Summary
Think, Ice-road Truckers and Below Deck, but with wood.
Netflix reality show Big Timber season 1 was released on the streaming service on July 2, 2021.
Big Timber is Netflix’s new Original reality TV show that sheds light on the logging industry. In this series we follow sawmill owner, Kevin Wenstob, his family, and his kooky crew as they collect and transport lumber on Vancouver Island, Canada. The first season has 10 episodes, which originally premiered on the History Channel back in 2020. The series captured the attention of audiences enough for Netflix to feature it on their streaming service, and I can see why.
Who doesn’t love action, adventure, heavy drum and guitar backing music, with millions of dollars on the line? Well, probably not everyone. However, I see this type of reality docu-series as an educational insight with added personal drama, creating a perfect mix of entertainment. Whilst watching, it’s fascinating how vast the forests are and how tiny the crew are compared to trees. The crew’s quirkiness mixed with courage and determination is endearing and inspiring. The one main struggle they face is Mother Nature, the heavy winters, with thick snow is where my heart began to race.
Learning how much money is in this industry, it is no surprise that they are in this business. However, you can also see how much they actually love and enjoy the work they do. There is a lot of pride and a sense of achievement in this business; it’s the thrill they get when they win/succeed which I think makes them keep going. Any series created like this is bound to have some bias or agenda in order to glorify a business which is sure to spark outrage with the environmental struggles we are facing. When left unchecked, logging can cause habitat destruction, soil erosion, and contributes to the current climate crisis. However, when done right, there are benefits for the environment from logging. Legitimate loggings involve regulated practices, where trees are allowed to be cut down and replanted. This is very different from deforestation. This series gives a real insight into the difference and what the logging industry is about.
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys watching the adventurous hardships of real life. Think, Ice-road Truckers and Below Deck, but with wood.
On the fence? What did you think of Netflix’s Big Timber season 1? Comment below.
