Law of the Jungle (2011) Review – Watch on CocoFlix

The Call of the Wild, Celebrity Style

“Law of the Jungle” is not your typical celebrity trip. It is an extreme reality survival show that puts celebrities in some of the planet's most untouched and sometimes deadly places. It started in 2011 with Kim Byung-man, a celebrity and an expert in resourcefulness, hosting the show. The show combines the documentary space of raw survival and the drama of reality TV. Every celebrity, from idols to actors, goes from walking the red carpet to treks through the jungles and from staying in 5 star hotels to living in makeshift accommodations. The concept is simple but interesting: how far can these celebrities go in truly becoming one with nature and living in a world without civilization?

The genius of this show is putting people at a certain comfort level and making them cope with basic needs. The celebrities on the show must hunt, build shelter, navigate, and interact with tribes and communities that have mastered the environment. It is not about how much drama is manufactured, it is about the human behavior when one is placed in a circumstance where they must rely on themselves and their team. Byung-man is known as “Chief” and he is the host, but he is the vet of the wild who leads his celebrity tribe through the challenges of these situations. This provides a lot of entertainment and respect for his skill.

Surviving the Elements and Each Other

"Law of the Jungle" has a skill that many other travel shows lack, the ability to take its cast to amazing locations. From Borneo to Mongolia to numerous other locations, breathtaking scenery encompasses each episode, creating a mini travel show of its own. While most shows use scenery to supplement the main event, these backgrounds feature their own challenges. These challenges stretch cast members physically and mentally. This series humanizes celebrities, giving viewers a new perspective. This is especially the case with one episode, where a pop singer and an actor are shown learning how to keep themselves alive.

Most of what this series offers is “popular” already. Aside from celebrities building homes to survive in the wilderness, most of what this series offers is extremely popular in the entertainment industry: celebrities working with each other to survive, and celebrity-led conflict resolution and bond-building. There are many other travel shows that do the same thing, perhaps with a different cast.

"Law of the Jungle" provides situations that celebrities often don’t encounter. Celebrities learn to work together to stay alive, which is often the opposite of what celebrities do for work. “Law of the Jungle” also has local tribes that provide entertainment and information on how other cultures survive. These vignettes are interesting and informative.

The Untamed Edges of Reality TV

There needs to be the “Law of the Jungle” disclaimer: just because it’s innovative and entertaining, doesn’t mean it doesn’t suffer from pitfalls. One of those is that, given its format, its success is and will be predicated entirely on its celebrity cast. Certain celebrities won’t “gel” with others and as a fan of the show, you might get bored by some the less interesting “tribes.” Also, with the entertainment vs. actual survival issue in reality TV, “Law of the Jungle” really does a good job with remaining authentic, but there are times when the show manipulates situations and challenges to the point where viewers get too accustomed to “convenient” plot devices and situations.

The show has been on the air for over a decade, and a repetitive format for a hardcore fan base can become monotonous. Shelters, food collection, all the building blocks of this show also have their own set of “been there, done that” cynicism. Given a repetitive format, the cast has to do a lot more with what’s available if they want to create something new. The “Law of the Jungle” does an overall good job of culturally aware and respectful representation, but there are times when they brush up against issues of portraying indigenous cultures and communities that all these shows have to deal with.

Our CocoFlix Takeaway

Truly, “Law of the Jungle” delivers for its viewers by encouraging them to fantasize about going on an adventurous excursion to a new, exotic location, meeting new cultures, and watching famous personalities come out of their comfort zones. This show appreciates all inventive methods of problem-solving, the collaborative nature of people, and the physical aesthetics of our earth. Though some parts can develop monotony, depending on how the producers organize the various stars and pacing, the concept is still good. For fans that love watching their favorite actors explore their hidden talents, featuring stunning backdrops, and displaying the real-life drama of humans devoid of scripted actions, this program is worth the watch. It is a realistic undertaking to combine real life and entertainment to make an educational TV program. This program is the best choice of CocoFlix for anyone that wants to experience the jungle, while in the comfort of their couch.