Alaska: The Last Frontier

The first 2-3 seasons were pretty good when they were airing original footage . The producers spend MUCH too much time showing and reshowing and reshowing footage that aired on previous episodes . I'm now on season 4 episode 6 and there has barely been any original footage in all these 6 episodes. I keep fast forwarding hoping for something new .

The cast is great ! It's educational and interesting . The only problem is the producer airing the same footage over and over , ESPECIALLY in this season . I'd like to know if this is how it's going to be in all future seasons . I guess I'll just keep watching and fast forwarding .

Go to google earth and look up Kilcher road, Homer. Ak. You can then spot their houses. There is even a Kilcher tour on trip adviser They are less than an hour away from a safeway and Homer, Ak. a popular tourist town. They are rural, yes, but not at all cut off from the outside world. Maybe the grandfather was a pioneer but these people are not Their neighbors post this about them all the time if you bother to go look. I think that Life below Zero shows people who are really out on the edge. I first saw Sue Akins on Sarah Palins Alaska. Sha was introduced there as having The farthest out hunting camp of all and upper class alaskans knew about the place It was actually Sarah Palin who started the whole Alaske reality show craze. She was out to publicize Alaska and she did it. The Tanina river and the Brooks range are also pretty far out places so that show is more interesting. it all comes down to asking if you can put yourself it their place. Do you see yourself surviving independently out in the Alaskan wilderness? Good. Then you are hooked. I think i will limit it to taking a cruise to Alaska.

How many "cattle drives" and "hunting and fishing for survival" can Discovery milk from this show? I used to love this show due to the family dynamic. I loved the way the relationships between the Kilchers were not always flowery but that human emotions would erupt and then the family would work it out. But now it is just hard to watch the same themes play out every season. I think the biggest put-off for me is the narrating. I dislike the way that moments are made up to be more dramatic than they actually are (e.g., hunting for survival, the flare and how much "danger" the girls were in, the fake predator threats, etc). I do like Eivan's projects. I do like the Christmas gift making and giving. I like the idea of the homesteading lifestyle but don't act like these people don't have cell phones, a grocery store isn't nearby, other people don't live nearby, and please don't think your audience is a bunch of idiots (if you are filming someone, they are not in real danger because there is a cameraman right there with a communication device and don't forget about the rules and regulations about filming safety). Don't Bear Grylls me again Discovery.

Love parts of the show but the alpha-male driven Atz (who drives the show's direction) is an egomaniac. His insistence on promoting his self-centered son, Atz Lee - who spent half his life away but came back to be on the show (and is a moron) weakens the production. Add his wife Jane and I sometimes change the channel. Read their history and watch the first few years when Atz Lee arrived and see the 'transformation' folks. Many of the rest of the family are wonderful. Otto and his clan are great, unpretentious, and intelligent. Eiven and Eve are salt of the earth and just a joy to watch and listen to... solid people. Charlotte is a sweetie. Bonnie (Atz's wife) is a sweetie and it is obvious she just watches the two alpha's and keeps quiet. Ironically Atz Lee's brother (Nikos and Shane) appear well rounded, intelligent and down to earth... suggest they feature them and cut the stupid son...

Everytime someone says " homestead " take a drink. Every time something endangers their most cherished anything or their precious food supply , take a shot.

Do not mix these up. I think they get paid to say " homestead" three or more times per minute