Original subtitles

[soft music playing]

[narrator] Welcome back to the Arctic Coast.

Where the fiercest competition

in the animal kingdom is underway.

[roar]

[roar]

[tense music playing]

One chapter has come to a close.

While another is about to begin.

If you're a fish, look away now.

These Alaskan brown bears are battling nature.

[dramatic music playing]

-[roar] -And each other.

With a goal to consume at least three million calories

and gain nearly 90 kilograms across 150 days

in the original survival show.

[dramatic music playing]

This is "The Hungry Games:

Alaska's Big Bear Challenge."

[soft music playing]

The early days of the summer

finds the top finishers of stage one

still competing for the championship.

Those lucky 3 are:

Bernie, the grizzled veteran who proved that experience

and cunning can outweigh youth and vigor.

Next, our fierce mama bear, Boldface.

In a gritty display of maternal instinct,

she safeguarded her three precious cubs

from all sorts of dangers.

And finally, Bigboi,

the current frontrunner of "The Hungry Games."

But in this unforgiving wilderness,

a throne isn't a comfortable resting place for long.

Bigboi needs to move on.

His ready source of nutrition is now just a pile of whale bones,

the bare equivalent of an empty pizza box.

After surviving stage one, they're hungry for the crown.

And now stage two begins with Mother Nature

delivering her greatest gift to a bear.

Salmon!

But don't go thinking all these presents are for you.

With new rewards comes new contenders.

[rock music playing]

[growls]

The legendary Brooks Falls.

In this arena of raw power,

ingenuity often takes a back seat to share brawn.

[growl]

[growls]

Alaska's toughest bears

are limbed up and ready to feast.

[country music playing]

Here comes the undisputed heavyweight of Brooks Falls,

Denali.

He dominates the scene figuratively and literally.

Denali's not just big, he's a behemoth.

This expert salmon hunter seldom misses a step.

Oh, except that one.

Like every bear here,

Denali has to make a tactical decision

about where to position himself for fishing success.

Some competitors battle for top of the falls,

snagging salmon mid-leap.

But this wily veteran proves he's brawn and brain,

opting for the jacuzzi,

a chill spot to pin down a catch.

Finally, a jacuzzi where you could eat raw fish

and not get kicked out of the resort.

Those beefiness points are part of "The Hungry Games"

scoring system, the Big Bear Score.

The bears are judged on three categories,

vital to surviving another year.

There are a total of 100 points up for grabs,

50 attainable points for beefiness,

while ingenuity and grit have a possible 25 points each.

Bears that score below 70 points at the end of the stage

will lose their shot at "The Hungry Games" crown.

Look at that!

Denali's such a force, the other bears give him a wide berth.

At Brooks Falls, when Denali speaks,

everyone listens.

Well, almost everyone.

I see you, Scarface.

With a prominent scar on his nose marking his battles,

Scarface's story is one of resilience and ambition.

His goal?

To stand above the rest

as The Bear at Brooks Falls.

Scarface opts for his own fishing spot,

The conveyor, another piece of prime real estate

on the falls.

It's a great area if you want to catch fish,

but a bad choice if you hope to swim upstream

and not be attacked by bears.

I'm suddenly in the mood for sushi.

Care to share?

Yeah, I didn't actually want any.

More of a salad guy.

But the boys aren't the only top dogs to track.

Enter Rizzo, a veteran matriarch of Brooks Falls.

A versatile angler,

Rizzo makes the riffles her playground.

[soft music playing]

You may think her longer snout means she's had work done,

but Rizzo's big schnoz is all natural

and an advantage when diving for salmon.

And with each belly flop, she commands her space.

[growls]

Look, you best not step to the queen if you ain't ready.

But Rizzo's got too much game for just one fishing spot.

Bouncing between the riffles and the lip.

So much salmon, so few riverside bagel joints.

Am I right?

Can't stop, won't stop.

You've got that fish in your mouth.

Bon appétit, my furry friend.

Hey, who's your shadow?

Ooh, that's Blonde Ears.

Another formidable presence at Brooks Falls.

Often spotted in the company of Rizzo,

she's the Katy Perry to Rizzo's Taylor Swift.

Look up the definition of frenemies

and you'll find a picture of these queens.

Always close by, always in competition,

and of course, if there's salmon, there's beef.

Rizzo has often held sway as the dominant female

at Brooks Falls.

But Blonde Ears has her sights on claiming that title.

The tension is thick at the falls

as the contenders settle in at their preferred spots,

kicking off another season of gorging.

While the action is hot at Brooks Falls,

the salmon run hasn't yet started along the coast.

To keep things interesting,

the fish don't show up everywhere all at once.

Why? Well, to make a long journey short,

the five species of Alaskan salmon

have their own spawning schedule,

arriving in the streams where they were born

using a timetable handed down through their DNA.

By staggering their spawning times and locations,

they reduce competition for spawning sites,

optimizing their chances of a successful life cycle.

In Brooks Falls, the spawning run peaks

in early July, while in the Hallo Bay area,

the first salmon spawn is typically closer to August.

The bears seem impatient.

[growls]

I mean patient, very patient and kind.

[growls]

[birds trilling]

Since we're in Hallo Bay,

let's see how the competitors here are faring.

Ah, here comes Boldface.

And there's Raccoon.

And, wait...

where's the siblings?

Oh, no, the family has been reduced

to just Boldface and Raccoon.

The details of this tragedy are a mystery,

but unfortunately the loss of cubs is very common here.

One study found that only one out of three cubs

survived their first year at Katmai.

Unfortunately, there's no shortage

of mortal threats in these parts,

from parasites to accidents to predators,

including wolves and attacks by other bears.

But statistics and studies offer little solace

for the moms who must carry on after their loss.

Our hearts grieve for you, sweet mama bear.

[sad music playing]

Interestingly, this tragedy appears to have brought out

a whole new side to her personality.

In the first stage, Boldface ran a tight ship,

focused on food and survival.

Now she is showing a gentler side.

Raccoon's world has been turned upside down

and now he must adjust to life without his siblings.

He appears more anxious and is sticking closer to her side.

Thankfully he's got a tough mama to guide him.

Although the loss of two cubs is heartbreaking,

one silver lining is that Boldface can focus

solely on protecting and nurturing Raccoon.

Bigboi continues his southerly trek,

as salmon are not known to spawn at Point Douglas.

One might say he's become a bit of a ronin,

you know, a wandering, masterless samurai.

Bigboi's journey will take himself

along a well-travelled, bare highway.

This intricate web of trails has been etched

into the valley over countless seasons.

Bigboi arrives at his first stop.

Swikshak Bay, a mayor 16 kilometers south

of his former kingdom at Point Douglas.

[dramatic music playing]

Oh, look, a fish! Off you go, get it.

Um, can someone actually send Bigboi a YouTube tutorial

about being a bear catching fishes?

Thank you.

Well, he ruled the whale carcass.

But we do have to wonder, I mean, does he actually

lack the cunning to adapt to life without a ready feast?

The "Hungry Game" winner must be well-rounded

and rely on more than beefiness to post a viable Big Bear score.

Well, the rivers seem pretty empty.

[growls]

So it's time for Bigboi to get back on that bear highway.

That's the second scariest highway after the autobahn.

While Swikshak Bay may be devoid of the desired nutrition,

thankfully for this bulky bruin it's not the end of the road.

[thrilling music playing]

[upbeat music playing]

A few miles south, the open meadows of Hallo Bay

continue to provide safety and succor

to a variety of bears.

With one notable absence, Bernie,

the seasoned contender who finished stage one

atop the leaderboard, is mysteriously missing.

One would think he'd be front and center,

continuing his methodical march towards the crown.

Hmm, has Hello Bay witnessed another tragic death?

Or is Bernie off somewhere

crafting the perfect game to claim the crown?

Maybe time will tell,

but for these bears time is in short supply.

But nature abhors a vacuum,

and a brand new contender has wandered into Hallo Bay.

This is Quadmom, a first time mom who is juggling not one,

not two, but you guessed it, four boisterous cubs.

Birthing and raising four cubs is an extraordinary feat

for any mother, but in the bear world

it's almost miraculous.

Quadmom's world is in constant motion

as she cares for Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael and Jeff,

I mean Michelangelo.

Cowabunga, my dudes!

Four cubs are a lot to keep track of,

even for a great mom, let alone a first timer.

Ah, Quadmom relies on one of the oldest tricks

in the books to keep their attention.

Food!

Like Boldface, she has to find

that perfect balance,

losing calories by feeding her kids,

but needing them to grow up big and strong.

[happy music playing]

[growls]

Ooh, lunchtime is over as Quadmom turns off the taps

to focus on feeding herself.

Hmm, but looks like the little ones aren't quite done yet.

Tucking in behind Mom in search of more deliciousness.

While clams are high in nutritional value,

Quadmom is wasting energy digging

instead of heading inland to bulk up on sedge grass.

It's almost like she forgot we're keeping score.

Quadmom's displaying quite a lot of interesting strategies here.

Now she's leaving the cubs to fend for themselves

while she looks for more clams.

[growl]

In light of Boldface's recent tragedy,

this is a potentially risky move,

especially since Quadmom is totally distracted

with clamming.

Hey, Raph and Leo, what's going on?

Are we practicing our ninja skills?

Well, at least Mikey and Donny are focused on the task at hand.

She's going pretty far out into the water actually,

while her cubs are alone on the shore.

Oh, no, they're not alone.

And Quadmom has no idea.

[dramatic music playing]

Quadmom's quite a distance from her cubs.

These wolves are fast and if Mom's not careful,

she'll share Boldface's pain.

[tense music playing]

Oh, here we go, game is on.

The wolf is racing towards the cubs.

Quadmom finally on the move.

But will she get to the cubs before the wolf?

[roar]

Mom quickly collects the kids and the hungry wolf

is stuck thinking what might have been.

On your way, wolf, listen, this show's not about you.

That was way too close for comfort.

It's a tough world out here,

especially if you're in charge of four cubs.

Keeping this crew safe until they hibernate?

That is one heck of a challenge.

[energetic music playing]

The salmon are continuing to flood into Brooks Falls.

And there's a silent battle of behemoths unfolding.

It's less Clash of the Claws and more a strategic

display of dominance,

where size and savvy win the day.

Scarface, a titan of the territory,

is approached by a new face who I'm guessing

doesn't actually know who he's about to be dealing with.

Look at that, eyes on the falls.

That's a winning strategy for this bulking season.

His body language is saying, "I'm here to eat, my dudes."

But it's also saying, "Come any closer

and I will eat, my dudes."

And another beast of the falls, Denali,

is also engaging in this stalemate.

He's tearing into dinner while another smaller bear

tries to encroach.

[growls]

Denali literally has bigger fish to fry.

It's not time to fight.

It's time to feast.

The salmon run is transforming the falls

into a battleground of strategic eating.

The true victors are the players who maximize their feeding time,

dominating by bulking up as much as possible.

It's a cold war where all parties are

smart enough not to engage.

Wait, I may have spoken too fast.

That'd be typical of me.

Gangly teenager Patches

is pushing Scarface.

Oh, Patches.

This is kind of like watching a leaf

trying to intimidate a rottweiler.

[growls]

And as expected, Scarface ends any thoughts of a challenge

with just a growl.

Sorry, Patches, look I just don't think

you're ready to run with the big dogs just yet.

As the heavy hitters of the falls

temporarily keep the peace,

all the bears get a chance to dine on the best cuts of salmon,

gorging on brain, skin and roe,

discarding the rest with an air of discernment.

This selective feasting ensures they're fueling up

with the fattiest parts.

Every bear has its day.

And for the coastal crew back at Hallo Bay,

that time is not quite yet.

[soft music playing]

Sorry, friends, but as Tom Petty once said,

"Waiting is the hardest part."

I tell you what, salmon aren't the only thing missing,

as there's still no sign of Bernie.

Oh, come back soon, Burns. We do miss you.

Let's see how Quadmom and her heroes

on the half shell are doing.

Apparently she's sticking with digging clams

instead of eating the readily available grass,

even if it means she doesn't gain weight fast enough.

Look, I get it, raising four kids is very distracting,

but are you sure you don't want to reconsider?

[growls]

Okay, well, maybe you're right, as Donatello finds

a flounder carcass, which is rather good,

as runts of the litter tend to just get the cast off.

Good job, little man, defending your find.

[growls]

Donatello has to stake his claim if he has

any hope of eating around his brothers.

But they're not letting him have his win just yet, are they?

Oh, we've got ourselves a game of tug-o-war

between Raph and Donny.

Oh, look at Leo. Not in the mood for these kids' games, are you?

[growls]

Ah, Donny prevailed, leaving Raph and Mikey

to find their own food.

Like Leo was doing.

Good on you, dude.

Yes, yes, you did very good,

but let's not pretend you're ready to compete

on your own just yet.

Although you might want to look up.

A pack of juveniles is roaming the beach

and they've taken an interest in Leo's find.

What's the plan, young man?

Because they look like they mean business.

You know, there is safety in numbers.

Quadmom sure thinks so as she swoops in,

laying a quick "get your butt over here,"

on the wayward cub.

Oh, and now she's placing herself

between the juveniles and her kids.

Smart move, Mom.

Unfortunately, Quadmom is having to cut

her foraging short to ride herd over the kids,

costing her several beefiness points.

With four young cubs, this first time mom

is navigating a delicate dance between surviving and thriving.

To say nothing of competing for the crown.

[soft music playing]

We're at the midpoint of the second stage

of our epic quest for survival and supremacy

in the wilds of Katmai.

Let's take a closer look at how they're faring

in the Big Bear rankings.

As a reminder, there are 50 beefiness points

up for grabs, with 25 more for ingenuity

and 25 for grit, making 100 a perfect score.

They'll need to be above 70 when this stage is complete

to stay in the competition.

Without further ado, let's see how the bears rank.

Very little surprise to see the new competitors

at Brooks Falls crowding the top of the leaderboard.

Sure, the glut of salmon helps,

but let's not underestimate their mastery of their domain.

Denali's living up to his reputation,

devouring fish and beefiness points like a master,

while Scarface's grit score keeps him

within striking distance of the current king of the falls.

Rizzo's sass and skill keep her in the running,

with an ingenuity score to be reckoned with,

while Blonde Ear's consistent performance

has her well and contention.

These ladies of the falls are not just surviving,

they're thriving.

Bigboi is holding his own... sort of.

His ingenuity and grit scores have skyrocketed

with his journey,

but the lack of steady sustenance

is dragging down his beefiness.

If he doesn't get a proper meal soon,

his southern trek could backfire.

The chaos of Quadmom's world reflects poorly

on her ingenuity score and she's definitely on the bubble.

And finally, Boldface, who finds herself on the bubble as well.

Unfortunately, her tragic loss affects both

her ingenuity and grit scores.

Stick with it, ladies. We believe in you.

Oh, wait. How can we forget

everyone's favorite grizzled veteran?

Bernie can't win if he doesn't play.

It's now or never.

The next few weeks are crucial and the playing field

is about to level as the next wave of salmon

hit the coastal inlets.

With their powerful noses, our furry contestants

can already detect the salmon

waiting just off the shore for high tide.

Uh, not just yet.

You know what they say, "A watched tide doesn't rise."

[growl]

Yeah, I know. I just figured a bad play of words

might lighten the mood.

Oh, do you see what I see?

The high tide has arrived.

And with it, the salmon begin to swim upstream.

Strap on your bibs, my coastal friends.

It's time to eat!

Let the fishing frenzy begin!

[energetic music playing]

And Quadmom is throwing herself in with abandon!

Well, that's something.

Any chance you'll adopt the "stand and wait" method

like your elders over there?

Quadmom's youthful inexperience is on full display

as she awkwardly botches the dash and grab method.

She's all dash and no grab.

[growls]

Ma'am? Ma'am?

I don't think muddying the waters

is going to get you and the kids fed any time soon.

Oh, Quadmom is making a real dog's dinner of her fishing,

coming up empty pawed again.

You're okay, I don't think anyone...

Oh, that's okay.

Look, everything you do is an embarrassment to your kids,

trust me.

[intriguing music playing]

Keep your chin up, you'll get a fish.

One of these days.

Looking upriver and away from the chaos that is Quadmom,

there's Boldface.

And is she alone?

Nope, there's her shadow.

Oops, she's got a target lock on the salmon.

She's going in.

[country music playing]

Success!

And she's dropping it so Raccoon can practice fishing

for his own food.

What a sweet mom.

Oh, Raccoon is too timid and a fish makes a break for it.

Oh, he got lucky and that fish just breached himself.

Boldface is taking advantage of Raccoon's meal

to go get one for herself.

Can the anxious cub get over his fears of...

No!

Tomorrow, the most fearsome creature on four paws,

today, scared out of his fur by a seagull.

[screech]

Of course, he's going to eat with his mom.

Boldface can't keep up this indulgence

if she wants to stay in contention

for the championship.

[soft music playing]

After a marathon journey, our lone warrior Bigboi

finally arrives at Geographic Harbor,

a renowned fishing hotspot.

Quite the hopping locale you've picked, big guy.

Smart move coming further south,

banking beefiness and ingenuity points.

Bigboi's success has caught the attention

of the Welcoming Committee.

[country music playing]

This is Redback, who earned his name,

well, for obvious reasons.

Although Redback's posturing makes it clear

that Geographic Harbor is his house,

he seems content to let Bigboi keep fishing.

Very Zen of you, my dude.

And Bigboi abides, getting back to the business at hand.

While Bigboi puts on a clinic at the river,

Redback's opting for a decidedly different approach.

[tense music playing]

Scavenging for the dregs of other bears' meals

instead of hunting the fresh salmon right there.

I mean, literally, dude, it's right there.

This isn't the kind of behavior we'd expect

from the alpha of the harbor.

And it's caught Bigboi's attention.

Are you sensing a weakness?

You already dethroned one alpha.

Are you going after another?

Oh, there he goes!

[growls]

Time for another "Hungry Games" throwdown!

[growls]

[tense music playing]

[growl]

Oh, dear, Bigboi is halted in his tracks by just a growl?

Are you really going to roll over like a beached salmon?

Apparently.

Look at you, Redback,

establishing dominance with non-aggression.

Got to give the ginger credit,

amassing heft and Big Bear points

with a chill approach to territory and eating.

Did you study with the Dalai Lama?

Mmm, this rebuke does hurt Bigboi's ingenuity

and grit score.

But he's opting to put kilos ahead of ego,

bellying up to the river to find solace in salmon.

A substantial consolation.

[happy music playing]

Hold up, I know that swag.

Yep, it's Bernie.

Welcome back, my man.

So good to see you.

You here to grab a bite?

[seductive music playing]

The only salmon he's got his mind on

is Salmonchanted Evening, right?

What's up, Buttercup?

This young female has come into season,

unusual this late in the summer.

Regardless, she has Bernie feeling the burn.

Still got the fire in your belly, huh, Bernie?

This is actually a surprising move to see from our old friend.

He's been more interested in fish than flotation so far

in the competition.

According to experts,

some older bears start making choices

less about survival and more about ensuring their legacy,

which is a fancy way of saying "getting it on".

Here's Nugget, a hairy young stud looking for love.

He's happy to come to blows with older guys

if it means sinking his teeth into some hot local bears.

Um, are we still making the Alaskan nature documentary

or have I just been given a script for F Bear Island again?

Bernie is defending his newfound love interest...

[growl]

...making it clear to the newcomer

that he's the dominant one here in the bay.

Spelled B-A-Y.

Better get a move on, youngster.

[soft music playing]

Meanwhile, Buttercup is less than impressed

with these amorous antics.

Oh, no, Burns has been dumped in the friend zone.

Come on, buddy, this is what happens

when you chase women half your age.

With stage two quickly nearing the end,

the bears of Brooks Falls can sense

the salmon run beginning to taper off.

That's right, you beefy bears.

You better get in while the getting's good.

Like Rizzo, who's trying to keep her summer buffet

going as long as possible.

But a log jam at the lip is crowding her game.

[growls]

[roar]

Rizzo's none too pleased with this unruly crowd.

And here, folks, is why some bears

are not competing in the Big Bear Challenge.

Dude, if you're stepping up to the plate,

then you better not miss.

Laugh it up, fuzzball.

Rizzo's not happy.

[growl]

Oh, wait, that's not her.

Young Buck is mouthing off to Denali.

[growls]

He might be going after his fishing spot.

A huge late-stage move.

Is this the fall of a champion

or the rise of Alaska's first bear

and Oscar-winning screenwriter?

[growls]

And now we know why they call him the Great One.

Oh, come on, Rizzo, a display like that deserves hyperbole.

Oh, and to throw salt in Young Buck's wounds

Denali lands a post belt meal.

Just racking up win after win.

Oh, Rizzo's on the move.

Smart play heading down the river away from the circus.

Sir, can you not?

First Denali, now Rizzo?

Indeed. When in doubt, just walk away from the idiots.

Oh, hey, Blonde Ears, of course you move downstream

because wherever Rizzo is, there you are.

Maybe today's the day you give Rizzo some space?

[growls]

[roar]

And Rizzo's tune just went from peace to bad blood.

No need to pout, Blonde Ears,

sometimes giving room is how we show love.

And after all that, Rizzo lands herself a snack.

She's burned more than a few calories,

but thankfully she got them back

with a side of grit and ingenuity points.

Mmm, the best combo meal there is.

[soft music playing]

Over at Geographic Harbor,

Bigboi's choice to stick around under Redback's rule

is paying dividends.

He's moving with a confidence we haven't seen

since he was king of the carcass at Point Douglas.

Glad to see you've got your swagger back, sir.

Interestingly, Redback isn't responding.

He set Bigboi straight once.

Can he really be that chill?

Oh, no, the truth is far less glamorous.

Let's just say he's got digestive troubles.

Sometimes bears can eat rotting fish

with no ill effects, but it's... um...

a crap shoot.

Hey, why don't we leave the eating of garbage

to the sky scavengers, hey?

Are we feeling any better?

No, no, no, we're not!

Well, at least now we have a definitive answer

on whether bears ... in the woods.

Look, in a moment like this,

saltines and ginger ale are key, my friend.

Yeah, you probably don't have access to that sort of thing.

Maybe just check the freshness of the fish first.

Okay, well, good luck with that.

Redback's misfortune is Bigboi's gain.

Now there's no one to stop him

from claiming prime position in the harbor.

In fact, the other bears are already deferring to Bigboi,

ensuring he gets all those vital calories and fat

in the waning days of the salmon run.

[energetic music playing]

We owe you an apology, sir.

Who knew you could play 4D chess?

Bigboi's resurgence at Geographic Harbor

is not just a return to power,

it's a testament to his resilience and intellect,

positioning him as a strong contender

for the coveted "Hungry Games" crown.

And who is this?

In a reversal of fortune, Quadmom is on a winning streak,

landing salmon after salmon for her hungry quartet.

Wow, her cubs are growing fast.

Either Quadmom knows the coach of an Eastern European

gymnastics team or she's learnt how to fish.

Okay, Mama, you're rebounding like Dennis Rodman.

Maybe just don't go to North Korea.

[soft music playing]

Quadmom's not the only mama bear getting her 10,000 steps in.

Boldface is fishing with gusto.

And if that isn't a podcast with reach and relatability,

I don't know what is.

This is how we make progress, one small step at a time.

And it seems to be working, as Raccoon hangs back,

watching, and more importantly, learning,

as Mom scores some needed calories.

Good job, young man. You should be proud of yourself.

Ahoy! Look who's joining the party.

Oh, Raccoon. Don't worry about Bernie.

He's a harmless, kindly old bear.

If he had pockets, I bet he'd have a Werther's candy for you.

[sigh]

Guess my analogy isn't

reassuring enough for Raccoon,

who scampers away,

pulling Mom from her fishing.

Raccoon, cut your mom some slack.

She's just trying to do what's best for you.

Oh, poor Boldface,

caught between feeding herself

and nurturing her nervous cub.

She's making some headway with his separation anxiety,

but his clinginess threatens to undermine

their chances of advancing.

Thankfully, she doesn't have to wait long to find out,

as we reach the end of stage two.

The waning salmon run signals the conclusion of another stage

of "The Hungry Games: Alaska's Big Bear Challenge."

While it lasted a brief 30 days, the stage was packed with action

and an abundance of calories in the shape of precious salmon.

But enough talking.

Let's see how the bears stack up

with the official weigh-in of stage two.

Don't be nervous.

It's just a shot at the crown on the line.

No shock to see all four Brooks Falls bears

atop the ranking, led by Denali.

A breakdown of their score reveals this quartet

played a complete game in the second stage.

First up, Denali, who racked up not one,

but two nearly perfect scores on beefiness and ingenuity.

and his grit score, a respectable 18.

The Great One is certainly living up to his name.

Close behind, Scarface put up an identical beefiness score.

His ingenuity is 19,

and that's paired with another 19 for grit.

Higher than his adversary, but you've got to be gritty

if you're going to be the king.

An acceptable 82 has Scarface right on the heels of Denali.

But let's not ignore the ladies of the falls.

Rizzo showing she's got the goods with an identical 82.

That grit score is tasty!

And her shadow Blonde Ears chalking up a killer 43

on beefiness scale.

19 for ingenuity and...

aww, a 19 for grit.

One more point and she would've tied Scarface and Rizzo.

Stay hungry and you'll catch them, Blonde Ears!

And how'd our mama bear with the four mouths to feed do?

Ouch! Quadmom puts up a meagre 39 for beefiness

and a 14 for ingenuity.

Quadmom and the Chaotic Four

are in serious danger of elimination.

Wow! An 18 for grit!

That means she makes the cut by just one point.

Next, Bigboi, our one-time king turned ronin.

No surprise to see a solid beefiness score.

That 44 is paired with a nearly perfect 20 for ingenuity.

Smart gameplay pays off,

but he still needs a respectable grit score.

Whoa, a 14!

Well, that secures his spot for the final stage.

Let's look at his dance partner, Redback, the fish forager.

His illness shows up in a severely

diminished beefiness score of 37.

And ingenuity comes in at a stage low 12,

no doubt for his dubious food plan.

He charts a respectable 16 for grit,

but that only adds up to 65.

And he's out of the running.

Sadly, he was more of a pretender than a contender.

Oh, and what about our resilient mom, Boldface?

Off to a good start with a solid beefiness score of 42,

followed by a decent ingenuity score, 15.

But this fan favorite is teetering

on the edge of elimination

and has no wiggle room when it comes to her grit score.

which comes in at a meager 13.

Thankfully this resilient mom has a total of 70 points

and a spot in the finals by the skin of her teeth.

And it would be criminal to not shout out a fan favorite,

good old Burns.

After pulling a runner, Bernie made a surprise appearance.

But it was a case of too little, too late.

And that, kids, is what happens when you lose focus.

[narrator imitates trumpet]

Instead, let's remember you and Redback at your finest.

Bye-bye, Burns!

[melancholic music playing]

Next on the electrifying finale of "The Hungry Games."

Winter is coming!

And if the bears thought the last three months

were difficult, they're in for the ride of their lives.

Sure, the competition has been fierce,

but it's about to get real as Mother Nature

changes the game once more, shifting the playing field

and making the battle for survival even harder.

The glut of calories gives way to reduced resources

and the bears will resort to anything in the final fight

to put on the pounds in the waning days of feeding season.

[growls]

But would you expect anything less

in the greatest survival game of all time?

Who will claw their way to the top?

Join us for the thrilling conclusion of...

"The Hungry Games!"

[growls]