User Reviews

The 'expirement' itself is quite interesting: placing volunteers into a local county jail.

The result is a candid view into why many jails are more corrosive than corrective in the USA. They even had one person unexpectedly report to court because of a clerical error (he had the same name of someone.)

I was surprised, but not shocked, at how lazy and terrible many of the 'correctional' officers were at their job. I don't think it's unique in this jail, but some of these officers simply suck at their jobs.

As for editing, they repeat many of the clips over and over again, that I had to wonder if I had already seen the episode. I counted a few clips being replayed across numerous episodes at least 10 times.

In all, an interesting perspective into the problems within the jails/justice system of the USA.

I didn't expect to be engrossed in this "fish out of water" reality series, but I am.

To start, it's not really like anything I've seen before, and if you've watched as much reality series as I have, that's saying something. It starts off with 7 people chosen to participate in an undercover operation of sorts, and the danger is real. One wonders why ordinary people (and some are exceedingly ordinary) would be chosen for an operation like this. You almost think it's not going to happen - then they're immersed into this American jail hell.

I'm not going to give very much away at all, and it's really easy to. I'll just say that is is totally worth one's time, especially if you like crime or incarceration shows. There's one person that stands out, and you get the feeling that he isn't going to last long. Will he be killed? Quite possibly. And it will have been his own fault. One should really follow jail house rules... or else.

I like this show, it shows an interesting perspective from the inside. But the complaints they have were not shown inside or shown on the footage.

I am always quick to watch this show because it's a favorite and love it but this season the music is making the show unwatchable. I don't want to watch on mute with subtitles, even those have little music notes. I would love to watch this season. They bought the wrong music for this show.

I'm writing this simply to address a comment I saw. First off, the show is interesting even if some of the participants are frustratingly annoying.

Ryan definitely gets undeserved hate. Why? Because he's intelligent, literate, well spoken, and self confident? Please. People are jealous. Period. He's level headed, focused, and determined. So he's sure of himself. He doesn't do it in a cocky way or a brash, hateful way. It's direct and to the point.

On to the comment. Feels bad for Ashleigh and condemns Zac. Really? You're ignorant. She was instigating everything. He tried to get her mind off of things. He tried to have a conversation. He'd already been through it. She just wanted to be hateful because he wasn't babying her. Because she's an attention wh---.

I guarantee that's why she went on the show. She was jealous Zac got "famous" and got positive accolades. He got attention. She wanted some. It's painfully obvious. Then to devalue his experience in war and say her "ordeal" was worse?? F that. She's an idiot. And I can't believe, unless she ate some humble pie and begged for forgiveness, that he stuck with that self centered b word.

She berated him. She was nasty when he tried to have a simple, light hearted conversation. Obviously he tried more than they showed because at some point he mentioned emails. She didn't care. She even hated on him for trying to get a good job and career started for the family and doing a promotional thing (which was probably in his contract) for the show.

People who put Zac down and don't point out her selfish, hateful attitude are probably as bad as she is. Sit down.

An interesting program but should have been edited when the adverts were removed for Netflix.

You get a fully explained event then it is explained all over again a second later just after where the advert should have been.

Hard to stop watching though!

If you haven't done time you probably can't appreciate how accurate the portrayal of doing time in remand centers is, the absolute inhumane conditions people are subjected to is 100% accurate, the corruption and ignorance of the staff at the jails is 100% accurate.

As someone who has done time I found it thoroughly enjoyable to see participants who had a negative view of inmates and positive view of the justice system getting the rude awakening they deserve!

Even better when some of them have been the police officers who entered the show and seen what they were subjecting people they arrested to then having a total change of perspective.

The criminal justice system is a justice system run by real criminals and the cruel/unusual punishment people are subjected to because of it never reforms or rehabilitates as the system relies on crime continuing.

Come on people, REAL participants PRETENDING to be inmates, at risk of getting killed.

This is truly the best reality TV I have ever watched. I've never seen so many episodes filled with such dramatic tension, as we glued our eyes to the TV wondering what kind of shenanigans the inmates would be up to this week.

What else can I say? The producers and everyone involved in making this show did a superb job. The cameras and mics set up in an inmate population managed to capture all the drama perfectly for a TV audience.

The only thing I had against this show is that you should feel guilty watching it.

I mean these are real innocent participants who enter a prison and could be beaten or killed. I think there is something moral involved with not wanting to watch it for the sake of the safety of innocent people.

But once you get over that hurdle, it is a show of the best entertainment drama.

Update: After watching the finale, we learn what is in store for Season 2 and I already can't wait to start watching again. Best show ever. Thank you Sheriff Jamey Noel. If I ever meet you, it would be an honor to buy you a beer.

The show is ok. The police officer tami is soooooo annoying. She talks a big game but than starts crying all the time. Shes like a chihuahua

Such a good show and a great idea, jails all over the country should try doing this.

(9/17/16 update for S2 below)

Engrossing, intense, REAL.

I just finished the 10th episode, and I'm already going through withdrawals.

It's doesn't get any more "real" than such regular, INNOCENT, people being LOCKED UP with convicted criminals, in a confined, OVERCROWDED, "Cell block."

I can't believe how well they put it together.

First, the "Cast." Yes, most of the volunteers are relatively "normal" (most ;-), but we get the full spectrum (includes a Marine, school teacher, COP, military wife, and even Muhammad Ali's daughter).

Next, you have top notch production and editing. We get VERY coherent stories, as if it was written. Our "characters" are so interesting and relatable, you'd think they are also written. Then, the perfect music (not overkill; they are careful to let the events do the talking - the music just subconsciously amplifies those events).

Lastly, reality. Very, very, real, reality. You feel like you're there. With the spectrum of "characters," you're going to relate to all of them at some point, in some way.

Some of them are really good. Some of them aren't.

From a psychology perspective alone, it's got to be groundbreaking (to my knowledge, we've never gotten this kind of insite into that world, through so many different perspectives). We get to see profound examples of alternate perspectives. It's amazing how the same thing is perceived at diametrically opposing ends of the spectrum, AND FROM PERFECTLY "NORMAL" PEOPLE. Everything is amplified tenfold in that environment, so you get to see OUR tendencies under a microscope. It really makes you think.

UPDATE (5/27/16): I've finished the season, and it only gets better as you get deeper and deeper, but they REALLY need to replace the guy that does the finale interview. He's a new anchor, and he's obnoxiously FAKE. He completely feigns emotion, and never actually levels with the guests or audience. It's awkward and insulting.

CBS made the EXACT same mistake having Bryant Gumbel host the finale interview for Survivor, but replaced him with the much more natural and REAL Jeff Probst.

CBS, please replace this guy with a NATURAL and REAL person.

UPDATE (9/17/16): I'm 5 episodes into S2, and I went into it thinking S1 was a fluke because the "characters" were so damn good, but I was wrong. They've found great subjects for this season as well, and, though I miss "The Operator" (Zac), I'm still VERY engrossed in the show, and look forward to every episode.

This IS a show about reality and it is on television but this has never been done before, not like this. An unprecedented look into the broken system that needs fixing, more needs to be done to bring the horrible conditions prisoners face to light. This show makes you see that people who are incarcerated are people too and being locked up does nothing to help anyone or anything. We need more shows like this so we can open up a dialogue and make changes, not to exploit the prisoners but to better conditions.

Seems pretty fun, Fake? Yes in certain ways

It's entertaining tho But ok let's make this clear

Its a "undercover" show They are being recorded Cameras all over How's that going to work?

Idk

Very fake seems like those TruTV shows...

This is a very entertaining show, it has a great perspective of what life is like inside America's County Jails. It is very easy to get attached to some of the participants. One of AE best shows yet.

Look, I love watching the show! My biggest problem with it is the shows producers could at the very least give the participants a believable cover story so they aren't jacked up as soon as the first inmate asks them "what are you in for"?!! They shouldn't have to come up with their own story, and they definitely shouldn't be given a BS story that the entire pod is going to question!!! If the participants back stories are given to them by the producers, then they should either be fired, or praised.... Depending on which story they're given!!!

It's a good show to watch and not have to think about anything that's going on in the show. It's fake but it's still entertaining. It's a classic show that you don't feel proud of watching but you can't get enough off

ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING LOOKS AT THE HUMAN PSYCHE PUT TO ITS LIMITS. ACCIDENTALLY, AND BY WAY OF TRYING TO SURVIVE GOING TO JAIL. THE SURVIVAL MODE INSTINCTIVELY KICKS IN AND MANIFESTS DIFFERENTLY-DEPENDING ON GHE PERSON.

IF YOU THINK YOU KNOW YOURSELF, GOING TO JAIL IS NOT THE PLACE TO FIGURE OUT THAT YOU ARE NOT THE PERSON YOU THINK.

I'm watching season one, 11 episodes in, on Netflix. The episodes are out of order and there's even an episode from another season thrown in there. For example, they are showing some of the participants 1st night in on the 11th episode. I hope the other seasons aren't like this.

The show has an interesting idea and it's nothing I've seen before, but I feel like if I have. It's just like every other reality TV show. Some of the participants do extremely well, but others do so badly you wonder how on Earth they've survived this long.

Each episode is about 40 minutes long and they only use what seems like 15 minutes of footage. Constantly jumping back in forth to the women's cell block to the men's, repeating everything that just happened over and over again. It's obvious A&E is just trying to stretch out as many episodes (money) as possible which ruined the show for me. Sorry they just lost a viewer.

I found this show and got immediately hooked on it. All of the participants, except Robert, were likeable and relatable. It was fascinating seeing them all go through their experiences. They risked their mental & physical health, not to mention their lives in some cases. I think most of them made the jail a better place for being there. Good for Sherrif Maples for doing this. Very good show to watch.

This is a great show for anyone wanting to know more about the jail system. I'm writing a crime story and this show has given me a lot of insight on what jail is really like.

The show is tough to watch at times. There are some real gritty moments. I've been in jail as a part of documentary crew but we were accompanied by a CO and kept totally safe. Even still, when you're inside the reality of situation clicks in as soon as the sally port door closes behind you. This show is as close as you can get to experiencing jail without dealing with the smell and the general feeling of insanity.

I do have to say this, the jail in Season 6, the Etowah County Detention Center in Gadsden, Alabama, is a total disgrace. The place is filthy and totally unsafe. The doors don't lock which should be a crime, in itself. The COs have no control over the inmates. I've just started watching that season but if they didn't make major reforms, after the show was there, the place should be shut down. It is an absolute hell hole.

Definitely a great reality TV series. They really convey the grit and grind of jail and how bad it is.