most people with me along, can't / couldn't understand. With this combination you can see how each of them manages different situations, different techniques of surviving etc. and who knows, one day even someone among us could find him self in a "survival" situation half naked.

Also I really like that they don't always agree or have different views of situations and that makes them special. You can see how each of them deals with a different situation and also how they help each other.

So if you like survival shows, like Man vs. Wild with B.G., you will definitely like this show!
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8/10
Very entertaining
Nphillips555 January 2013
I've really found this program entertaining. I'll miss Dave. But I trust the new special forces guy will be able to keep Cody alive. My analogy - Cody is like the gram-ma lost in the woods with bare feet and skirt and Dave is the guy that gets them home. If I had my choice of who to be lost in the bush with, hands down it would be Dave. I have spent much time in the bush and I am amazed at a what a master of bush-craft Dave is. Outstanding fellow. From not only building a functioning bow but also making arrows and actual arrow heads and fletchings... To rope work in rappelling off cliffs and belaying Cody down places Cody could not down climb with bare feet... To multiple ways of starting fire and transporting fire. .. Finding his directions ... making shelters and on and on!!! All the best to Dave in whatever direction he goes and really looking forward to Cody and the new special forces guy and their adventures!
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8/10
Loved this show back when it was on.
Analog_Devotee20 June 2021
The Odd Couple meets Man versus Wild. This was my favorite of all the man v. Nature shows popping up in the late 2000s and early 2010s. A middle-aged alpha male veteran and no-nonsense hippie (both of whom have extensive survival skills) must put their differences aside and learn to coexist in harsh environments. Both of these guys were a pleasure to watch, even when they were in vehement disagreement.
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fine program
stones785 October 2010
I'm slightly surprised to be the first reviewer for what I consider one of the better reality shows on the air, but I am glad that I caught this show by accident. Dual Survivior is basically about a military guy(Dave Canterbury)and an ex hippie who used to live in a commune(Cody Lundin)who are placed in situations where their expertise in survival is required. Dave does more of the physical stuff like hunt, while Cody, who walks barefoot mostly, uses his knowledge of the land to create current remedies for the situation at hand. It's an interesting combination of brawn vs. brains, even though Dave is also very wise when facing survival and is a great hunter. He and Cody sometimes have differing opinions on how to best gauge their predicament, but it all works out in the end. I'm normally not a fan of reality shows, but Dual Survivor works for me because of the characters and their surroundings.
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10/10
this is a great survival show
forkus18 June 2011
These two guys are good together. You start off laughing at Cody, but then you come to respect what a bad ass he is in his own right. There are elements of humor throughout most episodes that are genuinely funny due to the unusual pairing. I've watched lots of survival shows and this one seems to have something the others are missing- an entertainment factor that doesn't require fake scenarios put in only for TV purposes. The guys provide entertainment and they really teach you how to survive along the way.

The locations are standard survival fare, but each of the guys has a different background which means one of them will usually be taking the lead and the other will be learning new tricks.

All in all, I would say this is my favorite survival show. Even my kids find it entertaining.
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10/10
Best survival show?
Edmund-dh5 December 2010
Dual Survival is more than good, it's the best. Watching this is is fun, entertaining, and more of all you learn how to survive.

The series is starring two survivors, Cody Lundin and Dave Canterbury. They are both stranded together to survive, and to show survival techniques. Their personalities is a huge difference, Cody is more to the hippie way of living, he see the nature in a different way, and most of all; He walks barefoot, even in the most cold environments.

Dave is a more of "tuff" typical American, he hungers for meat and hunts greatly, he is an ex-sniper military and got loads of experience.

The unique match up, and their difference in thinking will add up to a fun and entertaining show. I recommend this show to everyone. It's a great and fun way to learn how to survive! The only minus that I see so far, is the lack of episodes but whatever! Quality over Quantity!
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7/10
Entertaining Survival Show
JoelChamp8517 March 2021
I read the reviews before starting this series so I was expecting it to get worse since the first season was great, I just finished season 4 and it's still good but getting a little bit gimmicky.
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10/10
Beyond the Limit!
Phantasy_star_422 October 2011
I literally have not watched television in 8 years, I had found no reason within that time to watch it with all the garbage on it nowadays. I was at a friends house and was left alone with the TV on for a few minutes and low and behold Duel Survivor was on. Within the depths of very possible unlucky survivor circumstances Dave and Cody are placed in areas of the world in which someone may or has been stranded, crashed, sunk, abandoned, wounded, all in all left to survive with only your wits. These two guys are fantastic, Dave being the Military more gung ho and always in need of a greater challenge at times adrenaline junky survival expert (more of the risk taker) is always a joy to see what he will do next. Cody is the Naturalist survival expert, the way I tend to view Cody is more laid back than Dave. Cody being the one with the more level head and eye on safety brings a terrific balance to the two man survival team. Even though Cody and Dave don't always see eye to eye, both of their individual skills that are much different from each other in survival more than compensate from the little bickering that occurs, as they know they will need the other one to help survive their trials.

The survival Techniques used are completely amazing to me at times, the circumstances they endure and the ways they go about figuring out natures puzzles are oust-anding.

Its not like other shows where the host will just drag you along and point out specific plants, animals, dangers but not go into the danger, like a short documentary. No these guys are in the danger while explaining at a moments notice what they will do next , there's no reading from a script here. Anything from scaling mountains, cliffs, swamps, molten lava rocks, desert - you name it.

This is the show that has me watching TV again, well the only show i watch on TV :) Fantastic 100%
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10/10
Great Show! The So-Called Experts Reviewing Bore Me...
clacura28 April 2017
This is a great show with a lot of significant information. Because of this TV show I have researched and thought about survival issues. The so-called experts that dig on this show are a joke. Of course there are cameramen shooting...it's a TV show! Did you think you can have a satellite camera overhead in the great sky above? One reviewer was upset over some bamboo in Hawaii. Really dude? How much endangered bamboo did Joe actually use? He killed a pig...great TV and something you do to survive. It isn't like there is a community inhabiting the sacred island killing pigs daily.

One clown said Matt must be gay because he was too laid back or passive. This is the attitude of ignorance we get from the tough, macho survival real men out there. A man has a sensitivity and intelligence that threatens or is different than you and you judge and condemn? Matt was brilliant and demonstrated self-control and a way to think outside of the military box. Guess what...there are many levels of intelligences! This would mean a viewer has to learn and be the very person they criticize--someone who can adapt, think, and God-forbid, have cognitive skills not possessed from how you problem-solve.

This TV show offers a great template for survival skills. You want to go deeper, than Google and research or read a book. Do you have to "overlook" a few things? Of course...so what. Producers have to edit for entertainment or there is no show. Don't blame the "actors" for the editing...it's called TV and you have about 42 minutes to tell a story per episode.

The real morons of this show are Discovery. Cody shares they did NO vetting of his background ever. The show was more concerned with personalities than skills. His mission was to present expertise in a survival experience. The show itself needs drama. For example, the premise is based on a three day survival. The need for food is not a core priority so killing animals was against the grain of Cody's mindset.

A military guy does not think that way. Discovery screwed up with Dave and Joe's credible background checks. That is on the producers of the show! Cody was by far the most skilled of them all. The show was built around his knowledge the first season until it strayed to more drama-based episodes.

All of the hosts are good, Dave blew it by skewing his background (ego issues) but was a solid character and knew his stuff--good guy who made a mistake. Joe seemed to try too hard, but was also good at what he did. If you want contrast (and all these shows do) then pairing up the naturalist (per se) with the military guy gives you this entertainment factor. But I will add, who has been on an "adventure" be it planned or unscheduled that has not had contrast of opinion to the "what" or "how"? Some might call this marriage! This show demonstrates there are different methods to solving problems and making crucial decisions and that compromise is always part of the journey to success.

My advise to the producers is to bring back Cody and Dave for a few reunion shows IF they will come back. Evidently, there was some bad blood for Cody.
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10/10
This is my favorite survival show by far
illinoisbrah9927 June 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I read a lot, but I have still learned a ton from this show. Things that I have put into use and have come in handy while backpacking. Matt Graham is by far my favorite host that has ever been on this show. Cody was cool, but not really. Dave Canterbury was fine but immemorable. Joe was cool with Cody, but has gotten annoying as time goes on with Matt. It seems like he doesn't like Matt and can be really rude, yet Matt takes it all in stride. You can learn a lot from Matt not only for survival situations, but for being a good human being. When Matt gave Joe spitwater when it was totally unnecessary though, that was priceless.
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5/10
Dual Survival has steadily declined in quality
duzt-528041 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I got into Dual Survival early on and loved the Cody and Dave seasons. It really stunk when the fiasco with Dave came out and they had to find a new co-host. It seems to have been nothing but a downhill devolution since then. For awhile I quit watching after Cody left the program because Teti was such a tool, though I didn't hate Graham and saw a few of those episodes. Then it fell off the map until today, when I started watching some S9 episodes where they have seemingly turned into the cliche Cody gripe of "survival-tainment" - which is essentially an extension of Bear Grylls showing people how to survive by jumping off waterfalls. Seriously? I don't know if I'll go back to watch S7 or S8, but right now in S9 they are doing (and teaching) all the wrong things by drinking foul water immediately and hunting boars. It's a show, and maybe more people watch it for the crazy outlandish stuff, but Cody was always the level-headed person - if you get in one of these scenarios, you won't be trying to jump off waterfalls or fight boar - you will be trying to eat bugs, find water, and not get hurt.
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10/10
Adventure, Advice, and Suspense Make This One of the Best Shows on TV
EatingSteak17 July 2013
This is one of my favorite shows on TV right now, and easily the best on Discovery. It contains all the content that made "Old Discovery Channel" great and represents everything that it should be.

There's a ton of exposure to nature, a lot of adventure and suspense, and a good bit of humor. It's really amusing to see Dave (or Joe) and Cody fight over their strategy, and always a treat to see Cody eating something gross and his partner too grossed out to even try.

The scenarios are brilliantly thought-out. Every situation is a pretty plausible "hike in the woods" or "extreme adventure" gone wrong. The challenges presented are unique and cover every corner of the world, including many that don't seem overtly hazardous. Dave and Cody are dropped off with minimal gear, with a goal to make their way to safety. There are plenty of mishaps, quarrels, and humorous situations along the way, which make this one of the most enjoyable survival shows on TV.
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"We don't want to see any of... //that// stuff."
grizzledgeezer15 January 2016
I haven't given a ranking, because I have no way of judging how accurate the survival information presented is. Which is what the program is supposed to be about. But it's actually about personal conflict. (More about that later.)

As human beings have become increasingly effete (the word means weak, not effeminate), programs about "survival in the wild" have become increasingly popular. Discovery has three or four shows about "making it" in Alaska alone.

I find it "quaint" that viewers actually believe the participants are in real danger. Only in "Naked and Afraid" do they seem to run any real risk, mostly because they're dumped in areas where there's little or no fresh water or food. Accidents can occur and mistakes made, but the producers aren't stupid enough to take chances. Serious injury or death could result in embarrassing lawsuits, regardless of how cleverly written the contracts are.

The underlying purpose of these shows is to create conflict -- people arguing with each other. The survivalists aren't chosen solely for their varying perspectives on survival skills, but (as when making a fire) how much "heat" can be generated by friction between them.

This was obvious from the start. Cody Lundin and Dave Canterbury made an irritating odd couple. This viewer found Lundin especially annoying. Though obviously heterosexual, there was something unmanly -- castrato-like -- about the guy. If I were a woman, I wouldn't let him within 10m (33') of me. Canterbury probably felt the same way.

Joe Teti and Matt Graham were the opposite. It's hard to believe Graham isn't homosexual (his offer to make Teti a suede loin cloth was charmingly hilarious). Though they argued (especially about Graham's proclivity to hang out and soak up the environment), Graham was often amiable about accepting Teti's way of doing things. It was this general lack of friction (it's surprising they haven't announced their engagement!) that likely explains the short run of their partnership.

The current pair comprises Bill McConnell and Grady Powell. They're probably the closest to what the producers had in mind from the start. Powell thinks McConnell is a braggart, but forgives him when he can't start a fire in an impossibly damp environment. (How much of this is real and how much dictated by the producers isn't clear.)

Which brings me to what provoked this series review (and the Summary line). McConnell and Powell are forced to spend the night without fire in a cold, damp cave. And get this -- they sleep apart.

Who's kidding whom? Are these guys so homophobic they won't lie together to keep warm? Or are the producers afraid of offending viewers?

Cowboys spread their bed rolls right next to each other. (Wanna see a photo?) It was mostly to conserve heat, as cloudless nights on the plain got very cold.

If you're trying to show people how to avoid freezing to death, you don't reject the simplest and most-obvious solution.
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8/10
Great show about nature, survival and adventure!
branko-stankovic30 August 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Great show with realistic scenarios, beautiful nature and really useful examples of how you can use what nature is giving you to survive and much more beyond that really. From making fire out of nothing, through creating canoes, hunting animals and finding sources of water and shelters, this show is one of the best handbooks of survival and adventure. If you liked Bear Grylls, you'll like this one even more! Adventurers who lead you through this scenarios don't always agree, and they will almost always use or show different ways of doing things. The show is also about that psychological aspect of being in the wild on your own, and having to rely on what you know and that person with whom you are. It's a scary situation, but you see how they don't let the panic and the fear, and sometimes their own egos, to take over them, but they overcome their differences and work together even if they don't agree about something, so the show isn't only about techniques of survival but also about that human part of that experience.
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10/10
Awesome Clash between Black Ops and Hippie Survival
dflight16 April 2020
Pretty much both styles work to the best of the ability of the survivor and to the inidividual. It's as if these guys were teamed up on a drill of survival and show how to do it in the best and most efficient way possible. Each has their good points and it is good to have a more traditional view with the alternative methods being introduced.
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9/10
It's a fake reality show, but decent information. First 2 seasons are the best.
mgravatt1923 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Great info, but listen to Cody. Then Les Stroud. If you're stranded, don't repel off cliffs. Unless needed.
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1/10
Used to be a great show until 2016
edcatlett30 January 2016
Up until the 2016 season I watched every episode. Often multiple times. Along with anything Les Stroud this has been a great source of information. Yea, sometimes there were kind of obvious setups over the years but those were typically done with a teaching purpose. Overall it didn't involve stupid stunts for no reason that would, in reality get you killed like Bear Grylls.

This season is an entirely different beast for this show. Grady is fine and believable. Bill is absolutely terrible and basically unwatchable. You would never see any of the prior Dual Survival guys or Les Stroud cry because they couldn't start a fire nor would you see them obviously hamming it up for the camera. Even Bear Grylls wouldn't cry if he couldn't start a fire. He would just come back and shoot it again the next day with some dry stuff from the hotel.
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1/10
A horrible example of "reality" programming!
l_b_moniz10 October 2015
Delighted to just learn this show was canceled due to an apparent incident of animal cruelty by one of the hosts. HOWEVER, the basic flaw in the production were the contrived "survival" situations in which the various two member teams enacted implausible situations that even a Boy Scout circa 1950 would nave known how to survive.

I was particularly struck by an episode in the Norwegian mountains in which one of the pair was garbed in shorts and a heavy sweater while climbing mountains in apparent sub-zero temperatures with blowing snow and 50-MPH winds. Only an absolute fool would fail to seek shelter in such conditions. Their exposure to frostbite was so obvious all their exposed skin was cherry red.

After watching at least five episodes I could cite at least 10 incidents of totally incompetent survival techniques and/or comments made by these "experts." What a farcical production!
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1/10
Clearly fake.
13Funbags12 October 2019
This guy walks around in knee deep snow, wearing shorts, for 2 days. Yeah right. And surprise, that's the only time he ever wore shoes.
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5/10
Dont let stupid people do stupid things
weebecnusoon26 August 2022
I watch all survival shows, and gain helpful insight into best practices when toughing it in the worst situations.

But lets get real. I just watched the episode where EJ and Jeff are spear fishing for fish in a fresh water situation. Lets say for kicks and giggles that this was the only episode I ever had the opportunity to watch. What I watched these idiots do was, upon their well earned catch was Jeff screaming, "Yeah baby!!!", like he was Austin Powers on steriods, effectively scaring any potential animal food sources to areas as far away as possible from the loud scary humans. You can tell this show is supported because a real hunter in a life and death survival situation would most certainly never do that. Secondly and most importantly, bearing in mind that I am a random viewer seeing the show for the first time, these two morons after catching their fish proceeded to eat that fish raw, both of them taking a bite from it, EJ saying something about sushi?? Ask any expert, do fresh water fish have the potential of carring major parasites..YES, THEY MOST CERTAINLY DO!! No different than telling high school kids that if you pull out, the girl won't get pregnant. With possible major consequences for some poor sap who only saw this one show and thinks its OK to eat FW fish raw. Shame on you guys.

The show is very entertaining, and has tons of good tips and tricks, but this episode just left me shaking my head.
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4/10
I'm not another armchair survivalist.
twilightspecter27 March 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This series has some credibility, that was until Joe Teti joined the program. Usually the criteria and content of context is presented in reasonable pretense. With relevant accuracy and facts for the viewer to process. But the credibility factor went out the window when Joe joined the program. Joe's behavior and half-arsed, amateur stuntman antics undermines the credibility of the producers to bring to the viewer a good piece of entertainment and educational product for the viewing audience. During earlier appearances, his "acting and posing" annoyed his partner in the program (Cody). Joe's bad acting and phony posing, underscores that the show should not be taken seriously, that it is solely an entertainment for the pleasure of the audience.

In the episode shot in Hawaii, Joe made a lot of bad errors of show-boatman-ship. 1) randomly hacking away at growing bamboo, to the average viewer you might think "big deal". Except in Hawaii, there are several varieties of bamboo that are on the endangered species list, because very few examples exist in the wilds of Hawaii's islands. Some species of bamboo are exclusive to just one island, while a few species are exclusive to the Hawaiian islands, out of the hundreds of species of bamboo in the world. The state department of natural resources could bar Mr. Teti from ever coming back to Hawaii on the grounds of violating the local laws and ordnances written to protect endangered species. He could just be out right arrested, the next time he shows up in Hawaii. 2) The impromptu, killing of a wild pig - by Joe Teti in the Hawaii episode, was done in bad form. For the crew who were probably trying to shoot the program on the premise of being tourists shooting a documentary. Normally in regular circumstances, to hunt pigs in the wild areas, a permit is required and to register with island game wardens, precautions must be taken to not leave exposed animal remains that could become contaminated and proliferate the spreading of viruses and diseases. I would not be surprised to learn the entire production crew and everyone involved in the shoot of that episode, may be liable for violating county ordnances, laws in the state of Hawaii that protect wildlife and for violating preservation areas. Because many trails are public access, going off the trails is illegal and a fine-able offense. 3) openly violating rules for personal safety and violating animal protection laws in a state of the United States of America, is not a thing to flaunt in a program that anyone could view - and misunderstand, when they go to visit Hawaii on their own.

There were no disclaimers on either end of the program, about open violation of laws in the shooting of that episode.

There are other loose ends that Joe Teti, has imposed upon the program, that undermines the credibility of the overall program for viewers to consider on the merit of the program as a whole. If you watch with an objective eye, you will see him embarrass himself on every show.
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1/10
Cheating
xocobo-531-53849017 January 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Look, I'll get to the point.

This show is like just American wrestling, it even has all the sissy drama. Everything is rigged and set up. If you're looking to learn from real survival situations, look elsewhere, because this isn't it.

To all you believers who mentioned on your reviews how great, realistic this is, I'll do you a favor and point it out to you.

You are sadly being deceived. You should easily be able to tell by simple things that these survivors are surrounded by tons of cameramen, supplies and equipment. Be observant like you should be out there and notice the camera angles, the lack of dirt on the survivors or their luck on finding brand new tools and refuge.

I mean, it's a no-brainer, but hey, if you don't believe me, I'll give you an example. Right on my first go at trying to watch this, the survival duet "found" a brand new backpack with a ton of brand new gear. Even a brand new telescope! Do you honestly believe that anyone would leave something like this behind in the middle of nowhere and that it would still remain brand new? This whole thing is just ridiculous.

You're welcome, Me
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3/10
What is this, survival?
celestemekent28 February 2015
Does anyone actually believe these two will not be rescued? Seriously folks there are two camera men who we never see but who are constantly present (probably with satellite phones at the ready). The producers know exactly where they are. None of the situations they get stuck in are realistic I would never expect to ever see a similar situation so there is virtually no reason at all to "learn" what to do from what these experts in survival offer us. More importantly there is little to suspend belief and nothing to make me believe they are at much risk.

I have no doubt that the information these two experts is show us is legit, but I just cannot muster up enough to care. Aside from the basic humanity there is nothing in common for me.
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