Oh, what is that? Wow, a hunk of wood! Perhaps it was a piece of an ancient pirate ship. Or, could it be from the 18th Century?
This is just one example of the thrilling, captivating nature of History Channel’s The Curse of Oak Island. Every minute of the show keeps you on the edge of your seat. What will they dig up next? A gold coin? Or maybe a rose head spike!
Wait. This doesn’t sound exciting to you?
The Curse of Oak Island is in its fifth season. Billed as a treasure hunting show, it’s left viewers with very little evidence of such riches. The show follows Rick and Marty Lagina, affluent brothers fascinated by the mysteries of a small island off the coast of Nova Scotia.
There are many legends surrounding the island, and the Lagina brothers set off to explore their merit. While the show has raised many questions, it’s left us with few answers.
The biggest findings from this season so far include: a toy gun, British copper coins, a nail, and, just last night, remnants of what could be human bone. Okay, the last one is intriguing. But the fact that it has taken five episodes to reveal this finding is telling. It means that the rest of this season will probably follow whatever new theory the bone brings up. And there have been many theories.
You see, the show follows a pattern. Each episode starts slow– full of recaps, explanations, and theories– for the first 45 minutes. Then, just as you are about to doze off, they draw you in with their big, new finding. The last 10 or 15 minutes of the show is actually exciting. Then suddenly, the credits roll and they’ve generated enough interest to get you to watch next week’s episode.
While the show could be a total money-grabbing hoax, there is a part of me that wants to see it through to the end. I have been watching since the very first episode, when I was roped in by the fervor of these two ambitious treasure hunters. But now, with each passing episode, I am growing more and more pessimistic.
Will they find treasure on Oak Island? That is the million dollar question. And if they do find it, how many more commercial-laden episodes will it take?
The show reminds me of a particular scene from The Godfather Part III. Michael Corleone, played by the great Al Pacino, sums up my feelings about Oak Island perfectly.
