How to Stay Alive in the Woods

How to Stay Alive in the Woods

Season
Episode
1
5

Airdate
July 26, 2016

Viewers
0.35 million

Centric characters
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Centric character
Joel Goodson

Other backstory characters
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Other backstory character
Tall Man

Running time
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Production code
{{{pc}}}

Flashback
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Flash-forward
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Flash sideways
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Ratings
0.35 million

Written by
Erin Maher &
 Kay Reindl

Directed by
Norman Buckley

Starring
Elizabeth Mitchell - Deborah "Deb" Carpenter
Elizabeth Lail - Amy Hughes
Amber Coney - Carolina "Cricket" Diaz
Alberto Frezza - Deputy Garrett Sykes
Eli Goree - Joel Goodson
Mark Indelicato - Blair Ramos
Ronen Rubinstein - Alex Powell
Paulina Singer - Jessie Tyler
Zelda Williams - Drew Reeves

Also Starring
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Special Guest Star(s)
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Guest Starring
Tony Todd - The Tall Man
Lovell Adams-Gray - Michael Goodson
Colin Lawrence - Joel's Father
Taylor Russell - Laura

Co-Starring
Dante Arias - Young Joel
Mark Dozlaw - Kenny
Allan Daniel Fisher - Anton Melnikov
Lia Franklin - Francie
Rhianna Jagpal - Thea

Uncredited
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Archive footage
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"**How to Stay Alive in the Woods**" is the 5th episode of ***Dead of Summer***.

## Summary

Deb and the counselors take the campers on an overnight camping trip deep into the woods for an unforgettable experience. As everyone is pitching tents and trying to find the perfect marshmallow roasting stick, Joel grows uneasy about what is happening at Camp Stillwater. Meanwhile, flashbacks feature Joel.

## Plot

### Flashback

#### Joel Goodson

A younger Joel is seen in his older brother, Michael's, room where he records his Michael's impersonations.hey discuss how they will miss each other once Joel goes to camp as the 'geeky kid who no one believe is related to [his cool older brother]'. Joel's brother then gives Joel his favorite Dodger's shirt and says 'let's see them call you geeky in that'. He also tells Joel that 'perception beats reality every time' when Joel states that the shirt is too big for him. As Joel begins to thank Michael, Michael stares into the open window but then brushes it off when Joel asks what's wrong and if he saw something. He says that the only thing he sees 'is a kid who is going to make him late for prom'.

Later, all of Michael's friends are taking pictures and videos while waiting downstairs to head to the limo but Joel's brother has yet to make an appearance. Joel goes upstairs to check on him and notices a mixture of blood and water spilling out from under the bathroom door. Joel cautiously walks into the bathroom and while he is still recording, he finds his brother in the bathtub filled with his own blood with the words 'he will never leave me alone' written in blood on the wall.

Years later, there is a flashback to around the time of Joel's prom. His date,Laura, tells him that he doesn't look dorky and looks more like Bond. She also congratulates him for being 'Mr. Golden Boy' for getting an early acceptance to NYU Film School. She asks him to put her in his movies and he says that she already is and starts recording. He then looks into the mirror and sees the Tall Man appear. While shocked, he checks his camera for evidence but there is nothing there.

Later at his house, he sees the man again and screams 'what do you want!' and pulls out his camera to record him. But again, nothing is there. Joel's father comes outside to ask Joel what is wrong, and Joel blames it on not being able to tie his tie. The two talk about the last prom, Michael's prom, and Joel's father assures Joel that the nightmare was just in Michael's head and that none of it was real. His father also tells him that he is always there to listen to him.

## Trivia

* The title of this episode is named after the book of the same published by author Bradford Angier in 1956.

## Production

* The title of this episode was officially confirmed by the Spoiler TV website on May 7, 2016.

## Gallery

Gallery of photographic stills released to promote the episode.

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## Videos

Gallery of videos used to promote the episode.

Dead of Summer - 1x05 (From How to Stay Alive in the Woods) Trailer 1Dead of Summer - 1x05 (From How to Stay Alive in the Woods) Sneak Peek 1Dead of Summer - 1x05 (From How to Stay Alive in the Woods) Sneak Peek 2Dead of Summer - 1x05 (From How to Stay Alive in the Woods) Sneak Peek 3Dead of Summer - 1x05 (From How to Stay Alive in the Woods) Sneak Peek 4Dead of Summer - 1x05 (From How to Stay Alive in the Woods) Behind the Scenes 1