National Geographic : Mega Structures - Breakdowns product reviews

I was always one of those kids who enjoyed taking things apart to see how they worked. Sometimes, I was even clever enough to put them back together again. On even rarer occasions, they still worked afterwards! This series really appeals to the 'deconstructer' in me...

Now to some, watching how a diesel locomotive is disassembled safely would be dry fare indeed... same too with watching a scrapyard in action for a day... but if any male can tell me that watching a fighter jet being decommissioned is dull... they need to have their head examined... because it is just way-cool watching fighter planes being disassembled!

I have to admit, the most entertaining episode had to be the scrapyard. It's a family business... and they say you should never flat with, work with, or work for, family... and this place is amazingly complex, with half the staff either being, or married to, the offspring of the main bosses... it makes for 'interesting days' when the big boss is on the warpath.

Of the three, my least favourite would have been the diesel locomotive. There wasn't a lot of tension, drama or geeky thrills... just tonnes and tonnes of metal, and a giant forklift and some guys with cutting torches. Very skilled guys with cutting torches, to be sure... but safe work isn't exciting viewing, is it?

Overall, for the price it's pretty good fare for those who enjoy learning and seeing how the world works, one little slice at a time. For those who demand more active viewing... maybe not your thing.