First of all, I am not here to comment on the "IfAndOrButs" of the paranormal; this is a review for a show, placed on a media reviewing site. Wannabe scientists would do well to acknowledge this, and seek attention elsewhere.
The show attempts to entertain viewers by providing stories of the unexplained, via legends and stories, and the firsthand accounts of purported witnesses. Many of these shows do this, however, Monsterquest is unique in that it also attempts to add a scientific aspect to this, by analyzing dna samples, confirming witness truthfulness, and making short expeditions to the localities where the alleged events take place. Naturally, they return largely empty handed, or you would have seen it on the news, they would stop calling it "paranormal", and supposed "know-it-alls" would actively avoid the spotlight. These scientific exploits are for tv; they have a small budget, and limited time, since they only have to cover perhaps half an hour of screentime, leaving the rest for stories and interviews and whatnot. What the show accomplishes, in my opinion, is it's true goal, which is entertainment. Creepy atmosphere, scary campfire stories, and, ultimately, satisfaction of people's desire to face their fear of the unknown, as well as, perhaps, the hope that there is still segments of our world left undiscovered, and that, since most of us cannot quit our lives to go gallivanting around searching for answers, we can do so vicariously through shows like this, taking us with them on their hunt for the interesting, if admittedly unlikely, unexplained phenomenon we seek.
Watch this show for the entertainment, that's what it's made for.
The show attempts to entertain viewers by providing stories of the unexplained, via legends and stories, and the firsthand accounts of purported witnesses. Many of these shows do this, however, Monsterquest is unique in that it also attempts to add a scientific aspect to this, by analyzing dna samples, confirming witness truthfulness, and making short expeditions to the localities where the alleged events take place. Naturally, they return largely empty handed, or you would have seen it on the news, they would stop calling it "paranormal", and supposed "know-it-alls" would actively avoid the spotlight. These scientific exploits are for tv; they have a small budget, and limited time, since they only have to cover perhaps half an hour of screentime, leaving the rest for stories and interviews and whatnot. What the show accomplishes, in my opinion, is it's true goal, which is entertainment. Creepy atmosphere, scary campfire stories, and, ultimately, satisfaction of people's desire to face their fear of the unknown, as well as, perhaps, the hope that there is still segments of our world left undiscovered, and that, since most of us cannot quit our lives to go gallivanting around searching for answers, we can do so vicariously through shows like this, taking us with them on their hunt for the interesting, if admittedly unlikely, unexplained phenomenon we seek.
Watch this show for the entertainment, that's what it's made for.