People seem to have some serious love for this show. Is it worth getting involved with?
Depends. It’s light, fluffy entertainment with a strong country vibe. Lowbrow humor. Wacky characters, especially Uncle Si. Every episode ends with the extended family gathered around a dinner table, and someone, usually Phil, asks the blessing before they eat. I enjoy it, the Druidess doesn’t–in part because they do show animals–mostly ducks and squirrels–being shot sometimes.
it quacks me up.
The show doesn’t do anything for me. But, I think it’s like TV in general: all it takes is one or two characters to grab your attention and you’re hooked. My boss talks about the show all the time.
I’ve seen it maybe twice. It doesn’t really appeal to me. From what I saw it was, like most “reality” shows, at least partially scripted.
From what little I’ve seen of it, the participants in the show are more nice, familial, and friendly than those in other reality shows. It was a nice change of pace from the usual freak shows put on the air, especially those that focus on dysfunctional rural families and groups. Wacky, but not degrading. Beyond that, not my cup of tea, but it might be worth checking out if you tend to like reality shows in general.
There’s a few shows I don’t miss, namely NOVA, Frontline, Chasing Classic Cars and Duck Dynasty. It may be in part because I’m a hunter and identify with the woodsy, outdoors psyche but mainly these guys just make me laugh and remind me a lot of similar friends I’ve had over the years. In fact the DD crew has hunted with some of our Colorado crew and I’m sure will keep doing so as long as birds take to wing.
Just like most any show it probably enhances your enjoyment when you get a sense of each person’s nuances and how they fit into the overall group dynamic. With DD that means an appreciation of character and traditional family values. You’ve got your patriarch and his homemaker wife, the crazy uncle, the competitive sons each with a different level of drive, the wives that have to put up with all the nutty crap, ‘backwoodsey’ employees, etc.
We’re three shows into the new season now. I watched last night and couldn’t stop laughing out loud several times, it was one of the funnier ones yet. People wonder sometimes if it’s scripted. Undoubtably they’ve created some scenario that lends itself to humor but I guarantee the dialogue is just these guys being themselves.
It has a right-wing appeal with its strong family values, prayer and pro-gun stance, which would generally turn me off, but they’re such nice guys and aren’t a dick about anything that you can’t help but like them.
So, it appeals to the great middle of America where people are reasonable and like to watch some slightly wacky folks have fun. It’s a refreshing change from the more typical reality show that exploits its stars and makes you feel kind of bad about yourself after you’ve watched.
I honestly assumed it was an animated Disney thing until I recently saw a cast photo ad.
Yeah same here. I got no love for hunting or guns or being overly jesus-y but I got nothing against this show. I eagerly await it every week!
I’ve read that the producers are pretty heavy handed about keeping the Christian stuff to a minimum, which the Robertsons don’t love but they roll with it. Conversely, most of their public appearances seem to be very church-based. I think it’s a great compromise.
My mom wasn’t into the show until I told her that the beards were just for show. They’re actually all college-educated and very religious, and a total hoot. Somehow with that pretense, she was able to give it a chance and now she loves it.
Yeah, my wife and daughter love it too. In fact DD is a huge hit, a frequent topic of discussion and provides popular clothing for she and her Jr. High girlfriends. Go figure.
So here we have a show that a dad and teenage daughter can spend quality time watching and identifying with and laughing at together? Man, I’m all over a show like that!
It’s a gentle glimpse into a lifestyle you’re probably unfamiliar with. There’s much worse programming on the tube nowadays.
I think a lot of it is that it’s reality TV about a mildly kooky family, but a lot of the humor is kind of a wink & nudge style, and it’s not actually making fun of them or their lifestyle, like so many lesser reality shows.
In other words, the point isn’t to watch the show and laugh at how ignorant, ugly or redneck the Robertsons and their workers are; it’s more of a show about them and their lives and the antics they get up to. The wordplay and commentary are really some of the funniest parts, and it’s usually pretty smart stuff.
In other words, it’s about a very successful business and the family that owns it, and they HAPPEN to be rednecks from N. Louisiana. It’s not a show about some benighted rednecks in N. Louisiana who happen to have a business.
Haven’t seen the show, but I see them every time I visit Walmart.
After last night’s episode, I have a new retirement plan. If Si doesn’t corner the market first. Tully Mars’ Gonad Emporium. Maybe I’ve finally found a way to make a living raising cows.
“I’m trying to look away but I can’t help myself.”
I see one flaw in this plan: cows don’t have gonads.
I see one flaw in your post.
Yes they do.
mmm
Previous thread on the Duck Commanders;
I was expecting Daffy Duck in a Game of Thrones parody from the title. Am I to assume it’s something akin to …what’s that 'gator hunting one, Swamp People?