Depart from Departures.
So I just finished watching this show on TV called Departures. A show where two Canadians, Justin and Scott – and their trusty cameraman – travel to various countries and experience all that the country has to offer.
This episode just happened to be Japan, so I just had to see what these two were up to. From glimpses of Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Roppongi, to singing in a karaoke box and hanging out in bars and restaurants, Scott and Justin’s travels to Tokyo was nothing more than a party to the two of them. What was probably the most entertaining was seeing the rather intoxicated Justin go around trying to pick up Japanese girls… to no avail. Perhaps he should learn a few Japanese words next time.
They head off to Kyoto without even a notice to the audience that they’ve left Tokyo. It was a rather odd transition I thought. With a short stint in Osaka and neighbouring towns, the show was over before one could truly say, I learned something about Japan from this show.
Scott, the more rational one, at the very least tried his best to experience what the country truly had to offer. But for Justin, it just seemed like he was just more interested in getting drunk and picking up girls.
Let’s just say, Departures. is not your typical travel show. From this one episode, it just seemed like it followed two guys around town, looking for a good time. It’s almost like taking your video camera while backpacking on a budget.
A rather unique perspective, but hardly one that would be approved by someone wanting more information on a country they are planning to visit. I mean, why would you want to see a drunk Caucasian make a fool of himself on television when you watch a travel show? I would suspect this travel show is geared more towards the younger crowd, hence the timeslot.
It would be interesting to see if the other episodes are similar or if it just happened to be this one show, but I’m in no hurry to see where they travel to next. I’ll stick to my Pilot Guide, thank you very much.
hey! definitely watch another one of their episodes because they are nothing like that one in tokyo! i personally dun think that particular episode does japan justice either, but they do go off to the less touristy places in japan in the episode right after tokyo. it’s a great show =)
Yes please watch more episodes because, as the other comment mentions, there is another episode in Japan. This is my new favourite TV, not just favourite travel show (but it also is that too).
If you can watch the episodes in Libya, Mongolia, Iceland, Cambodia (really I LOVE all of them) you will really see why this show is loved so much and how they truly are seeing the world and gaining memorable and life changing lessons. It’s on every night on the OLN.
Ciao.
Don’t depart! The reason that you may be able to find flaws in this show where other places your would find none, is because it is REAL! 100% authentic reality about the ups, downs, adventures and emotions of travelling. Though you might have caught a bad episode, I urge you to give it another try. If nothing else watch it for amazing photography and footage of little known places you may not otherwise see on tv. I urge you to give departures another try as it is debatably THE best show on television!