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My latest Netflix obsession is an adventurous look into the life of the Alaskan Coast Guard

Cape Town – It’s time again to let you in on my secret Netflix obsession for the week! 

Every week I take you down the back alleys of Netflix’s most random shows and share my epic and sometimes offbeat finds. 

I explore the underbelly of the online streaming service to find real hidden gems that don’t get the shine they deserve.

Here’s my secret Netflix obsession this week:

SHOW: Coast Guard Alaska

SECRET RATING: 4/5

SEASONS: 2 seasons (20 episodes) available on Netflix SA.

WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?:

The program follows a team of Coast Guard swimmers and rescue pilots in Alaska. The docuseries showcases how the brave men and women of the unit balance their work with their family lives and how each deals with the pressures associated with the job. 

The series also explores what life is like on the base in an area very dependent on weather conditions while the workers are off duty. The group enjoys many of nature's offerings, including fishing, bear watching and old-fashioned barbecues with friends and family.

WHAT I THOUGHT:

Kodiak, Alaska is one of seven communities and the main city on Kodiak Island. It's a beautiful place surrounded by the sometimes deadly and dangerous ocean. 

Kodiak is also where the pilots and swimmers from the Coast Guard are national heroes – and rightly so. The small towns in the area really depend heavily on these men and women to keep them safe and rescue them out of sometimes extremely scary situations.

My favourite part of the show has to be the helicopter rescue crew who battle rough weather conditions whilst performing life-saving operations. Some of their most daring rescues include saving a critically injured fisherman, launching an urgent aerial search for a missing person, racing to reach a victim who fell off a 200-foot cliff and helping a desperate crew off a sinking boat. 

It’s all action all the time.

We also get a glimpse behind-the-scenes and see how these men and women train and prepare for their hardcore jobs. 

SHOULD YOU WATCH IT?:

Absolutely! This show has got action, adventure and drama all packed into each thrilling episode. It’s nerve-wrecking to watch these men and women take on the impossible and come to the rescue of people in their darkest times. It’s also fascinating to get a glimpse into the lives of these real-life heroes.

The launch of the show in 2011 on The Weather Channel saw a ratings increase of 95% for the channel. That says it all.

WATCH A TEASER HERE:

MY PREVIOUS OBSESSIONS:

Outback Trackers - In the Australian Outback when the going gets tough the tough drive trucks.

How Clean Is Your Crime Scene - At crime and accident scenes around Oakland, California, Neal Smither and his hard-working crew clean the messes that criminals and cops leave behind.

See you next week!

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