All Rise...

Judge Franck Tabouring can drive a U-Haul where no U-Haul has been driven before!

The Charge

Grab your wheel and pray!

The Case

Who ever thought trucking could be this exhilarating? Capitalizing on the continuing success of its long-running Ice Road Truckers series, History Channel decided to shake things up a bit by launching a fast-paced spinoff show that follows a group of courageous truck drivers as they attempt to conquer the incredibly dangerous roads of the Himalayas. As expected, Ice Road Truckers Deadliest Roads instantly revitalized the popular reality TV brand and quickly scored with fans, inspiring the folks at History to send the young series straight into a second season.

Ice Road Truckers Deadliest Roads: Season Two follows veteran truckers Hugh and Lisa and rookies Tim, Tino and G.W. as they gear up to haul crucial loads to remote location in the Andes, the biggest mountain system in South America and one of the largest ranges on the planet. Unforgiving and deadly, these roads stretch along particularly narrow ridges and tiny curves, connecting the big city with small remote villages in need of crucial supplies. Eager to prove that no road can stop them, these experienced drivers can't wait to get behind the wheel and face these perilous routes all while keeping their calm in the process.

Although the roads and locations in Deadliest Roads differ quite significantly from the ones loyal Ice Road Truckers fans are used to, most of the show's structure remains the same, with camera crews closely following our seasoned drivers on their quests to deliver their loads, survive on the job and rake in the big bucks. Needless to say, this second season of History's spinoff series sticks to the core elements of what makes this particular kind of reality TV so entertaining, putting emphasis on the danger element that comes with hitting these ridiculously hazardous routes.

As the conditions of the roads deteriorate and the risk of instant death increases, egos collide, patience runs thin, and the overall pressure that comes with the job reaches a level too high for a couple of veteran truckers to bear. Indeed, viewers will get to see two show regulars throw in the towel this time, making room for eager rookies looking for the ultimate adventure. This season, Lisa will get to face her ultimate fears, Hugh hits the deadly roads all by himself, and Tim and Tino set out to prove they can indeed play in the big leagues.

Despite the show's repetition in terms of structure and episode content, both the suspense and the entertainment value remain high as this group of eccentric truckers drive up and down the notorious Bolivian Death Road. Muddy roads, dangerously low overhangs, bad weather, slippery curves on elevated cliffs; these are all part of the challenges Hugh and Company face over the course of this season's thirteen episodes. The risks they face out there are as diverse as they can get, but so are their nerve-wracking loads. From bulls to fireworks to hundreds of cases of beer and a bunch of barrels of gasoline, these drivers get to see it all.

Technically, Ice Road Truckers Deadliest Roads: Season Two is impeccable. As usual, cameras are mounted all over the trucks, and camera crews ride either with the truckers or in close pursuit. The locations viewers get to experience in Season Two are gorgeous, and the sharp editing, not to mention the appropriate soundtrack, contribute largely to the fast pace and continuous suspense the show encompasses. Watching the divers occasionally lose it adds to the exaggerated fun, but in truth, it's all just part of the amusing drama these reality shows require to keep our attention.

The DVD transfer of Deadliest Roads doesn't disappoint, and the widescreen transfer boasts a clean image and decent audio. The final disc of this 4-DVD collection includes a bunch of additional footage, but that's it for the extras this time. English and Spanish subtitles are includes as well.

Ice Road Truckers Deadliest Roads: Season Two keeps History's popular trucking show alive, and it definitely leaves fans coming back for more. Now that we've seen our favorite truckers take on the Himalayas and the Andes, we can only wonder where they'll head to next. It is therefore with great excitement that we await the next chapter in the Ice Road Truckers series. Isn't it quite amusing that watching people drive crappy trucks on tricky roads just doesn't get old?

The Verdict

Very deadly indeed, but far from guilty.

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