Unchained Reaction

“Unchained Reaction” — executive produced and judged by Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman of MythBusters — is a new six-part series that pits two teams of varying backgrounds against each other to build an elaborate chain reaction contraption. But believe us, they’re not just creating a mere string of dominoes; teams must utilize ingenuity, innovation and know-how to build contraptions on a massive scale. Each week, two teams made up of artists, rocket scientists, animatronic specialists, engineers — and even your average Joe — are provided with identical sets of tools and materials and given five days to complete a series of mechanisms based on a specific theme. It’s the ultimate build-off pressure cooker, where refined mechanical movements, pyrotechnics and large-scale destruction are encouraged. Making a refrigerator a pendulum? Totally possible on Unchained Reaction. Catapults? Flying saucers? Guillotines? Anything goes as long as they trigger the next link in the chain. Teamwork and outside-the-box thinking are what it will take to be the Unchained Reaction winner, as teams compete to see who can achieve the most impressive build in such a short time. Each week, Jamie and Adam are joined by a new guest judge to decide which team impressed them the most with their innovation, energy and how much spectacle they can create.