Is ‘Extracted’ a Morally Corrupt Survival Show?

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Reality TV is well-known for featuring survival shows that put individuals or groups, often lacking formal survival skills, into isolated regions of the world to survive on their own. This allows those less inclined towards adventure to enjoy the excitement from the comfort of their homes. Typically, these participants are left alone with only the camera crew for company. Fox’s latest series, Extracted, introduces a fresh twist to this formula.

12 participants are scattered across the Canadian wilderness, each fending for themselves in a survival contest where they must find food, water, and shelter while enduring harsh conditions. The ultimate goal is winning a $250,000 prize. Unique to this competition is that the players’ families are granted 24/7 access to their loved ones’ experiences via audio and video feeds from a secure location nearby. This setup resembles the show “Alone,” but in this case, the participants’ families hold the power to intervene if conditions become too severe. However, only one participant can ultimately claim the grand prize, so it will be the families who decide just how far they want their loved ones to go before being removed from the game.

How Is ‘Extracted’ Played?

In case you didn’t know, the films are set in the heart of the Canadian wilderness. They bear a resemblance to Fox’s “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” but instead of celebrities, they feature amateur players. Each participant is allowed to bring two family members or friends along. As the players are flown in by helicopter, the group splits up. What sets this apart is that each contestant gets their own designated area equipped with live audio and video feeds.

The competitors work individually, making use of scarce resources such as water, food, and shelter-building materials. From the outset, they are warned about the presence of dangerous wildlife like bears lurking around the campsite. There are two methods for acquiring additional supplies: either by participating in competitions to win resources or by relying on support from family members who reside in a secure location nearby.

Each competitor has two dear ones residing in a service that grants them video and audio communication with the players. These family members dwell in fully-equipped storage unit apartments throughout the contest. They can drop supplies to their loved ones during scheduled “supply drop” moments. However, the facility’s resources are scarce, and the order of selection is randomly determined. The families must decide how much of the supplies they wish to save for their player and how much to share with other teams. Interestingly, there seems to be no visible host or crew members on camera. Messages to the family members at the facility arrive through chilling voice recordings without a discernible source.

Competitors involved in the challenge do not communicate or collaborate with other participants or their family members. Additionally, once they’ve entered the challenge, they cannot voluntarily withdraw if they find it too challenging or impossible to complete. This decision is solely in the hands of their families, who can decide to ‘extract’ them from the game if they deem it necessary, or leave them in the competition even when they express a desire to quit. The player who lasts longest in the challenge wins a prize money of $250,000.

The Ethics of ‘Extracted’

This program presents some thought-provoking moral quandaries. The characters in the wilderness find themselves powerless, dependent on others they can’t communicate with to shape their destiny. In a sense, those at the luxurious facility, often family members, encounter an even tougher ordeal. Under regular conditions, they wouldn’t want their loved ones to endure distress. But what about when there’s a quarter of a million dollars at stake? How fast might one disregard their principles in such a situation?

If someone they care about is facing hardships, either physically or emotionally, in the wilderness, it might seem instinctive for them to take that person out of the game. Yet, several relatives insist on keeping their loved ones in the competition because of the potential winnings. It’s important to note that this show isn’t always heartwarming, but we understand the financial struggles many families are going through, and the prize money could be a significant help for them.

How much are they willing to risk for it? When does the well-being of their loved ones become more important than financial gain? Will they continue to push their players to the limits, even when their health is at stake? This situation serves as an interesting example of how money can distort moral values. In terms of supply drops, do you decide to keep extra supplies for your team’s advantage, or do you give up some excess to provide more options for other teams?

In the initial episode, we witness instances of such decision-making scenarios. One contestant, a young man aged 18, was considering withdrawal from the competition on the very first night because he found it challenging to construct a fire or catch fish. Although he’s not in any immediate peril, he seems spoiled and accustomed to privilege. Consequently, his parents at the facility are forced to confront the possibility that they may have nurtured him into an ungrateful individual who undervalues what he possesses. The mother declares her intention to keep him there as a means of teaching him a lesson.

A different man has his son and nephew watching over at the facility. By the second day, it was evident that he was in grave physical condition, struggling to breathe and falling ill from consuming untreated lake water. Despite this, he seemed more resolute to stay than the initial child, but the son and nephew must decide how much they can pressure him without compromising his health excessively. Meanwhile, one woman starts crying almost straightaway, causing discomfort for her sister and stepdaughter. As time passes and resources dwindle, the dangers escalate. The question remains: How far will these individuals push their relatives for a potential prize of a quarter of a million dollars?

Tune in for new episodes every Monday at 8 pm on Fox, or stream them on Hulu and Tubi.

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2025-04-20 05:06