Parents' Guide to

I Shouldn't Be Alive

By Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Gripping tales of survival for sturdy families.

TV Discovery Channel Reality TV 2005
I Shouldn't Be Alive Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Plague
Plague Parent
October 19, 2010
age 12+

I Shouldn't Be Alive

This show is epic, and great for families to watch together.

This title has:

Great messages
Xtremesk8er4ever
Xtremesk8er4ever Adult
April 3, 2010
age 10+

This title has:

Great messages
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In I SHOULDN'T BE ALIVE, people tell stories of survival almost too incredible to believe. Through a combination of dramatizations and interviews with actual participants, this gripping docudrama series recreates near-death experiences like a shark encounter, a kidnapping, and a mountain climbing expedition gone very wrong. One episode tells the story of two brothers whose hike in the Utah canyons turns iinto 72 hours of hell. When one brother accidentally lets go of the other's hand, he falls into freezing water and shatters his shin bone. As the other brother attempts to climb out of the canyon for help, he battles darkness, icy water, fire, exhaustion, and guilt, while the injured brother fights frostbite, pain, and delerium.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (15):

The survivors' stories are so compelling that they overshadow the intrinsically corny dramatizations. Hearing the real people recount their experience, their voices full with emotion and disbelief, is enough to keep viewers glued to the set, eyes wide and hearts beating fast.

Both the reenactments and the photos from the real incidents can be grizzly. The emotional intensity may be too much for young children to handle, but depending on their sensitivity, tweens and teens may enjoy watching. The show is an option for families looking for something to watch together that's both exciting and devoid of sex, drugs, and guns.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about making choices under difficult circumstances. Would kids have made the same choices as the people in the show? How do your decisions change when you're under extreme stress? If you were physically hurt, how would you keep your mind off your pain? What do you think people learn from experiences like these?

TV Details

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.

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