Hunted

This reality show is a game of hide and seek gone high tech. Nine teams of two try to avoid capture by a diverse squad of police and military experts. The teams are married couples, best friends or others with real-life connections. The experts are current or former FBI, Homeland Security, U.S. Marshals, CIA, SWAT, NSA, Navy Seals, British Intelligence...well the list goes on and on. They are dedicated to finding the fugitive teams before 28 days expire. Teams that elude capture win a prize of $250,000.

How real is it? Some scenes are recreated. There are certainly rules beyond those they share with the audience. Some parts of the show feel guided or manufactured. But overall it has a feeling of authenticity, meaning the behaviors of hunters and prey feel true to human nature. Some fugitive teams make elementary errors. Some execute clever plans only to be undone by simple mistakes. Some of the hunters are so driven by ego it might interfere with their decisions.

If nothing else, the show is a primer in modern techniques of surveillance and apprehension. The internet--and everything connected to it--is a huge source of data. But they also use searches, interviews, CCTV, drones, and other methods of profiling and gaining information.

I suspect most viewers will identify with the prey, but some will probably identify with the hunters. Either way, there are moments of anxiety as their paths come close together or even intersect.

This might be considered a guilty pleasure--though not as much as "Cops" which appeals to the baser nature of its viewers. As a contest, it pits amateurs against professionals with years of training and nearly unlimited tools. Still, the odds are that one team, at least, will survive to claim the cash.

When they were first advertising this show I thought it was stupid. I was actually a criminal on the run for 6 years with a husband and 5 kids and there were common sense things that these people do that a real person on the run would not do. But here is my biggest deal: you have camera's following these people then the hunters have cell phone cameras chasing someone, how do they not see the camera man in the same space, then they have strangers giving them spare cars and stuff. People are so scared of violence right now, so I don't think there are as many hitchhiking's happening as much as the show claims it is. Plus as much as people know about cell phones and how they work, or how your parents can find you with one there are just too many mistakes that I really don't think real people would make. I know not everyone is very bright but this show makes you think almost every person is dumb. Then to win you have to sign into a website to get your get away plane... a site that is being watched by the hunters. All of you that thought you could get pointers on how to stay on the run, there is nothing to see here folks

Having read most of the already posted reviews, I agree overall. Here are my suggestions for improvements:

Have fewer fugitive teams so it is less frenetic and so viewers can get more involved with the participants. I really had no personal involvement with any of them.

Tell the viewers more about the rules! I didn't understand why family members and close friends "gave up" information so easily. Do they have to tell the truth? Are they paid? If so, why were just a few paid? Do the fugitives understand the rules? How about volunteer helpers? Do they know that it is a reality game show? If so, can fugitives offer to reimburse them later if they win? It's hard for viewers to buy in, when the rules are so fuzzy.

What about the cameramen? What are their rules? Is there a way for the investigators to track them? That would be a huge cheat.

Give the fugitives a more realistic chance. Letting the pursuers know exactly how they are going to escape was a huge cheat, in my opinion.

Treat it more like the game it is, rather than acting as if these contestants are serial killers or something. Lighten up! Show respect where it is deserved.

I hope this show continues with substantial improvements. I love the premise.

My comment is, if all investigators are that good, why don't they catch all the real fugitives? why the friends and relatives let in the investigators, if they do not have a court order? Do the Camera men carry track-able devices? because they can track relatives and friends, how they can not track the show members.

100% real. Anyone doubting the authenticity of it needs to read the rules and learn some basic film production. Nothing fake about it at all. The shows contestants have signed release forms allowing the hunters to gain access to everything without a warrant or any court order as such would be needed in real life. The camera crews aren't filming live either. It's edited back into the show to give a viewer the perspective of the fugitives but they aren't actually there when the hunters are looking for them. There's a lot that goes into a TV show and those with basic knowledge know this show is real and how it's being filmed. The rest of the show is pretty self explanatory. It reminds me of Amazing Race but so much better and keeps you on the edge of your seat!