Parents' Guide to

Alone

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Contestants fend for themselves in slow survivalist show.

TV History Reality TV 2015
Alone Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 5+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Maddox12327
Maddox12327 Adult
December 23, 2020
age 2+

pretty good

Its a ok family show for any body

This title has:

Great messages
1 person found this helpful.
Bellabean
Bellabean Adult
July 18, 2022
age 5+

Teaching good value for life of animals well most of the people do.

I'm only on season 6 however the fact they allowed a guy to let a animal suffer for 3 hours he should have removed from the show immediately he had multiple opportunities to end that life without suffering during that time that should be a rule while all other thank animals for they're life he let's one suffer because he's worried with a bow it's gonna run away hit it again and stop its life that should be a rule no allowing animals to suffer because you're not man enough to make the kill you'd rather watch it bleed out. Before that everyone had my respect while hunting for animal meat. He shouldn't have been allowed to continue and that animal could have fed the crew.

This title has:

Educational value
Great role models
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

ALONE is a reality series about 10 trained survivalists from across the country who go out into the wilderness to see if they can outlast each other to win $500,000. With only their clothing and a kit of 10 items, each man is dropped off somewhere on Northern Vancouver Island. Without a film crew, each must self-document his experience with the help of motion-activated cameras and personal recording devices while living in complete isolation. From trying to build a fire in the wet forest to keeping safe from bears, cougars, and wolves, each man tests his mental and physical strength in hopes of lasting longer than the others. The contestant who remains in the wild the longest wins the cash prize.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (7):

It's your basic survival competition, but what sets Alone apart is its focus is on the contestants' candid commentary about how they feel as they try to make it through each day alone. From airing their frustrations about their circumstances, to trying to get a grip on their fears and loneliness, each man shares his thoughts about what he's going through and the reasons why he may or may not choose to stick it out.

Outside of a few details offered on the screen by the show's producers, the overall series doesn't offer a lot of survival advice. Meanwhile, despite efforts to increase the drama with the help of music and well-timed commercial breaks, the show can be a bit slow-going. But if you like outdoor reality adventure, you'll probably find this entertaining.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the reasons people choose to go on survivalist outings. Is it to prove something to themselves (or others)? To challenge themselves? Or is it just plain fun? What benefits and challenges do these contestants talk about? Do you think these folks would go on this journey if it were not for a TV show and a prize?

  • Have you ever had a dangerous experience in nature? Did it change the way you felt about the natural world?

TV Details

  • Premiere date: June 18, 2015
  • Network: History
  • Genre: Reality TV
  • TV rating: TV-14
  • Last updated: February 4, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate