The Newest ‘Naked and Afraid’ Spinoff Off Might Be a Major Flop
Will the newest Naked and Afraid spinoff be a major hit or a massive bust?
Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse premieres July 27 on Discovery Channel. The show drops 12 survivalists in a “scorched, apocalyptic wasteland” and challenges them to find their way back to civilization. While the concept for the show is intriguing and features some new-to-the-franchise twists, it also might alienate long-time fans with manufactured challenges and seemingly scripted drama.
‘Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse’ features new survival twists
Naked and Afraid has a simple concept. Two survivalists are dropped into a remote location without food, clothes, or water. (They are allowed to bring one tool each.) They must then try to survive on their own for 21 days.
Since the survival show premiered in 2013, it’s spawned a series of spinoffs, each of which has drifted further from the spirit of the original series. Naked and Afraid of Love added a dating element and lasted just one season. Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing adds a competition element, pitting survivalists against each other in producer-crafted challenges as they fight to win $100,000. And Naked and Afraid: Castaways stranded a group of survivalists on a deserted island and challenged them to travel to make their way to a designated extraction point.
Now, there’s Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse. The new show divides the cast of 12 into four teams. Each group will be dropped into a different abandoned spot in South Africa: a cemetery, a ghost town, a junkyard, and a mine shaft. They’ll have to scavenge the sites for resources, then – in a franchise first – make their way back to civilization. At the same time, they’ll also face “relentless threats from apex predators, endure punishing heat, and navigate constant dangers from rusted metal and broken glass,” per Discovery’s synopsis of the show.
Will the new ‘Naked and Afraid’ spinoff lack authenticity?
For many viewers, a big part ofNaked and Afraid‘s appeal is the show’s perceived authenticity. Cast members really are left to fend for themselves in the wilderness. (A camera crew and medical team are nearby to help if things get really dangerous.) The drama naturally arises from conflict between partners, who must work together to survive, as well as the hazards of the natural environment.
In contrast, shows like Last One Standing and Castaways feel more engineered and less spontaneous. Some Last One Standing cast members struggled to adapt to a format that rewards competition and, at times, backstabbing, rather than collaboration. Meanwhile, Castaways added obviously staged elements, such as an abandoned jeep and plane crash wreckage, where cast members found items that helped them in their survival journey. Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse seems to follow in that divisive show’s footsteps. That doesn’t mean that it won’t be entertaining. But the stakes and the drama will feel less real if viewers can see that producers are pulling strings behind the scenes – or helping cast members along by planting useful items in their path.
The Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse cast includes some seasoned N&A vets, including Steven Lee Hall Jr., Amber Hargrove, and Waz Addy. Their presence could inspire people to tune in. And if the drama comes off as authentic and it seems as if there are real stakes in the survival situation, it could make for a compelling spin on a familiar format, even if some elements are manufactured. However, if viewers feel like the cast members are participating in a fake challenge, the show could be a flop.
Naked and Afraid: Apocalypse premieres Sunday, July 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Discovery Channel.
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