TV: The Colony

"The Colony" is a reality TV show on Discovery Channel with an interesting premise. The show strands ten strangers in a simulated post-apocalyptic wasteland with minimal supplies and follows what they do to survive. Check out this segment, which shows the construction of improvised weapons to fend off raiders (a la "Fallout 3" - Junkman rides again!):



As a social science experiment, I'm pretty sure the whole thing is worthless, since the survivors are closely monitored by CCTV to make sure no one is ever in serious danger. For instance, the marauders attacking the compound are given strict orders not to physically harm the inhabitants - something that won't be the case in a real end-of-the-world scenario. Human history shows that where the rule of law has disappeared, the threat of actual starvation and rape wreaks havoc with people, and it's something "The Colony" only makes half-hearted attempts to address.

It's still entertaining, though, and the interpersonal fighting over what, when, and how to do things seems pretty authentic. There's a varied mix of people on the show, from scientists to nurses to handymen, though it's clear that some people have been cherry-picked for their abilities. For instance, take ten people off the street and there's a good chance no one will know how to weld metal, which obviously rules out some of the show's more exciting projects. If you've ever wondered what you could piece together after a viral pandemic, though, "The Colony" is a neat place to start.