Is Snowflake Mountain real? The likelihood of the show’s scripted nature explored
Netflix’s latest reality series Snowflake Mountain has divided people on its credibility as the unscripted show it claims to be. The eight-episode series takes us on the journey of “ten spoiled young adults experiencing nature without a parental safety net”.
The series portrays a diverse cast from around the world who learn to survive the wilderness under the tutelage of military veterans, Matt Tate and Joel Graves. Produced by Jo Harcourt-Smith and Cal Turner, Snowflake Mountain balances awkward moments with equally wholesome interactions as the episodes go on. The only question is – how much of it is scripted?
Viewers have pointed out the feasibility of Snowflake Mountain being scripted in some of its pivotal scenes
The series generated quite a discourse online from the very first episode for being scripted. One scene, in particular, stood out to the viewers; a scene where the suitcases of the contestants were set on fire to teach them a lesson about not being materialistic.
People were quick to point out that the action seemed a bit too wild, even for a reality show. For instance, a Twitter user wrote:
“Just tell me that Snowflake Mountain is an adaptation of total drama island… How can they be burning suitcases of people and laugh about it?”
Besides, the same episode shows that the contestants, who are all adults, were supposedly ‘misled’ into the wilderness by the show’s team and their parents under the promise of a luxurious trip to an upscale resort.
It is unlikely that the cast was unaware of the premise of the show while making the journey to a remote mountainside and being filmed at the same time. Moreover, it is well-established that participants of any reality show are obligated to sign detailed contracts with the show makers and be made aware of its premise before the filming takes place.
“I feel that the show is somehow scripted. They could not have been deceived by their parents to be on their way to a 5-star hotel, all contestants are above 18 years old. Likely need to sign NDA’s and legal mambo-jumbo, and sell their likeability in perpetuity to Netflix for their show,” explained a Reddit user.
Reviewers expressed concern over the use of the politically-charged term ‘snowflake’ in the show’s title
Apart from suspicions of being scripted, reviews by media outlets have noted that the term ‘snowflake’ is usually associated with right-wingers and questioned Netflix for politicizing a reality series.
On the other hand, Stuart Heritage of The Guardian disparaged Snowflake Mountain for patronizing and caricaturing the Gen Z cast by reducing them to their “worst characteristics”. In his review of the show, he wrote:
“Of course, none of it is real. As the series wears on, you quickly come to realize that neither the snowflakes nor the mentors are quite as two-dimensional as they seem. The contestants quickly adapt to their new situation, and the mentors become reliable shoulders to cry on. They climb a mountain together.”
However, Vanity Fair has reviewed that the show did not contain any political content. The only criticism of note it implied was the fact that contestants were housed in comfortable outhouses, provided with proper attires and ready-made food in the wilderness despite its survival theme.
