S06.E10: Thin Ice

[Drogo]

Each survivalist's grit and resourcefulness is tested by the unrelenting cold, causing one survivalist to hit their breaking point much sooner than expected.

[LittleIggy]

Barry lost 80 pounds! Wow! He was mentally close to breaking too, IMO.

[rmontro]

I swore I thought there were two girls left.  And when they showed Barry, my first thought was "Who is Barry?".

They were teasing the helicopter, so you had to figure someone was going home.  When Woniya ate those rabbit intestines, I was afraid it was going to be her.  Nasty.  Then when Barry started crying about wanting his wife and kids, I figured it would be him.  Turned out I was right, but for the wrong reasons.  One of these days one of these contestants are going to get violent when the med team tries to pull them.

I guess it was a three squirrel day!

Next week it looks like there's a fire.  Did Nikki slip back into the contest?

[mlp]

I always wonder why they cover the weight read out on the scale.  Why do they not want the contestants to see their own weight?

I felt bad for Barry but, yeah, he was very close to breaking down and needed to be pulled.  80# in two months is shocking.

[Quilt Fairy]

I thought this was a very strange episode.  For the first time, I felt like a voyeur, where I was watching a sci-fi movie set in a dystopian future about a cheesy reality show where they take a group of poor people with nothing to lose, giving them one chance to succeed in life and film them starving.  Jeez, I think I just described The Hunger Games. Without the having-to-kill-each-other aspect.   

They spent so much time on Barry that I knew it was going to be him, but I thought he was going to have a psychotic break rather than getting pulled for medical reasons.  I'm still a little surprised at that, he was a pretty hefty guy to start out with. 

Go, Woniya!  Damn right it's time a woman won.  She should get a prize just for her cabin.  She was the only one where she could talk inside her shelter and you didn't see her breath.  How could the others not prepare better shelters?  With - oh, I don't know - doors?  It's not like they didn't know it was going to get cold.   And Nathan, the guy who didn't bring a ferro rod, apparently lets his fire go out on a regular basis?  Seriously, dude?  I will be royally pissed if he wins. 

[Yeah No]

48 minutes ago, rmontro said:

I swore I thought there were two girls left.  And when they showed Barry, my first thought was "Who is Barry?"

I remembered Barry but I was like "Who is Nathan?"  We haven't seen that much of him, which makes me wonder if he won't win because how could they not show that much of the winner? I don't even recall any significant details of his trapping/fishing, meanwhile it is hard not to remember Woniya's constant rabbits and Justin's moose.  Of course I am rooting for Woniya.  I haven't liked a contestant as much in a few seasons, and a big YES to it being time a woman won - I wonder if they included that quote as a prophecy of what's to come.  I like to hope that, and I mean, who else is having 3 squirrel days at this point?  She is amazing!

[cooksdelight]

I mistakenly said “Squirrel!!” When she caught that first one. My dog Scooby-Doo, who was sound asleep, suddenly popped up wide awake and looking at me with the head tilt. LOL

You know it’s damn cold when both the squirrels and that big fish are frozen solid.

I’m glad they pulled Barry because he was close to having a psychological breakdown. Those weird, blank stares ... I was afraid for him. 

[rmontro]

1 hour ago, Quilt Fairy said:

I thought this was a very strange episode.  For the first time, I felt like a voyeur, where I was watching a sci-fi movie set in a dystopian future about a cheesy reality show where they take a group of poor people with nothing to lose,

I kept thinking that it reminded me of the PBS documentary I had seen on Nova the night before about the ice planets.  The frozen arctic looked a lot like the surface of Pluto to me.

I'd also like to see Woniya win.  Not just because I'd like to see a woman win, but because she's genuinely likable and competent.  I'd be cool with Jordan winning though also.  Because how do you kill a moose and not win?

[Delete]

It’s interesting: Barry was talking about wanting to be a hero, and needing to do this for his family to have a better life. It is a strong  primitive urge to provide, but 500k doesn’t go a long way nowadays. Barry appeared to be affluent enough because he had nice white teeth, and multiple tats. I always notice if someone has a nice set of chompers that they typically they have the money to invest in dental work. His fixation for winning seemed more of a wanting to win rather than having to win. Just sayin’ 

Woniya rocks. That is it. 

Edited August 16, 2019 by Barbara Please

[MostlyContent]

1 hour ago, rmontro said:

Because how do you kill a moose and not win?

......and a wolverine!  

Haven't been able to watch yet because... football.  

I did catch the last 20 minutes though, and I'd be cool with either Jordan or Woniya.  I could care less about Woniya being a woman.  They have both been absolutely fantastic.  Happy that she got 3 squirrels and Jordan caught a fish. 

I'm glad Barry is gone for selfish reasons. Didn't like him from the word go.  

Nathan is just a (?) to me.  The whole 'no ferro rod' seemed arrogant from the first episode?  But yet here he is in the final three.   

I'll watch later today.  Thanks to everyone who has posted because I know what's going on.  Sort of.  

Edited August 16, 2019 by MostlyContent

[Tanstaafl]

I hate to see anyone pulled for losing too much weight and I do feel sorry for Barry to have it end this way for him.

IMO this is one of the faults of the show and I would like to see it as more of a bush craft skills, living by yourself with no contact with the outside world type competition but I do understand why the production company does it this way to make a 11 episode show (or 12 episode if we get a wrap show). If only they started the competition in June the contestants would have a chance to stockpile food, build better shelters (but would they) and we would see a different side of what it means to survive "Alone". Of course asking a contestant to be away for 6 months from family would probably result in fewer contestants.

The pro would be more, and I think more interesting episodes, but the con would be higher costs for production.

I'm also in the camp that would like to see Woniya win. A three squirrel day! It is interesting to see her living off squirrels and hares instead of larger animals and fish. Has she even caught any fish (or did she bring any line/lures or net/paracord?

I still hold my breath when the guys go out onto the ice, especially Barry going over to the island to get to open water. Barry - ice is frozen water, you just have to melt it to drink it. Going through the ice would probably be survivable if you could get out right away and get into your shelter, but if you had to get back from the island first I would have my doubts.

I am impressed with making a gill net out of paracord and it must have been cold going doing it all outside. Neat how he carved the net stringer out of wood first.

I'm looking forward to seeing who finally wins and how long they last.

[qtpye]

10 hours ago, Quilt Fairy said:

I thought this was a very strange episode.  For the first time, I felt like a voyeur, where I was watching a sci-fi movie set in a dystopian future about a cheesy reality show where they take a group of poor people with nothing to lose, giving them one chance to succeed in life and film them starving.  Jeez, I think I just described The Hunger Games. Without the having-to-kill-each-other aspect.   

They spent so much time on Barry that I knew it was going to be him, but I thought he was going to have a psychotic break rather than getting pulled for medical reasons.  I'm still a little surprised at that, he was a pretty hefty guy to start out with. 

Go, Woniya!  Damn right it's time a woman won.  She should get a prize just for her cabin.  She was the only one where she could talk inside her shelter and you didn't see her breath.  How could the others not prepare better shelters?  With - oh, I don't know - doors?  It's not like they didn't know it was going to get cold.   And Nathan, the guy who didn't bring a ferro rod, apparently lets his fire go out on a regular basis?  Seriously, dude?  I will be royally pissed if he wins. 

10 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I remembered Barry but I was like "Who is Nathan?"  We haven't seen that much of him, which makes me wonder if he won't win because how could they not show that much of the winner? I don't even recall any significant details of his trapping/fishing, meanwhile it is hard not to remember Woniya's constant rabbits and Justin's moose.  Of course I am rooting for Woniya.  I haven't liked a contestant as much in a few seasons, and a big YES to it being time a woman won - I wonder if they included that quote as a prophecy of what's to come.  I like to hope that, and I mean, who else is having 3 squirrel days at this point?  She is amazing!

Usually when someone gets pulled for losing too much weight, I usually scream at the tv about why they started what is basically a starving competition so thin in the first place...not this time.

Barry obviously did the Fowler strategy of bulking up before going on the show. I remember first seeing Fowler and wondering how a guy who lived such a healthy lifestyle could be so chunky until my stupid brain finally realized that he probably gained weight for the show.

I think what did Barry In was his poor shelter. It looked like nothing more than a tarp on some logs that were being used as tentpoles. That might keep out the wind but it won’t keep out the brutal arctic chill. I heard a body burns a lot of calories trying to stay warm.

I also felt like Barry was too much of an extrovert for this competition. He is someone who probably gets energized by being around people. I also felt that in real like he felt like less of a man because he could not financially support his family in the way he felt he should. I sincerely hope this is not the case.

I love Woniya and Jordan. I wish they could both win.

If “no fire starter in the Arctic guy” wins, it might be the biggest surprise of the show since the Barbara man tapped out for missing Barbara. 

Edited August 16, 2019 by qtpye

[TVbitch]

I also was like, oh yeah, there's a Nathan. He may be worthy, but if he wins, it will a collective "meh" from the entire viewing audience.  

I was so mad at Jordan last week for putting those precious cans of fat on his meat rack, but this week he was out there making a gill net and saved his ass. He and Wy deserve to win.

Something seemed weird to me when Barry was pulled. Like they reshot it or something. Granted, I am overly suspicious of reality TV. In any case, I think he wanted to leave, but felt like he needed to save face. (I don't know why, he was clearly suffering.) I guess "The Secret" failed him. I wonder why he wanted to keep his sign: "Asked Believed Received" ...not.

This turned into a good season that was badly damaged by not having an introductory episode. I hope they do not do that again. And they better have a post season show!

[rmontro]

10 hours ago, MostlyContent said:

I did catch the last 20 minutes though, and I'd be cool with either Jordan or Woniya.  I could care less about Woniya being a woman.  They have both been absolutely fantastic. 

I don't care about a woman winning for girl power reasons or whatever, I would just like to see it because it's something we haven't seen before.  Plus, as I said, she's likable and deserving.  There have been several good female contestants over the years, so she's representing.  

Or I'd be cool with Jordan too.

41 minutes ago, TVbitch said:

Something seemed weird to me when Barry was pulled. Like they reshot it or something.

I thought that scene was odd also.  The last line by the medical crew sounded like it was overdubbed.  And it seemed like there was a hard edit there where Barry instantly changed his attitude.

[humbleopinion]

Barry wanted it known on camera to his family and friends to save face that he didn’t tap but was pulled for medical reasons.

Vaya con Dios.....Barry.....

Nathan and his soot face is hanging in there with the other 2 finalists with his 4 hot rock heating system and bonus smoldering ember to save him from bowing a fire.

His Gill net was his best decision to provide food. No Ferrous rod gamble was the most fool hardy.

Jordan wove a beautiful gill net ....what took you so long to make it, Jordy?

Hope he gorged slowly and carefully on that fish to boost his weight before weigh in....

My new go to answer for “Are you having a good day?”...Yes...I’m having a 3 squirrel day!

Homage to Woniya.... 

Edited August 17, 2019 by humbleopinion

[ClareWalks]

Woniya and Jordan are both outstanding. Woniya has made the fewest mistakes though. As soon as Jordan started losing his moose fat, he should have moved it into his shelter so he could protect it.

[Auntie Anxiety]

17 hours ago, cooksdelight said:

I mistakenly said “Squirrel!!” When she caught that first one. My dog Scooby-Doo, who was sound asleep, suddenly popped up wide awake and looking at me with the head tilt.

Ruh roh.

[Tanstaafl]

2 hours ago, humbleopinion said:

Jordan wove a beautiful gill net ....what took you so long to make it, Jordy?

Since we didn't have an intro show hopefully we will have a wrap show and perhaps some of these questions will be answered.

Here's an idea for the producers. Have an intro show  with each participant introducing themselves, name, age, husband/wife/kids. Have them explain their game plan and how they are going to achieve it. What takes priority and why, what do they plan to make and in what order, and why?

I would also like to see post tap out interviews with each one, maybe as part of the episode following their tap outs. What did you get right, what did you get wrong, and why with $500K on the line did you have to tap! What could you have done differently?

For the wrap show, take the final three and go in-depth What went right, what went wrong, and how did you try to fix any mistakes you made, Also what were you feeling or thinking when this or that happened. Why did you do...?

I'll start, Barry why did you go out on thin ice to the island where there was open water to get a drink when all you had to do was chop some ice and let it melt? SMH.

[Quilt Fairy]

3 hours ago, rmontro said:

I thought that scene was odd also.  The last line by the medical crew sounded like it was overdubbed.  And it seemed like there was a hard edit there where Barry instantly changed his attitude.

Even though it's a reality show, things are reshot for a variety of reasons, usually to make things clearer to the viewer, not to change the perception of what actually happened.

Barry very quickly did a 180°:  from "Just tell it to me straight, guys!" to "Aw, don't tell me that!"   I think it's sometimes hard for contestants to accept that, several months prior, they signed a piece of paper giving the producers of the show the right to pull them for medical reasons, so all the desire in the world doesn't make any difference. 

[Token]

Welcome to another season of Whoever Starves Last is the Winner!  It’s like watching torture.  I can’t watch this show anymore.  I’ve been on the bubble for a couple of seasons now and this was it for me.  I watch TV for entertainment, not to watch a bunch of desperate people starve.

[DrewPaul2010]

9 minutes ago, Token said:

Welcome to another season of Whoever Starves Last is the Winner!  It’s like watching torture.  I can’t watch this show anymore.  I’ve been on the bubble for a couple of seasons now and this was it for me.  I watch TV for entertainment, not to watch a bunch of desperate people starve.

I think that explains why fewer people comment this could well be the finale. When it gets down to a dueling starvation match its only about endurance. I would like to see a show where they start just as winter is thawing. Give them a year. I'd like to see these people thrive and create a super cool cabin and have time to plant food. Most would still drop off from loneliness or injury but we would see some cool stuff built. I hope Wonia wins it will be nice to see the series end that way...

[Quilt Fairy]

21 hours ago, DrewPaul2010 said:

I would like to see a show where they start just as winter is thawing. Give them a year. I'd like to see these people thrive and create a super cool cabin and have time to plant food. Most would still drop off from loneliness or injury but we would see some cool stuff built.

I don't know that starting in spring would make too much difference.  Back in Season 1, they were told they could potentially stay out for a year.  I don't know if that's still true as TPTB have more experience now.  They can see that most people (men and women)  start to miss their families within a few weeks and the longest anyone has stayed is less than 100 days.  You need people like Woniya, who has said she has no strong family ties and therefore no one to miss. 

[Jeanne222]

Woniya is the one I'm really pulling for to win.  Like she said it's time for a woman to win.  She has such a positive attitude.

I love this show and everything I learn from it.  I do notice they are showing more of the fish and animals being cut up but I just fast forward those parts.

It take quite a man or woman to survive in such climates and areas.  I do notice most of them have nothing much going for them other than survival skills.  They desperately need the money.

[DrewPaul2010]

1 hour ago, Jeanne222 said:

Woniya is the one I'm really pulling for to win.  Like she said it's time for a woman to win.  She has such a positive attitude.

I love this show and everything I learn from it.  I do notice they are showing more of the fish and animals being cut up but I just fast forward those parts.

It take quite a man or woman to survive in such climates and areas.  I do notice most of them have nothing much going for them other than survival skills.  They desperately need the money.

I suppose if you're well to do you won't be tempted even if you have skills. I'm too old and have no skills, I find camping with supplies to be a bit of a hassle.  That said if I were 25 years younger and had survival skills, since this is a game of starvation I'd pack on a 75 pounds. The gill net and traps appear to be the most productive means of procuring food while conserving the most energy. It appears its going to be will and calories. It would be nice if she wins but she looks emaciated. Course they all do.

[terrymct]

On 8/16/2019 at 6:31 PM, ClareWalks said:

Woniya and Jordan are both outstanding. Woniya has made the fewest mistakes though. As soon as Jordan started losing his moose fat, he should have moved it into his shelter so he could protect it.

Or eaten it.  I don't understand why he didn't have a grease-fest for several days and build up some energy.   Is he eating the moose meat at all?  Yeah, it's lean but it gives you calories to help you fish.

On 8/17/2019 at 9:07 PM, Token said:

Welcome to another season of Whoever Starves Last is the Winner!  It’s like watching torture.  I can’t watch this show anymore.  I’ve been on the bubble for a couple of seasons now and this was it for me.  I watch TV for entertainment, not to watch a bunch of desperate people starve.

Remember the first season?  The winner was living in a hollowed out space under a log and eating nothing but tiny limpets.  These people are doing a LOT better.

[cooksdelight]

31 minutes ago, terrymct said:

I don't understand why he didn't have a grease-fest for several days 

Unless he’s got a surplus of Charmin ..... that’s not a good idea.

[terrymct]

27 minutes ago, cooksdelight said:

Unless he’s got a surplus of Charmin ..... that’s not a good idea.

LOL true.  I didn't mean eating it with a spoon.  Just going heavy on the grease.  Sort of like an Arctic version of dining at a state fair.

[qtpye]

10 hours ago, terrymct said:

LOL true.  I didn't mean eating it with a spoon.  Just going heavy on the grease.  Sort of like an Arctic version of dining at a state fair.

When I was younger I red some books about the natives that live in the arctic. Fat was a giant part of their diet and vital for surviving the winter. They particularly prized fat from seal. I wonder if their digestive systems have just evolved to handle it? I noticed how the wolverines are smart enough to go for the fat.

[rmontro]

14 hours ago, terrymct said:

Or eaten it.  I don't understand why he didn't have a grease-fest for several days and build up some energy.   Is he eating the moose meat at all?  Yeah, it's lean but it gives you calories to help you fish.

He's liable to play it too cute with his resourcs and end up getting pulled out for losing too much weight.  Like Dave from season 3 (I think it was) who was hoarding filets but was getting scary skinny.

[Quilt Fairy]

4 hours ago, qtpye said:

I wonder if their digestive systems have just evolved to handle it?

That's what the gallbladder is for, or it was originally.  To help humans digest fat, when they could go a long time with little and then get a large dose of it, if they killed a mammoth or something.  

[MostlyContent]

I guess I'm one of few, but this is my favorite season ever.  

I can't stand watching people squish mice and eat them, eat slugs; let alone watching stupid footage about skinning mice, and whether or not you have to boil some disgusting thing before eating it.  

I've enjoyed watching the contestants this year catch/shoot/trap actual food, in the arctic no less.  While the skinning and disemboweling may be uncomfortable for me to watch, (even in real life the gutting bothered me, but I wouldn't let on ) that's the way it is.  All of our ancestors had to be proficient in these skills, or we wouldn't be here.  We are omnivores after all.  The filming looks like almost everyone harvested berries. 

Both Jordan and Woniya are wonderful and talented folks afaic, and Nathan is still a (?) to me.  At least I don't actively dislike any of them going into the finale.  That's a first.  🤣

I'd like to think that I won't read your posts about the final episode, because I can't watch till later (yeah.......football), but I know I will.  So three cheers to whoever wins!!  

[rmontro]

12 hours ago, MostlyContent said:

I guess I'm one of few, but this is my favorite season ever.  

I can't stand watching people squish mice and eat them, eat slugs; let alone watching stupid footage about skinning mice, and whether or not you have to boil some disgusting thing before eating it.  

I've enjoyed watching the contestants this year catch/shoot/trap actual food, in the arctic no less. 

You're right, there are definite advantages that this season offers.  A lot more skills on display.  And if you think about it, the earlier seasons had a lot more whining about missing family.

The gutting and skinning scenes don't bother me, but I don't like to see the video of animals suffering before they die.  I know it's a part of survival, but I don't care to watch that for what is supposed to be entertainment.  At least they've cut down on showing these scenes in recent episodes.  

[Yeah No]

17 hours ago, MostlyContent said:

I guess I'm one of few, but this is my favorite season ever.  

I can't stand watching people squish mice and eat them, eat slugs; let alone watching stupid footage about skinning mice, and whether or not you have to boil some disgusting thing before eating it.  

I've enjoyed watching the contestants this year catch/shoot/trap actual food, in the arctic no less.  While the skinning and disemboweling may be uncomfortable for me to watch, (even in real life the gutting bothered me, but I wouldn't let on ) that's the way it is.  All of our ancestors had to be proficient in these skills, or we wouldn't be here.  We are omnivores after all.  The filming looks like almost everyone harvested berries. 

Both Jordan and Woniya are wonderful and talented folks afaic, and Nathan is still a (?) to me.  At least I don't actively dislike any of them going into the finale.  That's a first.  🤣

This is my favorite season after season 1 just because Alan was such a great guy.  I agree with you that it has been enjoyable to watch obviously accomplished experts actually trap and eat some bigger than usual animals.  I've been thinking that because this was a more challenging location they chose more advanced contestants.  This cast has taken this show to a higher level.  We were getting tired of seeing people whose sole strategy seemed to be out-starving everyone else.

[alc32]

I love alone,but how are these people that are being pulled for fear of their body eating their own organs able to fetch water and cut enough fire wood every day,plus build gill nets and run trap lines.If your body was this malnurished you wouldn,t be able to do anything but lye in yoour sleeping bag. Just my opinion.

[batesj]

On 8/16/2019 at 12:05 AM, mlp said:

I always wonder why they cover the weight read out on the scale.  Why do they not want the contestants to see their own weight?

I felt bad for Barry but, yeah, he was very close to breaking down and needed to be pulled.  80# in two months is shocking.

what's shocking is none of these fools take the 2 person rope hammock and make 1700 sq ft of 3" mesh netting out of it. and make the pontoon outrigger raft in a day. Just doing that much would feed you pretty well ,  You can make 200 sq ft of netting per day, by fire light, in your shelter, and you can have a very nice shelter, raised bed, debris insulation, Siberian fire lay,etc, all in one day,