“Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”
-Luke 6:31
I’ve been wanting to publish a post about Castaways ever since I finished watching the last episode. If you’ve never heard of it, it aired on ABC recently and is described as “a revolutionary series testing the human need for companionship under extreme circumstances”. It follows 12 diverse individuals as they’re dropped alone, throughout various islets near Indonesia, and challenged to survive with washed-up luggage and minimal, scattered resources.
The only way to leave the islands is to persevere long enough to be rescued or to quit. And to make things even more intimate and interesting, as dramatic situations unfold, the series flashes back to the real lives of each participant in documentary fashion, demonstrating haunting parallels to the lives they left behind.
The editing, music and cinematography is second-to-none (in my opinion) and I loved that they started each episode with an insightful quote:
I honestly don’t know when I’ve ever been so profoundly impacted and moved by a reality-style show.
If you didn’t catch it real-time, you can watch all the episodes on Hulu now. I won’t spoil the ending for you here, but I do want to share some of the quotes each episode began with, and to highlight some of the things the cast members shared while they were surviving out there, both alone and together…
Tim:
“Being out here…it’s really allowed me to peek behind the curtain of my own heart…and it surprised me. I thought I was very prepared and, um, I wasn’t as prepared as I thought I was…at a heart level.
My entire life I have been chasing happiness all around the world. I came 10,000 miles to a deserted island for a physical challenge, that turned into an emotional event, that dug up a truth that I don’t think I would’ve otherwise found. And I realized that the only thing that I’m involved in, that’s bigger than me, that’s more important that me, in my life, is my family. If that’s all that came from this trip, was the perspective that my family is everything…than this was my true rescue.
Robbie:
“I feel like I am a team player. Back when I was growing up, through college, even now, coaching middle-schoolers. I believe in team. I teach team, and it goes with anything, we all need to realize that we work together. The ultimate goal is that we’re trying to win. Whether it be a game, or we’re just trying to get through the day. If your “W” is to see the sunset, well then, let’s make sure we see the sunset. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, or going to be perfect every single day, but let’s rely on each other. That’s what it’s all about.”
Matt:
“Things don’t always go like you’ve have them planned in your mind, but you have to keep moving forward…you have to keep going. Yes, I think about the “what ifs” and I have the fears, but that’s where a lot of special things happen…and, so, I’ll continue to fly.”
Richard:
“They were very adamant about sharing with us. It goes to show what type of people they are…and they realized too, when they met us, that we weren’t there to take…we were only there to give. Absolutely priceless to be able to seamlessly enter a group like that and only add to the ease of life.”
Terry:
“After exploring all those places inside of myself, every nook or cranny that felt dark or scary, when I was finally alone, I realized there was nothing that grab ahold of me and take me down…and I felt pretty free in there, which is really great. It’s one thing to know you’re okay, and it’s another to also recognize that there are others that might not be feeling that. And if I could send them any kind of thoughts or energy that, ya know, they’re going to be okay.”
My favorite exchange was between Tim and Robbie. Tim encouraged Robbie by saying, “The other day you said, ‘I do okay in my little part of the world‘, but there’s no part of the world that’s little if you’re impacting lives.
So beautifully articulated and such a powerful truth!
Needless to say, I was incredibly inspired by the folks who courageously spent several days or weeks on those little islands near Indonesia. They not only put themselves in a physically challenging position but by sharing their personal backstories, they were vulnerable and I connected with so many of them through the portrayal of those experiences too.
Give it a watch if you want to “meet” them too! 🙂
Layla
PS- Speaking of meeting them, Robbie and Sawyer found me through the Castaways hashtag on Instagram, so it has been fun messaging with them over there over the past couple of weeks. Swing by later today for a special hello from Sawyer in my Instagram Stories if you’re interested!
Layla, I had never heard of the series . . . .i can’t wait to check it out!
Thanks!
Donna 💗
I just skimmed because I haven’t watched the final episode yet and didn’t want a spoiler but I totally agree! I loved this show. I’m not sure they can replicate it because now it’s been seen. The pre-production time put in to it was nuts! They were filming last summer during the eclipse! I was glued to each episode. I was a psychology major and just love watching people interact. It was part psychology and part sociology and part Lord of the Flies and part my Group Dynamics class from college!
My mom watched some with me and she thought it was too slow. Well, it was slow on purpose until you checked that “Day ___” on the bottom left of the screen and realized just how much time had passed.
I hope to finish this weekend. It was so good!
Don’t worry, Kristin! No spoilers in this post! XO
This, hands down, is this best thing I’ve seen on television in a long time, if ever. I watched the last 5 episodes through tears. I cannot quit thinking about these people. Robbie and Kenzi especially touched my heart. The way they dealt with every single person with such open love and charity…. it was like watching a little bit of heaven and a whole lot of Jesus! If we’d all treat each other in that fashion, wouldn’t the world be a far better place. Tim’s conviction about his treatment of Eric was heartbreaking after he saw their charity. And then Matt’s whole demeanor changing after spending time with them was amazing. Can you tell l was I loved this show?
I totally agree! One of the best shows I have watched in a long time! Thank you for doing a post about it! I want to know now how everyone is doing especially Robbie! Layla, your the best!
I couldn’t agree with you more Layla!! You wrote it all so eloquently. I absolutely fell in love with the show and the Castaways, especially Tim, Robbie, Matt and Kenzie (sp?). They were all amazing!
As a communications professor, I found sharing this with my students a must!
Robbie is a true leader and Tim made me cry when he realized that his purpose was 10,000 miles away with his family. I was moved and inspired every week and so sad to find out there were only 10 eps! I hope ABC will do something like this again. I’m not sure if they can duplicate it. However, wouldn’t it be nice to see people sharing, showing kindness and inspiring one another?
Thanks again for your wonderful Insights, I love following you on IG and watching your stories about this and all the other fun things you do!
I loved this show! It was wonderful to see how the participants made realizations and grew. What a difference from most cutthroat reality shows!
It’s not often I watch a TV show and am so enthralled that I don’t want it to end. Castaways was greatl.
I watched (but missed the first episode) to see if It was going to hold my attention. It had been heavily advertised, and I find I am usually disappointed when they push a show so much. I did find it slow in the first show I watched, so I DVR’ed the rest and zoomed over commercials. Much better then! It turned out to be thought-provoking, sad, happy and surprising. It made me think about starting a journal, because I have had feelings that my mind is starting to fail a bit; not badly, but I thought if I journaled, I could better tell if I were imagining things. Alzheimers runs in my family, but it’s been confined to older age, not 64. Kinda scares me for my family to go through that with me.
I won’t spoil the ending here for others, but it is a show worth watching and giving it your undivided attention. You might be amazed at what it brings out in YOU.
After reading this post I decided to watch Castaways. Loved it! Thank you so much for sharing. Best reality tv show ever!!