Reviewed by David "Wombat" Lyons.
Image from the Zulu episode of Last Man Standing.
When I was surfing ABC iView (the online TV catch up service from ABC TV) and came across Episode One of Last Man Standing and read the blurb, I was ready to keep searching for something else to watch.
Pitched as a sports program, with the tag line “Six intrepid athletes, eight ancient sporting festivals, one victor; this is Last Man Standing,” I was not drawn in in any way other than a superficial attraction to the image on the side of the screen.
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The program was however listed under documentary, and this sparked a light, so I clicked play and was well rewarded for handing over 52 minutes of my life.
Episode One took us to the festival of death in the Brazlian rainforest. Watching these six athletes, each with their own sporting strong point, struggle to learn an indigenous sport was very engaging. (Although watching the traditional way to shave legs sent shivers down my spine!)
Episode One will be online for a week and Episode Two went up after airing on Friday. The adventurers over six weeks will involve black magic, indigenous drugs and blood letting. Episode Two w as about Zulu stick fighting; not a sport that I think will become popular in Warragul anytime soon, but worth a watch on ABC TV.
Last Man Standing airs Fridays on ABC2 at 8.30pm.
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