Hunted

This predictable and often contrived series features a modern-day cat-and-mouse game in which people are desperately on the move. While the fugitives try to think strategically and use their street smarts, most of the show is committed to showcasing the techniques used to find them, including collecting CCTV footage, using tracking software, flying drones, and employing old-fashioned sleuthing skills. Throughout it all, they highlight the endless ways that people leave behind their digital footprints, making them easier to find.

The idea that we're being watched and recorded at every turn is disturbing enough, but this is compounded by the fact that the activities featured here are usually associated with criminal behavior. Meanwhile, constant reminders to viewers that the people being "hunted" are U.S. citizens (as opposed to non-citizens or undocumented individuals, perhaps?) are also disconcerting. There may be some key messages here about the lack of privacy in the digital world, but overall, Hunted is more alarming than entertaining.