Reel Review Mom

Adventure/Survival

As promised, today I will be listing off my top 10 TV Shows/Series in the genre of Adventure/Survival. Some of these series/shows will also make other genre lists, such as for science fiction or horror…. Let me know what you think and if you have any that should have made the list!

• #1 goes to Alone (History Channel)…..Alone drops survivalists into remote, unforgiving wilderness with no help, limited gear, and harsh conditions. Facing isolation, hunger, and predators, they must endure longer than others to win a life-changing cash prize, testing resilience, skill, and mental strength. This show makes Naked & Afraid look like a cake walk….!
• #2 goes to Expedition Unknown (Discovery Channel)…..Expedition Unknown follows explorer Josh Gates as he journeys across the globe investigating history’s greatest mysteries, lost treasures, and legendary stories, blending adventure, archaeology, and humor while uncovering fascinating truths and thrilling discoveries in some of the world’s most remote locations.
• #3 goes to Fallout (Amazon Prime)…..Fallout is set in a post-apocalyptic world decades after nuclear war, following survivors from starkly different backgrounds—Vault dwellers, scavengers, and power-armored warriors—as they navigate brutal wastelands, dangerous factions, and bizarre remnants of a ruined America in search of survival. The show is based off of the Bethesda video game series of the same name (my #1 favorite video game, btw).
• #4 goes to Yellowjackets (Showtime)…..Yellowjackets tells the story of a high school girls’ soccer team stranded in the wilderness after a plane crash, revealing their descent into primal survival and the haunting consequences that resurface decades later, intertwining past horrors with present-day mysteries.
• #5 goes to Naked & Afraid (HBO/Max)…..Naked and Afraid pairs strangers who must survive 21 days in extreme wilderness without food, water, or clothing, relying solely on skills, resilience, and teamwork to endure. There are different variations of the show, such as XL (40 day), Alone (one survivalist only), Last One Standing (competition amongst multiple survivalists for cash prize), Apocalypse, etc.
• #6 goes to The Last of Us (HBO/Max)…..The Last of Us follows Joel, a hardened survivor, and Ellie, a teenage girl immune to a deadly fungal plague, as they journey across a ravaged America, facing brutal infected creatures, dangerous human factions, and the emotional cost of survival. Based on one of my favorite video games of the same name.
• #7 goes to Silo (Apple TV)….Silo unfolds in a massive underground bunker where humanity survives after Earth’s surface becomes toxic. Secrets, lies, and hidden histories emerge as one resident questions the rules, uncovering dangerous truths that could shatter their fragile, tightly controlled society forever.
• #8 goes to Lost (Netflix/Hulu)…..Lost follows plane crash survivors stranded on a mysterious island, confronting supernatural forces, hidden threats, and their intertwined pasts while struggling to survive and uncover the island’s secrets. I’ve rewatched this series three times and always discover something new!
• #9 goes to The Wilds (Amazon Prime)…..The Wilds follows a group of teen girls stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash, unaware they’re subjects of a secret social experiment, blending survival drama with mystery as past traumas and hidden truths slowly unravel.
• #10 goes to Squid Games (Netflix)…..I know you might be questioning my categorization of Squid Games as adventure/survival, but the contestants are literally playing nostalgic games from their childhood, in order to survive (and ultimately win a cash prize)! I loved the 1st Season, liked the 2nd Season & couldn’t get into the 3rd Season though 😦