Special Forces: World's Toughest Test

First let me set some of the previous reviewers straight. Just because an athlete retired doesn't make that athlete washed up. EVERYONE RETIRES. Danny Amendola is a 2x Super Bowl Champion. Dwight Howard is an NBA Champion and has an Olympic gold medal. The other athletes on the show are just as accomplished. Show respect for these incredible athletes.

As for the non-athletes, I have respect for some. Hanna Brown, Kenya Moore, get my respect. These two women have great will and determination. There are two who didn't get to show what they could have done because of injuries. The rest I would agree with those who say there's too much crying and whining. Jamie Spears may be the worst, she's totally on it just to be on the tv screens.

The obstacles they must overcome are legit. And they must overcome while drill instructors are in their faces yelling. It's fun to watch how they respond. It's also nice to see how these very rich and privileged individuals experience or get a taste of what our real heroes who serve go through.

I think this series is great. Yes it gets better as it progresses and the whiny annoying ones are gone. Some of the casting was iffy...I mean Kate Gosselin? Ew. Jamie Lynn Spears? Lol. And a couple others I can't even remember who were gone early I wasn't too disappointed about. But as it gets closer to the end I really enjoy watching and respect the effort put forth by everyone on there. It's an interesting group from a wide range of backgrounds, from athletes to politicians to entertainers to washed-up reality tv "stars", and they all seem to get along really well. The challenges are really intense. Overall it's entertaining and worth a watch!

We're actually really enjoying this show more than most reality shows out there. I appreciate the rawness of much of it. Yes, we don't know who many of these celebrities are, but they are showing you who they are. They are people too just like you and I. Some of them have shown their crappy sides right away, but some are also beginning to show their true grit and its pretty cool to watch. (You have to remember, its still a reality show.) I could not do half the things they are doing and overcoming on this show! It also makes us appreciate our true special forces more as well! Looking forward to more!

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.

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.