Dual Survival, the new Discovery Channel series, is a terrific addition to the current selection of survival themed entertainment for those of us who just can’t seem to get enough. If you are a dedicated fan of shows like Les Stroud’s Survivorman, “Bear” Grylls’ Man vs. Wild, The Colony, The Alaska Experiment, Man vs. Wild, Apocalypse Man, or Survive This, then Dual Survival is going to become a new favorite for you.

Dual Survival takes survival entertainment to another level by adding to the mix a certain flavor of tension that is a bit original for survival shows. What kind of tension you ask? Well, Dual Survival pairs two renowned contemporary survival experts, Dave Canterbury and Cody Lundin, to work together as a team to overcome the odds and elements together. Dave and Cody, while coming from completely different survival perspectives, have each in their own right earned the title of “expert” in their field. Coming from vastly different backgrounds and each possessing a completely different understanding of survival concepts, this pair could easily be called “the odd couple of survival”. It is this dynamic between our two main characters that will set this show apart from other survival shows before it.

I have been a huge fan of both Canterbury and Lundin since well before this series hit the airwaves. The pairing of these two experts in the same show is an interesting one, as most of us who are familiar with these two gentlemen are quite aware.  Lundeen and Canterbury are so different in their approach to their craft that many would go as far as to characterize them as opposite ends of the survival spectrum.

Lundin, a “minimalist and primitive skills expert”, has an almost Zen-like native-American quality to him that manifests in a very thoughtful and cautious way, while Canterbury’s background as an Army trained scout, sniper and hunter seems to surface in more of a “head first”/”take the bull by the horns” type fashion. The seeming polarity in the approaches of these two men is occasionally tense, but the mutual respect and cooperation between the two is a huge part of this partnership as well. You get the sense that both men “agree to disagree” with each other from time to time, but both are also wise enough to realize what knowledge and expertise their counterpart brings to the partnership. You can sense the tremendous mutual respect each has for the other, but neither hides their feelings about their differences either. Somehow, despite the glaring differences and disagreements between the two, they are somehow able to push past their differences and conquer what “Ma Nature” (as Cody endearingly refers to “her”) throws at them.

I think that there are more than a couple of really terrific lessons to learn from watching this show. First of all, this series clearly demonstrates that there is often more than one way to do something and neither way has to be “wrong”. In a group-survival situation, it is frequently better to yield on issues of personal preferences as opposed to engaging in a battle of wills over matters that are more preferential in nature.

For example, we watch as Dave and Cody clearly have different concepts of what qualifies as “food”. Cody will beam proudly as he returns to camp with a handful of “huhu” grubs or periwinkles, but Dave has other ideas. Dave prefers meals of the more “furry and four-legged” variety, but Dave realizes that, preference aside, tiny grubs and crustaceans can give him much needed protein and calories and… ultimately keep him alive.

Granted I have only seen the first two episodes in this series (that’s all that has been released at this point), but so far both men do a really great job of keeping their egos in check. Both being experts with great passion for their craft, neither gentlemen lets their pride get the best of them on these challenges. Lundin and Canterbury both set a great example for their viewers by pulling together and getting the job done, even when it is clear that they disagree from time to time. Arguing over whose way is better would could prove fatal in a survival situation, and it is clear that both of these gentlemen truly realize this… and they each deserve a great deal of credit for setting a great example. Sure, both men voice their disagreement with the other at times, but never in a destructive way. Neither of the two allows this disagreement to escalate into anything worse.

If “The Book of Eli” and “The Road” leave you wanting for more of this kind of “survivalist entertainment”, then Dual Survival will definitely keep you going until Season 2 of The Colony (this year in Katrina ravaged New Orleans!) airs sometime in the near future!