draofohio Love parts of the show but the alpha-male driven Atz (who drives the show's direction) is an egomaniac. His insistence on promoting his self-centered son, Atz Lee - who spent half his life away but came back to be on the show (and is a moron) weakens the production. Add his wife Jane and I sometimes change the channel. Read their history and watch the first few years when Atz Lee arrived and see the 'transformation' folks. Many of the rest of the family are wonderful. Otto and his clan are great, unpretentious, and intelligent. Eiven and Eve are salt of the earth and just a joy to watch and listen to... solid people. Charlotte is a sweetie. Bonnie (Atz's wife) is a sweetie and it is obvious she just watches the two alpha's and keeps quiet. Ironically Atz Lee's brother (Nikos and Shane) appear well rounded, intelligent and down to earth... suggest they feature them and cut the stupid son...

warmheart-83479 Since I started watching the show I have watched it every week and really enjoy seeing how they all use the skills they have been taught and learnt throughout their life. It just shows how different life is with families like them and us city slickers. I know the Kilchers have the power tools and farm machinery but using what they can from the land is one thing they are known for. Growing and catching their food and making other things is something that is knowing you have achieved something worthwhile. These sort of programmes are interesting to watch and you can also learn a few things. Another thing about this show is how family help each other and are willing to get in and do whatever needs doing no matter what the weather is.

jansen-r-lee I read the other reviews for this show and almost laugh. I love this show. Its a way of life that has been lost. We get everything we want from Walmart or some other big box store. The truth is, if the lights went out tomorrow, 95% of Americans wouldn't make it a few months much less survive. I'm speaking for myself also. Its almost comical that people think its a "killing" show. Where do they think Walmart and Kroger get meat? The Kilcher's are incredibly humane and do NONE of the inhumane things that are done on Beef and Chicken farms. Oh yeah, I've never killed an animal before much less gone hunting, so I'm no redneck justifying their killing. People lose touch with the reality of provision in today's first world society. This is a fantastic show, it is clean, and there are always people helping and giving to others whether friends or neighbors. No one's ever battling it out or gossiping about their closest loved ones. There is some language, but its always bleeped and mostly in tense situations. I was even more excited since I watched the first season on Netflix and come to find out there are more!And about the theme song. Don't know who wrote it, and the words may be dumb, but I like Jewel, and I think it is cool that Atz Lee is singing in it.

cz_eileen I'm pretty sure the cameras are encouraging these people to slaughter an animal for just about any reason they can invent. It's all for maintaining the illusion that its about 'survival'. They are making the conscious choice to raise cows within the territory of several major predators, and we are supposed to believe that they are 'oh so reluctant' to kill bears and wolfs on a regular basis? I'm pretty sure they're getting off on it. Unfortunately, my boyfriend likes this show... Honestly , I really think that the producers of this show should consider the possibility that the situation they are creating is encouraging an excess of animal killing- all for the sake of perverse entertainment.