We loved this show. We looked forward to every episode that came out and have watched them numerous times. We are not huge skate fans but find that it doesn't detract from the show. We love the way the stories of the abandoned places was told. How about a second season...if anyone is listening.
25 Reviews
Broken Dreams
ozart2002-919-39269426 October 2018
To quote a song title from the '80s, "You Don't Know What You've Got 'Til It's Gone", the series goes beyond the ongoing cycle of build/use/abandon/repeat to explore the effect is has on real people who relied on and/or loved these bits of land and architecture before they became obsolete or out of fashion.
This show takes the decaying results of what were primarily business decisions and puts a personal, human edge on them - mostly disappointment at the demise of something that was used or loved for years, then removed from their lives unceremoniously. It has a pathos untapped by other such shows, and is a pleasure to watch - unassuming and simple, without staged drama or dire predictions. Give it a try - many of you will be glad you did.
This show takes the decaying results of what were primarily business decisions and puts a personal, human edge on them - mostly disappointment at the demise of something that was used or loved for years, then removed from their lives unceremoniously. It has a pathos untapped by other such shows, and is a pleasure to watch - unassuming and simple, without staged drama or dire predictions. Give it a try - many of you will be glad you did.
Got sucked in "just giving it a try"
lisa_geare24 March 2020
Powerful, Captivating, and Deeply Moving
moose-138-49987011 April 2017
The tag line for Abandoned on the Viceland web site is: "Skateboarder Rick McCrank explores abandoned places with the people who love them long after the lights have gone out." However, the show is a lot more than this.
This is a powerful and poetic TV series. Rick goes to abandoned places - shopping malls, houses, towns, race tracks, etc - and reminisces with people who went to the places and enjoyed them in their hey day and lament their loss. Often these people are still looking after, protecting, or at least keeping an eye on and witnessing the destruction caused brainless vandals. Sometimes these people are speaking out and trying to save the place today before it deteriorates beyond the point of no return.
And then Rick magnificently enjoys the place one final time - sometimes as it is being torn down around him - by skating around the place, and performing amazing skateboard tricks.
By skating around the place, Rick helps the place "go with music" - going out with one final bang, one final celebration of what it once was. An approach very close to my heart.
And at the end of each episode, a superbly fitting song is played while showing highlights and close ups of key people from the episode.
Songs I have never heard before, by artists I have never heard of - and every song has fitted the video perfectly. I love each episode and each song ! Amazingly powerful and moving.
I think this is easily the best thing on TV. Only 4 episodes have been on my local TV so far, but I have watched each episode about 5 times now. Can't wait for the next episode each week.
And I enjoy tracking down the names and artists for the songs used in the wind up and ending credits of each episode.
Moose O'Malley, Australia
This is a powerful and poetic TV series. Rick goes to abandoned places - shopping malls, houses, towns, race tracks, etc - and reminisces with people who went to the places and enjoyed them in their hey day and lament their loss. Often these people are still looking after, protecting, or at least keeping an eye on and witnessing the destruction caused brainless vandals. Sometimes these people are speaking out and trying to save the place today before it deteriorates beyond the point of no return.
And then Rick magnificently enjoys the place one final time - sometimes as it is being torn down around him - by skating around the place, and performing amazing skateboard tricks.
By skating around the place, Rick helps the place "go with music" - going out with one final bang, one final celebration of what it once was. An approach very close to my heart.
And at the end of each episode, a superbly fitting song is played while showing highlights and close ups of key people from the episode.
Songs I have never heard before, by artists I have never heard of - and every song has fitted the video perfectly. I love each episode and each song ! Amazingly powerful and moving.
I think this is easily the best thing on TV. Only 4 episodes have been on my local TV so far, but I have watched each episode about 5 times now. Can't wait for the next episode each week.
And I enjoy tracking down the names and artists for the songs used in the wind up and ending credits of each episode.
Moose O'Malley, Australia
Fascinating television (each to their own of course)
anml-12 May 2017
Quality productions, interesting subjects, thoroughly enjoyable. No Hollywood-style trickery and nonsense. Informative and non-judgemental. Sometimes sad, sometimes uplifting. A testament to folly and waste. Might not be popular with patriotic Americans. Thanks SBS Australia and Viceland. More quality documentaries like this please.
Favorite show in a long time. So much more "real" than those other programs.
christineseel4 November 2018
This is so authentic, in its look at people and their lives and what once was. Rick takes everyone and everything at face value, and presents the stories in a very unpretentious way. I feel like I visited these places (in truth, I have), met the people, and glimpsed the glory of the past of these places. The narrative is poignant, the cinematography is beautiful, and the musical montages are haunting. Please bring this show back for a second season!
Excellent television
ksndfb7 November 2018
With a genuine, charismatic host in Rick McCrank, this shows is one of the most entertaining pieces of television I've seen over the last few years.
McCrank adds some great, real humour while digging into the brass tacks of how these areas became abandoned, and why the few have chosen to stay.
Outstanding. 10/10.
McCrank adds some great, real humour while digging into the brass tacks of how these areas became abandoned, and why the few have chosen to stay.
Outstanding. 10/10.
Addictive... In a good way
bakehouse6 October 2018
Absolutely fell in love with this docu/drama reality TV history educational reality series. And I HATE reality TV. Don't ask questions, just watch this accidental genius. I keep praying for a season2, but doubt we will get it :(
Unique and Fasinating
shannonbn29 June 2019
This was such a well done series. It really brings home what we are facing in our country. I am someone who pays attention to the news, reads, is thoughtful about politics and, yet, I had no awareness of what was happening in many of the areas in this series. It made me sad and frustrated to see that the media and those in power are so good at hiding things they don't like to talk about.
Rick McCrank was an excellent host. His subtle sense of humor and nonjudgmental manner were perfect. Such a nice change from the screaming heads of the main stream media. I am sad that this show does not seem to have more than one season.
Fascinating topic, poor narration
zmos9924 May 2020
Fascinating topic, poor narration. I've always been fascinated by abandon buildings. Originally they represented the hopes and dreams of somebody to do something for others. To do something for themselves. To accomplish something. But now they laid desolate, so what went wrong? Unfortunately our two hosts for this show kind of ruined it. They look like they spent most of their lives in a tattoo parlor, yet they warn us that this abandoned mall represents the "Darkside of capitalism", the "cancer of capitalism", and serves as a "wake up call for us all", even though they seem to understand that the mall failed due to economic circumstances. I don't know if they actually believe what they said or we're just pleasing the liberal overlords. I don't know if they actually believed what they said, or were just pleasing their liberal overlords. I felt kind of embarrassed for them.
Exremely interesting & well done
pitabowl10 July 2020
Nice idea, poor execution
ashley-910599 July 2019
The first episode was supposed to be about abandoned malls, and it seemed to be going in that direction rather nicely...
Then, cut to skateboarding - seriously?!
Scate parks for a while, then on to churches...
Come on, the title is "Abandoned" - surely it couldn't be that difficult to focus on the subject?
Then, cut to skateboarding - seriously?!
Scate parks for a while, then on to churches...
Come on, the title is "Abandoned" - surely it couldn't be that difficult to focus on the subject?
Wow
kevinbrown-228 January 2021
This is a great show. I really like Rick's laid back but informative style in getting the info across. I'm watching it rerun on the Vice channel. I'm truly sad we only got a half dozen episodes or so. But I think it's important for people to know these places, events, disasters, etc, so we don't repeat them. I was struck by the one guy on the Salton Sea episode talking about all the tech advances we can develop, and politicians just let an ecological disaster like this Sea keep getting worse.
Incredible!!! I binge watched the entire season.
kellydcooke14 December 2019
This is absolutely one of the best multi episode shows I've ever watched. The honest approach of sharing the real scene without "Hollywood" fabrication is what makes this watch worthy. Rick has done a fantastic job traveling to various towns, meeting with everyday normal people and revealing the facts about the demise of these towns. I've learned so much from watching this series and want to visit some of these towns and others due to seeing this.
Amazing show!
malikstotle5 April 2020
Pgotography
pitabowl10 July 2020
Nature reclaims what greed abandons
rfcook-121201 March 2020
Watch the whole series, you will at first feel down at how corporate waste is left behind for others deal with. Over time, nature takes over and reclaims these areas and eventually people recognize that they are in fact a part of nature as well. As I watched, I came to expect that at some point our uncivilized civilization will tire of being plugged in from birth to death, tire of corporations ruling our every hour and flee the artificial intelligence to places uncontrolled where we can reclaim our living lives. As I finished the series, I felt uplifted that the true human spirit is more survivable than even cockroaches.
Amazing videography, honest minimalist production
jastraley25 January 2022
I've noticed from the other reviews that people either love or hate this show. No middle ground here. I fall into the "Love" camp. The host is an aging Gen-X'er like myself who explores abandoned places, talks, connects and occasional skates with the locals who stayed and continue to carry hope for their once-thriving landscape. The videography is rich and inspired, bringing out the beauty and well as desolation of the area, as well as embracing the eccentric people stayed when everyone else left. I was disappointed to see that this show only lasted one season. I have been hoping to find more shows like this, perhaps with this host and/or production crew with a similar format.
Great show, terrible host!
bbry1126 December 2019
This show has so much potential but is being held back by the host. He is very awkward and tries to hard. Hard to enjoy the show with the host constantly failing, failing at being relatable and huge lack of charisma.
I really hope this show can continue as it has a great idea. Just please replace the host with someone with more experience or at least some level of talent.
Good idea, awful execution
adowns-131 December 2019
I started watching episode 1, and it started out good, but the host-dweeb went off on a tangent talking and filming about skateboarding!?! WTF?
When they returned they then went to a former mall that has been partly filled with churches. That's all well and good, but hardly abandoned.
Fortunately I could fast-forward through the garbage and was able to enjoy the 15 minutes or worthwhile footage. We definitely won't be watching more of this garbage!!
The dumbing down of America in action
dadowns-605126 January 2021
If you want to drop a few IQ points while getting a few laughs, just watch these dropouts for 5 minutes. In particular, watch their episode on Old Route 66. Their commentary on "Being embarrassed for the white man" was hysterical.
Show lacks focus.
likalaruku17 February 2017
I initially started watching this, thinking that National Geographic's Abandoned series from 2012 was playing reruns. Turned out to be another pseudo-Urbex series by the same title.
The episode description for episode 1, Ghost Mall, stated that the focus of the episode was abandoned malls. What you actually got was pure ADHD, jumping back & forth between abandoned buildings & & people goofing off in skate parks, mostly it was just skate parks.
Urbex is supposed to be about things like the futility of man's desire to achieve immortality through architecture that doesn't stand the test of time, embracing the desolation of evacuated ruins, wondering what it held inside & who was in it, & about untouched time capsules that remind us of our past. This show throws all of that out the window & focuses on people going on with their daily lives & repurposing abandoned spaces; stuff no urbex fans want to see.
The episode description for episode 1, Ghost Mall, stated that the focus of the episode was abandoned malls. What you actually got was pure ADHD, jumping back & forth between abandoned buildings & & people goofing off in skate parks, mostly it was just skate parks.
Urbex is supposed to be about things like the futility of man's desire to achieve immortality through architecture that doesn't stand the test of time, embracing the desolation of evacuated ruins, wondering what it held inside & who was in it, & about untouched time capsules that remind us of our past. This show throws all of that out the window & focuses on people going on with their daily lives & repurposing abandoned spaces; stuff no urbex fans want to see.
Urinating on dreams
mdhr-135349 July 2020
Disgusted by the host who in first episode urinates on a building before listening to how important it was to the people there plus complete ignorance of electricity and appearance of host resembling a former and/or current drug user made this show so cringe I couldn't watch, love urban exploring and abandoned places not vandalism and ignorance.... terrible show!
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