♪♪ Colin: Welcome to Survivalists, the adventure show where families face nature's most extreme challenges together, using the healing power of the outdoors to strengthen bonds and mend family wounds.

I'm your host, Colin O'Brady.

This season, we're venturing south to the pristine peninsula of Baja, Mexico.

People across the country have submitted why they think Survivalists can provide the breakthrough their family needs.

Competing this week is the Desuasido family from San Mateo, California.

Man: My name is Alec Desuasido, and I'm 20 years old.

Since I moved away to college, the bond with my family hasn't been the same.

I don't know how to talk to them anymore, and whenever I try, I feel like I only drive a bigger wedge between us.

I want to go on Survivalists so I can prove to my family that I'm committed to them, and willing to do what it takes to close the distance between us.

Colin: And the Pears family from Longmont, Colorado.

Girl 1: My name is Ella, and I'm 16 years old.

I have a super busy family.

Between school, sports, and my family's work, we don't have a lot of time to spend together, but when we do, we're not connecting like I think we should.

I know my sister and I are overly reliant on our phones and technology to stay in touch, but that doesn't work for everyone in my family, especially my dad.

I want to go on Survivalists and find a way for us all to communicate better.

Colin: We'll be asking them to dig deeper physically... Girl 2: I can't go any faster than this!

Woman 1: This looks a little sketchy.

Man 1: I'm exhausted, man.

Colin: Mentally... Woman 1: Perseverance, right now.

Girl 2: You guys got this!

Colin: And most importantly, emotionally.

Woman 1: Doesn't it make you feel so small in this world?

- All you care about is that, and not about us.

Colin: As they compete for a $10,000 prize.

This is Survivalists.

♪♪ Man 2: All right, yeah.

[clapping] Colin: Pears, Desuasido, welcome to Survivalists!

All: [cheering] - It's very exciting to have both families here.

Desuasido family, it seems like there's some big changes in the family recently.

Alec, talk to me about that.

- I recently moved out of home for college, and it was a big moment for me, but I still feel like I want to connect with the family.

I didn't think it would be as big of a deal as it was.

Now that I'm away at college, our relationship has been strained.

I miss just that time I had with my brother and sister, just connecting with them.

Colin: For you, Felicity, how has it been?

Do you miss your brother, or is it kinda nice to, to have a little more space?

- It's a little bit of both, you know?

It's a little bit of both.

Alec likes to boss people around a lot.

When he was gone, I was kind of enjoying just not being bossed around by him anymore.

I feel like in some ways, it's kind of like now that he's gone, I'm like the new eldest, and I'm kind of the leader of the family.

- My brother, Derek, and my sister, Felicity, I used to be their guide for life, and I'm not doing that anymore.

I do miss it.

- I wanna hear the fatherly perspective.

- I mean, just like kids have growing pains growing up, I think our family is having growing pains getting older.

The relationship has changed a lot since he went to college.

I can tell from how he acts and some of the things that he says; we have communication issues.

Felicity: There is a lot of conflict, especially because Alec is just so ambitious and driven.

Colin: For you, Alec, what would a win look like ultimately for you out here?

- A win, obviously, would be to win the race, but if, if my family's not there, I wouldn't call it a win.

I want to finish right by side-- with my family.

This trip is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for my family and I. We can focus on each other and just strengthen the bond we have with, with and in one another.

Colin: Well, thank you guys.

This is gonna be an incredible week.

Pears family?

Wanna get to know you guys a little bit more.

Ella, what's it like being out here, uh, with your family?

I know in your plea you kind of talked about you guys, you know, at this phase of life missing each other a little bit, you know, lack of communication?

- I'm really excited, just 'cause it's a lot different from what we would normally do.

We're just all going in different directions, and everyone's kind of busy doing their own thing, so there'll be, like, times where I don't see my dad for, like, what seems like all week.

We're kinda, like, on different schedules all the time.

I have all school, and then right after school, I go to practices, and most of the times my dad isn't there because he works the 48-hour shifts at the fire station.

So there's kind of a disconnect sometimes there.

- Even though we have all the technology in the world, I'm not Ella's top Snap streak, TikTok-- You know, there is somewhat of a disconnect, um, just because of our busy lives.

- Technology plays a huge role in our lives at home.

We all have our own devices that we're constantly on.

All of our kids have their own phones, and they're very into social media.

They don't know what to do with down time, so they just pick up their phone and they mindlessly scroll.

Whenever we're talking with each other, we're always distracted because we're multitasking, talking to somebody on our phone and then having a real-life conversation.

Ella: Basically everything I do has some sort of, like, relationship with technology.

Throughout the school day, I'm always on my iPad, like, doing assignments, and then, like, my phone is the main way I communicate with all my friends.

- I mean, we keep telling Ella that you only have two years left with us, and just knowing how fast the last sixteen years have gone by, I know it's gonna go by like that, so really having this quality time with her might be the last chance we ever get to do something the five of us together with no distractions like this.

- Out here with no one being on their phone, I'll be more forced to, like, communicate directly.

I think it'll also be way less distractions, so we can just focus on where we are and spending time as a family.

Colin: Both families, I love the intentions that you guys are setting.

It's gonna be an amazing adventure.

It's gonna test you.

Woman 2: Yes!

Morgan: All right!

Colin: Welcome to the deceptively beautiful Baja, Mexico.

This week, we're in the La Paz region along the eastern shore.

Over the next four days, you'll be traveling separate routes of over twenty miles across formidable terrain of both land and sea, making your way to the finish line on the remote Espiritu Island.

The competition starts right now!

It is time to go.

This is your first map that you're gonna need to navigate.

I'm gonna hand this to you, count you down.

Grab your backpacks, and off you go.

Three, two, one, go!

[overlapping chatter] Morgan: Whose pack do I have?

Colin: All right, you guys!

Good luck!

Alec: Gooo!

Ella: I can't believe we're on this.

Colin: It's day one, and the families will follow separate paths on a six-mile hike along the shoreline and through the hot, dry, rocky inland region to reach camp for the night.

Ella: How'd they get so ahead already?

Man 1: The race just started, and we are on a full sprint.

We have so much adrenaline.

Felicity: Whew, watch out for the ocean.

Alec: Let's go, yo.

Let's go, let's go!

Man 1: We just want to win.

Ella: 'Kay, we're going too fast for my liking.

You guys are being too fast.

Nina: I feel like running's not the way to go.

Ella: They're going really fast.

There was no way they could keep up the pace.

Nina: I'm not running.

It's not sustainable.

Alec: Everybody's kind of more spread out than we'd hoped, but we just got to get our energy back and motivate everyone.

Speed was a killer early on, because not everyone could keep up, and we were getting too separated.

Come on, speed walk.

Felicity, Derek, Dad come on!

Man 1: We didn't even think about what we were looking for.

We just wanted to go fast.

Alec: And this could be the trail.

Could be.

Woman 2: What are you thinking, guys?

Say it out loud.

Alec: Do we go up or do we go s-- keep going?

Derek: On the map, there was the peninsula, and there's this ridge, and it's inland.

Alvin: Did we pass it?

Derek: Yeah, so we should be up there, right?

Alvin: Is that, is that the tip right there?

Alec: So we should go-- Alvin: Up, or what?

Woman 2: So we're going up.

- We had to, like, look at the map several times to double-check.

Yeah, Alec!

Felicity: He's already halfway up.

Alvin: Looking for landmarks, what did we miss?

Woman 2: Hill, eyes.

Alvin: I was thinking, where are we?

Felicity: Whose idea was it to come up here?

Alec: Oh, man.

Colin: In their haste to get ahead, the Desuasidos don't seem to be working together.

Meanwhile, less than a quarter mile behind, the steady-paced Pears continue their course up the coast.

Ella: I wanna just walk by the water.

Oh, it keeps getting my shoe!

Wait, Dad, are we going up, or over the rocks?

Morgan: Let's go straight and then up.

I'm a firefighter in Longmont, Colorado.

You know, I li-- I like to tell 'em it's my second family that I go to, which is my job.

So I do, I kinda, I disconnect from my own family by doin' that.

That's a big bird.

Hey, Tate, there's a vulture waiting for ya.

Better keep those feet movin'.

My schedule being gone 48 hours at a time, you know, I don't do a good job of, of calling them and catching up during the time I'm away.

See how those steep, how steep that is over there?

At some point, we get up top.

Ah!

Ella: Having to leave my phone at home, I am a little worried about not having it for the whole week.

Nina: Are you really stressing about everything you're missing right now?

Ella: Yeah.

Sometimes when I put my phone down and I'm away from it and I'm, like, hearing the notifications come in, I'm kind of like, oh, like, I need to go answer that.

Like, people might get mad if I, like, don't answer for a long time.

Morgan: Would it be worth deleting apps, or...?

Kids: No.

Ella: Maybe in your dreams, Dad.

Colin: While the Pears struggle with being logged out, five minutes ahead, the Desuasidos are moving higher and deeper into the steep hills of the inland desert.

Alvin: I think... for a mountain range, we're gonna be traversing the mountains.

- One meter after another, okay?

Colin: As each incline grows in size, so does the burden of their heavy packs.

Woman 2: We like hills.

You like hills.

You like hills.

Alec: I hate hills.

Colin: What energy they didn't burn on their overzealous early pace recedes with each hill.

Alec: Look, we see exactly where we're going.

Come on.

Genevieve: I'm moving.

My pace is gonna be consistently strong.

That's what I choose.

Alvin: Survivalists is... the path... to excessive... exhaustion.

Alec: Dad, come on!

- I'm thinking to myself, just keep moving.

Genevieve: Hey, if he goes too fast, we might lose him.

You need to understand that.

On the journey so far, everybody's had a definite struggle.

Alec: We gotta go a little faster.

Derek: Alec, we're literally ten feet behind you.

You can calm down.

Alec: Yeah, but we're not even speed walking.

We're just walking.

Felicity: It's hard, Alec.

This is a hill.

Not all of us can keep up with you, Alec.

When he came home from college, I felt like that, like, bossy force was back.

Alec: We know where we're going.

We should be going faster.

Felicity: Alec, it's just, ugh, so intense.

I would have to adjust to being in that environment that he likes to tell people what to do a lot.

Alec: We're almost to the top.

There's a big breeze.

Alvin: He intends well, Alec, but, uh, I think it's the execution.

Alec: Come on, we can go, we can go a little faster.

Felicity: Ugh!

I can't go... any faster than this!

[sighs] Alvin: His intention is he wants to motivate the team.

That's what he wants to do.

But how he's doing it, everyone can get kind of put off by his, what he thinks is motivational stuff.

Alec: Come on, guys, you're always there!

Desuasidos: [panting] Alec: Come on, keep going.

We're going this way, come on.

Hurry up, we're on the clock!

Alvin: No, Alec, I gotta rest, man.

Felicity: Alec, chill out!

Alec is insufferable.

Gonna be the death of me.

Colin: Instead of motivating his family forward, Alec's actions are deepening the divide within his family, and they now find themselves five minutes behind.

But the Pears have reached the most treacherous part of their trail so far.

Nina: We got a climb over here.

Tate: What?

Colin: They're faced with a scramble over a steep hillside of mammoth loose boulders and razor-sharp rocks.

♪♪ Morgan: Here would be the other option, look.

So it could be a long trek, or we go straight up and straight back down.

Maya: We, like have to decide if we want to go up and over, or if we want to go around.

We don't know what's gonna be that way.

Nina: We don't know what's any way.

So it's all just a guess, right?

I say let's go this way.

Morgan: Okay.

Colin: The Pears have decided to save time by facing the boulders head-on.

Maya: All of the rocks are loose.

Nina: Just be careful.

Check your footing first.

- I'm definitely iffy at first.

I was really, like, anxious and nervous.

It's just, like, not a valid spot.

Colin: As they carefully make their way up, every move is a dangerous balancing act.

Nina: Ow, I just twisted my ankle.

Tate: I did that, too, and I fell.

Colin: With the rocks teetering precariously above the relentless surf below.

Ella: I think it might be a cliff that we're walking to.

Morgan: I hope not.

Ella: I hope not, too.

Definitely a little challenging as we're going up.

I think we went the hardest way again.

Nina: We should have gone around.

This is kinda crazy.

Maya: There's a bunch of thorns, and there's all sharp rocks, and it's terrible to go across.

Nina: This looks a little sketchy.

Ella: I don't-- There's not a good spot... Morgan: That rock moves around.

Ella: I kind of got worried in the middle of it, 'cause I was like, oh my gosh, what if we fall off?

Nina: Tate, you good?

Tate, don't go up any further.

Go straight over, or come back down.

Ella: Hey, if you come down here, it's easier.

Don't fall.

Nina: Good job, girls!

Ella: But we got through it and worked really well together.

Maya: Oh, I see the flag.

Nina: For real?

Maya: Yeah.

Nina: All right.

Morgan: Let's go get it!

Nina: One day into this, as we go through this, I'm really excited to see relationships build, relationships strengthen, and to listen to some of the conversations that are gonna happen that I think are going to grow us all as a family.

- "Congratulations, Pears family.

You have survived day one."

[overlapping cheers] Alec: Come on, Felicity, come on!

Felicity: Focus more on going the right way than going fast.

Alec: We did mess up in the beginning, which was motivating me to go a little faster, but... I do wish we were a little... keeping up with us a little more.

Alvin: I'm exhausted, man.

For this Survivalists challenge, I really want to see Alec gain a sense of empathy, to understand what other people are going through.

You know, they say give it all you got.

I'm giving and then some, so, I'm running on fumes!

And remember why we're doing this.

Alec: I see it!

Derek: Actually?

Alec: Look up, look!

Come on, let's go.

- And, and it's not for the, for the win at the end.

Alec: Felicity, Derek, run!

Felicity: I'm giving it everything I got!

- But it's really so that our family can kind of just get closer together, as in bond.

Alec: Come on, come on.

We're there.

Felicity: [panting] Good job, guys.

[sighs] ♪♪ Colin: Both families experienced a daunting first day.

Alec's drive drove his family from him and into a 10-minute deficit.

The Pears' consistent speed gave them the lead, and now they have a chance to spend the night trying to reclaim some of the family's togetherness they long for.

Nina: The first thing we need to do, boil 16 ounces of water.

And then we'll put it in this bag.

- This is better than the MRE.

Remember the MRE I had you guys eat?

Ella: When we went snowshoeing?

All: Oh, that was horrible!

Nina: No, that was like eating dog food.

Morgan: That's funny.

- I'm actually really excited to just be with my family, um, because we don't really get to spend, like, time like this at all anymore.

Nina: So I guess coming into this, I, I didn't really know what to expect.

Like, my worry was, like, how are we going to do in these elements?

- Going over all the rocks, it was really hard.

Nina: Yeah.

- So scary.

Morgan: Well, it gives you an appreciation, too, right?

Nina: Yeah, absolutely.

Morgan: How small you are compared to where we're at.

- That's pretty cool.

Morgan: I mean, think about it, guys.

It's been, it's been a long time since it's just been the five of us sittin' down, havin' a conversation, without being distracted by, by anything, right?

- When was the last time all five of us sat down and had dinner together?

I have my dinner while I'm working, usually.

You have your dinner while you're in the car on your phone.

So we don't have, like, that, that time where we're at the table together.

You're constantly yelling, I only see the top of your foreheads.

You guys always have your face in your phone.

This is like a dream come true for you, right?

- I think it's awesome.

Ella: It's a little frustrating for me, because I am, like, present, and I literally will go on my phone for two seconds, and he'll be like, hey, put it down.

What I don't think he understands is, like, I might be trying to help a friend with homework, or figure out what my practice is for tomorrow, and I think he just sees it as a way for me to, like, kinda disconnect from the family.

- Once you see it's okay to, like, not know what's going on all the time.

You're gonna survive, huh, El?

♪♪ Alvin: That was the first day.

It was challenging for a lot of us.

- I hope that tomorrow will be better.

I definitely had times when I wanted to give up today when Alec tried to boss us around and tell us what to do.

And now I'm just really tired.

Alec: The first day was definitely a lot more physically and emotionally challenging than I expected it to be.

As everyone was struggling and I just thought I could do my best to help push everyone.

- Just know that every day is gonna be separate.

We get to decide, the end of tonight and the beginning of tomorrow, what we want to do, and let's support each other on it.

We really believe in you guys.

This is just that thing that's gonna make us stronger again.

♪♪ ♪♪ Nina: How'd you guys sleep last night?

Tate: Good.

Maya: Pretty good.

Nina: Did you see the stars?

Tate: No, I fell asleep too fast.

Nina: At home, we kind of have a divide and conquer mentality with our family.

We are constantly running in different directions, and time is not slowing down.

Morgan: What can we change from yesterday to today to make it better?

Ella: Maybe trying to, like, stay together more.

Nina: Ella will be going to college in two years, and we feel like our time is so precious.

If we don't build that foundation of effective communication now, I'm afraid that we won't ever have it when she leaves our house.

♪♪ Genevieve: You guys feelin' pretty good?

I'm actually really looking forward to today.

Felicity: I think our biggest struggle yesterday was kind of working as a team.

Alec: All right, we have to catch up.

Alvin: All right, who wants to help me break down this tent?

- We're gonna support each other and trust each other.

Alec: Oh, we should dump it out.

Dump it out first.

Out on the trail, it's a motivating factor for me to try to spend more time with my family.

All right, flip it back over, and we'll take it apart.

And I wanna make sure that they know I'm here for them, and being right beside them instead of multiple steps ahead.

Genevieve: All right, D5.

Felicity: All right.

Genevieve: We got this, you guys.

I love you.

Alec: Somebody didn't brush their teeth.

Genevieve: I brushed my teeth!

All: [giggling] Nina: All right, let's see what we're doing today.

Colin: It's day two, and the families will have to journey six grueling miles, delving inland and across the craggy shore.

They'll confront an onslaught of barbed vegetation, rugged boulders, and steep desert climbs on their way to camp.

Nina: Remember that hike we did last year, and we went to the top of that peak-- Tate: That was-- Morgan: I feel like I remember that.

Maya: No, Dad wasn't there.

Dad was not there.

Nina: Morgan works at least 48 hours at a time, so he's gone a lot.

Look how beautiful it is out there!

Ella: It's way prettier than I thought.

Nina: This might be the prettiest ocean-- Ella: This is the prettiest place we've been, Mom.

Morgan: I'm excited to be able to share the outdoors with, with my whole family.

- It's truly a gift spending this quality time together.

I was just about to say, it feels like we're in a different country.

Ella: 'Cause we kind of maybe are, Mom.

Nina: I know, we are.

♪♪ Felicity: All right, let's see where we're goin'.

Derrick: Be heading that way.

Felicity: Let's go.

- Definitely getting a feel for everything on the first day helped.

All right, we see a clear trail, we know where to go.

Try to go on the flat.

I'm gonna try to stick with group as much as I can going forward.

Alvin: You guys ready?

Alec: Yeah, let's go.

Alvin: Go!

Felicity: We're goin' up?

Alec: Yeah!

All right, let's do it!

I think I'm prepared enough, and I'm also hoping I'm prepared enough so I don't disappoint my family.

Genevieve: Got this.

Guys, lookin' like a team!

♪♪ Morgan: Ella, look.

We can go this way.

Ella: Over that hill?

The day so far has been going really well.

We're all communicating on, like, which way is the best way to go.

That one looks way steeper than that.

Nina: So we're just gonna cut straight through.

Ella: And then we can head left.

And I feel like we're all working together to, like, talk and work through stuff.

Nina: All right, let's go!

Ella: That is for sure something that I want to continue today.

Maya: I'm still surprised we haven't gotten lost yet.

Morgan: Path of least resistance, right?

Maya: I think I agree with you.

Colin: As the Pears work with one another to navigate the terrain, eight minutes behind, Alec is trying to show his family a new side.

- Can we cross down there, or no?

Felicity: This is pretty clear right here.

Alvin: Guys, I think it's this way!

Alec: All right, let's go.

You heard Dad.

- Yeah, I'm seeing a lot of improvement in Alec's execution today.

Derek: Alec, I need, I need your opinion on this.

So you see those rocks over there, right?

Do you think those rocks are these rocks?

Alec: I think it's the first one.

Derek: 'Kay, so we go left?

Alec: Yeah, we'll go left.

- Compared to yesterday, he was, he's a lot more supportive.

Derek: I think we take that trail right along there.

What do you think?

Alec: All right, let's do it!

Alvin: It think he's really taking that to heart to really help push us the way that we need to be pushed.

Alec: Do you wanna lead for us?

Alvin: So now that he focuses onto how he comes across, now all of us are, are feeling a lot more motivated from him.

Alec: Watch out for cactus here.

Genevieve: I love this.

This is very helpful.

Colin: The Desuasidos move forward, propelled by Alec's patience and motivation, while half a mile ahead, the Pears are enjoying one another's company.

Ella: I think we never owe Mom another hike.

Maya: That's what I'm saying.

I think I get a year.

Ella: No, dude, I get the rest of my, my life at home off.

- Me and Nina actually commented on just the chatter between the kids.

Maya: Ella, do you see me more as the Flash, or the speed kid from Incredibles?

Ella: [laughs] - That's been a long time since we just hear them laughin' and rollin' around.

I mean, we, we come home, everyone's on their phones.

This is a, this is a very nice break.

Nina: When you look out at this, doesn't it make you just feel, like, so small in this world?

Ella: Yeah, like, in a way, it definitely does.

Nina: I love nature, and just being out there is the only time that I can clear my mind and be 100% present.

Do any of you guys miss your phones, technology, or being in contact 24/7 with people?

Ella: Not today, 'cause I haven't thought about it.

Nina: You haven't even thought about it?

Tate: Me neither.

Nina: So here's the thing.

While we're here in this moment, like, you can say, oh yeah, I don't need my phone.

But then when you get back into the hustle and bustle of life, how do you go to not always depending on your phone?

[overlapping answers] I have a good idea.

Dad can give you guys screen time.

Maya: No, I'm, I'm good.

Ella: No, I think restricting it makes us want to use it more.

All of my communication is done through my phone, whether it's, like, Snapchat, texting, like, FaceTiming, it's all done through my phone.

Taking away my communication is, like, also basically saying that I can't hang out with any of my friends.

I don't know, it just means more than I think my parents realize.

Colin: As Ella contemplates what it means to unplug, 11 minutes behind, the Desuasidos' trail has dissolved into a rocky impasse.

Genevieve: Be really careful, guys.

This part's hard.

I'm sorry, you guys.

Felicity: My legs are starting to ache.

Colin: Even at a slow pace, the threat of exhaustion is only superseded by the danger of unstable ground on the steep climb.

Genevieve: Getting down safely is all that matters.

Hold on.

Get three points of contact.

Some of these rocks are moving.

Alvin: Derek, there's a easy path down here if you want.

Alec: No-- yeah, it's fine.

Derek: Ow, ow!

Alec: Careful, be careful, guys.

Derek: Ow!

Genevieve: Are you-- you're still here.

You okay?

Derek: Ow, my shin!

This does not feel good.

Alec: How bad is it?

Derek: It's like really sharp pain.

I can barely walk.

Genevieve: I think we have an issue.

♪♪ Colin: Derek's injury could be cause for concern in these harsh conditions, and so the medic halts the family to assess if Derek can continue.

Medic: So it hurts when you step on it?

Derek: Yeah, and... Medic: Do you feel like it's muscle or, like, bone?

- I'm pretty sure it's probably muscle.

Alec: Are we back on?

Felicity: No, we're not, Alec.

Medic: Just that quadricep side, then?

- Yeah.

I try to extend like this, and it hurts a little.

Alec: [growls in frustration] Felicity: Alec, people can't help if they get injured.

Alec: My brother's leg is hurting, and I'm kind of mad that we're losing time in the race.

This is ridiculous, dude.

You good?

- I think I'm... good to walk.

Alec: All right, let's go.

Felicity: All right, that's okay, guys.

Positive encouragement.

Alec: Derek, Felicity, come on!

Felicity: Alec's becoming bossy Alec again.

Colin: The Desuasidos are back on the move, but what was a minor setback for the race is a major backpedal from Alec's earlier progress he made with his family.

A mile and a half ahead, the Pears have caught their first sight of the flag.

Nina: All right, I see our flag!

Go straight to our flag!

Let's go!

Ella: Today, we all kinda stayed together and encouraged each other, and we kept the pace up and we're able to make pretty good time.

Maya: Ah, we're here!

"Congratulations, Pears family.

If you are reading this, you survived day two."

Nina: Woo!

Maya: "Tonight, I hope you use this time "to reflect on this experience and to remember what really brought you out here."

♪♪ Alec: All right, this is the easiest terrain.

The sand is nice and flat.

Felicity: We need to walk as a group a little bit.

Alec: Keep up instead of us going backwards.

Felicity: Going as fast as I can.

Alec: Come on, we're almost there.

Some of the emotional challenges for me today was just seeing my family struggle.

For day two, uh, we started out strong, but Derek's injury made me mad, so that's why I went back to my, the old me.

Come on, guys, almost there!

All: [cheering] - Just reached our flag, and it was such a relief.

It was definitely huge, and definitely put our spirits back up.

Genevieve: Ah, good job.

Colin: After experiencing both progress and setbacks, the Desuasidos find themselves 25 minutes behind.

Day two draws to a close, but opens the doors to new lessons learned on the course.

♪♪ Nina: Are you guys tired?

All: Yeah.

Nina: Yeah?

Morgan: I was lookin' at our tent.

Nina: Yeah?

- Look at the background, it's-- Nina: I know, look at the backdrop-- Morgan: Beautiful.

Nina: --of dinner right now and of sleeping tonight.

- It's kinda crazy that this is, like, our second to last night being here.

Morgan: How many days you think we could do this?

Maya: I think four days is enough.

Morgan: [chuckles] Nina: Okay, total transparent moment.

Did you wanna come on this, and did you wanna do this?

Ella: No.

'Cause I don't like hiking and camping and not showering.

And because I'm, like, missing so much at home.

But I actually am having some fun, so.

Nina: You are having fun.

- Yeah.

Tate: I just thought about it.

I haven't really, like, missed my phone at all.

Maya: Well I guess when it's not right there, you, like, don't think about it.

Nina: Right.

You know, it just makes me think about dinner the night before we came here, when Dad took the picture of all of us, we're all on our phone.

And it just makes me think that, like, that's an automatic thing.

We take our phones everywhere with us.

Ella: Well, like, I feel like it's just, like, less distracting, 'cause I'm not, like, wondering who's texting me or, like, what's going on.

I don't think I've ever had, like, memories similar to this with my family.

Um, whenever we're out on vacation, like, everyone still has their phone.

Everyone still kinda does their own thing.

We've never really spent all this time together for as long as we are, like, just undistracted.

Maya: I feel like I'm definitely more aware of my surroundings when I'm not on my phone.

Nina: Yeah.

Like, we're missing out on our own life by constantly stalking other people's lives.

Maya: Yeah.

Nina: And I think maybe that's a perspective that we can all take.

Like, the things that we give so much importance to in our everyday life compared to, like, what truly matters.

What, what truly matters, Ella?

What is the most important thing to you?

- Probably, like, family and time.

Morgan: Oh, good answer.

Girls: [laugh] Nina: So then that's where you should probably put most of your focus, right?

♪♪ Alvin: Personally, I think we did better than, than yesterday, which is what, what you were trying to go for, right, guys, better than yesterday.

- I was a little upset earlier because I thought we were going a little too slow on the beach.

'Cause we knew where we were going, and we had a clear path, and we were walking a little slow.

- So I felt like I was going as fast as I could on the beach, but the sand just sinking under you just makes it really tough.

- But I think you were mostly upset when, uh, Derek got hurt.

- I was mad, 'cause... at the same time, Derek was injured, which is one bad thing, and we were wasting time, which was another bad thing.

Just two bad things at once.

Yeah, so I, I do have a lot of regrets.

I want to show my family that I'm still here for them, physically and emotionally.

I could have been more understanding.

Felicity: I think stopping for an injury is always a little bit frustrating, just 'cause you know that you're using up time, but I know you can't really control the injury.

- So maybe in that situation, we could have come together for him a little bit differently, you know?

Alvin: So if that happens again, like let's say on day three of the race, and you have a similar pain, what would you differ-- what would you do differently?

- I'd drink some water, and then just stretch out my legs a little bit, and then try to catch up with you guys.

Alec: I would think about the values of the race and us being together.

- Nice.

Alvin: Just that simple phrase shows me that we're encouraging each other, we're not discouraging each other, so if we could see more of that tomorrow.

- I like to hear the positivity.

Let's communicate more on the same note.

Alvin: If we work together, we can do anything.

We know what we need to do.

We've learned from, from our mistakes.

We're gonna grow from them, and we're gonna persevere.

Felicity: Like our mantra.

Do better than yesterday.

Alvin: Yeah.

[fire crackling] ♪♪ Nina: All right, you guys ready to break down camp?

Morgan: Yeah, let's look under there.

Let's make sure there's not creepy crawlers.

Nina: Wait, let's look.

Anything crazy?

Morgan: Maya, Maya, you look.

Maya: Uh, there's a beetle.

Nina: There were lots of beetles.

Tate slept with beetles.

Morgan: Tate slept with beetles.

Nina: All right, you guys ready for day three?

Ella: Yeah, yesterday-- Yesterday was really fun, though.

Morgan: That was fun.

Nina: You enjoyed yesterday?

Ella: Yeah.

Nina: I was surprised how well you guys worked together.

- This time is really special for my family, because at home, we never get to spend this much time together, just the five of us undistracted.

Nina: All right, let's go see what we do.

♪♪ Genevieve: Since Alec moved away for college, I've definitely seen a change in him from when he lived in our house.

He's a lot more independent.

And he's also not used to making more decisions with others around him.

Alec: Drank water, Mom?

Genevieve: Yeah, I'm already one-- one and a half liters down.

I started at sunrise.

You should have watched it.

It was beautiful.

Alec: I feel like I'm definitely struggling with my goal to communicate better with my family.

The best scenario for me at the end of the race is to be there with my family, having gone through multiple struggles and challenges, and just finishing the race together.

Alvin: Make it a good day.

Better than yesterday, guys.

Let's go.

Alec: All right, let's do it.

Maya: "A true Survivalist must be able "to navigate challenges on land and sea.

Head down to the beach and find your next activity."

All: [gasp] Nina: Oh my goodness.

All right, ready for it?

Colin: The Sea of Cortez is a living aquarium, with some of the most majestic sea life in the world.

While the deep may be a treasure trove of biodiversity, the surface, however, twists with riptides, pulls with currents, and thrashes where rock meets wave.

Into this whirling aquatic proving ground is where the families' next adventure will be.

♪♪ Nina: What do you think we're gonna do when we get there?

Morgan: The first two days have been pretty wild.

The third day, we didn't know what to expect.

Ella: Look, it's a bunch of kayaks.

Morgan: Oh, look, kayaks, nice.

Nina: Going kayaking today!

Colin: This is day three, and the families are leaving land behind for a day out at sea.

They'll row six miles across the insidious sea to the distant Isla Espiritu, where they'll be making camp for the night.

♪♪ Maya: This is good.

I like this.

Nina: It's kind of beautiful.

Morgan: You like this?

Maya: Yeah.

[overlapping chatter] Alec: To the sea!

Let's go, guys.

Genevieve: Let's go.

I just found out that we were gonna be on kayaks, and I'm so excited!

We love the water.

Alvin: Wow, guys, look at these rays!

Those are actually real!

- This might be the day that we can really rise above and get ahead.

Let's go, let's go!

Alec: In sync!

Felicity: Right, left!

I'm just like, yes, I'm so happy because I love kayaks.

Genevieve: She's so excited not to be on her legs.

Alec: [laughs] Felicity: I love kayaking.

Colin: The Desuasidos begin their nautical journey, 25 minutes behind the Pears, who have reached the open sea.

Away from the protection of shore, families will face the full brunt of the wind, waves, and current that the Sea of Cortez can throw at them.

Morgan: Hey, get out in the open, guys.

Maya: I am.

I'm turning us.

Morgan: I'm just trying not to tip over.

Colin: Making this a true test of teamwork, fortitude, and patience.

Morgan: Whoa, whoa!

- This kayak is really hard to control.

Nina: Why are you going on the right side?

Tate: You just said right!

Nina: It's not just-- Right, left, right, left.

- And I see both my sisters struggling.

Ella: Wait, wait, wait.

You're going so fast.

Morgan: Ella, you need to call it out, okay?

I'm just trying to guess what you're gonna do next.

Ella: It's very difficult.

I'm bumping into my dad, he's bumping into me, we're kinda hitting our paddles together.

Morgan: In the back of my mind, I had an idea of what I wanted to do, but I wanted to let it play out first.

I wanted her to give herself a shot at working the kayaks as a pair.

Ella: Like, okay, so how about you go right, left, right, left, but then if I say two right like right after I do a right, then-- Morgan: Yeah, so here's one, left.

Just make it like a cadence, right?

Like right, left, right.

Ella: Eventually we figure out how to stay out of each other's way and still work together.

We're working pretty well together, Dad.

Morgan: We have our moments, huh?

Colin: As the Pears work on their communication, a mile behind, the Desuasidos have a chance to make up some time.

Alvin: [panting] I can't let them down.

[panting] [grunting] Felicity: Come on, Dad!

Alec: Push more!

Alvin: Paddling solo is so tough.

I was there by myself trying to give myself my own motivational speeches.

Come on.

I gotta do it.

I got no choice.

Alec: Dad, come on.

We gotta go a little faster.

I'm really worried about my dad, because he's being the weakest link right now.

He is the farthest behind, causing us to lose ground when we're supposed to be gaining it.

[groans] Felicity: I know that you're really worked up and frustrated right now, Alec, but you can't lose it.

Gotta keep a cool head.

Alec: [groans] - I feel like me and Alec a lot of times don't see eye to eye.

Alec: All right, let's go!

Come on!

Stay with us.

- Alec has ben really hard on everyone about being slow and lagging in the back.

Alec: Come on!

Felicity: If you're always telling someone, you're the weakest link, you're the weakest link, it's, like, incredibly hurtful.

It's definitely just gonna put the morale of him and everyone lower.

I think one thing that he fails to see is that we are doing our best and we are giving our all.

I think we're just not as fast as him sometimes, and it's frustrating that he can't always see that.

Alvin: Come on, here we go, people.

I know I'm behind.

I'm gonna catch up.

Don't wait for me.

Alec: Seeing him struggle hurts, because I know he's disappointed in himself, so we decided to wait up for him and come up with a new plan.

Alec: Let's go!

Felicity: Yeah, yeah, tie the boats together!

All right, you got it, Alec.

Alec: Start paddling, start paddling.

Alvin: The plan is to link our boats together so that we can move as a three-person boat instead of a two- and a one-person boat.

Get me attached?

Alec: Let's go!

Felicity: All right, go!

Felicity: I was actually a little bit nervous, because I wasn't sure how great me and Alec's teamwork was gonna be.

I feel like we do butt heads a lot.

Alec: Right, left!

Right, left!

Felicity: But I feel like we actually had great teamwork.

Alvin: Once I get a good current, I can go.

- And I was excited and ready for it.

This is our time to catch up!

Let's do it!

Colin: With Alec's help, the Desuasidos are moving swiftly, while 30 minutes ahead, the Pears are in a groove.

Morgan: Right, right, left.

Oh, seal!

Ella: Where?

Morgan: Right there in front of you.

Tate: Straight ahead?

Morgan: Right in here.

That was weird.

Where did it go?

Ella: Where, Dad?

Morgan: You just missed it.

Ella: Okay, what if you're making it up?

Nina: Hey, guys, I see that beach.

I say we go that way.

Ella: Oh, I see our flag!

Morgan: All the way up onto the shore.

Just paddle right up onto the sand.

Maya: "Congratulations on making it "to your third and final camp.

"Your journey is nearly complete.

"Please be intentional with your time tonight "and take the time to have important conversations.

I'll see you at the finish line."

Morgan: Okay, all right.

Almost there, guys.

Nina: Almost done!

Morgan: Final camp!

Felicity: I see our flag!

I see it waving, guys!

Come on!

You guys got this!

It's right there!

You could see the shore, you could see the flag, and we knew that we were so close.

So at that point, we just really started gunning it, and giving it all we had.

Almost there.

Almost there!

We made it, we made it.

Okay.

Alec: Right as I dropped my boat off and backpack, swam out and helped pull their boats back in, and just give them the little more force they need to finish.

Felicity: One more boat, let's cheer him on, guys.

Come on, Dad!

- Watching Alec jumping in the water just reinforces how much he wants to support us.

Alvin: I'm feeling so proud of him talking that extra effort to help me get there.

Genevieve: "Congratulations on making it to your third and final camp."

Alvin: All right, guys, fists in, fists in.

Family on three.

One, two, three!

All: Family!

♪♪ Colin: The grueling day at sea took its toll on the families, causing divides and chances to reconnect.

Back on land, it's the Pears who end the day with a 28-minute lead as they settle in for their last night out.

Nina: We have... Maya: It's our last night.

Morgan: It's our last night.

Let's go all out.

Nina: Oh, we're gonna have a feast?

Morgan: Yeah!

Ella: This week has been very special for me and my family, just having, like, the 100% undistracted time together to just, like, work together and be in each other's lives like this, so I'm really grateful for it.

Nina: Your streaks on social will come and go, but who do you always have?

Look to your left and right, and that's who you have, right?

Morgan: What we call family time is actually spent when we drive back from soccer, drive to soccer, and even when we're together, we're on our technology, so I think putting phones away, having just that uninterrupted time, has been amazing.

You enjoying your time?

Ella: Yeah.

I like it a lot more than I thought I would.

Morgan: It's beautiful out here, huh?

- Yeah.

- Well, that's kind of what, what I was hoping to get out of this week, because we, you know, we did get the four days together of uninterrupted time.

So now you see, like, this hour drive, hour and a half drive to soccer, can actually be done talking to each other rather than you sending pictures that you've taken in the corner of my eye, right?

- I also think that, yeah, I'm literally not gonna be on phone the whole ride, because, like, I don't know, it kind of seems dumb.

- Yeah.

It's not necessary, right?

You can do it, do it a different time.

Catch up with me.

- Yeah, and a lot of times, it's like, that's the only time that we have to, like, really talk.

Most of the conversations that we have, we are distracted, so realizing that and understanding that, it'll make a big difference, because I'll be able to be more present and be able to connect and have talks like these not only on Survivalists but at home, too.

- And I still think you can stop by the fire station for lunch or something.

- I don't know.

- Maybe once.

- Yeah, maybe once.

- A month.

Both: [laugh] ♪♪ Genevieve: You guys, it's our last sunset out here, right?

Alvin: Last dinner, last sunset.

Genevieve: As hard as this has been, this is just so beautiful.

I love seeing this stuff.

I'm just scared is, we're not gonna have these moments a lot as you guys get older.

Alvin: How different are you today than you were three days ago?

What changes do you think you notice in yourself?

- I think that I became a little bit closer with Alec on the boat today.

I was initially a little bit worried about us being on the boat together, just because we argue and we butt heads a lot, but we actually worked really well together, and I think that was definitely clear from how fast we were moving.

Genevieve: So as the challenges and last few days progressed, I know that you've been working on your words, and I wanna say that I recognize it.

What you say really affects people, your relationship with that person.

Alvin: You've put a lot of emphasis on winning, but for me, it's not really all about the winning.

It's about all the stuff that we get to do together, to be here in this moment, and I don't want to get stuff in the back of my mind about we're behind, or we need to do this, or we need to do that.

It... it makes me think that all you care about is that, and not about us.

It would be great to win Survivalists, right?

But it's even greater to be with a family that loves you and adores you and thinks the world of you.

Alec: And that we're open and honest with each other.

Sorry for putting too much pressure on you.

Growing up, I've definitely looked up to you.

This trip has definitely changed me, because seeing everyone's feedback and perspectives on me has shown me how I can change.

And become a better part of this family.

I realize that I can't force other people, but I can try my best to motivate them and not pressure them.

Felicity: But even though you push us really hard sometimes, and sometimes we may not like it, we still love you no matter what.

Genevieve: Don't be afraid to get on a more personal level.

We're the, we're the people that'll be there for each other no matter what.

- [sniffs] [sighs] I will always love you guys.

[distant waves crashing] ♪♪ Morgan: All right, take 'em down, yeah?

Girls: Yeah.

Nina: I don't know, like, it's kind of bittersweet.

Morgan: That's the word, bittersweet.

Nina: It has gone by so fast and it's been so much fun that, like, I want it to end, but I kind of don't want it to end, too.

- Waking up today knowing that it was our last day, I'm kind of just reflecting on this whole trip, and I feel like I have a new understanding of each of my family members.

Through this whole thing, we've kinda, like, gotten to hang out a lot more, which I really liked.

Nina: This is our last day.

You guys ready for it?

Tate: Yeah, I'm gonna miss Mexico and camping.

♪♪ Felicity: Because this is the last day, I'm a little bit sad to leave.

Alvin: I think one big lesson that we all learned is to just be open with one another.

That can only lead to our family's growth and change.

Alec: This was definitely a life-changing race.

I've grown closer with my family over the course of this journey, learned how to better communicate with them, and I feel like the family relationship is stronger and the wedge has significantly decreased.

Alvin: Family on three.

One, two, three!

All: Family!

Morgan: What have we got you guys?

Nina: Okay, let's see what we're doing!

Maya: "Today is a race to the finish.

"Only one can win the award.

"But remember, there is more at stake in this race than a prize."

Nina: All right, ready for it?

Last day, let's go.

Colin: This is day four, and families will have to make a mad dash through three miles of thorns and cacti across the narrow, sweltering island before racing up the coast in hopes of being the first to raise the flag and be declared the winner.

[birds chirping] Morgan: Last day.

Nina: So basically what we're doing is we're walking from one side of the island to the other.

Maya: Yeah.

Through the middle.

Ella: This is like the type of thing we're good at though, so... Nina: Yeah, perseverance right now.

We've got this.

Genevieve: All right, let's see that map.

Alvin: All right, that way.

Let's go.

Today's race and our collaboration during it was kinda like the culmination of all the lessons that we learned from day one to day three.

Alec: How you doing?

Alec: [panting] I'm getting there, buddy.

I'm doin' it.

I'm goin' with you guys.

Come on.

Our biggest values have been communication and being open with, with one another.

Alec: The sea air.

Alvin: Sticking together as a family.

We realize each other's limitations and we adapt.

Alec: If you guys get tired, let me know.

I'll carry your bag.

Alvin: And we carry each other on our backs.

Yeah guys, keep it up!

Alec: Good job, Dad!

Alvin: I love you!

Alec: Pretty sure we just picked up a couple minutes already.

Colin: The Desuasidos are off to a strong start.

Reinvigorated by their fortified connection, they trail the Pears, who are finding joy in their own family bond, by 23 minutes.

Ella: I miss you, Mom.

I haven't seen you in a minute.

Nina: You miss me?

Ella: Yeah.

Nina: I'm right behind you.

Ella: No Mom, I actually enjoyed, like, the hikes.

Nina: Me, too.

That's like a full circle moment, 'cause you weren't even-- you were so closed-minded with all this.

Ella: 'Cause I thought I would hate it.

It was fun though.

Nina: And now here you are.

- I've had fun with everyone in my family.

Because we don't really spend that much time together, the undistracted time is nothing that I would, like, change for anything in the world.

Maya: Like, I was just thinking, like, how fun would it be to go on, like, a camping trip?

Ella: Yeah, we could make s'mores.

And we could, like, you know how Dad used to, like, make, like, burgers and stuff when we were camping?

So we wouldn't have to eat lentils and beans forever.

Just being more present when we're all together, is just really special.

Also, you would have to learn how to start a fire, because I cannot.

Colin: As the Pears make plans for the future together, 19 minutes behind, the Desuasidos are focused on the moment and still in the race.

Alec: Felicity, how you doing?

Felicity: Good.

Alec: How are your legs?

Felicity: Good, but I think we're going a little too fast right now.

Alec: I'll be right behind you.

- Before we came on Survivalists, we butted heads a lot, and I feel like after all of this-- Alec: Let me take your backpack.

Felicity: Okay, I'll give it to you for a couple seconds.

We definitely can see each other's perspectives a lot more.

How are the two packs feeling?

If it's too much, I'll wait up.

Alec: On day one, I was acting very selfish and over-competitive.

Finishing the last part of the race, the thought of being first kind of slips and just, I kind of forget about it.

Felicity: I could jog easy-peasy without the pack.

Alec: That's what I'm saying.

Felicity: But I don't want you to be carrying two packs.

Alec: No worries.

I'll let you know when I start, start feeling it.

Felicity: Okay.

Alec: I feel like my family is appreciative and grateful that I'm sticking with them instead of going off by myself.

Felicity: That's a lot of weight you got on you.

Say the word, I'll take it back.

Alec: The main goal that I wanna accomplish at the end is just to reestablish that connection with my family and show them my support that I have for them, and how I'll always be there for them.

Felicity: Good job, Alec.

Colin: With Alec's help, the Desuasidos narrow the Pears' lead to under a mile.

But as the temperatures begin to climb, both families are racing into the inescapable inland heat.

Morgan: A little warmer today.

Maya: This is the hottest I've been so far.

Ella: This is definitely the hottest I've been.

Maya: I think my sunscreen's literally sweating down my face.

Tate: I didn't realize how sore my legs were until right now.

Nina: It's hot for us all.

That's the one thing that's equal out here, right?

It's the same temperature for everybody today.

Morgan: Oh yeah.

We're not the only ones doin' this today.

Alvin: Got to go to the coast.

Got to go to the coast.

Come on.

Pick it up.

Felicity: I've got sincere sweat under my eyes.

Maya: I've never seen so many dead, dried-up animals.

And when they are dead, it's so hot that they just, like, burn.

Felicity: I keep getting Derek's dust in my face.

Alec: Is there any way that way, Dad?

Alvin: Uh... Ow!

Ouch.

Felicity: Oh.

Alvin: You guys, we're in some brush right now.

Genevieve: Okay, I kind of can't hear-- see you.

Alvin: Okay, follow my voice.

Morgan: It looks like just a, uh, barren wasteland.

Ella: I think we're off the trail.

Nina: It's really hard to tell what the trail is when it's all the same.

There's no trail.

Ella: Where are we going?

Alvin: I see a clear path here!

Alec: Excuse me, Mother Nature.

Nina: Oh, you can feel that breeze.

Maya: Come on.

Nina: Yeah, it's getting a lot cooler.

Morgan: I see a sailboat.

Alvin: I see the path, guys.

I see a trail.

Felicity: I was kind of hoping to see the ocean.

Alec: Almost there.

Morgan: Water!

Nina: Oh, look how beautiful that is!

Ella: It's so pretty.

Nina: It's the most beautiful view.

We're able to see down at the ocean and appreciate everything we've done, how far we've come so far.

Ella: We're so close, look.

Alvin: Water, guys!

Genevieve: We see the ocean!

Colin: Breaking through the sweltering heat of the inner island, the Pears have reached the coast, the Desuasidos hot on their trail.

The families must now make the half-mile charge up the sandy shore all the way to the finish line.

Morgan: Let's go!

We're at the end.

Ella: We started going across the beach as fast as we could, because the end was in sight.

Nina: You got it!

Keep goin'.

You got it.

Ella: We had no idea how far behind the blue team was.

Alvin: Look for the flag!

Felicity: Let's go!

Ella: And we were constantly worried that we might relax and they might show up out of nowhere and take the lead.

Nina: We're so close.

Morgan: I can feel it.

Felicity: Everybody see that?

Alvin: Yeah, I see it, finish line.

Felicity: Everybody see that?

Alvin: Come on, people!

Morgan: You know, going down the beach, we're, we're grittin', we're tired, we're hot.

Nina: I see Colin!

Colin: Pears family, you're almost here!

Finish up strong!

Ella: Here we are!

Morgan: And we reach our flag, and I think we just feel a sense of accomplishment as a group.

Colin: Welcome to the finish line!

Morgan: All right!

Finishing as a family meant the world to me.

Colin: Pears family, congratulations.

Nina: Thank you!

- If you wanna claim victory of Survivalists, you gotta raise your family flag up.

Nina: Yes!

Let's do it.

Crossing the finish line together, raising the flag together, and finishing as strong as we could, it was a super proud moment.

Morgan: We finished strong, and we finished together.

All: [cheering] - Congratulations, you did it.

Ella, how you feeling?

- Um, I'm feeling good.

I'm feeling tired.

Colin: Away from your phone for, uh, four days.

You still got a smile on your face.

Tell me about that.

- It was not as bad as I thought it would be.

Like, the whole time, I wasn't even thinking about my phone.

I was just having, like, a lot of fun, and focusing on the challenges that we had.

Colin: Nina, what's it mean to be here at the finish line with your family?

- Everything that we've experienced and accomplished, it's just, it's amazing.

And just overcoming so many challenges and figuring out each other's strengths and, and doing this together, it means the world to me.

Ella: We're working together way better than we have as a family, and then just with my dad, like, now I finally understand, like, the undistracted time together, and when we do get to all be together, it's what truly matters.

Colin: Morgan, for you, what's it meant to see your daughter being present, away from technology for a minute, how's that been?

- I mean, I think this is probably the most we've actually talked in a long time.

Ella: I feel like we kind of connected more and had a better understanding for each other.

And I really see now where he's coming from when he tells me to get off my phone.

It's because these conversations and the time together is way more important than anything else.

- I think everyone sees the benefit of being able to have conversations and sit down and ev-- even just get outdoors together, you know, go to places.

That it's-- and it's okay to not have technology for a day or for an-- that we're still gonna be okay, you know?

The, the sun will still rise tomorrow and everyone-- Everything's the same at home, I promise you.

I think going forward, Ella's gonna be able to look back and appreciate what her family did as a group.

Between myself and Ella, I think there's a, a better understanding of where we both kind of come from.

We'll be leaving Survivalists with a better relationship just based solely on the four days that we got to spend with each other, uninterrupted.

Colin: Congratulations, you are first, you won that prize.

But you also won an even greater prize, which is this deep family dynamic, so well done, Pears family.

Nina: Thank you so much.

Colin: Good job.

♪♪ Alec: Almost there.

Good job, Mom.

Felicity: We're close, Alec!

Genevieve: Hey!

You guys, our flagpole's ahead.

I see the flagpole, and I see that there's an orange one.

And there's a small part of me that sinks a little, but we agreed to keep going as best as fast as we can to finish the race, like we promised ourselves.

Alec: Raising up the final flag, I feel very proud of my family for finishing this strong together.

Colin: Desuasido family, congratulations!

You finished Survivalists!

Alvin: Woo!

Colin: Good job, proud of you guys.

I know it's been a tough road out there, but you guys fought to the very bitter end.

Genevieve: We struggled for days.

I know that we've grown some strength, and we have a, we have a lot to talk about, and we've got this experience.

Colin: Talk to me about what the biggest struggle has been.

- One of the struggles we've had was communication, and I know every family goes through that.

We hit some, some deep downs and some high highs, and it was nice to see some of the family open up.

We got some good talk time over the last few days.

Alec: I learned a lot about how my family feels about me, and how they're proud, and what I can do better, and I can just grow as a person from that.

- What do you think you can do better?

Alec: I can communicate better, I can listen better instead of trying to talk back or fight with them, and I can just be there emotionally and physically.

Even though we lost the race, uh, I feel like I won with my family, because this experience definitely brought us closer.

I got to talk and spend a lot more time, quality time, with my family that I wouldn't usually get.

It was just very important that I was right there with my family.

- At the beginning of this week, I felt like Alec was really hard on all of us, but over the course of the past few days, I saw him really committing to staying with us.

And when me and him were kayaking together, I definitely felt that connection, and I felt like we bonded more than we'd ever bonded before.

- How does it feel as a young man to hear these sort of open and honest, vulnerable conversations within your own family, Alec?

- It feels good.

It feels like I'm growing up, but my family's also growing up with me, and they're right there to support me, so, feel really good about that.

Colin: Alvin, as a father, you've, uh, obviously watched this evolution from this young man since the day he was born.

How's it feel to be standing here right now?

What have you seen?

- Uh, I'm super proud of my son.

He's-- he amazes me every day.

He wants to motivate the team; he just wasn't really doing it right in the beginning.

But now we're here, day four, and I think he's found the right way to get our family going.

- Alec, early on, we talked about what a win would really look like as a family.

I know you wanted to get to the finish line first, but do you feel like you ultimately achieved the larger goal and your larger purpose for being out here?

- I think I did achieve the larger goal.

The memories we had out here, the views we saw, everything we experienced, uh, I don't think I'll ever forget.

Even though we didn't win the race, I still feel like we got a lot closer struggling together and growing together, just like learning more about each other along the whole trip.

Genevieve: Congratulations, you guys!

Good job, good job.

♪♪