Andy DehnartThe Last Alaskans returns to TV this Sunday, about one and a half years after its last season ended. That’s a long wait, but worth it for this series, which is a rare reality TV show that gives attention to both characters and craft.
For season four, The Last Alaskans is moving to a new timeslot, Sundays at 10.
While the timeslot is changing, its focus is not. The show will continue to tell the stories of four families living in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge who occupy a few of the last remaining cabins to have permits.
The clip here is from episode one, which is titled “Hit the Ground Running” and debuts Sunday night.
The series continues to include beautiful cinematography and rich characters that attracted me three years ago, when it premiered on Animal Planet.Read my full review of The Last Alaskans, and watch season 1 here.
The one family that’s missing from the preview and the show itself is Ray and Cindy Lewis and their daughters, who were only on seasons one and two.
Season four’s cast is the essentially the same as season three, although it’s expanding slightly to include Heimo and Edna Korth’s daughter, Krin and her family.
Also, Bob Harte died during production, so this season will include his death.
The season four premiere focuses on preparations for winter:
“Heimo stalks his best hunting grounds and Tyler tracks caribou as the pressure is on to get a big kill before the harsh Alaskan winter takes hold. Charlie inspects his traplines but damage from summer wildfires puts his season in jeopardy.”
And here’s the Discovery Channel’s summary of the show and the season:
“The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the largest protected wilderness in the U.S, and in 1980, the U.S. Government banned new human occupation from the refuge, leaving only seven permits for families and trappers. These modern-day pioneers return in an all-new season of Discovery Channel’s The Last Alaskans with more drive and passion than ever before.”
“This season, they face obstacles brought on by the unforgiving environment, including rising predator competition and the aftermath of forest fires, as well as the deeply personal challenges of trying to raise small children in this world and even battling life-threatening illnesses. These families and trappers will be challenged like never before as they look to continue the unique life they’ve built in the refuge.”