Why ‘Alaskan Bush People’ Is The Creepiest Show On TV
Apparently, a new season of Alaskan Bush People is right around the corner. A fan-made Facebook page for Alaskan Bush People’s Matt Brown claims the show could be back as soon as November. It’s not necessarily welcome news for everyone, as multiple TV viewers have complained about getting “creepy” vibes from the show.
Alaskan bush people – The show about those creepy trench coat wearing people you were scared of in high… http://t.co/X3mRrMvAG6
— Painmongr (@Painmongr) June 1, 2015
With so many people commenting about how “creepy” Alaskan Bush People is — and with Halloween just a few weeks away — it seems like something worth discussing. Just why is Alaskan Bush People so creepy?
Alaskan Bush People Is Set Deep In The Woods
As any horror fan can tell you, the wilderness is a favorite setting for scary movies and TV shows. There’s a reason for that: The deep woods are a deeply unsettling place at times. The further you get from civilization, the more vulnerable you become. As often demonstrated on the show, anything can go wrong. You could stumble across a brown bear or suffer an injury that requires serious medical attention.
The Browns are just lucky they have a production crew right there to offer help. But what’s especially creepy is that the show readily ignores this fact.
Just imagine it was you all alone in the Alaskan bush, struggling to survive. Imagine there’s nothing around you but trees, trees, and more trees. On top of this, you are miles away from anyone, and without access to a phone or the internet. Alaskan Bush People sells this as the ultimate American dream. For the average person, it’s a nightmarish scenario.
The Fish-Punching
There’s just something very disturbing about watching “Bear” Brown punch a fish to death. Fish are typically hooked or speared, actions that are already outright unpleasant. Somehow, the punching adds a layer of unnecessary brutality — and against a helpless animal.
The network either felt the same way or heard way too many complaints: Alaskan Bush People seems to have stopped featuring any violence towards animals in recent episodes.
The Browns Are Acting, But There Are No Disclaimers
One of the most frustrating things about Alaskan Bush People is the stubborn insistence on treating this show as if it’s entirely real. It’s not.
The Browns are merely pretending to be unfamiliar with how modern technology works. We know this because certain family members are easily found online.
The Browns successfully edited and uploaded multiple videos to YouTube. How does one realistically go from that to having no idea how to operate a smartphone?
It’s genuinely odd that the TV audience is supposed to buy into this “bush life” that the Browns are selling. The Discovery Channel should consider a disclaimer where they acknowledge that the show is edited for television. After all, some people are so convinced that the “Wolf Pack” is real, they’ve allegedly sent the family money!
‘Alaskan Bush People’ Broke? Why Loyal Fans Shouldn’t Send Money To The Browns https://t.co/EdEbuemzkS
— The Inquisitr (@theinquisitr) September 25, 2016
The Adult Children Are Socialized Never To Leave Home
It’s not comparable to a situation where the kids grow up and move away, realize adult life is hard, and then move back home. The Brown children — most of whom are legally adults — appear to be raised with a strong distrust of the outside world. That and a strong desire to never leave home and have their own independent adult lives.
This aspect of the show is by far the creepiest. Most parents want their kids to grow up, move out, and become accomplished adults. But from Season 1 onward, any discussion on Alaskan Bush People about marriage involved bringing a girl or boy to live in “Browntown.”
It seems the only way a relationship outside the family is encouraged to flourish is if it takes place under the watchful eyes of Ami and Billy Brown.
Does the creep factor mean that Alaskan Bush People is a terrible series? Not necessarily. If you’re a fan of wilderness reality TV shows, you’ll probably appreciate it. However, if you’re worried about getting a slight Deliverance vibe, then this show is probably not for you.
Are you a fan of Alaskan Bush People? Do you find the show creepy? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
[Featured Image by Discovery Channel]
