Super Ninja: The Ultimate Test of Strength and Agility

What's the show about?

I've noticed that shows that require contestants to showcase their agility, strength, and endurance have become super popular lately. And Super Ninja is one of those shows. I'm not complaining, though!

The show is all about competition. There's an obstacle course that contestants need to complete, either within a certain time limit or by not falling off, depending on the round. There are several obstacles, all equally challenging, and the strongest and fastest one wins 5 million rubles. Not bad for a prize, if you ask me.

Super Ninja (STC)I've been following the show for a while now, and I've seen two full seasons and a new one that just started. I watched the first season partially on TV and partially on YouTube, the second season I watched entirely online, and the third one I'm trying to catch on TV, but it's not easy, to be honest. The episodes are long, and there's a lot of ads, not just the usual 4-15 second clips you see online.

Super Ninja (STC)I also have to say that I'm not a fan of the contestant introductions. They go on and on, telling their life stories, and it's just too much. I mean, I get it, it's nice to know who they are and what they're about, but it's just too much information. And then there's the obstacle course, which is only 3 minutes long. It's like, come on, give me more action!

Super Ninja (STC)Why I started watching

I started watching Super Ninja because, honestly, I didn't have anything better to do. I don't really watch TV, but my family does, and sometimes it's nice to spend time together. I learned about the show from one of the hosts on social media, but I wasn't really interested at first. I thought I'd just watch a few episodes online and be done with it. But then my mom and I started watching it together, and it became a little tradition. We'd watch it on STC, and it was just something we both enjoyed.

Super Ninja (STC) I kept watching, probably because you can root for the contestants. There's a certain thrill, a bit of luck involved. I think that's why a lot of people enjoy watching sports – the emotions you get from it are similar. Of course, it's not on the same scale as a football match, and you find out the contestant's fate in just a few minutes. I mean, in the recent kids' show I watched, I found it more interesting to root for the kids – they didn't evoke any negative feelings, my review of that show is here, but I didn't support all the contestants. Still, it was engaging.

Super Ninja (STC) What kind of obstacles are there?

Honestly, all the obstacles here are super tough, and there's no way I'd say, 'Oh, I could probably make it through without breaking a sweat.' Watching them, you think, 'Wow, the show creators are sadists.' Even the obstacles that look straightforward, like the Falling Bridge, which seems simple, turn out to be tough. The bridge spins in a weird way, and you have no idea which way it'll spin – one wrong step, and you're done.

Super Ninja (STC) The Russian Hills were the most memorable for me – it's like that, where you slide down a bar and then jump onto ventilation shafts that spin underneath you. It's a crazy challenge that'll leave you dizzy, even though it seems like all you need to do is hold on. But watching the contestants, you realize just how tough it is. In the second season, there was something similar, but this time, they made it even harder. That was an obstacle from the qualifying round.

Super Ninja (STC)I still remember the obstacle course 'Bamboo Forest' from the first season, which was also a qualifying round. It was literally a super tough obstacle, and I have no idea how the contestants managed to get through it without losing their balance, getting dizzy, and getting their hands all tired. It's like being a lone blade of grass in the wind - very philosophical, but honestly, I have no idea how the contestants made it through. And it was also in the final round, but I'm not even sure which season it was - maybe the second one? That just goes to show how tough the obstacle course was.

Super Ninja (STC)I also remember the obstacle 'The Circle' or something, which I think I saw in the second or third season. You're basically hanging from your hands, but you also have to turn the thing you're hanging from so that it's comfortable to jump to the next part. I have no idea how the contestants didn't get their hands all cramped up - you have to hold yourself up and move the obstacle at the same time.

Super Ninja (STC)From the semifinals, I remember the vertical wall... it looked like all the contestants just glided through it, but honestly, I have no idea how they did it. I mean, I guess you just stand up, dig your feet in, and go, but I'm not sure I would've made it.

Super Ninja (STC)The Kids' Version

Okay, and a few words about the kids' version of the game. Link to my review of it above. The problems with the show were similar - lots of talking and not enough obstacle course action. But the kids' version was way more emotional. First of all, because you just can't help but feel for the kids - you see how they're struggling, how they're trying. With the adult version, it's just not the same. And actually, the kids' version proved that you don't need a long intro to make you care about the character - either you do from the start, or you don't.

Super Ninja (STC)So, the intro is basically something you can skip altogether. But if you're comparing the two shows, I have to say I enjoyed the kids' version more - the hosts are way more likable, but I'll get to that later. That being said, I'm not gonna trash the adult show either. It's still awesome that you get to watch real people in action and, theoretically, you could even be a contestant yourself.

Super Ninja (STC)Contestants and rules

There are a ton of contestants. If I'm not mistaken, there were 175 of them in season 3 - that's a lot. But the selection process is pretty standard: first, there's a qualifying round where they pick 10 contestants per episode, and it's every man for himself. Then there's the semifinals, where each contestant faces off against their opponent, and you need to outdo them without getting eliminated. And finally, there's the finals, where they choose the most agile, strongest, and most endurance-y contestant.

Super Ninja (STC)Honestly, I didn't really remember the contestants' names, but what's interesting is that they're all from different professions - builders, teachers, drivers, doctors, rescuers, and they're all competing on the same level. I'll get to that point about fairness later. And it's also cool that sometimes the contestants who look pretty fragile end up doing way better than the buff guys.

Super Ninja (STC)But, you know, there are also a lot of athletes competing. If I'm being specific, there's this one contestant from season 3 who was in the Krokus attack, but that's a pretty standout story. He was basically the first one to finish the course. Maybe that's why I remember him - it was a fresh story, and a new season had just started.

Super Ninja (STC)Hosts

One thing that's changed over the three seasons is the hosting lineup. In the first season, it was Dima Maslennikov, Vasily Artemiev, and Valeria Astapova. Then, Roman Postovalov took over for Maslennikov, but now Maslennikov is back in the hosting role. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the hosts, but sometimes Valeria's behavior gets on my nerves. She's always screaming, and it feels like she's overdoing it. Sometimes it feels like she's just pretending to be emotional, but I can live with it.

Super Ninja (STC)I wish Valeria would tone down the screaming a bit. In the last episode, she was yelling 'ZA VDVAH' and it was just cringeworthy. If I'm being honest, I preferred Rausana Kurkova as a host. She was more relatable, she was rooting for the contestants, and she wasn't annoying at all.

Super Ninja (STC)I was happy to see Maslennikov return as a host. I just like his style, and I think he and Vasily work well together. They're funny, they don't try to upstage each other, and it looks natural. When Roman was hosting, I didn't have any complaints, but I think Vasily was more active as a host. He was more of a leader, and he spoke more. I think it's more interesting when the hosts are on equal footing. One thing I do wonder, though, is where's Gost?

Super Ninja (STC)Negative feelings about the show

Of course, my review is more positive because I like the show, but it does occasionally get on my nerves. For example, I always worry that one of the contestants is going to fall off the obstacle and get hurt. It's happened before, and it's not hard to imagine it happening again. In fact, one contestant did get hurt during the selection process. He fell off the obstacle and was banned from continuing with the sport.

Super Ninja (STC)This isn't a clip from the show, but it's presented in a way that makes you think the guy is pushing through to his goal despite the obstacles and injury. And he's doing it for his son, which is what brought him back. But to be honest, it got me feeling a bit mixed up. The doctors told him to stop, there's a risk to his health, and instead of being a good role model for his son, he's going back to try and win again. He's literally going back to the same pitfalls for the second time, and it's like he's thrilled about it. For me, this story didn't feel like a tale of perseverance - it felt more negative.

Super Ninja (STC)But that's just one story - overall, the participants' comments are pretty positive. I mean, I don't have a problem with sad participant stories, actually, I've read a lot of reviews where people say the guys are just crying about something. To me, those moments feel more genuine. But when the participants are just talking about how great they are, it gets a bit annoying. Luckily, there aren't many of those, but they do stand out. It's definitely different from the kids' season - we didn't see that kind of thing back then.

Super Ninja (STC)What I like about the show

Okay, so we talked about the negative stuff, now I want to break down what I actually like about this show:

Yeah, I mentioned earlier that the contestants' cards can be a bit watered down, and I would've loved a bit less of that. But some of the stories really tug at the heartstrings. Of course, you need to say something about each contestant and give them a bit of a spotlight, because a lot of them won't make it to the next round. And that's kind of the point – you get to know each of them a bit, and it makes you start rooting for someone, and it makes the contestants more relatable. So, you're not just watching some faceless athlete; you're watching a real person with their own story.Super Ninja (STC)What I also love is that you never quite know if a contestant is going to make it through the obstacle course or not. Sometimes, you'll see someone who looks like they're totally on top of things – muscles, confident gaze, the whole works. They'll start off strong, and then, just like that, they'll fall. And that's what makes every move they make so thrilling. It's like when you're watching a football game and you're on the edge of your seat, hoping they'll score a goal. Except, in this case, you're experiencing those emotions with every single challenge.Super Ninja (STC)And then there's the bigger picture – the show is actually helping to popularize sports. I'm positive that after watching the show, there are kids and adults alike who've decided to give it a try. And that's amazing, especially considering how quickly new sports bars are popping up in cities, promoting a more active lifestyle.Super Ninja (STC)About Fairness

Now, I want to touch on the topic of fairness in these competitions. I read some other reviews out of curiosity, and it's not uncommon to see people say that the show is rigged, that they're intentionally sabotaging certain contestants to make it easier for someone else to win. I don't buy into those conspiracy theories, but there's definitely a fine line between fair judging and just plain luck. What really got me was:

Super Ninja (STC)I've gotta say, relying solely on your strength, endurance, and agility just isn't gonna cut it here. I mean, I placed my hand a little too far to the right and fell off, my hands were sweating and I fell off, I was a few centimeters short of the platform and fell off. Let's be real, our brains aren't supercomputers that can calculate the exact amount of force needed to land safely or grab onto the bars. Super Ninja (STC)One of the things I love about this show is that it's not just limited to athletes or military personnel. I mean, I've seen guys from all walks of life competing, from programmers to firefighters. At first, I thought it was unfair when a firefighter who's spent their whole career honing their physical skills would compete against a guy who's just a regular dude. But then I realized that the regular guys who aren't super athletic just don't make it to the show. And even then, it's not just about being athletic - a guy who's into sports as a hobby can still get beat by someone who's not as physically gifted. Super Ninja (STC)Another thing that's up for debate is whether men and women should compete against each other. I mean, I think it's unfair for kids, but for adults, it seems to even out. I mean, the goal is to hold your own weight, and women tend to have an advantage because they're smaller and lighter. After watching a few episodes, I'm convinced that a petite, athletic woman has an edge over a big, buff guy. Super Ninja (STC)And then there's the issue of height. Let's be real, some of the obstacles are designed for taller people, and it's just not fair to the shorter guys. I mean, they have to compensate with their upper body strength, but it would be nice if the obstacles were designed with a bit more strategy so that height wasn't such a huge factor. Super Ninja (STC)Who's it for?

I've gotta say, STS is really trying to win back its old audience, the people who used to tune in on the weekends to watch shows like 'The Smartest' and 'Galileo' back in the day. And I think they're doing a pretty good job of it, especially with the help of popular bloggers like Maslennikov and the show with Pushny. It's a solid strategy, if you ask me.

Super Ninja (STS)Super Ninja is a great idea for a family-friendly show. I mean, the kids' season was definitely more heartwarming, but I didn't really have any major complaints about this one either.

Super Ninja (STS)Anyway, the theme of the show is great - promoting a healthy lifestyle, showing off people's talents, and all that. It's a refreshing change of pace from all the drama and scandals that most shows are focused on these days. So, if you're like me and haven't watched TV in a while, it's definitely worth checking out.

Super Ninja (STS)Verdict

Yeah, I did have some minor complaints throughout the review, and not all the hosts are equally likable, but overall, the show is interesting, the production quality is great, and it's clear that they put a lot of effort into making it entertaining.

Super Ninja (STS)The third season just started, but I'd definitely recommend checking out the first two seasons, as well as the kids' season, which is also really good. You can find a link to my review above. All in all, I'd give the show five stars, and I'm hoping the rest of the season doesn't disappoint me.