Mountain Rescue (1998-2002)

Mountain Rescue
Genre	Documentary
Theme music composer	Ministry of Culture
Composer(s)	Unknown
Country of origin	Malgrave
Original language(s)	Malgravean Ancient, Common
No. of series	4 (1998-2002)
No. of episodes	56
Production
Executive producer(s)	Erika Pavoni
Production location(s)	Portmon, United Kingdom of Malgrave
Cinematography	Various
Running time	40 minutes
Production company(s)	Ministry of Culture MBC
Distributor	Ministry of Culture
Release
Original network	MBC
Picture format	1080i (16:9 HDTV)
Original release	21 June 1998 (1998-06-21) – 30 July 2002 (2002-07-30)
External links
Website

Mountain Rescue was a documentary series that aired in the United Kingdom of Malgrave between 1998 and 2002. It followed the Portmon Mountain Search and Rescue Unit (PMSRU) as they dealt with the strains of daily operations with the backdrop of the end of isolationism.

History

In the mid-90s Malgrave was going through a period that is now referred to as the Lost Decade, with the economy experiencing a sharp period of decline in 1997. It was feared that continued economic decline would spark civil unrest, especially, in areas of the country that had been pacified following the collapse of the Socialist Republic and National Workers' Republic.

In response to these concerns, the Ministry of Culture proposed a documentary series to follow a team of Malgravean workers, a small review was held in which workers from various parts of the country were judged of which the Portmon Mountain Search and Rescue Unit (PMSRU) emerged as the winning candidates.

Mountain Rescue initially started as a television show focused on the work activities of PMSRU, however, shortly after the start of the second series the show started to branch out and cover the personal lives of the workers, and how they and wider society was dealing with the end of isolationism on a professional and personal basis. It is suspected that this change in direction led to a sharp increase in popularity of the show, with viewers tuning in to watch both the occasional daring rescue and see how various family members were doing.

Mountain Rescue is noted as being the first onscreen appearance of Janina Pasternack, who quickly became a favourite of the show as it followed her first ventures on the piano and her occasional trips to the rescue centre which was Captained by her father, Anatol Pasternack. It is also noted for being one of the first documentary series to include a non-exiled foreigner, with Spirean and Breheimian representation in the second season.

Reception

Mountain Rescue initially had limited success amongst local audiences until part-way through the second season when minor alterations where made to encompass the mountain rescuers personal lives, and the show started picking up increased traction with local audiences.

Mountain Rescue was praised for its work showcasing the dangers of Moncae while humanising the mountain workers and giving an in-depth look at how the exit from isolationism was impacting the country.

The show was in the centre of a rather big scandal in Imerbürg when lady Frida auf Sandersja held a party watching the show with her small social club named "Malgravevännernas klub". While the group had previously recieved some flack in the Imerbürg royal academy for what was described as deviancy and xenophilia did her party get more widespread attention in the upper class social circles and her father as the patriarch of the well recieved Sandersja family had to work hard to rehabilitate Frida's good name. Despite that however did Frida continue her club with other high ranking ladies from the Imerbürg royal academy.