Despite all that I've found the series fascinating, the training and traumas they face in getting ready for the race and then the race itself. James as the Olympic gold medal winner pushing the other two but then his body giving out first, with blisters and frostbite, pneumonia and a ginger beard. Then Ben getting frostbite on his nose and Ed having problems with his feet...We see them pushing themselves to exhasution, to the limit and beyond. I'm not sure if this was bravery or stupidity, with them racing against experienced snow and ice athletes but, against all chances they actually came in second to the Norwegians (just like in the original race to the Pole 100 years ago). That's pretty impressive. Tonight's was the final episode but it didn't tell us whether James lost his finger or Ben the tip of his nose to frostbite but I assume they didn't.
It was adventure at the hard end and, in a sense, it's nice to know that such challenges still exist in a world growing smaller every day. Well done chaps!
I felt the ending was rushed. There were loads of cuts to stock footage of "them walking together in the distance" and lots of less than interesting repetitive comments and yet nothing about how/if they recovered. I thought it brave of James Cracknell to allow himself to be shown in a less than complimentary light. Good on him! It wasn't the usual sanitised "we're all great and love each other" drivel that's often rolled out.
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