One of the most brutal reality shows on television, the best seasons ofAlonereflect its harrowing conditions. Airing on The History Channel, the show follows a group of contestants as they strive to survive in the cruel wilderness. Apopular survival reality series,Alonehas aired 11 seasons, with the most recent wrapping in August 2024, and a casting call forAloneseason 12 was put out at the end of 2023. Nearly every season takes place in the unforgiving arctic landscapes of Canada, but the best seasons venture away from America’s neighbor to the north.
At the start of each season, theAlonecontestants are given no more than 10 pre-approved survival items. The last person standing wins the competition and a prize of up $1 million. However, despite the potential for a big payday, many aren’t able to endure the show’s harsh conditions. Contestants can “tap out” of the competition if they cannot survive. But many stick it out almost until the end, regardless of the freezing rain or torrential snowfall. Above all,Aloneis a testament to the human spirit, and the best seasons are downright inspirational.
11Season 10 (2023)
Winner - Alan Tenta
Season 10 is probably the least notable installment ofAlone. Taking place in Saskatchewan, Canada, it’s essentially just like all the other seasons and arguably tries even less becauseit doesn’t change up the scenery, simply content to remain in the Canadian wilderness.
Wyatt Black, saw his time onAloneas an opportunity to make peace with his past and confront his issues with alcohol. His tap out was hard to watch, but he ultimately found his time on the reality series therapeutic.
However, the tap-outs in season 10 were highly emotional.Three contestants came down to the wire. One of them, Wyatt Black, saw his time onAloneas an opportunity to make peace with his past and confront his issues with alcohol. His tap out was hard to watch, but he ultimately found his time on the reality series therapeutic. The other runner-up Mikey Helton, missed his family too much to spend another day away from them. So, after two fraught tap-outs, Alan Tenta was declared the winner and given the coveted $500,000 prize (viaShowBiz Cheat Sheet).
10Season 3 (2016 - 2017)
Winner - Zach Fowler
Season 3 stands out because it was the first and still one of the only seasons not to take place in Canada. Rather, it is set in Patagonia, Argentina. Many may think that the location change would mean easier conditions, but Argentina is close to the South Pole, so season 3 has no shortage of extreme weather. It’s also notable for being the onlyAloneseason where a contestant dropped out for medical reasons. David Nessia almost died from starvation while trying to survive. Another contestant, Carleigh Fairchild, tapped out when her BMI reached a dangerously low level.
The winner of season 3, Zach Fowler, lost 70 pounds, over one-third of his body weight, trying to survive in freezing Patagonia.Season 3 seems to focus a bit too much on finding food and starvation, to the point that a third of the contestants were struggling to stay alive due to lack of food. While harsh conditions are whatAloneis all about, this season was a bit too brutal.
9Season 2 (2015 - 2016)
Winner - David McIntyre
Season 2 shook up theAlonestatus quo, but not enough for it to be considered one of the series' best. The sophomore season even takes place in the same location as season 1, Port Hardy, British Columbia. Sure, there are new contestants, butit doesn’t do much to further the concept or separate itself from the inaugural installment. It’s worth noting that two contestants tapped out because of “bear scares”. But winner David McIntyre stuck it out against bears and other elements to win $500,000.
Season 2 also introduced the first reunion episode, checking back in with contestants from season 1. It also delivered an “episode zero”, which detailed why each of the contestants were chosen. However, perhaps the most notable aspect of season 2 is that it is the first season to allow women to compete.
8Season 11 (2024)
Winner - William Larkham Jr.
Season 11 isAlone’s most recent, and it doesn’t go to the extreme or try to push the concept that much. The most notable thing about it is that it takes place in the series' northernmost location, Inuvik, Northwest Terrorites, Canada. Season 11 was filmed 125 miles into the Arctic Circle, which is on the coast of the Arctic Ocean. So, it was a cold season, to say the least.
The environment was simultaneously abundant in terms of wildlife but also harsh because of the extreme weather.
However, season 11 didn’t really capitalize on its extreme location like other seasons did. The environment was simultaneously abundant in terms of wildlife but also harsh because of the extreme weather. Season 11 runs the typical gamut that viewers are familiar with;it’s still entertaining, despite the stakes not being raised that much aside from the season’s location. There’s still plenty of intrigue and scrapping to survive, with William Larkham Jr. eventually taking home the $500,000 prize. Not the strongest, but still worth watching.
7Season 8 (2021)
Winner - Clay Hayes
Season 8 switched things up a little bit. This go-around, there wasn’t a time frame that contestants had to adhere to, reverting to the rules before season 7. Simply put, the last person standing, Clay Hayes, won the competition and the $500,000 reward. Season 8 took place in Chilkco Lake, British Columbia. The season’s subtitle, Grizzly Mountain, makes sense considering contestants had to brave the high-altitude lake with limited supplies.
It’s worth noting that the entirety of season 8 was filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, so contestants were arguably safer by trying to survive alone rather than being on a team like in previous seasons. But while season 8 does see the contestants in dangerous living conditions, but nothing else about it really stands out.The most remarkable thing about it isthe high altitude of the location,so if those afraid of heights may wish to skip this installment — or watch it in an attempt to conquer fears.
6Season 5 (2018)
Winner - Sam Larson
Season 5 kind of plays like a reunion season, as all 10 contestants had previously competed on the show but never one. The fifth installment was thus appropriately subtitled,Alone: Redemption. The contestants had a second chance at winning the $500,000, with Sam Larson eventually taking home the prize. Taking place in Northern Mongolia in Asia, this season shook up the show;s status quo, as most of the previous seasons took place in Canada.
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Season 5’s redemption gimmick makes it memorable. Since all the contestants had competed before, viewers already knew each their strategies and personalities. While some may think that re-using contestants is lazy, others would argue that it makes the show better. Ultimately, season 5 brought familiar faces to an unpredictable landscape, which increased not only the tension but also the entertainment experience.
5Season 9 (2022)
Winner - Juan Pablo Quiñonez
Aloneseason 9 saw contestants trying to survive in arguably the harshest conditions yet. It took place in the Arctic region of Nunatsiavut, Labrador, Canada, with the nearest town being 21 miles away — certainly not walking distance. Contestants had to keep themselves alive by relying on the abundant wildlife in the area like beavers and caribou. Juan Pablo Quiñonez survived for a whopping 78 days in the Canadian Arctic.
This installment does an excellent job of showing how large and remote Canada can be.It’s often not a country that people think of as being sparsely populated, but much of it is. So much of Canada, including Nunatsiavut, is remote and covered in forests filled with wild animals like Black Bears. Season 9 delivered more tension than any other and made America’s neighbor to the north look more formidable than ever.
4Season 1 (2015)
3Winner - Alan Kay
Of course, season 1 is pivotal to Alone because it is the History show’s maiden voyage. Season 1 establishes theAloneformula by pitting 10 contestants against each other in pursuit of survival in harsh conditions. Like season 2,Aloneseason 1 takes place in Quatsino, Port Hardy, British Columbia, and it does well to set up the series' underlying tension right away.
Aloneis not a particularly story-based show; it’s more about surviving, and season 1 understands that assignment. Episodes and concepts are clear and to the point, so as not to confuse viewers. But, make no mistake,Alonebrings the intensity right away. The winner, Alan Kay, lost over 45 pounds and lived off mainly limpets and seaweed. He wontheAlonecompetitionby surviving for 56 days. What a way to win $500,000.
2Season 4 (2017)
Winners - Jim and Ted Baird
Season 4 shook up theAloneformula in a big way. Instead of 10 individual contestants,the show changed to a pair format.Seven pairs of family members, from siblings to spouses, worked together to survive. Brothers Jim and Ted Baird eventually won the contest. Season 4 took place in Quatsino, British Columbia, Canada.
This installment makes things more intense by having the competitors interact with each other more. Following seven pairs allowed for intricate character moments that the other seasons didn’t have simply becauseAlonehad only followed individuals prior. The season is fittingly titledLost & Foundbecause the pairs started out separated and had to come together by the end of the season.Season 4 dropped theAloneformat on its head, and it paid off with intense survival and character moments.
