Special Forces: World's Toughest Test

Something has always fascinated me about training tier-one units such as Delta Force and the SAS. Beyond just the intensity of the exercises, there is something that exposes the grit, determination, and inner character of the people willing to put themselves through treacherous conditions to become part of a tight-knit, war-fighting team.

This isn't the first time American media has dipped its toes into reality-based television wrapped in a military training package. Shows like "Combat Missions (2002)", "American Grit (2016)", and "The Selection: Special Operations Experiment (2016)" are American-produced programs that have featured a fusion of reality and competition TV. "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test" is similar to "The Selection," where a cadre of former commandos agonizes - I mean, trains - a small squad of masochistic candidates.

What many people will notice is that "Special Forces" is a derivative of the UK-produced "SAS: Who Dares Wins (2015)". The formula and training environment directly pick up where the seventh season of that program left off, except this time, we are bearing witness to a troop of willing individuals with a bit more star power than someone plucked from their home and dropped into a production environment. Many of these contestants (and the cadre) have their own followings and fan bases, which is an immediate plus for viewer numbers. It also helps that (most of them) are charismatic, have a history of being in the public eye, and bring their own baggage to the training ground.

The editing is driven by a need to create drama among the contestants. I do not doubt that the show is presented non-linearly (from Day 1 to Day 10), with the need for the post-production team to put an early focus on those contestants struggling, dominating, and/or having emotional reactions to the environment they are subjected to.

What I enjoy most about these sorts of shows is that we quickly find that physical dominance does not necessarily make a contestant a top contender. Those with solid minds and grit will rise to the top. However, a bad attitude and a lack of military bearing can keep an individual from passing the course, even if they pass all the challenges.

The training exercises and stunts remind me of "Fear Factor," except with an apparent military influence. It's fantastic to see the cadre demonstrate the activity, proving that they can perform. Water is the great equalizer, so I expect many more challenges to involve water.

This show is highly entertaining, especially for those who enjoy military-oriented shows like those mentioned above. The curated drama is an unfortunate side-effect of a fascinating look into the once-hidden world of special forces selection, but this doesn't keep the show from being unwatchable. Bringing in contestants with some popularity allows an otherwise ignorant audience to become engaged with them and their adventure. I will certainly be watching this program through to the end.

A very generous 6

The show could be so much better if they had selected people who had a chance to make it through a full interview in an Air Force recruiting office.

I understand it's a "Reality" show, probably more for couch veal types, but for the love of Christmas pudding, pick some people who didn't need to be institutionalized.

The first 45 minutes of the first episode was a drama rama fest of such a waste of time. Some of those people shouldn't even be legally allowed to drive there were so messed up. "I miss my kids...." "I'm a washed up singer...." "I used to act."

We all have issues, and challenges in life, and nobody cares if you are so and so sister, or boo-hoo, I'm not famous anymore. This should have been for the open public of the 10s of millions who didn't get to be an Olympic athlete, actor, or play pro ball. Or related to some celebrity.

These people are losers, and quitters, and a couple who were just bored. The ones that surprised me the most was an Olympic athlete, who quit. Actors are the least impressive, since most mediocre at best drop outs. Anyone can act and pretend, it's why drama and theater are so popular in high school and college. It's fun to pretend!

This could have been far more interesting if it was more challenging, instead of dealing with people who want to quit every 5 minutes on the show. It should have been more boot camp style. Make it harder leadership wise, and offer an internship or money as the incentive, instead of losers quitting in day 3 "Yeah, I'm done, I did what I came here to do." Quitters and losers, that show had no business selecting mental people for such an environment.

It's interesting though. If those loser had done 4 years of the Military when they were younger, they wouldn't have the issues they had as adults. The Military is the best kept secret in the world. Do the show again, and make it for the common person, with award and incentives with more leadership challenges.

I've recently watched SAS Australia season 4. Essentially it's the same concept, celebrities (from Australia) are competing, but they absolutely get the $*!# beat out of them. Of course there's only so much these guys can put anyone through on a made for TV SpecOps training course, but at least there's literal blood, sweat, and (of course) made for TV tears. This version of the popular SAS series makes Americans look like proper babies (which they're not). Yes, it's mildly entertaining and a good foot in the door for the US audience. However I do recommend SAS: Who Dares Wins (UK version, non celebrity) as well as SAS Australia because they're much, much better.

I absolutely love this show for several reasons. First it takes celebrities, semi-famous or not, and slams them back down to Earth from their cushy lifestyles. Yes this is a highly modified version of the actual special forces, or any military training for that matter, but even a modified version can be brutal. Second you have actual former special forces members leading this program. They understand that the celebs are in no way physically or mentally equipped for the actual training but nevertheless still push them beyond their limits. In a way it humbles the celebs and seeing this transition is quite gratifying. I hope this show continues with over celebs who want to take on the challenge....if they dare.

I love that this show exposes my own deep rooted issues and inspires me to challenge myself to do hard things, to be uncomfortable, and to possibly move towards change. A quick note: the arm chair quarterbacks giving this one star are only doing so because in their delusional world, they think they could do better than olympians. This show is unique and honest. These "celebs" have agreed to be yelled at, disrespected, and put in incredibly harsh and difficult conditions. Sleeping on a cot with crap for food is, in itself, a serious ask for any of us watching from home. There's a reason people dropped out in the first day. It's because 108 degree heat causes a two mile jog to be devestating. I think this show is great and I would love to see more of it. Yes, some participants are ridiculous (Nastia) but most are on a personal and real journey and they have allowed us to witness it. How cool is that!