The WORST episodes of Live Free or Die

Every episode of Live Free or Die ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Live Free or Die!

"Live Free or Die" explores one of America’s most remote subcultures, following five people who have left the modern world behind to live in backwoods and swamps where they hunt their own food, build their own shelters, and survive only on what they can produce with their own two hands and sharp intuition.

Last Updated: 8/25/2024Network: National GeographicStatus: Ended
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Rise of the Wild
star
7.01
123 votes

#1 - Rise of the Wild

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/30/2014

Everyone is in search of food, but the winter weather is making the hunt difficult for some. In the Blue Ridge Mountains, Thorn struggles to find even a trace of wildlife to turn into a meal. Close by, Tony and Amelia battle the cold, making use of any meat they can get their hands on. Down in a river-swamp in Georgia, Colbert shows his expertise when he catches a large beaver near his home. And across the country, in drought-stricken central California, Gabriel sets his sights on small game.

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star
7.38
82 votes

#2 - Race Against Time

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 8/29/2016

Homesteaders Tony and Amelia start to build a solar dehydrator made from recycled materials to preserve their deer meat. Meanwhile, hunter-gatherer Matt must leave his trusted pit house due to lack of resources.

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star
7.41
59 votes

#3 - Dead Zone

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/6/2015

The primitive Americans all search for sustenance in their respective hideaways. Derik's plan to collect water from a distant spring is shattered when a motorcycle spooks his mule. Tony and Amelia want to try their hand at turkey hunting, so Tony gets a quick riflery lesson from his father-in-law and the couple takes to the forest to catch a meal. Tobias struggles to find water as he continues his 80-mile hike to his new campgrounds, and Colbert prepares to meet up with a friend from before he decided to "re-wild.”

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star
7.43
47 votes

#4 - The Reaping

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/27/2015

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star
7.46
84 votes

#5 - The Tough Get Going

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/22/2016

With winter's arrival, the re-wilders are running out of time to figure out how to store meat and stay warm in order to survive through winter.

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Blood, Sweat, & Tears
star
7.47
78 votes

#6 - Blood, Sweat, & Tears

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/14/2014

In central California, Gabriel and Justin continue to track wild boar. In dire need of meat, they finally shift their target to less challenging prey. In the Blue Ridge, Tony and Amelia continue to expand their homestead by clearing space for a coop for their newly acquired chicks. Nearby, Thorn decides to start construction on a new shelter for himself and his daughter. In southern Georgia, Colbert is reeling from a tragic discovery... a discovery that has him spending a night in a hotel.

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star
7.50
74 votes

#7 - Bring it Home

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 9/19/2016

Thorn and Matt go on hunts for food to survive, while Colbert, Tony and Amelia deal with issues, good and bad, at their homesteads.

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Butchers and Builders
star
7.50
50 votes

#8 - Butchers and Builders

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/28/2014

The seasons are changing, forcing everyone to think of new ways to adapt to their environment. The situation is especially dire in the Georgia swamps, where Colbert is facing the threat of a major flood that could submerge his fishing cabin. In Appalachia, Thorn is working on a new shelter because heavy rain ravaged his hut. Tony and Amelia gather materials to construct an outdoor stove to prevent their house from overheating. In California, Gabriel's friend brings him some much-needed meat.

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Hog Wild
star
7.58
52 votes

#9 - Hog Wild

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/18/2014

With summer on its way, the changing landscape and new critters begin to affect daily life in the backwoods and swamps. Tony and Amelia trade for goods; Thorn goes turkey hunting; Colbert tracks wild hogs; and Gabriel meets up with his mentor.

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star
7.58
117 votes

#10 - Call of the Wild

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 7/25/2016

With winter quickly approaching, time is running out for Colbert to find food to carry him through the cold months. Thorn has to quickly adjust to his new life, as his partner, Delia, is now relying on his skills to survive too.

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Trial by Fire
star
7.60
72 votes

#11 - Trial by Fire

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/7/2014

In the swamps of Georgia, Colbert catches a raccoon in the woods. It seems that the season will end well, but when he returns home with his catch, Colbert is faced with a tragedy with unimaginable consequences. In Appalachia, Tony and Amelia get to work on building a water filter to process their drinking water. Nearby, Thorn finds himself with an eye infection and a fever due to exposure to the harsh winter conditions. In California, Gabriel forges a spear in preparation for a boar hunt.

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star
7.60
110 votes

#12 - To The Bone

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/5/2016

In an attempt to establish himself on his new land, Matt works quickly to build a shelter and desperately hopes his deadfall traps catch squirrel. Colbert travels to sell his pelts at top dollar so he can pay his property taxes.

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Do or Die
star
7.61
59 votes

#13 - Do or Die

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/21/2014

Winter has finally lifted in Appalachia, but the rainy weather marking the arrival of spring is proving a nuisance for Tony and Amelia. Thorn is taking advantage of the warmer weather by adding a goat to his camp, which will provide him with protein from its milk. Further south in Georgia, Colbert sets new traps in an attempt to make up for the pelts he lost in the fire. In California, Gabriel's elder Tautaucho helps him hone his hunting technique.

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star
7.63
63 votes

#14 - Force of Nature

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/22/2015

Colbert is running out of time to capture enough pelts for trading over the course of the year; Thorn constructs a small fishing vessel known as "coracle"; Tony and Amelia make sycamore syrup to use in bartering; and Tobias begins an 80-mile journey north to establish a new base camp.

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star
7.67
75 votes

#15 - Making Moves

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/12/2016

With spring quickly approaching, frontiersman Colbert sets up a trotline to catch fish and builds a cabin to fight off mosquitoes. Woodsman Thorn needs to secure many more resources for both him and Delia to survive.

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star
7.68
76 votes

#16 - Rising Waters

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/15/2015

Thorn works on developing his homestead; Derik retrieves his working mules; Colbert faces rising waters around his home.

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Down the Rabbit Hole
star
7.69
49 votes

#17 - Down the Rabbit Hole

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/25/2014

From a rabbit hutch to a new home, projects abound in the wild. In the swamps of Georgia, Colbert is faced with a serious challenge — transporting the materials for his new home up the river.

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star
7.71
49 votes

#18 - Out For Blood

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/13/2015

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star
7.71
56 votes

#19 - The Tipping Point

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/3/2015

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Rough and Rugged
star
7.72
47 votes

#20 - Rough and Rugged

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/4/2014

Colbert gets a visit from his nephew. Thorn's daughter helps him finish his shelter. Tony and Amelia get help from a friend to complete their chicken coop. And Gabriel dries out his goat meat for jerky.

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star
7.75
79 votes

#21 - Home Stretch

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 9/26/2016

Thorn takes Delia hunting, Tony and Amelia deal with unruly pigs, Matt hosts a turkey roast, and Colbert finishes building his cabin.

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star
7.78
60 votes

#22 - Killing Time

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/29/2015

Tobias journeys through the Arizona Desert hoping to survive on what he can carry on his back; Colbert tracks an elusive feral hog; Thorn visits an area known for hunting beaver; Derik finally hits the road with deadly risks along the way.

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The Bears and the Bees
star
7.80
55 votes

#23 - The Bears and the Bees

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/11/2014

As spring thrives in the swamps and woodlands, wildlife plays a bigger role in the lives of these survivalists.

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star
7.81
52 votes

#24 - Slash and Burn

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/17/2015

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star
7.82
96 votes

#25 - The Hunt is On

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/1/2016

With deer hunting season coming to a close, the re-wilders must use their skill and intuition to quickly find sustenance in order to survive.

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