Families Face Frontier Hardships in New Reality Series

Unplugged teens and aspiring hitmakers headline July’s streaming releases.

When modern families trade Wi-Fi for wilderness and pop music aspirations for pioneer living, the results are both challenging and revealing. This July brings a slate of new shows exploring extremes of human experience, from 1880s homesteading to the intense world of songwriting.

Modern Families Tackle Pioneer Life

The new reality series “Back to the Frontier” thrusts three families into a grueling summer challenge: surviving on an 1880s homestead in the Rocky Mountains. Stripped of their 21st-century conveniences, the Hanna-Riggs, Halls, and Loper families must prove their ability to work the land, build shelter, and stockpile resources for winter. Parents like Jason and Joe Hanna-Riggs hope the extreme shift will foster stronger family bonds and a new appreciation for the world.

While the show offers an intimate look at their struggles, featuring considerable tears from both adults and children, it’s not a survivalist competition. Experts in history and homesteading also contribute, providing context on the original settlers. However, the casting of a gay couple has sparked backlash from some conservative groups in the United States.

“Washington Black” Adapts Acclaimed Novel

Disney+ premieres “Washington Black,” a drama based on Esi Edugyan‘s Booker-nominated novel. The series follows George Washington “Wash” Black, who escapes a 19th-century Barbados sugar plantation. His journey, aided by his scientific mentor Titch, takes him through daring aerial voyages and encounters with pirates, ultimately leading to freedom and love in Nova Scotia. Executive produced by Sterling K. Brown, the eight-part series explores themes of freedom, societal constraints, and the courage to dream against all odds.

A post shared by ABC Arts (@abc_arts)

Behind the Scenes of Chart-Topping Hits

Netflix’s “Hitmakers” dives into the competitive world of music creation, following twelve songwriters and producers as they craft new tracks for artists like John Legend and Lisa from Blackpink. The series captures three intensive songwriting camps where participants have mere hours to produce potential number-one hits. While the show aims to demystify the creative process, its blend of documentary style and reality show pacing leaves viewers questioning its exact genre. The short format of the featured songs, such as Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso,” is highlighted, with the show examining the collaborative effort behind popular music.

The show’s producers focus on the craft, with guest artist appearances feeling somewhat incidental. The question of a second season hangs in the air, adding a layer of ephemerality to the current one.

Queer Pasifika Story Explores Identity and Family

SBS’s “Moni” offers a poignant six-episode series centered on Moni, who returns to Western Sydney for his sister’s wedding. There, he encounters the apparition of his deceased mother, Tina, who is unaware of her death. The series draws on the Samoan proverb “Teu le Va” (“tend to your sacred spaces”), suggesting that true peace requires confronting unspoken truths. For Moni, this means accepting his sexuality and fully embracing his Samoan heritage. Tina, conversely, must acknowledge her parental shortcomings.

A post shared by ABC Arts (@abc_arts)

The show, part of the SBS Digital Originals initiative, is praised for its layered narrative and exploration of queer Samoan-Australian experiences, despite its modest budget. The series emphasizes the importance of cultural heritage and familial connection.

“Dr Ann’s Secret Lives” Explores Reclusive Wildlife

Nature journalist Ann Jones fronts the ABC’s “Dr Ann’s Secret Lives,” a six-part docuseries that brings viewers closer to some of the planet’s most elusive and dangerous creatures. Each episode offers an in-depth look at a different animal, starting with bull sharks on the Great Barrier Reef, followed by sea snakes in Western Australia, orangutans in Borneo, various turtle species, dugongs, and pangolins. Ann‘s characteristic enthusiasm and curiosity illuminate the often-misunderstood behaviors of these animals.

The series aims to deepen understanding of subjects like bull sharks, often perceived solely as predators, and reveals fascinating facts, such as the existence of sea snakes that hatch eggs internally. According to a recent study, approximately 90% of Australians engage with nature documentaries, highlighting a strong public interest in wildlife programming (Nature, 2022).