CBS’s newest reality competition show The Summit has now aired three episodes. I’ve watched them all… and I’m firmly convinced that this show makes no sense.
The premise? A group of 16 Americans is transported to New Zealand and told that they have 14 days to reach the summit of that big mountain over yonder. The contestants all look shocked and awed.
Big question right off the bat: What did they think they’d be doing? Seriously, I want to know — they all auditioned for a show… knowing what? I think the fact that they’re expected to climb a mountain is pretty crucial.
The rules of the show are explained in small bits and pieces, but what we (and presumably, the contestants) know at the start is as follows: They’ll be ascending the mountain as a group. They’re each carrying 1/16th of one million dollars — in cash — in their backpacks. If they reach the summit by the 14th day, they keep the money. If they don’t reach it, or if they arrive late, they get nothing. And if someone quits (which, as we learn in the first episode, includes medical evacuation), their share of the money goes with them.
It therefore seems in everyone’s best interest to make sure everyone succeeds, right?
Clearly, not everyone is prepared for this adventure. There are a few strong, outdoorsy, athletic types, but also some less fit folks who’ve never hiked or had an outdoor adventure before. A group of moms bond quickly, a few bros seem to break out early, and some out-of-shape people struggle from the beginning.
The group is also warned before they start their trek that the “mountain’s keeper” will be watching. It’s made to sound vaguely mumbo-jumbo-ish — no one has any idea what this means.
Pretty much from the first step, certain players are already scheming, and it’s not clear why. Why are some players looking for divisions and trying to create alliances? Nothing we’ve heard so far indicates that that’s necessary. Aren’t they all just trying to reach the top? Doesn’t it make sense to support one another and root for the entire team to succeed?
Almost immediately, there’s trouble. The initial walk, even without an ascent, is harder than it looks, and there are slower people at the back of the pack who are chatting and acting like they’re out for a stroll. As soon as they start the first ascent, it’s clear that many of these people aren’t really up for this. It’s a struggle, and certain players need a lot of help, with one even giving their backpack to a stronger climber just to make it up the hill.
A major obstacle lies in wait — a difficult rope bridge that must be crossed in pairs. As the duos go across, the Mountain’s Keeper* shows up. This turns out to be a black helicopter with tinted windows, so it appears to be otherworldly in some way — we never catch a glimpse of people flying the thing. It hovers over the landing spot on the far side of the bridge and drops a bag with instructions: The group is behind where they need to be to make it to their first checkpoint before nightfall, and they have a choice. They can help the last player across (who happens the be the oldest and least fit player, and is also solo because one person has already been medivac’d out), or they can choose to leave him, save the time it would take to bring him across, and hopefully pick up the pace.
The group votes to bring the player across, in a show of empathy that may come back to bite them, and they don’t make the checkpoint. The show’s host meets them on the mountain to inform them — in a scolding/disappointed tone — that they’re out of time for the day and must make a “bivvy camp” — sleeping outdoors, no tents, and with just the dried food in their packs. What’s more, he reminds them, it’s only day one, and they’re already behind. At this rate, they won’t reach the summit in 14 days.
*The Mountain’s Keeper is a weird and creepy concept. Sometimes, it shows up to drop a bag with instructions and tools to carry out a task, but sometimes is just comes to hover menacingly. When someone with a fear of heights is struggling up a flimsy rope hanging from a cliff, the Mountain’s Keeper flies up near him and is just there, until that person gets moving again.
The group struggles on the next day, eventually reaching their first checkpoint — a much nicer camp, with pre-built all-weather tents, a fire, and plenty of delicious food and drinks. They’re all excited, but the host — continuing his role as party-pooper-deluxe — arrives to explain that everything has a cost, including the checkpoints. At each checkpoint along the climb, the group must decide to send one person off the mountain (i.e., vote them out) and “steal” their money. The person who gets voted out must cede the money from their backpack, which then gets divided up amongst the remaining players and added to the stash they’re carrying.
Okay… so keeping in mind that the goal is to reach the summit within 14 days or they all get nothing, as well as the endless reminders that they’re already behind where they should be, wouldn’t it make sense to start cutting the slowest players? The group has to stay together — it would make no difference if the most fit people forged on ahead and reached the summit early. They either make it as a group, or they all fail.
But no, apparently my logic isn’t the group’s logic. Instead, this becomes a game of alliances, just like every other reality competition on TV. Let’s break up the people who are loyal to each other! Let’s cut someone whose negativity is annoying! And in a later episode, let’s cut one of the strongest people because… reasons?
By the 3rd checkpoint and vote-out, the group has clearly split into factions, and there’s a lot of talk about getting out the big dogs, the ones who are strongest and tend to take the lead. But why? The 3rd person voted out had just done an excellent job of reading the map (different people take the leader role each day, with varying levels of success and/or getting the group lost) — but apparently doing a good job as leader made him a target. Again, why? Isn’t it in the group’s best interest to keep the capable people, who help the entire group succeed?
Apparently the logic in taking out the stronger people is that the weaker folks want to target the strong folks first, to keep the strong folks from picking off the weaker folks one by one. Okay… but if you’re left with the people who are struggling to keep up and who hold the pace back, how will they ever reach the summit?
There’s also the awkwardness of the voting process itself. No secret ballots on The Summit — the host shows up, sits with everyone around the campfire, and asks what names have been coming up. Once a couple of names have been mentioned, he asks people to raise their hands if they want person A voted out, then raise your hands if you want person B to be gone. That’s it. It’s public, and the only people up for votes are those whose names get mentioned in that moment. There isn’t an option for a quiet sub-group to sneak in another candidate, and with the voting done by show of hands, it makes it unlikely that people would be willing to stick their necks out or not go along once they see which way the majority is trending.
Beyond the craziness of the alliance/vote-out system, there’s the overall sense that this show has a very questionable approach to safety. First of all, I don’t think people who are not prepared, trained, or in condition for a climb should be climbing. I can only imagine real-life mountaineers tearing out their hair while watching this show.
Second, a decision-point came up that I found shocking, and I’m guessing this type of scenario will continue to pop up in one form or another. At one point, the Mountain’s Keeper dropped another bag, this time with an offer (as well as a scolding). The group is behind yet again. They can choose to send two people (presumably, the slowest) by helicopter to the next camping point, while the rest continue to hike and hopefully make up a bit of time. There’s a price, of course: If they choose this option, the group will have no food that night. Two people (the rational ones, in my opinion) vote against this option: They’ve burning through calories like crazy, and they can’t risk giving up food. But everyone else votes to send the two slowest by helicopter, and seem to feel the others lack empathy, which will definitely be held against them.
So why am I shocked? Because this isn’t safe! You have a group of 12 people (? maybe ? — I’ve lost count by this point) who need to get up the next day and hike another 5 – 10 miles over harsh, steep terrain before getting any more food. How are they supposed to have the strength to do that? The climb is dangerous enough as is, and now they’re supposed to do it in a weakened state? Who approved this nonsense? This isn’t Survivor, where players (a) know in advance that starving is part of the game, (b) are in a relatively safe setting and (c) have instant medical care available. Sure, The Summit has cameras and crew alongside the players, so we can assume medical staff as well — but how does that help if a hungry player gets dizzy, keels over, and tumbles down the mountain?
Ugh. I’m annoyed now that I’ve watching three 90-minute episodes of this nonsense. Sure, a part of me is curious to see what happens next… but it’s also so ridiculous a premise that I don’t think I can actually stand to watch a moment more.
I started watching The Summit with no prior knowledge, simply based on having seen the promos and the fact that it airs right after Survivor. After watching these three episodes, I was curious to see if there were any reviews out there, and in Googling the show, discovered that this was originally an Australian TV show that’s aired two seasons so far. There’s also a British version in development, and apparently a Norwegian version was shut down mid-production after one contestant suffered cardiac arrest and died during the filming.
Reading more about the Australian seasons gives me a pretty good idea of how the rest of this American season will go, and reinforces my inclination to just give it up. The scheming and manipulation don’t sit well with me. Before I started the show, I was drawn to the idea of seeing people rise to meet the physical and emotional challenges of the climb — but as it’s playing out, it’s just one more reality competition show about alliances and blindsides. Even with an awesome mountain as the goal, too much of this feels like a “been there, done that” setup. I don’t think I’ll give it any more of my time.
Want to know more? I couldn’t find a ton of reviews from newspapers or entertainment outlets, which leads me to guess that most just didn’t think it was worth bothering with. Here’s the review from USA Today — which I read after writing this post, but we happen to be very much aligned!
Tell me — is anyone else watching The Summit? Does anyone have another perspective to share?
Bookshelf Fantasies 
This look like most things on TV, a total waste of time. I’d rather read a book!
Hear, hear! I tend to unwind in front of the TV for an hour or so most evenings, but there are plenty of other choices for me!
😊
I feel like this must be mostly staged for entertainment value. There are probably people off camera making sure no one falls off the bridge, lol. But the whole concept seems overly dramatic and like the producers are trying to top other shows.
Oh, I think you’re right — but putting aside the stunts like crossing rickety bridges (which they’re wearing harnesses for), they’re walking over rocky ridges and slippery terrain… If it were me, I’d probably have twisted an ankle (or worse) by the 2nd day!
i totally agree with you about some of it being staged.
i think it will also bring out the bullies.
Why would you think it would bring out the bullies? Its not beneficial for a person to bully anyone on the mountain as it will come back to bite them at the end. How about you just enjoy the show for what it is…entertainment and stop trying to “real life” this
This is one of the dumbest shows I’ve heard about in a while. On paper, it might sound interesting, but they totally trashed the execution. One of the many reasons I’ve never been into “reality” TV.
I wanted to check it out because of the New Zealand setting, and because I thought it would be focused on the team effort to achieve something… but nope, just another dumb competition.
What is the point of “Summit” if there are slower contestants that reach camp a little later than the first ones to arrive as long as they all make it there? I didn’t see a time frame for making it to camp. It also seems that the show puts contestants in jeopardy if they are not in physical condition to make this climb. This show needs to be thought through on many levels. I’ve watched 3 episodes and not much of it makes sense to me. Perhaps this one is not for me.
I agree completely, and after watching three episodes, I’ve decided not to continue. The emphasis seems to be on game-play and twists, rather than on the climb itself, and selecting contestants who aren’t in condition for the physical aspects just seems irreponsible.
I want to know how do you win. How many get paid. That would explain the vote off process
I ended up looking up the Australian version of the show to see how that turned out, and it explains the voting off a little bit, but only if the contestants are aware of the details ahead of time, and supposedly, they’re not. This whole thing seems like a bad idea to me.
Yes THANK YOU!! I consider myself A reasonably intelligent person but can’t for the life of me understand voting off strong players while keeping all the weak out of shape people, if the whole group has to make it in a certain amount of time?!?! Yay Beckylee or whoever, you got rid of strong nice players. Good luck getting your gaggle of slow people up with you?!?! I’m so irritated I watched this! They could at least make it make sense!!
It really is ridiculous! I would have been happy watching a show about a random group of people struggling to make it up a mountain together, but this element of scheming and targeting the strong people seems so opposite what the team needs as a whole to succeed. I’ve quit the show… not willing to give it any more of my time.
i am glad im not the only one who thinks voting off the strong players is ridiculous. I don’t think the rules were thought through. I wonder if the ending will be just as stupid.
If they’re following the rules and twists that the Australian version used, then yes, it will be stupid!!
Great Review!
I had 2 lookup a review of this show to see what I was not understanding~.
After the 3rd episode I am DONE. Voting out the strongest players makes zero sense. We’re losing brain cells just by watching these people.
I’m Out.
Thanks! I’m out too. Three episodes was more than enough to decide that this show is awful.
we should keep watching and root for them NOT to reach the summit and lose the money!!!
i am going to continue watching just to hope the remaining idiots lose the money
It’s ridiculous! I mean they have 14 days to make it to the summit, or no one gets the money. And yet, they keep voting off strong players! And they look so smug or pious doing this! Definitely not a fan of this show!!
lets hope they don’t make it!!!
THANK YOU!! I have no idea why they are looking at the game as a strategy game and NOT a teamwork game???? I want to know what they were told by producers. Part of me thinks that there will be some endurance challenge at the end to weed out a winner of the entire remaining pot. If they had some clue to this it would make more sense to get out strong players. The way I see it, no one will be able to get up the summit if they do not work together. TBH I can’t see this getting another season, but I’m having a decent enough time.
You raise a great question — I wonder if the contestants were told information that we viewers didn’t see. Otherwise, the alliances and strategizing don’t make sense, rather than focusing on working together to reach the summit.
if you watched the first 2 shows (in Canada anyway) you would not have all the questions. It’s a great show, the mountain keeper does not want all the money to make it to the summit. Obviously some unfair stuff happens.
When I first saw an ad for The Summit I thought it might be interesting. It reminded me of the adventure races like Eco-Challenge that would air on Discovery Channel back when learning-tier channels were actually good instead of their own brand of reality TV glazed with a thin veneer of science. Something similar aired recently but I forgot what it was called. It was several teams of two that had to traverse a long course over several days but only the team that reached the end first would win. Still, despite knowing they were in the back, several teams still pushed on because it was more about them finishing at all than winning the prize.
Adventure race-type shows already have compelling drama as racers often reach a point where they must dig deep. They’re physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted but try to find it in themselves to push on. It’s the racers versus the land but also versus themselves, their inner demons, and the tension between the spirit crying “go on” when the body wants to just stop.
The Summit attempted to take that and roll it in with the catty, divisive interpersonal drama that you see on shows like Survivor or Big Brother. One way they do this in the parts that I’ve seen (usually when it’s on that channel because the news is about to come on) is they create manufactured drama. They present the contestants with choice points that not only force them to make choices that challenge their ethics, such as choosing to leave a teammate behind to gain an advantage, but stir up group conflict when these choices create even more tension.
The contestants vs. the mountain and their own personal struggles is already enough to make for compelling TV without adding artificially-injected DUH-RAMMMAAAAAA!!!
One of the things that is so enjoyable and inspiring with adventure race programs is seeing teams that are technically competing help each other out and cheer each other on. You get to see a glimmer of the best in people and the perseverance of the human spirit in a time when there is so much divisiveness in the world and on TV.
The Summit, however, goes for the low-hanging fruit and takes what you already have with adventure races and manufactures moments of hurt, betrayal, and backstabbing. It’s unnecessary within the framework of what they already had.
And let’s not forget their black-clad, grizzled lump of a host swaddled with just a soupcon of toxic masculinity who shows up to deliver the harsh news, force them to make the hard choices imposed by the show, and overall just swagger in for an extra dose of manufactured drama. At least with Survivor you can see Jeff Probst has done some work on how to conduct tribal council in ways that does create that drama reality TV feeds on like a parasitic fungus while also checking in with everyone’s psychological wellbeing.
The host of The Summit, though… I’m surprised he doesn’t hold their little meets on some scenic overlook so he can yell, “THIS IS SPARTA!” and kick the person voted out off of the ledge.
I assumed it was going to be like Survivor or The Amazing Race or even Bear Grylls . It’s not, it’s boring and dumb. The creepy Mountain Keeper guy has the personality of a rock. Total waste of time.
Agree 100%, the deception in the premise portrayed to viewers is that they actually climb a mountain.
After watching several episodes they walk to one task per checkpoint and another short walk to next checkpoint. They must transfer them to checkpoints to appear as if they climb (or never move at all). This may be why no one on the show cares about time and the vote is untethered to the stated goal. Basically they could have filmed the whole thing on a ropes course and the result would be the same.
Perform a task with and vote to reduce the prize amount.. LOL
Extrapolate on the fact time is not a factor (as portrayed to viewers), and the players realize this on the first checkpoint. This would completely change the strategy of a strong player to eliminate other strong players (threats) and keep other physically challenged players hoping they can’t complete a ropes course challenge or 2 mile walk.
This would explain why this makes absolutely no sense on strategy of players. The only time weaker contestants are eliminated is when the host forces them too. At first, I blamed the players, but realized it is the deception portrayed by the producers that will kill this show.
In reality this is Survivor if you had the opposite of an immunity challenge and could vote out threats that are left. Why not just tell viewers and contestants the same thing so it doesn’t appear so counterintuitive to viewers. The time and mountain are just background.
These players are just trying to get a bigger piece of the money that is left. They seem to know completing the checkpoints and summit is a given not a challenge.
CBS – The show is, Big Brother on a mountain.
Y’all are whiners. It’s a cool TV show.
I have fond memories of tramping and climbing mountains in NZ, so I was naturally drawn to the show. I only made it through one episode, then lost interest. I can’t believe they voted out the tough woman with military experience right off the bat. That was a WTF? moment.
I agree 100%. What a disappointment! I really enjoy mountaineering and that’s what initially attracted me to the show & how gorgeous New Zealand is. A much more interesting premise would’ve been for people from different walks of life (but in better shape) all helping each other get to the summit. And as you pointed out, that is what we thought the show was about. One of my favorite contestants was Dusty & when he was voted off, he said (I’m paraphrasing): “I look for people who help the group and are honest & trustworthy. That’s how a leader would decide. I wouldn’t feel good about myself otherwise”. Go Dusty! Some other great people got voted off early also. Right now, I kind of don’t want anyone to win the money because of how they’ve been behaving. The show’s creators have not prioritized safety, they are not presenting good role models, & I don’t even like who I am when I’m watching it!! Time to change the channel!!
Agree that this has been a disappointment – getting rid of the stonger hikers because they are a “threat” is just stupid. Guess I will try to watch the finale, but I am in agreement with those who don’t want them to make as they don’t really deserve to based on their scheming and lying !
I won’t watch this again. Nick .. seriously. Punkin did things with morals and they went with Nick. I hope they watch that show back and kick themselves with that decision. This wasn’t about who played the best game strategically .. that got them to the top .. it’s who played the best morally. Punkin deserved it. Waste of my time and won’t watch again.
agreed
My husband and I agree totally with the article written. We decided to watch the season to see if we could make any sense out of this show.
it was a total disappointment and waste of our time.
I am so glad someone else disected this the way I did. The first episode my first thought was, how could they be surprised and shocked? They had to audition. The at least 30 hour flight to New Zealand, then transported God knows how long to the first site of the initial shoot for the opener, there is absolutely no chance these people had no clue what they signed up for.. Then the host was just the production trying way too hard to add intrigue. Then when it came to the “mountains keeper” I stopped watching. Took about a month before I couldn’t find anything to watch and gave it another shot. The helicopter keeper is just a lame Idea. I’m a private pilot and Helicopters has always been something I’ve nerded out over and hated seeing that squirrel whored out as what seemed to be a pathetic attempt to add more mystery to the show, which failed miserably in my book. It was like they tried hard to meld together Survivor, Amazing Race, and the mole, all together into one.. Just another so called reality show that was highly scripted from the minds of a country just trying to break into the “reality survival” Genre that has had all the juice squeezed from it decades ago.. I found this page just trying to find out who the pilot of the keeper was Fred North.. I think he would have laughed this off but I was still curious of the technicals behind it..
And by the way, Yes Fred North and Didier Delsalle were both highly skilled helicopter pilots that have worked on pretty much everything you have seen in movies and TV shows..