Watch The Selection

The Selection: Special Operations Experiment is an intensive and gritty reality series that premiered in 2016 on the History Channel. Inspired by the challenging selection process that soldiers have to undergo to become part of the United States Special Operations community, the show pushes both its contestants and audiences to rethink what they know about mental and physical endurance.

In each season of The Selection, a small group of average individuals from various backgrounds, including professional athletes, martial arts experts, and even a former Olympian, are brought together and subjected to a series of extreme physical and mental challenges that are designed to break them down and only leave the strongest standing.

The 30-day program immerses the participants in an environment identically styled after the selection process for US Special Operations personnel. In aiming to simulate these fiercely grueling trials, the creators of The Selection ensure that the participants are pushed to their absolute limits, physically, psychologically, and emotionally. However, it's important to note that this isn't a game show format; there are no grand cash prizes, eliminations, or voting off; the only reward is the personal satisfaction of completing the program and embodying the spirit of camaraderie, resilience, and personal triumph.

A unique aspect of The Selection is the team of experts - made up of former Navy SEALs, Green Berets, and Army Rangers - who guide the participants through each task. These seasoned combat veterans provide a starling and raw glimpse into the demanding realities of their world while steering participants through every punishing stage of the experiment. Their harrowing tales of endurance and survival add a layer of authenticity and depth to the show's narrative that makes it more than just a mere test of strength and agility.

One might consider The Selection as an exploration of human potential and resilience. It delves deep into the mental fortitude it takes to be part of the Special Operations forces, a topic that is often glossed over in mainstream media in favor of dramatic gunfights and action sequences. This reality series certainly has its fair share of physical challenges, such as sleep deprivation, extreme survival courses, tough obstacle courses, and grueling interrogation simulations, but its unique selling proposition lies in its exploration of the mental aspect of survival.

The participants in The Selection discover how adaptability, perseverance, and mental grit can overpower even the toughest physical trials. The show is as much a journey of self-discovery as it is about survival, as it forces participants to confront their deepest fears and insecurities. The transformative journey that the participants undertake, therefore, becomes the core of the series.

Although the physical demands of The Selection are daunting, it's the psychological pressure the experiment seeks to apply that sets this program apart. All participants begin on a level playing field and must, over time, make peace with the reality of the experiment: to navigate the varying degrees of adversity and manage their own expectations of success or failure. It introspectively probes into the grit, determination, and mental stamina required to survive what comes their way.

The Selection: Special Operations Experiment is not your regular survival fare or your typical reality TV series. It's an astutely crafted journey that makes viewers question their own limits while providing a wealth of insight into the strength of the human spirit when faced with adversity. The show doesn't just highlight the toughness of the Special Operations forces but also exposes the fragility and vulnerability of its participants, offering viewers an honest, hard-hitting insight into the reality of true survival.

In summary, for those who enjoy genuine reality TV that provides a unique and enlightening perspective on the human psyche and its capacity to endure, The Selection: Special Operations Experiment is an absolute must-watch. This show perfectly encapsulates the essence of the selection process faced by Special Operations trainees in a manner that's both captivating and thought-provoking. Each episode gives the audience a gritty taste of the strength and determination required to face one's fears head-on, and how resilience and teamwork can play a major role in overcoming personal limitations. Be prepared for a show that truly tests and explores the limits of the human spirit in an unprecedented way.

The Selection is a series that ran for 1 seasons (4 episodes) between December 8, 2016 and on History