Emily Telesco, Reporter
@etelescocourant
The end of September welcomed an exciting 45th season of the hit reality show Survivor. With a new episode coming out every Wednesday night until it’s over, fans like me wait anxiously each week to see how certain events will turn out. But, with various new changes, this season has mixed reviews. Here are my thoughts on this new season of Survivor, so far:
First – what is Survivor? For more than 20 years, this show has captivated people from around the world. Each season, 16-20 people are taken to an isolated location around the world. In the past, the castaways have been to exotic locations such as Fiji, Malaysia, the Philippines, and even Australia once. Upon arriving they are split into teams, or “tribes.” For 26 (which used to be 39) grueling days, the castaways compete in exhilarating challenges – both for reward and immunity – all while surviving in the unforgiving outdoors. After each immunity challenge, the losing tribe goes to a “tribal council,” where they have to vote off one of their tribe members. About halfway through, all the tribes merge together and the game becomes individual. In the end, the “jury” (consisting of people voted off in the past) decides who out of the final three players deserves to win the huge $1 million prize.
Survivor is hosted by the Emmy award-winning Jeff Probst, who has gained worldwide recognition for his involvement with the show over the past two decades. Jeff is loved by fans across the world for his charismatic yet witty and encouraging persona – perfect for a reality show like Survivor.
Mixed into all of this are various other components that make the game more entertaining: such as hidden immunity idols, diverse strategies, unexpected twists or changes in the game structure, and much more. What’s so special about Survivor is that each season is different, and there is always bound to be something new and interesting, which is why it has been so popular for so many years.
As one can imagine, Survivor has changed a lot over the decades. Any fan can agree that the older Survivor seasons were much more brutal: the contestants were in the game for significantly more time, and the challenges were much harsher – but also riveting for audiences.
On the contrary, the new Survivor era has proved to be much less relentless. Most significantly, the playing time was reduced to 26 days from the original 39 after the COVID pandemic. In addition, they got rid of most of their harsher challenges – involving mud, wrestling, and more.
What’s more, the people brought on to these newer seasons seem to be much less interesting and committed – losing the attention of many fans. All of these changes have sparked controversy within the Survivor fanbase – many disliking this new era and reminiscing on the old, seemingly more entertaining seasons.
However, I think this new 45th season seems to be promising. What makes a good season? Primarily, the people. Audiences need someone, or a group of people, to root for. This new season involves a pretty entertaining group of people, each with their own unique dynamics and personalities. Despite a rocky beginning with two people quitting, the remaining players and tribe dynamic is undeniably entertaining. Additionally, with interesting challenges and unexpected twists all throughout the game, fans are being kept engaged at all times.
All that said, there are clearly some similarities and differences between the two eras, both negative and positive. Nevertheless, if you are looking for an exciting, emotional reality show, I could not recommend Survivor enough. No matter the era, you are guaranteed to be enthralled. In the words of host Jeff Probst: “If I’ve learned anything over the years, it is that every single season is a unique one.”
