Real is a weird fine line. To me, it's a more informative show than something like the Lizard Towing type shows...which claims to be re- enactments of actual events. Um, yeah. For me, Moonshiners is a look at a culture that those of us 3000 miles away would never get. Throw in the history aspect and the oppressive hands out government angle, I'm hooked. The "characters" don't hurt.