Just excited about Jake, that’s all

So by that I mean is it going to be hard for people to really stand out and gain "legendary status" after seeing survivalists like Laura, Matt, Jeff, EJ, Steven and so forth, and how they've set the bar?

Things they did were fresh and new to us viewers on this new show and will always hold a place in our memories, but for the most recent and future do you think we unfairly judge them with the "been there done that" type of mentality?

Curious as to everyone's thoughts.

I'm currently watching the first season of LOS and honestly I don't think it was wrong how Jeff wanted to play. Did anyone else feel the same way?

No one uses a bow drill anymore! Everyone always has a fire starter, regardless of the environment and they seem to have a really easy time getting fires started in the later seasons. I hear contestants say they are really good at starting fires but they always have a magnesium fire starter so is that really being good at starting fires?

Came across this today while grocery shopping. I didn't get it, but if you're interested, it's 'The backwoodsman'. I read a little while waiting to check out. Was Cat on N&A?

I wanted to love this series so much, but I feel the way it is edited makes it so hard to enjoy. I would have preferred one survivalist per episode. Start to finish. One thing I was incredibly disappointed in is how they glossed over their introductions. While yes they provided some context, but I love seeing what items they brought and their insertion hike. For example, I would have liked to see Terra’s train of thought to leaving her flint behind. For awhile I could not understand why she was using a bow drill when the narrator stated they were given a flint, pot and machete. What are the 3 items each person chose and why. I love that part. I truly admire each of these survivors even if I don’t love their personality. I know I could not be as brave as some of them. While I would love to try, I am not brave enough.

If they didn’t focus on one survivor, perhaps stick to a region for a few episodes. The jumping around, a few minutes here and there for each survivor is really annoying. While it isn’t hard to follow, the jumping around created a disjointed flow. I can see why there is only one season. While there is a lot of great content, the editing is a poor choice.

I really wanted to know more about Jaime bladder parasite. Was it a parasite? Was it just a gastrointestinal irritant/infection? Did the gum tree bark help it? Or was it just waiting for the illness to pass? I truly love bacteria and viruses so I would have loved more.

Besides my comments, sitting here in the warmth of my home, I do truly admire each and every person in this show. I will continue to binge, continue to show appreciation as much as I can, because it is a great show, and I would hate for it to end.

Are there any recent AMAs for naked and afraid?

After watching a trailer for an upcoming video game, I was thinking how badass it would be for someone to write a full story fusing naked and afraid and something similar to Middle Earth. Imagine Gary would be the food guy. because dragons and ogres and stuff you know Gary would try it all. Then we definitely need Steven Lee Hall Jr (just rewatched XL season 2 so had to use the whole name). Matt Wright, EJ, Charlie (obviously in his show days), Jeff, Laura, Amber. Imagine them all naked with the exception of some leather shield pieces. I’m a terrible writer so I hope this makes sense. Terrible idea? Anyone want to write it?

Edit to add: they have to survive in like Africa but middle earth like with fires everywhere and chaos.

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I can see where there is water, there will be animal paths. But when they are in the open like there is nothing but tall grass, there is an arial view of a path they are following. Is this made by the crew so they will not go the wrong way and get lost?

Why don't all xl seasons show the winner's dinner and do a group interview like in xl season 5 episode 11 last episode? Id like to see the celebrations and interactions. The group interview on that episode was so good! I loved seeing all the unseen footage and then their responses to things that happened. It got real!!

My choices would be frank the guy who was with Julia, ky, Darren, Bulent, Gabby, can't think of the names of the three girls who slayed it. Think Mallory was one .. Jeremy from way back, and the Danielle that was so mistreated on XL1.

especially no Trish Lacey honora Kate veggie Dani or alana. Or any of the others who create nothing but drama

I know Jeff is probably the most hated survivalist, but I actually liked him a lot in LOS 2. He and Garry made this show interesting.

Also Jeff is matured a lot, he congratulated to Fernando for his spot on the final from the hart. Even seems he was happy about him.

Winner keeps all the gear.

Episode Name: Poison Control

It’s time for another off-season running diary entry as I make my way through the backlog of Naked and Afraid episodes. I try to find episodes I’ve never seen, and might throw in a few classics as well to watch and review, as we await another season of N&A.

Let’s get to it!

–Santa Marta, Colombia is our location. It never goes well in Colombia.

–Our female contestant is Miranda. She’s 33 years old and from Florida. She’s got spirit!

–She says she’s gone through months of training…with Steven Lee Hall, Jr.! This gives her a big advantage going into this challenge.

–Miranda’s a cutie.

–Our male contestant is Kyle, and, as he rides in the back of the truck to his drop off, he lets us know that he’s overwhelmed. He then says, “renaissance redneck: a mast of nothing but knows a little bit about a lot of stuff.”

–That’s not what being a renaissance man means, Kyle. The term means you are knowledgeable in many areas or you have many talents. It does not mean that you "know a little bit about a lot of stuff.”

–I don’t trust Kyle.

–Miranda states that she’s doing this challenge to “know what she’s made out of.” Never heard that before. Nope!

–Kyle states that he struggles with self-doubt and he wants to finish this challenge so that he can silence that voice in his head. How many voices are in there, Kyle?

–”Tapping out is not an option.” --Kyle

–”Tapping out is definitely an option for you, Kyle.” --Me

–Miranda: Jujitsu Warrior

–PSR time for Miranda! The producers give her a totally-not-at-all random 6.7

–Kyle: Lots of backyard skills.

–PSR time for Kyle! Kyle, who has 1/10th of the skills Miranda has, and suffers from crippling self doubt, is given a PSR of 7.1.

–Never change, N&A. Never change!

–Our two naked contestants meet. They make an attractive couple.

–Kyle brought a machete.

–Miranda brought fishing line and hooks.

–They’re also given a pot and a fire starter. These later N&A season contestants really do have an advantage over the contestants from the first few seasons.

–They have good chemistry. Will that help when things get difficult for our heroes?

–Stock animal footage time! Fer-de-lance vipers and Jaguars!

–They make it to their “water source” that was marked on the map. It’s about as big as a shallow bathtub.

–It’s 97 degrees in the humid jungle. Screw that.

–They can’t get the first started and it’s beginning to rain. Trouble in paradise!

–They decide to ditch firemaking for the night and to focus on finishing the shelter. So far, they are communicating and working well together. But they need that fire going as soon as possible on Day 2.

–They made one of those lean-to shelters that absolutely sucks in the jungle. You can’t sleep on the ground in the jungle. It’s going to rain on you and the bugs will be bad as well.

–Nighttime. They begin screaming at an unseen animal. Stock footage shows that it’s a dangerous jaguar!

–They’re trying to get a fire going so they can scare off the predators. They’re successful in making a fire!

–Day 2. Kyle’s eye is swollen due to some debris getting in it the day before. Not good! I bet he gets medically tapped. I knew this dude wouldn’t make it.

–Kyle is struggling. The sweat is running into his eye and it’s really bothering him.

–Day 3. Kyle decides to call a medic. Miranda agrees that he needs to be seen.

–The medic says the scratch isn’t super serious and Kyle doesn’t get medically tapped. I’m surprised. You don’t screw around with your eyes.

–As the day goes by, Kyle seems to recover a bit. Good for him.

–Miranda is fishing in the disgusting “pond.” It’s stagnant and looks like the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. I wouldn’t eat anything from that water.

–Nighttime. Thunder crashes. Rain begins to pour down upon them. Their fire is out in the open, and they’re trying desperately to keep it lit.

–Day 6. They’ve improved their shelter and are making a raised platform bed.

–Nighttime again. It’s raining, but it looks like they’re staying dry and their fire is staying lit.

–Miranda looks like she was born in the jungle. I don’t doubt that she’ll make it 21 days.

–Miranda found some bananas and now they’re having a feast!

–I need some drama, N&A. Come on.

–Number of Steven Lee Hall, Jr. name drops by Miranda so far: 3

–Day 9. They’re going on a frog hunt.

–They grabbed six giant frogs to eat. They’re thriving, not just surviving.

–I need drama! Can someone get sick or start crying? Anything!

–Uh oh! And right on cue, Kyle asks Miranda if any part of her body is going numb. Miranda says her lips are numb, and Kyle’s are as well. Did they just eat poisonous frogs?

–They call a medic. He tells them that they ate Colombian four-eyed frogs. They are poisonous but not lethal. The medic says they just need to drink a lot of water. If it were me, I’d be requesting a hospital visit. I’m not a fan of poisoning myself.

–It’s the next morning and they’re both absolutely drained. Next time don’t eat Colombian four-eyed frogs.

–I don’t know if these two are going to make it. They really are messed up from the frogs.

–Day 12. Kyle makes some bamboo containers so that they can have more water. Smart.

–Miranda is not improving. Kyle is up and moving around.

–Day 14. Miranda is now just dirt sitting. She’s got nothing in the tank. Will she tap or continue to dirt sit for another week?

–Day 18. Miranda doesn’t think she can make an extraction under such physical exhaustion. Is she about to tap?

–Total number of Steven Lee Hall, Jr. name drops by Miranda is now at four.

–Day 19. Miranda is up and moving around. I think she’s going to make it, although she clearly has lost too much weight.

–Nightime Day 20. Absolutely nothing of interest happens.

–Day 21. Extraction day! They have a four mile trek through the jungle. Time for some stock N&A animal footage! Watch out for those snakes!

–Has anyone ever tapped on an extraction?

–They made it to the extraction point! Thank god. This episode won’t end.

–These two make a good pair. I could see either of them in an XL in the future.

–PSR Time!

–Miranda’s PSR is now 7.1

–Kyle’s PSR is now 7.5

–I actually agree with their PSRs. Kyle carried them through much of the challenge.

–Total Steven Lee Hall, Jr. name drops by Miranda is five.

–As far as exciting N&A episodes go, this was on the lower end. The contestants were good, maybe not great. Nothing really interesting happened. No fights, no floods, no hunts (except Colombian four-eyed frogs)...just nothing really.

–I give this episode a C grade. They can’t all be bangers!

–See you next time on the N&A Running Diary!

I am always astonished when I see survivalists struggle to catch crayfish. They are super easy to catch. I would pick up a rock, watch where it lands. Place my bag behind their tail and swish my hand behind them so they swim into my bag. In our local creeks and rivers we have crayfish everywhere in Canada. Every summer, the family goes out for a few hours, wade in the creek, and come home with at least 50 crayfish. We catch our legal limit every time. We often just use our hands, but when we bring the children out, we give them butterfly nets.

Do you think it is inexperience? What are your thoughts. Almost every waterway on the show they are almost always there. They get excited with one caught in their fish trap. I mean yay, for catching one, as it is passive catching, but they are so easy. We also do a lot of crabbing where I live. Sometimes by traps, but my brother and I now freedive down. We found an area that has the best tasting crabs, not the muddy dungeoness variety. These most locals do not know they are keepers so we keep that secret close to the chest. Recently we bring out live well, strap it onto our paddleboard, go to our areas, weigh anchor, and freedive looking at the flora and fauna. Here we dive it is no deeper than 15 feet, so it is super easy. The two of catch our legal limit within a few hours. This species of crab are assholes! When they grasp on, they don’t let go. I was severed down to the bone one time. My brother had to break the crabs arm off to get it off my finger. They have shorter carapace, and long arms. So they can reach behind and grab your fingers if you are not too careful. So now we wear neoprene gloves. It still kills when they grasp on. Their taste is worth the pain. 🤣

As an ocean girl/shark enthusiast, I love watching the survivors in the water scenarios.

Anyone getting bored waiting for new N&A episodes - and you have Netflix - have a watch of outlast . First season go’s a bit lord of the flies . Second season seems to work better . Maybe it’s more like Alone in groups . Defo worth a watch

made a video talking about the dating spin-off show watch if u feel like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5RF3K9Q7zQ&ab_channel=DonkEDark

I hate to sound like an ass but it was only a matter of time before she got med tapped. I would preferred Lacey give it a go, instead she got immediately eleliminated...

I have watched all of the original shows 2 times through and am working my way through XL my second time. I would like to find a listing of everyone and their episodes and follow some of them through their careers. As it is I'm going to have to work through everything at least a third time to remember certain survivalists.

I a new watching NandA. I have been watching the XL. They have eaten the alligators, but they have not gone after the crocs in Africa. Is there a law where they cannot eat them?

Apologies if these are commonly asked here. But I have two questions after observing the first 9 seasons of my first watch through.

1. Why don't the contestants build stone fireplaces more often? It seems like it would be an easy thing to do early on before they begin to feel depleted, it would protect the fire from the rain in places like jungles and rainforests, they usually are close to materials to do this (such as a river bed), and the radiant heat the stones give off could pay off in dividends.

2. In many episodes, they struggle making fire with a firestarter until they rake the rod back and forth quickly. Usually they just do single strikes until they realize it's futile. Seems to me that raking is mostly successful. Why wouldn't they start with that method?

I study bushcraft and have limited ability to practice it, so these questions are as much about my education as they are to satisfy my curiosity about the show.

I'm watching season 1 with my mom currently, and she's a nurse. She mentioned that their worries about rabies and hantavirus were odd, since you can't get those from eating an infected animal.

I'm wondering why they all thought that you could? So many of these contestants (at least in the first season, since that's the only one I'm on) don't seem any/ a very little amount of medical knowledge. For people who are supposed to be "survivalists" shouldn't they know some of these basic things?

I even did a bit of research myself in case my mom was remembering stuff wrong, but she wasn't.

Does anyone know if there is any new series soon

I haven’t seen every single episode and I wonder sometimes if I’ve missed “that episode”. It would be kind of neat to see. I’ve seen an episode or two when (it might have been XL, not sure) when a female contestant was pretty forthcoming with her romantic feelings only to be shut down. It’s kind of vague now Any previous contestants want to chime in?

Episode Name: Forsaken

It’s time for another off-season running diary! Let’s just get right to it!

–Panama, San Jose Island.

–The Narrator lets us know that sand flies, snakes, dangerous spiders, and caiman live here (somewhere off in the distant night, Malorie asks, “Did someone say Caiman?”)

–Oh, wow! This is Kim’s first episode. I don’t recall if I’ve seen it. I think I have, but I don’t remember.

–She’s from Moab, Utah. That place is ridiculously awesome. Except now it’s been overrun by tourists. Same thing that happened to Sedona, AZ. It’s still a great place, though.

–”I got expelled from school seven times in one year.” Well, I did not know that. Hmmm…

–”I want to prove I have what it takes to survive to my little girl.”

–Pause right here to make a PSA: Memo to parents, you don’t need to ditch your young child, who has no concept of days or weeks, for 21 days (or longer) just to prove to yourself that you’re a good parent. In a real sense, by doing this you’re proving the opposite. If it’s an older child, ok. But a baby or toddler? No. Just don’t. Stay at home and develop a healthy attachment to your child. Every time I see this on N&A, it pisses me off.

–Kim realizes that she’s out of her element for fire building, that Moab isn’t the jungle. At least she understands that.

–PSR time for Kim! She starts off at a 6.2.

–Contestant Gary says he’s never felt so alive. He’s ex-military. The military guys do not do well at N&A. Seems like it, anyway.

–Gary’s PSR starts at 7.1.

–Didn’t see that coming! Nope. N&A never gives the dude a higher PSR!

–Kim gets naked and jumps into the water to swim toward the island. Now it’s Gary’s turn.

–Gary begins his episode by talking about how he’ll “motivate the shit out of her” (if his partner can’t keep up). What do you want to bet that this guy is crying before day 10?

–They hug. It’s awkward.

–Gary brought an ax (good choice), and Kim brought her bow drill. The exact drill that she said worked well in Moab, but she wasn’t sure about her skills with it in the jungle.

–There’s going to be a fight in this episode. I can feel it.

–Is Kim still a baker?

–Gary is an ex cop and now runs a tactical store.

–Kim confides to the camera that she’s not here for any authority bullshit. We’re already off to a great start.

–These early seasons where they don’t give them a pot feel much more difficult. The pot makes such a big difference.

–”How old are you?” Kim, doing her best to alienate the ex cop.

–Gary finds a stick that looks like a cross. Kim is not having any part of it. “To me, it’s a sign of my lord,” says Gary. UGH.

–The producers went out of their way to find two people that are the exact opposite of one another. But will opposites attract? Let’s find out!

–Gary doesn’t know how to use a bow drill. From the looks of it, neither does Kim.

–”I’ve only done this twice.” Kim, the legend.

–Nighttime. No fire. No shelter either. What exactly have these two been doing all day?

–Gary hears a noise in the dark. You know what that means: Stock animal footage time!

–OMG there’s a giant spider making its way down the trunk of the tree that they’re sleeping under. That’s not stock footage!

–Day 2.

–Gary is feeling it. He needs water.

–Kim is still having trouble getting fire started. Shocker.

–Gary is making the mistake of drinking contaminated water. Will it make him sick? We’ll find out.

–Kim drinks some water as well. Not good, guys. Not good.

–Gary’s sitting around watching Kim suck at making fire. Why isn’t he building a shelter?

–Nighttime. They’re cold and uncomfortable. I bet you Gary taps by day 10.

–Day 3. Kim wants to discuss things. She wants to cuddle during the night for warmth. Gary thinks it’s cheating on his wife. Ok, Gary. This guy is definitely tapping out.

–They’re having a fight about it. It took three days.

–”I’ve never left anyone behind.” Gary and his famous last words.

–Now they’re fighting about Kim’s inability to make fire.

–If this was my first time watching N&A, I’d be convinced they were both about to tap.

–Now Kim is crying.

–Gary says Kim has nothing to bring to the table. Great start, guys.

–Why isn’t Gary making a shelter? WTF is he doing? Oh, he’s sleeping.

–Kim makes coal! They have fire!

–This episode just took a turn. Fire solves everything!

–Gary is proud of her.

–Now they’re cutting firewood. Why weren’t they already doing that?

–Gary says he’s “feeling his age.” You’re only 53 and you look like you’re in decent shape. Man up.

–Day 4.

–Uh oh. The medics have arrived. Gary’s on the ground.

–Gary’s blood pressure is messed up. The medic thinks it’s due to malnutrition. Is this it for Gary? On day 4?

–And Gary taps. Not medicaly tapped. He just can’t do it anymore. I called it.

–Gary is now crying as he leaves his partner behind. I saw right through this dude immediately.

–This will be another “Guy quits, girl thrives” episode. 90% of the time when the dude quits, the woman completes the challenge. It’s like men are an obstacle to thriving.

–Stock animal footage time! What a large snake that is.

–It’s nighttime and Kim is getting eaten alive by bugs. I think it’s sand flies. Those bastards would make me tap on the first night. No thanks.

–Kim is ready for a fresh start away from Gary.

–She decides to go hunting near the river. She finds a coconut.

–It’s rotten but she tastes it anyway.

–Day 6. Kim is searching for more coconuts, and she magically finds a coconut tree.

–Kim cuts into a fresh coconut and the water spills out and onto her crotch. She immediately begins to drink this water and says, “I drank coconut crotch water, and I loved it.”

–Out of all of the gross things that have happened on N&A, that’s up there.

–Nighttime. Stock animal footage of a Caiman (sponsored by Malorie).

–Kim hears pig grunts in the dark. It’s not Gary.

–Kim is scared of the three little pigs.

–It’s morning time, and she’s making a trap for the pigs. I’m going to make a bold prediction and say that she will not catch a pig.

–How would she skin a pig? Did Gary leave his ax?

–It’s the next morning, and Kim is off to check her trap. “”Something ate all of my bait and didn’t set off my trap.” Shocker!

–Day 13. Kim’s trap has failed for five straight days. She’s very hungry.

–It’s that time on N&A where the parent, starving, dehydrated and exhausted, cries on camera and talks about how much they miss their kids. No sympathy from me. You did this to yourself.

–Day 18. She’s clearly going to make it to day 21, even if it’s just by sitting in the dirt some more.

–Kim spots a baby caiman. She pins the gator with a spear. Really? This is what she’s going to do? Kill a baby gator?

–I’ve gotta say, I’ve lost some respect for Kim. I liked her on her XL challenge, but she comes across as an entitled idiot on this episode.

–I guess Gary did leave her the ax, because she’s skinned the gator.

–Kim has more food than she can eat (thanks to that suspiciously convenient gator).

–She’s going to smoke the meat overnight and make jerky for the rest of her stay. Will it go rotten? Hopefully.

–Kim says she’s thankful for this animal. Right…

–-The bugs are bothering Kim, so she peed all over herself and then used the soot from her fire to rub it in real good. She’s got urine all over her face. She’s proud of this.

–Day 19. There’s a pig in her trap! How convenient.

–Doesn’t she still have jerky? And a lot of it? Does she need to kill this pig and waste most of the meat? She’s got 2 days left.

–Kim makes the decision to let the baby pig go free. That pig was definitely a plant by the producers just to bring drama into the episode. Now, Kim is redeemed for her decision to let the pig go free.

–Day 21. Extraction time. She must head up river through the dangerous jungle and the intense heat.

–Dramatic music plays as Kim struggles to make it to the extraction point.

–Kim almost runs straight into a Boa. That is not a small snake.

–She finally makes it to a clearing, and there’s the extraction vehicle. She did it!

–17 Days by herself, no thanks to Gary.

–Kim states that a “new me” is leaving the jungle and returning to her daughter. Sure…

–Kim’s new PSR is 7.0, which is lower than Gary’s initial PSR of 7.1. Are you fucking kidding, N&A?

–Gary’s new PSR is who gives a shit.

–Kim is back home with her daughter, where she should be.

–I’m no longer a fan of Kim. That episode rubbed me the wrong way.

–Suck it, Kim.

See you next time on the N&A Running Diary!