By Movieguide® Contributor
BACK TO THE FRONTIER, a reality show from Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network, takes viewers back to simpler times, but it’s stirred up controversy since its premiere.
The show follows three families who homestead and live like pioneers did in the 1800s. Stacey and Joaquin Loper, who appeared on the show with their kids, shared with Movieguide®’s Kaelii Williams about how they got involved and their experience.
According to the Movieguide® review: “BACK TO THE FRONTIER is a reality TV series on HBO Max about three modern-day families who reenact the ‘homestead’ lifestyle of 19th-century America. In episode one, three family units join a summer-long competition where they role-play as Western settlers in the late 1800s. However, each group struggles to adapt to the old ways of life while leaving their modern technology behind. Will they be able to survive the old frontier? BACK TO THE FRONTIER is an uplifting series for adults with some emphasis on prominent Christian virtues. However, there is a same-sex couple.”
For the Lopers, the emphasis on faith and family hit home.
“From a family perspective, you know, we can do this as a family. It’s not just individualized. It’s not for me,” Stacey explained. “So, I took it to Joaquin, and I said, ‘Do you think this is something we want to do?’ And he was like, ‘For sure.'”
She continued, “The surprising challenges for me was all the work that the woman had to do. It struck me as a true like, ‘I gotta do this.’ Like, this is my responsibility. It’s the house, animals, my children, my husband. It’s everything, like, I have to do this, and I can get no help, because gender roles were so defined.”
Stacey added, “My children could not help me. My husband could not help me. And I don’t do any of this in my 21st century life, like none of this.”
The Lopers relied on their faith in God to help them through the challenges they faced.
“It made us stronger, and it made me realized what we’re instilling in our kids,” Joaquin said. “The amount of faith they show made my faith even stronger, because I’m like, ‘Oh man, they get it.’ They do get it. They’re not allowing this obstacle or this challenge to break them mentally, spiritually or physically.”
Related: Living Like Its 1880 – Dream Or NIGHTMARE?! | Back To The Frontier Interview
The show was filmed in rural Canada outside of Calgary and premiered on July 10 on HBO Max.
Despite the Lopers’ strong faith, the show has come under fire from Christians for its prominent inclusion of a same-sex couple.
“While we are to love people, we should love them enough to tell them the truth of God’s Word,” Samaritan’s Purse president Franklin Graham said of the casting decision. “His Word is absolute truth. God loves us, and His design for marriage is between one man and one woman. Promoting something that God defines as sin is in itself sin.”
The Movieguide® review also noted the conflicting values: “Each family emphasizes the importance of strong father figures, learning to work together, and even participating in a group prayer on camera. Unfortunately, it is marred by a same-sex couple. The two fathers strive to be good role models for their sons, and although they don’t hug, kiss, or show any form of affection towards each other, their homosexuality and how it affects the family is discussed, and their immoral, antibiblical relationship is not condemned in the episode. Conservative Christian viewers will be disappointed to see a homosexual relationship celebrated. Therefore, MOVIEGUIDE® recommends extreme caution for teens and adults.”
Read Next: Chip And Joanna Gaines Reflect on the Success of Magnolia
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