The hype of Season 50 of “Survivor” has circulated for nearly three years – we finally got to see the 24 returning “all stars” return to our screens on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
Created and hosted by Jeff Probst, this reality-based competition series has spanned 25 years on television.
Mixing survival, psychology, sociology, calculations and physicality, “Survivor” is the ultimate challenge. Selected players spend 26 days in the unpredictable conditions of Fiji to “outwit, outplay and outlast” their fellow castmates.
The game has shifted some within 25 years of running. Seasons 1 through 20 are referred to as “old school” gameplay, where much of the game relied on actual survival. Seasons 21-40 began the “new school” gameplay that brought in more strategy, voting shifts and a heavier use of immunity idols.
Idols are such a huge part of “Survivor” game play. When a player finds an immunity idol, they have the opportunity to use it during any tribal council if they fear they might be voted out. Ordinary immunity idols can only be played at tribal council before the votes are read, so there’s always the chance a player plays their idol when they did not need to.
From season 41 onward, “Survivor” has been in its “new era.” Essentially, the game shifted after COVID-19. Where the competition used to last 39 days, it now only lasts 26. Where each tribe of players used to be given food to start with in the competition, tribes now have to earn or scavenge anything food related. The last big change was the elimination of the live reunion. From season 41 forward, the votes are read immediately after the final tribal.
As for the most recent season of “Survivor,” the contestants were split into three tribes upon arriving in Fiji. This season’s tribe names are Cila, Kalo and Vatu.
Representing the Cila tribe are Cirie Fields, Christian Hubicki, Emily Flippen, Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, Joe Hunter, Ozzy Lusth, Rick Devens and Savannah Louie. Out of these eight players, there are three from the “new era,” and one previous winner, Savannah Louie, from season 49. There is also a representative from season one, Jenna Lewis-Dougherty.
Representing the Kalo tribe are Benjamin (Coach) Wade, Charlie Davis, Chrissy Hofbeck, Dee Valladares, Jonathan Young, Kamilla Karthigesu, Mike White and Tiffany Ervin. Kalo has five “new era” representatives and one previous winner, Dee Valladares from season 45.
Representing the Vatu tribe are Angelina Keeley, Aubry Bracco, Colby Donaldson, Genevieve Mushaluk, Kyle Fraser, Q Burdette, Rizo Velovik and Stephanie LaGrossa. Vatu has four “new era” representatives and one previous winner, Kyle Fraser.
“Survivor” seasons with an entire cast of previous players are always an absolute blast to watch. Viewers see some cast members who have played together already – such as Charlie, Q and Tiffany from season 46, Cirie and Stephanie from season 20, and Chrissy, Christian and Mike from season 37– which begs the question of whether those players will be loyal to one another, or at each other’s throats, refusing to lose to each other again.
There is also the notion that other players have watched every single season of this show, which means they know, theoretically, how that person plays. Take Cirie Fields for example, who has been on the show four times before season 50. She is arguably the best combination of strategic game play and all-around charisma.
Each player in this season knows it.
Everyone should, in theory, be well equipped with each other’s game play. That’s including us, the audience. I have my three categories of players: the strategists, the physical threats and then the all-around social players.
Some of the other great strategists back this season are Kamilla, Genevieve, Christian, Emily and Aubry.
Another crucial part of “Survivor” stems from the actual challenge aspect. In each episode, tribes compete to gain tribal immunity, until the final stage where players compete for individual immunity. In the first half of the season, physicality is an asset to your tribe, but in the second half, physicality is a threat that can get you voted out.
The physical players and big challenge winners from previous seasons are Q, Tiffany, Jonathan, Coach, Joe, Ozzy, Chrissy, Rick and Stephanie.
My standout players that are just incredible in both strategy and the social aspect of the game are Charlie, Dee, Cirie, Kyle and Angelina.
That leaves me with five players unplaced: Mike, Savannah, Jenna, Colby and Rizo. Where should I place them?
Honest answer? I am unfamiliar with Savannah, Jenna, Colby and Rizo, so I don’t want to put them somewhere undeserving. And I have no idea why Mike White is back from season 37’s “David vs Goliath.” He didn’t stand out to me at all and I much prefer him when he is writing twisted television shows like “The White Lotus.”
After the three-hour premiere of Survivor 50, we were left with only 22 players. Jenna Lewis-Dougherty was voted off in an unanimous vote by her Cila tribe, and Kyle Fraser had to be medically pulled from the game after the Survivor doctor feared he had damage to his achilles tendon.
During the immunity challenge, Kyle visibly hurt his foot when trying to scale the final part in the challenge. After already helping each of his tribemates up, he had to launch himself up this giant wall, which led to an unforeseen injury.
Probst stopped the challenge and called for the medic to evaluate Kyle. Once cleared, he finished the challenge with help from his tribemate, Q. At the very end of the episode, we see Kyle get reevaluated. The medic and Probst made the decision to pull Kyle from the game to prevent long-term damage.
I’m hoping for some true voting blindsides, abandoned alliances, well-played immunity idols and new-emerging challenge beasts during Survivor 50.
