Survivor is a game that cannot be replicated. It is a test of endurance, social skills, and strength, both physical and mental. Starting from the premier of season 1, Survivor: Borneo, people were intrigued with the idea of what Survivor could bring to the world of reality TV. The first season was simple with 16 people stuck on an island who were forced to vote each other off the island, but as the show progressed so did the production and gameplay. Now with 50 seasons, Survivor is one of the most iconic reality shows to exist in the United States. This game has fans all around the world, with over 4 million viewers every episode. If you watch TV, it is almost guaranteed that you have seen or heard of Survivor.
In recent times, season 50 has premiered and with the season finale coming up next week, I want to take a moment to reflect upon why this season is so important.
Season 50 holds the title, “In the Hands of the Fans”, letting fans make decisions as to how this game is going to go. Prior to the season being filmed, Survivor posted all over their social media asking the fans to vote on gameplay aspects. They wanted to do something to thank the fans for all of the support over the years. Fans voted on things such as Immunity Idols and final four fire making. These are important aspects that affect the way the game is played. This ability to choose how the game will go has been very exciting for the diehard fans, and has been an exciting surprise for those who chose to sit back and let others vote.
When Survivor teased this season, they wanted to share that the fans were not just the people who watch the show on their couch in their living room. Some fans are celebrities who chose to sponsor the show and provide their own twists on this game. Almost immediately after the season began, Immunity Idols were found, but these were not the typical idol. They were Billie Eilish Boomerang Idols, which had to be gifted to someone else on another tribe. Another celebrity who showed up was Zac Brown, who provided a specialized reward where he sang to the tribe and provided them with a meal.
After these appearances, people were upset. They complained about it, angry that survivor was promoting celebrities instead of focusing on the game itself.
This all changed after the Survivor auction, when Mr Beast arrived on the island. He gave the players the opportunity to win 2 million dollars instead of 1 million. Rick Devens, an iconic player of survivor, agreed to risk his life in the game to flip the coin and potentially win the 2 million. He was successful and the prize for the winner is now the largest it has ever been. As the excitement for this died down, Sia decided to give 100,000 to any player that the fans voted for. The results for this have not yet been released, but Rick Devens has the vote of many people on the internet due to their appreciation of his prize doubling endeavor.
While the appearances and production of this season has been quite different from the past, the players are quite familiar to fans of the game.
This seasons lineup includes; Q Burdette, Charlie Davis, Colby Donaldson, Cirie Fields, Emily Flippen, Chrissy Hofbeck, Joe Hunter, Angelina Keeley, Stephenie LaGrossa, Ozzy Lusth, Genevieve Mushaluk, Jonathan Young, Jenna Lewis, Christian Hubicki, “Coach” Wade, Aubry Bracco, Rick Devens, Mike White, Kamilla Karthigesu, Tiffany Ervin, Kyle Fraser, and Dee Valladares. This is a wonderful mix of players. Players who are considered “old generation” and players who are considered “new generation” are all on a season together, forced to create alliances with each other. With the inclusion of all of these players, this is one of the best lineups in Survivor history.
As people have been voted off of this season, the five who remain are headed to the finale next week. It’s very exciting to see who wins the season, with the finale being held live in LA for the first time in years. As the finale approaches fans are choosing their favorites and making their final predictions for the main event of the survivor season.
Survivor 50 is a success so far in the eyes of the people, and it shows how this show will continue to be a success for many years to come.
