Alaska: The Last Frontier

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.

I enjoy watching this show sometimes. At other times it drives me crazy. Year after year after year they have problems with their new calves getting mauled or frozen to death. They are penned up in a tiny pen with three feet of mud and cow poop in the spring and 4-5 feet of snow in the winter. These people have A LOT of money. Why in heaven't name don't they BUILD A BARN to put the cows and calves in and keep them safe until spring. It's NOT good for cows to stomp around in a mud pit. Those poor cows! Charlotte goes on and on about how much she loves animals. WHY DON'T YOU BUILD A BARN??? The men spend their time building cabins they aren't going to live in, so they have the time. Geez, if you can't bring yourself to do it for the animals, HIRE SOMEONE!

However cornball it might sound... I like programs like "Alaska -- the Last Frontier", with intelligent people behaving sensibly.

I should point out that these people /do not/ lead a "subsistence" lifestyle, which would require that they make everything they need. They have access to power tools (some of them Very Large) and store-bought supplies in an emergency. Still, it's sobering to see people who spend most of their time doing the work needed to support themselves, rather than in vain pursuits.

Otto is the unintentional star. He's extremely intelligent and has an ironic, self-deprecating sense of humor. (The sequence in which he blows up a stump and brags about it is classic.) The show would be merely "good" without him.

As for the "excessive" killing... If you're not a vegetarian, you have no right to complain. The domestic animals have led uncaged lives, and are killed humanely. (I loved it when Otto had his son kill a favorite cow that wouldn't have made it through the Winter. Instead of the animal dying on its side, it ends up on its back, with its legs angled in "dead cockroach" position.)

I'm 66 years old and have heard theme songs for scores of TV shows. "Alaska -- the Last Frontier" has absolutely the worst. The lyrics and melody are either consciously cornball C&W -- or the writers are idiots. They've got to be kidding... (It seems he song was written and sung by Atz Lee! My condemnation nevertheless stands.)

"Sometimes it's blood, sweat, and tears On Alaska, the last frontier. But life is simple, life is good, When you're livin' like you should. Hey! Hey! Sometimes it's struggle 'n strife Fathers, sons, brothers, wifes. But we're makin' our way, And yes, we'll stay Right here! On Alaska, the last frontier!"

How about "Life is simple, life is good, when you've got takeout Chinese food." Well, it is, isn't it?

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 .

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...