The Climb

It was odd to me how boring I found a show about one of my favorite topics. It was kind of cool that the skill level was super relatable, like oh wow, me and all my friends could be on this show. But the production just left everyone looking like they had zero charisma and only the most banal insights. They'll interview like 3 climbers in a row saying things like "I could tell she was getting tired, then she fell."

This show totally lost me after Sharma so clearly judged a contestant for jumping off a wall because he knew he was safe from elimination. Like brah, if you want to do dangerous stuff, cool, that makes great TV. But don't hate on someone else for playing it safe.

Also, what is their goal? You really think someone can START being a pro climber at 53? Is this a fun way to encourage people to get into climbing, or is it a comp? Stay in your lane.

I've climbed a lot, and was looking forward to seeing this show. However, it's a climbing show without much climbing and too much talking about climbing. The competitors are so right-on and full of BS with their "I love you," and "totally" and "you're so beautiful" "no YOU'RE beautiful." It's genuinely annoyingly and distracting - like totally. FFS.

Chris Sharman is a genuine climbing legend and a great presenter but Megan's voice is so nasal and grating. Like totally, super annoying, oh MY god!

It's such a shame because the climbing venues are spectacular but for a sports show, there is way too much focus on feelings and not enough focus on the competition. It's like watching a group of friends hanging out who also happen to be climbers.

Love climbing films and shows but this is a hard watch. All the drama, the constant screaming while people climb, the swearing, the "finding of inner self". Wow. Too much. Maybe Americans are used to that after swallowing 10seasons if Kardashians but no one in climbing world will take this show seriously. I watched it because of the beautiful locations and the climbs themselves but its not something to rave about really. Shame because trailer really sold it. Just the show itself did not deliver. There is not enough explanation for newbies, and there is too much gimmicks for people who climb. Shame.

Sharma is fantastic, his potential and appeal are endless. Jason is a magnet and Meagan is great. But climbing is not pottery or baking. Maybe it's a bit like blacksmithing, where the process creates enough drama by itself.

The last episode could be the model how the Season 2+ should look like - less fake drama, moaning and highlighted emotions. Just beautiful rock, breathtaking scenery, climbing, more climbing and a little bit of climbing on top of the earlier climbing.

As the rock (and ice!) climbing stands out from other "olympic" sports because of its old principle - competition is against the rock and not with each other, the show could go all-in on camaraderie and joy of climbing, avoiding the usual cliches. But it was mentioned only once in the beginning of the show and then quietly demonstrated by the contestants, instead of becoming the cornerstone of the plot, making it unique for people outside of the crag.

As Episode 1 of "The Climb" (2023 release; 8 episodes ranging from 36 to 51 min) opens, we are in Mallorca, where legendary climber Chris Sharma and actor Jason "Aquaman" Momoa are scouting for a good location to start a climbing competition "to inspire the next generation of climber". We are introduced to10 amateur climbers from various countries (primarily the US, the UK and Brazil), who are competing for $100,000 in cash plus $100,000 in sponsorships. At this point we are less than 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: while nominally this competition is the brainchild of Momoa and Sharma, in reality Momoa only appears for a minute or two in the episodes I've seen so far. It's really Sharma in the role of Phil Keoghan on the Amazing Race and Tough As Nails. In fact, this feels like the cousin of Tough as Nails, but set in the climbing world. To be clear: rather than focusing on endurance (as is the case for Himalaya climbers), this style of climbing is much more focused on technique. The climbs are not long, but quite difficult. I quite enjoyed it for what it was. The photography is eye candy from start to finish, and makes up for the lack of edge-of-your-seat tension.

I had seen a trailer for this not long ago and decided to give it a try. The initial 3 episodes started streaming on HBO Max earlier this week, and I assume the remainder 5 episodes will follow in the next 5 weeks. If you are in the mood for yet another reality TV show a la Survivor, Tough As Nails or The Amazing Race, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw your own conclusion.