Messup434
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Re: Australian Ninja Warrior
I tried to find the Candy Cane Rush on YouTube out of curiosity , but the top result was a horribly made not farm video (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tpw9UWZhe2s). WTF? 
Also, how do you know it was tested for ANW12, that’s interesting. The only obstacle I knew of that was scrapped (although it wasn’t a new concept) was Razor’s Edge for Qualifying.
I read an interesting piece about the Anaconda and how it’s exclusive to Australia and would work in few pieces in America even if they wanted it. It’s interesting how it’s one obstacle, but also kind of fits the idea of Spljt decision. Can you switch from one choice to the other in the middle? I would assume so.
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9/Jul/22, 11:14 pm
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Takeshi1
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Re: Australian Ninja Warrior
Quote:
Messup434 wrote:
I tried to find the Candy Cane Rush on YouTube out of curiosity , but the top result was a horribly made not farm video (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tpw9UWZhe2s). WTF?
Lol! What's interesting is I think the AuNW YouTube clips must be region locked this year, normally they aren't so get loads of views. Obviously Sasukepedia has pictures but I think unless you're wanting to watch the full episode you'll have to look on their social media to find it.
Quote:
Messup434 wrote:
Also, how do you know it was tested for ANW12, that’s interesting. The only obstacle I knew of that was scrapped (although it wasn’t a new concept) was Razor’s Edge for Qualifying.
Someone who worked with ATS mentioned it on discord. I assume it was meant to appear in St Louis or DC before they got cancelled because obviously it wasn't on the LA course like Razor Beams was. Either that or it was scrapped in the warehouse testing stages.
Quote:
Messup434 wrote:
I read an interesting piece about the Anaconda and how it’s exclusive to Australia and would work in few pieces in America even if they wanted it. It’s interesting how it’s one obstacle, but also kind of fits the idea of Split decision. Can you switch from one choice to the other in the middle? I would assume so.
Yes absolutely, it's not like a committed choice, just more like two different methods to do the same obstacle, which imo is quite a nice idea.
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10/Jul/22, 12:29 pm
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Takeshi1
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Re: Australian Ninja Warrior
I've watched all the episodes other than Record Breakers now (not all at once I assure you - one a day!) - I'll review the Semis and Finals Stage 1 here as they both used a format of ninja vs ninja races for the front half to the wall, with the winner going on to take on the back 3 obstacles.
In terms of entertainment value, this year's semis were light-years better than last year's trainwreck - a good course with a fast front-half and lots of people getting to the back half was good to see. But in terms of providing a fair competition, this format provided anything but.
We had fails on obstacle 3-5 advancing and some of the fastest to the wall knocked out just because of the matchups. The matchups themselves were decided for stories and close matchups for tv, rather than worst vs best etc: brother vs brother, husband vs wife, the two fastest in the heats. The obstacles also barely changed - 2 semis were identical and the other only had one change and a modification - so after the first semi, watching the other two felt like more of a chore I'd set myself.
The most notable moment for me was definitely Olivia Vivian becoming the fastest contestant of the night in semi-final 1.
I think what this year's semi-finals did show was that the best way to do a semi-final would be having a fast-paced, timed front half with an untimed back half. That way you wouldn't run the risk of blatantly bad episodes like last year and can have fast pacing without the race format.
Stage 1 of the final didn't seem like a Stage 1 because of the head-to-head element in the first half. The front half also didn't seem that different to the semis. The back half was upper-body focused and ended with Underwater Escape (Water Walls) so obviously I didn't like that. The far too long 5:10 time limit could have been 4:30 (still practically double what Stage 1 should be). About the right number of clears but the course made this one not great and now that I'm trying to remember details I've realised ... forgettable!
Stage 2 onwards, possibly Record Breakers (if I watch it before then) and an overall season summary in my next post.
Edited by Takeshi1, 13/Jul/22, 12:33 pm
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12/Jul/22, 11:44 pm
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Takeshi1
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Re: Australian Ninja Warrior
Final Part 2 & Record Breakers Review
Stage 2 had all new obstacles from last year but followed the exact same structure. As a result, the course was effectively a timed Stage 3, the big difference was the much larger time limit this year (5:30!!) which led to 5 clears as opposed to last year's 2. The only obstacle that I thought fitted this stage was Barrel Roll. Despite that it was fine to watch but mainly due to results.
Stage 3 was actually good this year. However I still have two complaints! The first is one that has been a common issue from semis onwards: similar obstacles on the same course. Of the 6 obstacles, 4 were bar obstacles. My second complaint was every move on the cliffhanger was deliberately awkward. I'm fine with hard moves but every move seemed unnatural - only 1 competitor got past here. Other than that though a really good stage. Zak Stoltz got to penultimate obstacle The Dungeon to win the LNS prize for the second year running.
Episode two of the final overall was much better than the first episode. Was nice to see the show finally become competitor vs course again and the show benefitted from a more simple, gimmick free episode (apart from the one safety pass use).
Record Breakers (skills) returned for a second year. The first three events (Super Salmon Ladder, Supersonic Shelf Grab and Spring Forward face off) were pretty bland and forgettable overall. Teen Saxon Johnstone won the SL by being the only person to reach the top. Zak Stoltz got the "world record" on Shelf Grab to win that event. Dan Mason won Spring Forward, giving him some sort of consolation prize for being booted off in the semis with the nvn format.
Then came Australia's first Big Dipper Freestyle Challenge. As it was their first one it wasn't too bad. Bryson Klein had the best two dives of the night but didn't win (sound familiar?). Production handed Olivia the win with her putting up ten fingers for ten points (she did the splits on the way down too but it wasn't anywhere near as good as any of the other competitors).
The final event was the Mega Wall like last year. Ben Polson beat his own record from last year to win.
The most interesting thing from skills wasn't any of the action but actually the hosting lineup: Jim was gone. There was no mention of him not being there, which suggests to me he's been axed (if he couldn't make it from other commitments surely they'd have said?). It wouldn't surprise me as although his commentary is decent, he doesn't have the energy or enthusiasm required. He doesn't seem invested in the show and his presenting performance has been rigid and stilted to say the least.
Interestingly Leila, who started the season being awful has got a bit better - the skills competition especially saw an improvement, she clearly seems much more comfortable beside Will (who was promoted from the sidelines) than she ever did with Jim. Speaking of Will, him and Woody have actually become pretty good sideline reporters. They've come a long way from rubbing the microphone across a guy's six pack like a cheese grater to see if it makes a noise. They seem to have really bonded with the competitors and are good fun, bringing the right amount of energy.
It wouldn't surprise me if Leila, Will and Woody come back as a trio next year, with Will becoming commentator permanently. Either that or they'll bring in someone new, I don't see a return for Jim, after the Record Breakers felt so much more natural without him.
Overall:
Heats: very good, loved the fast course
Semis: the format was unpopular and unfair, whilst fine for one episode it couldn't deliver in the next two, I assume it'll change back to normal next year
Final Stage 1: didn't feel cohesive and the format really was a negative aspect here
Final Stage 2: was fine but could be better if it didn't model itself as a timed Stage 3
Final Stage 3: pretty good, results about how they should be
Final Stage 4: unattempted
Record Breakers: much better host dynamic, skills were mediocre but not bad
Long one there but that's the season done! I'd imagine there will be another season next year and hopefully it can take the good aspects of this year's season (which I think was better than last year's) and build on them.
Edited by Takeshi1, 19/Jul/22, 11:13 pm
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19/Jul/22, 11:11 pm
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Messup434
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Re: Australian Ninja Warrior
It’s weird to get rid of a host midseason. So he was just that bad?
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20/Jul/22, 9:45 am
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Takeshi1
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Re: Australian Ninja Warrior
Quote:
Messup434 wrote:
It’s weird to get rid of a host midseason. So he was just that bad?
Well there isn't any confirmation he was axed but there was no mention of his whereabouts when he was gone.
As I said the quality of his commentary itself is fine but it just doesn't feel like he fits the show. I feel like the dynamic was just so much better without him, everything felt more natural and the other three had good chemistry together. Regardless of the reason for him not being there, after seeing the record breakers episode I assume the producers would want to keep that chemistry and that isn't there when Jim is hosting.
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21/Jul/22, 11:18 am
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Brekkie
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Re: Australian Ninja Warrior
I doubt he was axed mid-filming so probably either a covid related absense or scheduling clash.
Based on the reviews though I doubt he'll be back next year.
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"It's a bit like water boarding. It's got water in it... and I'm bored!"
Charlie Brooker on Total Wipeout
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22/Jul/22, 11:07 pm
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Takeshi1
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Re: Australian Ninja Warrior
And that's a wrap, it's cancelled:
AuNW dropped by Nine
Real shame that the show could go from it's heights to these lows in such a short time. Horrendous production decisions, often in the later years copying it's failing counterpart in America, is most to blame here.
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15/Sep/22, 8:31 pm
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Brekkie
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Re: Australian Ninja Warrior
Aussie reality shows don't tend to be axed for long so if Nine have dropped it I suspect another network may pick it up in the next couple of years and take it back to basics.
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"It's a bit like water boarding. It's got water in it... and I'm bored!"
Charlie Brooker on Total Wipeout
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22/Sep/22, 11:16 pm
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Takeshi1
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Re: Australian Ninja Warrior
Quote:
Brekkie wrote:
Aussie reality shows don't tend to be axed for long so if Nine have dropped it I suspect another network may pick it up in the next couple of years and take it back to basics.
Hope so, the years it was most stripped back (1 & 3) were its best. The gimmicks of 5 & 6 in particular really dragged it down. Although thinking of it, going for slower more upper body courses in the later years was as big an issue - so that would have to be sorted too. I assume if it did come back we would be looking at 7 or 10? Not aware of that many other networks in Aus that would possibly give it a shot.
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31/Oct/22, 7:21 pm
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