When Romy, my buddy, introduced me to the show - Departures, i just shrugged and left it untouched in my external hdd, that was for a week. It's like i don't wanna feel like watching a series, yet, due to the impasse floating around during the holidays, i was mandated to browse the folders, then launched VLC player and started watching the show.
Prior to the first episode of season 1, i was already pre-empted by my buddy of what's the series is all about. I never thought to be so unique and so cool, i couldn't help remembering National Geographic Channel. I loved watching NatGeo when i was a kid but this travel-serial-tv really blew my mind, it was awesomely plotted and well-narrated.
Probably the biggest turn down on it was the non-girl casting, the starring roles go to Scott and Justin; while behind the camera is Andre - he maneuvers the journey and travel thru his wisdom in lens and video. Despite the lacking of a girl character, i think it was far better off, than with a girl in it. As i moved on from the 1st episode to the next and to the next, it dawned on me that an inclusion of a girl as one of the main stars would definitely hinder the extremities of their journey.
As entertainment and lavish-breathtaking scenes of natures rolled up on my screen, from the vantage point of a cinematographer(Andre) conveying it thru the realization of this kind on a serial tv, the inspiration to travel came rushing in through me like a mammoth arousal. I felt envious to Scott and Justin suddenly, their jobs to travel the world is downright an "i wanna be part of that stuff too".
Somehow, the profoundness and depth of the show invigorates every single nerve in me to jump out from the comfort zones in real life. While it's true that the show is funded, it's absolutely screaming on the audience to enjoy life to its fullest. This travel show may not depict a truly one perfect vacation, but it certainly plays the resolute wisdom that reality is as is, that "we are living in a strange world, don't be a stranger to it" (quoted from Scott)
Another epic character of the show is on being neutral, Scott and Justin could rant and talk about the negative vibes in every culture and country they've experienced but never did i hear any. Instead, the blackballs on certain cultures that was apparent (they didn't talk about it but it was shot thru) as the camera rolls, were turned to give an aspect of realization that indeed, everyone of us, every country and society have their own to offer and cherish from the perspective of a foreigner. Appreciation - that was what i learnt as my eyes feasted on the extraordinary, while the negative impressions on certain countries accumulated thru reading the news and watching CNN were suddenly vanished, rather, i was now more grateful and has intellectually widened my perspective on the people in all walks of life.
I couldn't describe much the enjoyment of watching the travels and adventure, i am neither promoting nor advertising but everyone of us must have an eye on this show. This goes esp to the upper upper class people who are so capable in travelling- it would be a superb experience in life.
Travelling though is still relative, we might be stuck in one place - but it's still considered as a journey. I dream the day when i myself would travel around the different countries in this world, with the sole purpose to seek and experience adventure, doing a rendezvous from one scenic spot to the next. Taking in full the danger, thrill, adrenaline and bliss of trip to forevermore.