Discovery’s Naked and Afraid is a show that tries hard to portray minimalism. Two brave strangers with only their wits and essential tools set foot in the wilderness and risk injuries for 21 days to connect to early man.
As the name suggests, clothes are also out of excess. There is a simple narrative with the show, which has given rise to the Naked and Afraid universe. Since 2013, there have been 15 seasons with more than 180 episodes. The show was a massive hit, which even led to spin-off shows like Last One Standing, XL, and Solo.
If you have been following the show from the start, then you already know that with over 180 episodes, choosing the few best episodes is a tricky job. In this list, we will take a look at some of the best Naked and Afraid episodes.
Top Three Episodes as per IMDb
Welcome to America is on the third spot. The show was in season 15, and it featured an Australian survivalist YouTuber, Lilly, and a veteran from the UK, Sam. Now, they try to survive the desert of New Mexico.
The setting quickly becomes unfriendly for the two of them; the pond is hard to locate, and both of them must face the scorching heat and cold temperature. They also meet some deadly predators like bears, scorpions, and rattlesnakes. Sam was even stung by one Scorpion.
The second on the list is an episode from season 14, Legends and Rookies, which brings back Rylie, who has already spent 40 days in the Philippines, 60 days in Louisiana, and 21 days in Honduras, and Max, who survived 21 days in tribe challenge, 21 days solo challenge in Africa, 60 days in Louisiana and 14-day fan challenge in Panama.
Rylie injures herself in steamy coals and exits the show, and she does not want to be a burden on Noah. She handles some days on his own.
The third on the list is Legends and the Rookies. It brings back the regular Gary Golding and Matt Wright. They have been seen in many episodes. Other than this, they also clashed on Naked and Afraid XL: Africa.
On Stomping Ground, both of them shared their survival knowledge and wisdom with newbie survivalists Molly and Blair in the Limpopo Basin. They were again seen in Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing, which aired in 2023.
Other good episodes
Episode 5 of Season 10
Only one survival item was given in this episode: an animal attack survivor and an expert hunter trying to survive in the Mozambique plains. Brooke Wright, wife of Matt Wright, a top-of-the-line contestant, is teamed up with Dylan Williams, who is familiar with the wilderness.
But Dylan taps out because of bad waters, and Brooke is left alone to complete the challenge. With many twists and turns, Bite Club definitely deserves a spot on this list.
Episode 1 of Season 6
If left alone in the wild with only a valuable item and no water or food. Mental toughness is the only thing that can pull one out of isolation. Steven Hall told Amarillo that the biggest challenge he faced was to keep his mind in place.
He was paired with Chalese Meyer, a Mormon enthusiast. They were left to fight coyotes, spiders, rattlesnakes, and much more wildness.
Episode 3 of Season 9
Gabriella, a former survivalist, was paired with Brian, and they have been thinking constantly about why they were on the show.
After spending a few days in Mississippi swamps, blistering their feet and hands in the process, the duo has to survive a thunderstorm that lasted for more than a week.
Episode 1 of Season 10
This is one of the best shows ever aired, and the show drops two truly scared survivalists in an unfamiliar environment. Steven Hall and Laura Zerra are total strangers to each other and are left in a Frozen Alaska glacier. It will surely chill your spine when they both battle hypothermia and frostbite—a must-watch on this list.
Participating in Discovery’s Naked and Afraid is an adventure in the purest sense, but watching it on television, especially for those who cannot even handle a mosquito bit, is a lot better.
With its latest season airing on Discovery Plus, the reality show surely lives up to the promise of thrill and danger for the contestants and even for binge-watchers.
