While I admit that it is slow, I find it fascinating to look into peoples psyches under these conditions. The backstory really helps develop the personalities of the castaways. I hope people give this a chance because I know in society these days, everybody wants something quick and fast, which this is not. It's a story of different people meeting under unfortunate circumstances and trying to survive.
Add a Review
-
mestberg8 September 2018
-
atlasmb31 August 2018Twelve strangers are left to fend for themselves on a South Pacific archipelago. Each has his/her own drop-off point, separate from the others. It does not take long to realize what some of the basic premises are: There are resources in the area that they can use, if they can find them. You can go it alone or ally yourself with another person(s).
The production includes back-stories that add depth to the contestants, each of whom has his own challenges. This is a social experiment, and some contestants might choose to stay in one spot, if they feel it is to their advantage. Others might explore, hoping to align with others---to share the experience, the resources, their strengths.
The tone is contemplative, nearly poetic at times. Most people are introspective when isolated or in alien situations; we get to hear their inner monologues, both before they landed on the islands and after.
The producers have invested plenty of work into this production. The locations include measured resources that had to be put in place. They filmed the contestants in their regular lives before the infiltration. Each kept a journal. And each contestant is followed and filmed.
If you seek lots of action, this show is probably not for you. There is adventure, but most of the challenges are internal.
One of the things that interests me most are the teams they create. Some seem almost designed for success; others feel random, yet still advantageous. -
chefjdcm4 September 2018I like this show. If you've ever wondered 'would I be able to do this!?' This show will help break down what people were thinking at the time and he mental struggles you face being away from home and alone or the anticipation of meeting/surviving with someone else - a stranger. The reviews that don't like this show should go back to watching real housewives and lifestyles of the rich and famous. Get a life people. Different is good and this show makes you think about how everyone has problems - some different and some the same as yours. But we're all just trying to do our best loving one day at a time.
-
lilitigangsta15 August 2018Most of the poor reviews on this show came after the very first episode where there was a lot of introductory dialogue to get through.First off I think the editing is immaculate and makes the show completely unique. The ability to show a castaway through their trials and tribulations on the islands whilst seamlessly interweaving their home life into the show is truly astounding. This show really focuses on the social aspect of being alone, and the warmth you feel watching these people find companionship in the most unlikely of places is what will bring me back to keep watching this show. Well done.
-
hlstyer6 September 2018This show gives very detailed background information on each castaway while weaving together themes of sacrifice, hospitality, and humanity. Each episode reveals a trial the castaway has and the episode ends with an uplifting resolution. This show is masterfully edited and should win an emmy award! I look forward to new episodes every week, and they never disappoint.
-
NicoletteSteele8 August 2018I've just watched episode one and it was painfully slow to the point I almost turned it off a few times. I like the concept, but the setup is taking way too long. It would have been better if the character profiles had been dispersed throughout the episodes instead of episode one, and I'm assuming episode two since we haven't met everyone yet. It's just too slow.
-
hydearchie19 September 2018I thought I hated this show for the first few episodes. It felt contrived and unnatural. The format was different from other survival shows and the reading of the diaries felt distracting. However, I still wanted to know how it ended and as the series went along the device of people's inner most thoughts narrating events made more sense. If there is a second series, there needs to be less 'at home' and more of the action. But, over all it was, dare I say it, quite thought provoking and I'm glad to have watched it and interested to know what happened to them afterwards.
-
jtucker-7969316 August 2018From what I have seen in the 1st and 2nd episode there is way to much back story and each person and barley any surviving it's been pretty boring, maybe in the 1st episode it was ok to introduce them, but the 2nd episode was even worse
-
riejams8 September 2018This is a show worth watching. You honestly care about each person, their story and what happens to them. Its not a fast paced competition, it's a beautiful story unfolding. Love love love.
-
quadradic19 September 2018When the Castaways are having a hard time roughing it out in the wild on those islands, all I can think of is--- Hey, wait a minute, there's a camera man nearby who has to do all the same things the Castaway is doing, but he also has to photograph the castaway and keep his expensive high-tech camera equipment safe and dry at the same time. Knowing that a crew was photographing the entire thing made it seem phony to me. Lets face it, this is a prime time TV production, complete with wireless microphones concealed on each Castaway, beautifully photographed sunsets, and camera drones flying around to capture those great aerial shots of castaways who ventured out into deep water. And yet, we are not supposed to think about any of that. The fact is, none of the Castaways was ever really alone, because a professional camera crew was always with them. Regular movies are completely fake, that is understood, so that doesn't bother me. But, this is a weird hybrid where we are expected to believe the Castaways are alone, but magically they are somehow being photographed, and for me that carries the willing suspension of disbelief too far. I keep wondering about all those camera people, do they have to live off the land and eat maggots in their noodles like the Castaways, or do they have good food to eat, which they are not allowed to share with the castaways. I'm sure the camera crew is well fed and the Castaways are always complaining about being hungry, so that must make for some friction when the camera is not running. And, there must be some medical staff standing by in case of a serious emergency, even though there is a pretense that two of the castaways are allowed to suffer from nasty looking infections. I think the producers fudged and had the doctor give those Castaways antibiotics without telling the viewers. Also, does the camera crew have to sleep out in the open with those expensive cameras, I doubt it. Most likely, the camera crew and the doctor have a camp with comfortable tents and a generator for power, or perhaps a boat with modern accommodations is anchored nearby, but conveniently out of sight. In spite of all the trouble I had believing they were really castaways, I found myself watching the show, because the people were interesting. For that reason, I can't give this show a low rating. I have to give the show credit for good casting, while using non professionals. But, I'm not going to drink the cool-aid and give the show high marks when all I could think about was how much more believable it would have been if the producers had given the Castaways little waterproof cameras and let them make their own documentary. It wouldn't have had the slick production values of this show, but it would have been much more believable. Now that it's over, I'm curious how much cash the Castaways got who lasted for the full six weeks. The producers admit that there was a cash incentive for sticking it out to the end, but they won't say how much it was. They want us to believe the main motivation for staying to the end was self-improvement, but I'm not buying that. Surviving on that island may have been contrived, but it was obviously mentally and physically difficult for those who stayed to the end. Personally, I think the reason why some people held on to the end was because there was a big pot of cash waiting for those who held out until the big finale where they were rescued. It's too bad the producers won't tell us how much the rescued group took home, but I guess that wasn't what they wanted us to take away from the show.
-
blownwideopen11 August 2018Seems just a little too contrived, rehearsed & polished.
-
bls-5912 August 2018Some of the reviews on here are very impatient. Sometimes it is nice to sit and absorb a story about people's lives. I think those that are looking for action would die of boredom if they were put in the same situation. Very impatient. Survival sometimes depends on patients, to wait, and wait, for the prey to trip the trap, or come close enough for you to shoot or kill.....to survive... People in our party and gaming society, have been spoiled to the point they would not survive if there would be a catastrophic event in their lives. Life is really precious and tenuous and can be lost at any moment. We as human beings are weakest of the kingdom of animals on this planet. The only ways we have survived is through the use of our enlarged brains and have used that to create levers, and bows, and carved rivers and build pyramids and castles....and have touched the face of the moon. Studying the human condition under stress makes us better...I hope. Those that don't want to watch don't have to...
-
closed_welters_n13 December 2023This series requires some patience. There is not a lot of action. Especially at the beginning. But eventually, things happen (I'm not going to spoil anything for new viewers). And when the things start happening. Then the series gets good. And by good, I mean interesting on a psychological level. Turns out that people really are social animals and require some social interaction in order to be happy and content. I know that this is probably an unpopular message in this day and age (and also a surprising message for a reality show to send), but that is what i took away from this series. And for that reason, I would recommend it.
-
Nikeclassic2419 August 2018Watched this and still unsure on what they are playing for considering the plot of the show calls them contestants. It's a bad mix between Survivor and Alone. This show could have been so much better than what it turned out to be because Survivor and Alone are both excellent shows!
-
I guess if you're looking for the usual back stabbing, secret plotting, trying to win, game show experience, you will be disappointed. Of course there are camera people filming them, it's only a fraud if you didn't expect that (I didn't so no feelings of betrayal here).
I really like this show and it's one of a very few that I look forward to and actually sit down to watch. It's different, an interesting examination of normal people wrestling with their demons, emotions, expectations and is an example of how, for the most part, we all struggle with similar things. The Survivor/Big Brother/whatever thing is overdone and overplayed. This is a refreshing change. -
ashermarkham-672-43901015 September 2018After 3 episodes I wondered myself what this was. It becomes clear if you stick with it in a big time way. Most ratings were long before episode 5. It's actually fascinating to see the epiphanies some of the case members come to. It's almost like many of them didn't even know why they were there - and then you see it hit them. Some find their purpose and leave early for good reasons which have nothing to do with their ability to survive the elements. All of them who last and some who don't learn amazing life lessons and it's incredible to watch them "get there"
-
jerry-2848511 August 2018Stinks so bad I can not breathe. Who ever approved this show should be fired.
-
SnoopyStyle12 April 2019Twelve strangers are shipwrecked on a string of South Pacific islands. Their suitcases scattered around. There are resources and abandoned structures. They have to survive to wait for rescue after an unknown number of days.
In the first season of Survivor, some of the participants didn't get it until they figured it out. They're on a game show, not a survival show. This show is what those participants expected. There are no prizes here. There are no competitions. There is no council. It's a slower, more poetic, faux survivalist show. These people are not in any real danger, even less than other shows. The only danger seems to be drowning as some of the participants get worn out swimming the ocean currents. After they get to a certain point, it is a show of people coexisting and sleeping the days away. It's a slow, languid watch. Some of the personality interactions are a little fascinating. I find myself fast forwarding some of it. I wouldn't mind doing it myself living the shipwrecked life but as a show, it has limited drama. -
bcowan-640979 August 2018These people aren't alone! They are obviously being followed by camera crews. On the History channel's show "Alone", the people are issued camera equipment, and are responsible for documenting their days.They are also experienced enough to make their survival stories interesting. The people on "Castaways" aren't surviving, they're acting (poorly). Very disappointing..
-
dooster28 August 2018All the negative reviews here are so cut throat, I on the other hand welcome this different aproach of POV of surivival story. This is not your gung-ho surivel in the wild jungle type of show, and if thats whats you are looking for I'd look somehere else like the other other show "Alone." This is an in-depth examination and story telling of contestants who are taken away from their own reality.
Each contestant have their own struggles and obstacles as we all do in our lifes, but what if you were to be sent to an remote island where you are thousands of miles away from your obstacles, family, struggles, inner demons and challenges in life? would your life back home be your biggest challenge as you are left alone to survive in the remote island?
Will your new challenge of surviving in a remote island make you stronger? Will you confront your inner struggles? Will you learn the strength it takes to fight face those obstacles? Maybe some contestants already have what it takes to overcome those issues in reality, perhaps their biggest obstacles will be facing those challenges alone. While some are build to survive alone while others feel the need of companionship. Will these contestants summon the courage to find the others to overcome this new chapter in their life together or will they do it alone? Watch and find out!! -
robbenn6912 August 2018Terrible, if you want to see a castaways survival show, watch Survivor on CBS.
-
silvermikee30 September 2018I watched every episode and enjoyed it very much. It was a very real and human show bout different people from different parts of the world looking to find something within their selves and I think each of them may have found what they were looking for. I would love to think I could do something like this myself. I can't even imagine what would come up and out of me if I was stranded like they were. I am pretty sure I could survive and just wonder what I would learn about myself that I don't know. Worth watching for sure.
-
raygibson-474568 August 2018Way to slow, does not hold your interest or make you care about the outcome of these people
-
becky-874368 August 2018I am very interested to read about how the filming was done. Is there any behind the scenes info or posts anywhere that talks about the film crew? Are they involved at all?
-
I was riveted to the screen and loved learning about each individual that was introduced, and what their backgrounds were to drive them to do this. The pace is necessary! It enabled me to feel their feelings of fear, confusion, need to find others or be alone. I love learning about people's lives and imagining how I might respond given the same particular circumstances.