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Win the Wilderness: Alaska

54 replies

bugbhaer · 27/01/2020 18:55

Anyone watching?

Interesting concept, lots of interesting dynamics between the different people.

I'd love to know more about how Duane and Rena live. What resources do they have? What don't they have? What's a typical day like? What's a typical year? What's the bathroom look like?

OP posts:
WTFdidwedo · 12/02/2020 19:16

www.montenews.com/news/20200210/duane-and-rena-ose-leave-alaskan-wilderness-life-behind%3ftemplate=ampart

This has a bit of info of how the show was initially made. As for visas, there are ones for outstanding contribution to sport, arts, culture blah blah that celebrities get to go and make films, and one where you can start a business (with an obscene amount of capital mind you) to make jobs for Americans. I wondered if they would try and find a way around it that way.

Theo and Bea have a blog where they've written a bit about it as well. I think I like Pete and Jane the best but think it's quite tight as to who will actually win!

KoalasandRabbit · 24/02/2020 12:23

Been watching this too - quite enjoyable as TV but odd they just chose British couples and both of the final couples seem to have issues with the reality of owning it.

CurbsideProphet · 25/02/2020 19:10

We've been watching this. Duane and Reena have chopped and changed a bit with their views. They said some couples are too young and not ready, but equally some are too old and would struggle with the physicality of it all.

The farmers seem a lovely couple, but she admitted that they cannot afford to live there year round with the cost of her medication etc. I thought the lifestyle bloggers would have had a better chance at making a living, as they must do already? Unless they both have normal jobs on the side too!

I hadn't considered the issue of visas. I now want to know how that has been sorted.

mrswhiplington · 26/02/2020 10:53

I wonder if any of the couples regretted it when they got there and realised how much work was involved, especially the older couples. I am 58 and can't imagine living there and being self-sufficient, especially as you get older. I need a lie down after helping DH out on his allotment.Grin Maybe they are just thinking about how much it would go for when they sell it.

How do you go from living in Britain to dealing with bears outside your door and using guns in one fell swoop?

jrb123 · 26/02/2020 13:01

Here's an interesting article by the production team about how the series was made: www.broadcastnow.co.uk/factual/win-the-wilderness-alaska-bbc2/5146370.article

Bigoldwimp · 01/03/2020 21:39

Who does Rena sound like?

CurbsideProphet · 01/03/2020 22:51

Did anyone watch the final tonight? I felt it was a bit of an anti climax. Obviously it was quite emotional seeing Duane and Reena leaving etc, but there was no update on how the winners were getting on and no update on how / if any of the other couples were working towards new endeavours.

I'm so nosy I was really hoping for a little clip of how the winners are getting on! I haven't found anything online.

MaitreKarlsson · 01/03/2020 23:15

Yes I watched it - DH and I were amazed that Duane and Reena were going pretty much immediately Shock
No hand over at all?
Would presume just production editing for effect but they genuinely seemed to.be getting on the plane and leaving!
Like previous posters, could have done with more info about how D&R lived, how they met etc.
And why on earth they have chosen to now move to a 2 bed apartment in Minnesota with presumably v little land - dramatic change.

WTFdidwedo · 02/03/2020 06:18

She was a mail order bride... books.google.co.uk/books/about/Alaskan_Wilderness_Adventure_II.html?id=DOM0rgEACAAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y

I was glad with their choice, I was rooting for them a bit as they seemed like a lovely couple.

Rocketinapocket · 02/03/2020 06:34

I can’t see how they can make a living there.

CurbsideProphet · 02/03/2020 08:38

I was only surprised because Emily had admitted she couldn't live there all year round as they wouldn't be able to afford her medical insurance and medication. As Duane and Reena kept saying they wanted the winners to commit to being full time residents in Alaska I thought they would have picked the other couple.

PurpleDaisies · 02/03/2020 08:41

I really hope they go back in a year and see what they’ve done to the place.

WTFdidwedo · 02/03/2020 09:01

I wonder if Duane and Rena realised in the end that no-one would be able to stay there full time in the way they did so they just picked the best people to be stewards of sorts.

Testarossa44 · 02/03/2020 09:44

@Wtfdidwedo your first link doesn't work.

I think the best couple won, but do wonder if they'll actually make a go of it? Massive lifestyle change, plus Visa's etc. Would be good to see a follow up program to see how things work out

WTFdidwedo · 02/03/2020 10:36

www.redwoodfallsgazette.com/news/20200210/duane-and-rena-ose-leave-alaskan-wilderness-life-behind Ah apologies, this one should do!

Squashfan · 02/03/2020 13:54

I watched this too. I am thinking the medical costs of Emily's treatment alone would be a deal-breaker, but I suspect they'll be part time for awhile. Getting visas and so forth is not the easiest thing in the US. But I really enjoyed it, while at the same time thinking, nope! not for me! But farmers at least know about hard work so that's a good thing. Would love a follow-up.

mozzie55 · 02/03/2020 23:03

American Reality shows weren't interested, only the BBC which is why it was British Couples only

fedup21 · 03/03/2020 07:27

I thoroughly it was great but really wanted the copper and midwife to win-I thought that being a bit older they were better suited.

The winning chap was great (but also older) but the wife having MS wasn’t great being so isolated-I just can’t see it working. What if something happened to him? What if she really deteriorated?

The runner up couple (Scottish blond chap) were good but if the reason for them not winning was that they were too young, they should never have even been selected to be in the program!

I hope they televise they first year of them living there.

PurpleDaisies · 03/03/2020 08:00

The runner up couple (Scottish blond chap) were good but if the reason for them not winning was that they were too young, they should never have even been selected to be in the program!

I din’t think it was just their age. When they went for their first “interview” at the house they were talking about travelling the world and it came across as them not being ready to settle down there for the long haul. I think that was what did it.

BobbyBlueCat · 03/03/2020 21:38

I'm actually really annoying at who won.

If I was the Ose duo, I would have sent them home the first time the farmers visited the mountain and told them that there was ZERO chance of them affording her MS meds in the US so they couldn't ever live there full time.

In my opinion, that couple should never have won a place on the show because they took that place from a couple who could have committed full time and made a good go of it.

HermioneWeasley · 03/03/2020 21:44

I love Duane and Reena. I want a follow up programme on how they’re enjoying their new life.

Agree, once I heard the MS diagnosis, I thought it was a complete non starter. I would like to hear how it works out for them.

I don’t think anyone from this country can understand The harshness and isolation of the Alaskan wilderness - I didn’t think any of the couples were suited. They did their tasks in thr Alaskan summer- try living there when it’s 1 hour of sunlight and -15C

BobbyBlueCat · 04/03/2020 15:53

Definitely, @HermioneWeasley.

If she's out the UK for over 6 months a year, she won't get free treatment on the NHS either so that literally five and half months max she's going to be able spend at the cabin. Either that or she'll be committing fraud against the NHS if she still claims free treatment.

He already said he wouldn't want to be there without her so when she's back in UK, he will be too.

I feel really sorry for the Ose couple because the farmers were so desperate to be the winners that a 30 year dream is going to be ruined.

I actually thought female farmer came across as a bit of a cow in the last episode too, slagging off the other couple and saying they didn't deserve it as much etc.

HermioneWeasley · 04/03/2020 20:12

To be fair, I didn’t think any of the Couples were suitable.

HeronLanyon · 10/03/2020 08:22

I absolutely sobbed my heart out when Duane and reena were packing leaving and talking about their lives there. No doubt to do with having lost both of my parents recently. Ffs live is short and so full all at the same time !
I also want a follow up programme although I slightly dread it. In the end I came round to really liking the younger couple and respected her a lot for being honest and open about reservations etc. I liked him a lot by the end (took a while!).

trebletheclef · 21/09/2020 17:20

Just reviving this thread because sadly Rena died earlier this year and Duane is now asking for the house back apparently! It was in the newspaper at the weekend.

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