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Reviews
Destination Truth: Ropen/Chupacabra (2007)
Destination Truth (Ropen episode) better than Monsterquest
This "Ropen" episode of Destination Truth is far better than the "Flying Monsters" episode of Monsterquest, although the flying creatures involved are at least mostly the same.
The general production values are not as professional technically, but D.T. was oriented to objective investigation in this episode, deserving the word "truth." I rate this D.T. Ropen episode "9" instead of "10" because the expedition team was rather unprepared for the success that they had. They seemed shocked at their success (I shall not reveal what success) in a peculiar way that resembles the prepared-failure of Monsterquest to find a flying monster.
Destination Truth found the truth; Monsterquest achieved what the producers intended: no monster found.
I was consulted, in pre-production, by both Destination Truth and Monsterquest, during their preliminary research before their respective expeditions in Papua New Guinea. It was not clear to me until after their broadcasts how objective each would be. Destination Truth wins easily, 9-4 (my ratings).
MonsterQuest: Flying Monsters (2009)
High production values but poor vision of producers
Monsterquest sends an expedition team into a remote mountainous tropical rain forest on a large island in Papua New Guinea. Their stated purpose, to search for a large nocturnal flying creature reported by eyewitnesses, is fascinating and worthy of the effort; but the pre-production assumptions of the Monsterquest producers ensures that the possibility that a pterosaur species still lives---that possibility is not given proper consideration.
Don't misunderstand the low rating I give for this episode (4 out of 10). I was fascinated by much of it, and the production values are high. Important eyewitnesses and cryptozoologists are shown and given reasonable time and opportunity to speak, in general. Many viewers should really enjoy it.
But the overall philosophy of Monsterquest allowed crude skepticism to go unanswered, when powerful answers could easily have been included. Dogmatic traditions were given far too much emphasis. With that said, I believe this episode helped many viewers to become aware of a phenomenon that they had never before considered: Modern pterosaurs may still live in our wonderful world, at least according to eyewitnesses.
Watch it, but remember to consider the possibility that the eyewitnesses were telling the truth and accurately reporting their encounters. Don't get fooled by dogmatic assumptions about extinctions.