Steve's Survivor Season Rankings (Worst to Best)
Last updated with: 45

Disclaimer: The following countdown contains MAJOR SPOILERS. Other items worth noting:
  • I generally tend to favor seasons where players innovate great ideas.
  • I never penalize seasons for how many times a player has returned. If a player is entertaining, they can return every season as far as I'm concerned.
  • I hate it when random chance determines the outcome of a vote, e.g., rock tiebreakers, unlucky tribal swaps, luck of the draw advantages, the hourglass swap, and "do or die" boxes.

45. Survivor: Island of the Idols (season #39)
An icky season forever disgraced by an inappropriate touching scandal. It started in the very first episode and lasted all the way to the reunion show, which had to be pre-taped as a consequence. And in a move that felt really cagey and non-transparent to me, the show blocked out the most important conversations about it with title cards that might as well have just said "SCENE MISSING" on them. I also felt that the scandal exposed a noxious moral decay in the game of Survivor, showing just how low reality TV players are willing to stoop to avoid elimination. Specifically, the two women who shamelessly milked the scandal for votes. First they inflated their own stories about it to get "me too" comradery, then denounced the lady who stood up for them, then completely pandered to the man doing the touching. Seriously?! Finally to top it all off, this guy had the audacity to touch somebody else off-camera after the producers already warned him to stop--leading to a "SCENE MISSING" of his removal. I do give the producers credit for (eventually) ejecting a player for the first time in Survivor history, airing a well-spoken segment about the issue on the reunion show, and constructing new guidlines to prevent future seasons from being ruined in this manner. blog, blog

Highlights that got completely marginalized by the fun-killing scandal:

  • Mentors/carnies Boston Rob and Sandra unintentionally hurting their mentees when Vince got voted out with the idol he won and Noura got hilariously sidelined from an immunity challenge trying to complete her Island of the Idols mission.
  • Kellee hiding a temporary immunity idol in her hair then sneaking it to Dean to avoid scrutiny. Too bad Dean didn't return the favor and Kellee got voted out with two idols. Incidentally, I also noticed that despite winning the immunity necklace and no longer needing the immunity idol from the Island of the Idols shelter, Dean still reneged on his deal with Tommy.
  • Tommy winning the game straight-up without a single advantage (Rob and Sandra sure doled those out like candy), hidden immunity idol, immunity necklace, or fire challenge.

44. Survivor: Thailand (season #5)
A painfully boring season that best exemplified why I almost stopped watching the show. This season also featured the lamest twist ever: rival tribes cohabitating instead of merging. blog

Highlights: Can't remember any.

43. Survivor: Nicaragua (season #21)
For me, this season took the cake for annoying castaways and inane gameplay. Although some of the more colorful characters, e.g., "Hurricane" NaOnka, "Fabio", and ex-NFL coach Jimmy Johnson entertained me, I basically had no one to root for during the entire season. In fact, I felt that the series hit a low point when Fabio won the game and Jane won Sprint's Player of the Season. Also found that Medallion of Power twist pretty lame. blog

Highlights:

  • NaOnka lasting long despite shoving a girl with a prosthetic leg and stealing socks and food.
  • Marty playing decently but then inexplicably giving away his hidden immunity idol.
  • Chase lasting long despite constant indecision and broken promises.

42. Survivor: One World (season #24)
An embarrassing, mind-numbing season of quite possibly the dumbest (and most delusional) crop of players in Survivor history. It still pains me to think that a juvenile twerp like Colton could run the game and convince an entire tribe to forfeit team immunity (the dumbest tribal move I've ever seen until I see one worse)! I actually rooted for the women to vote out all of the men. Plus I'm sick of that tiresome "impulsively ally with four other strangers" strategy. blog, blog

Highlights:

  • The gender-divided tribes feuding over axe, chicken, fire, and immunity snafus.
  • Colton remaining selfish to the bitter end, clutching his immunity idol as he exited.
  • The best strategic player, Kim, actually winning (even though for this season that didn't strike me as much of an accomplishment).

41. Survivor: Panama - Exile Island (season #12)
I considered this season one of the flukiest in that the most annoying people seemed to dominate the game instead of getting voted out at the beginning (admittedly, Cirie Fields eventually impressed me in a later Survivor season). The only player that I liked (Terry) made it pretty far only to get betrayed and eliminated after the final challenge. That reinforced my disdain for the unpredictability of the final challenge--and unfortunately, the expansion of a final two into a final three didn't start until next season. :(

Highlight: Rooting for Terry in individual immunity challenges.

40. Survivor: Guatemala - The Mayan Empire (season #11)
I just remember this season for the returning Stephenie LaGrossa. I lamented how she tarnished that "America's sweetheart" image from "Survivor: Palau", but still rooted for her to win. To my chagrin, she blew it on the very last immunity challenge.

Highlights: Can't remember any.

39. Survivor: China (season #15)
A season highlighted by the bizarre coincidence of one castaway (James) ending up with both hidden immunity idols. I honestly cannot remember very much else about this season.

Highlights:

  • Jaime finding both hidden immunity idols in James' bag; then inexplicably mistaking a plaque for a hidden immunity idol.
  • James getting voted out holding both hidden immunity idols.

38. Survivor 41 (season #41)
This season felt more like that "Let's Make a Deal" game show than actual Survivor, the most heinous examples being a) that "do or die" tribal council wherein random Monty Hall boxes decided whether Deshawn got eliminated, and b) that hourglass Erika shattered to unfairly reverse a crucial team immunity victory. What's next, a random lottery to determine the Survivor winner? The one redeeming outcome I saw from this season's overabundance of advantages: the players' strategic countermeasures to take them out of play, from blindsiding the players with advantages and immunity idols to Xander baiting another player into wasting her "steal an idol" advantage on him. Production-wise, I felt like this season of Survivor improved its editing of the players' backstories--but I also gagged at the sappy musical scores.

Highlights:

  • Shan leaving her extra vote advantage with Ricard when her inactive three-way immunity idol kept her vote suppressed, then getting mad when he kept stalling on giving it back. (Incidentally, I was confused that the rules allowed Shan to activate the three-way immunity idol even though Genie was the one who found it.)
  • Xander lying about his plan to play an immunity idol on Evvie to bait Liana into wasting her "steal an idol" advantage on him; then Sydney unintentionally eliminating herself by giving up her tiebreaking vote on a failed "shot in the dark" immunity attempt.
  • The back-and-forth firemaking challenge between Deshawn and Heather coming down to a dramatic photofinish for that last spot in the final three.
37. Survivor: Marquesas (season #4)
A dull season except for the pivotal power shift and the infamous "purple rock" tiebreaker.

Highlights:

  • The pivotal power shift.
  • The infamous "purple rock" tiebreaker.

36. Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers (season #35)
A slow season until the merged players suddenly woke up and began scrambling. Unfortunately, production twists once again decided the game when the winner saved himself three consecutive times with hidden immunity idols, then only made the final three because of a BS fire challenge twist! Basically, all of this season's "next tribal council only" advantages bugged me, and felt like random board game gimmicks rather than Survivor. Other annoyances: three different players alienating their tribesmates and calling that "strategy"; players misusing (or in Lauren's case, inexplicably dismantling) their immunity idol; players incorrectly splitting votes; and players seemingly spilling secrets to anyone who would listen.

Highlights:

  • The majority alliance planting a mole, "Secret Spy Ben", into the minority alliance by having him cast a fake vote. Though after I saw how mad Chrissy got, the tactic didn't seem so smart.
  • Ben playing along with Chrissy's ploy to flaunt a dead hidden immunity idol so he'd stop searching for the real one.
  • Ben dramatically losing that riveting final immunity challenge because of a single upside-down letter block. Too bad this powerful turn of events got ruined by a contrived lifeline that unfairly blocked the other three players from voting him out!

35. Survivor: South Pacific (season #23)
The return of Ozzy and Coach! Cue the chirping crickets. I did get excited for the merge due to my high hopes for that Trojan Horse ploy--but alas, nothing much came of that. blog, blog

Highlights:

  • Russell Hantz's contradiction of a nephew, whom I once deemed the worst Survivor player of all time thanks to his unsolicited self-sacrifice when we won individual immunity.
  • The exciting (but disappointing) Trojan Horse plan and Cochran playing double agent.
  • Ozzy's distinctive "Redemption Island" strategy which made him the only player to get voted out thrice in the same season.

34. Survivor: Ghost Island (season #36)
Convoluted crapshoot of a season that shuffled the tribes and "cursed" relics so thoroughly that I kept losing track of people's allegiances (Naviti? Malolo?) and advantages (castaways literally played random games of chance to win them). At least the two best players rose to the top and punctuated the season with a climactic photofinish. Though personally, part of me feels like Survivor winners should have an asterisk next to their name if they owe their survival to the new fire challenge rule. blog

Highlights:

  • Domenick making a comment on day one about Chris’s forfeiture of the opening challenge, starting a feud that lasted all the way to the merge (and could've lasted longer had Chris not inexplicably held onto his limited immunity idol).
  • Players now having to screen the disinformation about hidden immunity idols, with the show even providing a fake one for Domenick to grandstand with.
  • The final vote suspiciously ending in a tiebreaker for the first time in Survivor history, forcing the final two to place their fates in the hands of their closest ally. Too bad I had already deduced what would happen when Jeff Probst first started reading the jury votes. Had he not spoiled what breaks a jury tie (during a reunion show a couple of seasons back), I would've been in complete suspense.

33. Survivor: Edge of Extinction (season #38)
I liked the four returning castaways...until the show made them cling to hope on a demeaning island of eliminated players before finally putting them out of their misery. And in a testament to just how bad this "Edge of Extinction" premise was, the third person voted out returned for the last three days and stole the game from castaways who had played for all 39 days! Side note: I did like how the interview clips started captioning which advantage (or fake idol) each player had, especially when the extra vote kept changing owners.

Highlights:

  • Returnees Kelley Wentworth and David becoming frenemies on a tribe that lost almost every immunity challenge (and even wound up back with them during the random swap).
  • Two deadlocked four-player tribes avoiding rocks at a joint tribal council by fittingly voting out the trolly castaway who used her highly coveted Survivor spot to sabotage camp rather than play the game. (I also liked that despite saving the chickens, she got snubbed for the $100,000 Sia award.)
  • Rick Devens triggering pandemonium at tribal council when Julie jumped at his public offer, playing hide-and-seek with rival idol searchers after he already found one, and managing to trick two separate players with fake idols.
  • Chris gambling all-or-nothing by giving up his final four immunity and volunteering himself for the final fire-making challenge against the player most likely to win the game.

32. Survivor 42 (season #42)
Despite the exact same random twists I hated from Survivor 41, e.g., the hourglass swap and the "do or die" Monty Hall boxes, I applauded the castaways for repeatedly taking control of their fates. Cases in point: a) the players avoiding the rock tiebreaker, and b) every player opting out of the "do or die" twist except for the two best immunity challenge competitors (making for a suspenseful duel wherein the loser basically had to suffer "Let's Make a Deal" as punishment for their pride).

Highlights:

  • The show using flashbacks to expose disinformation to the viewing audience, e.g., Swati's double-dealing and Romeo's lie that he didn't vote for Hai.
  • The tribal council where Drea was a really good sport about wasting her "steal an idol" advantage and extra vote on Mike. Because not gonna lie...I cringed at that earlier tribal council where she and Maryanne symbolically played their immunity idols because the new juror was African American, without knowing the full story that he had secretly been trying to start a men's alliance against them. On a side note, I do think that diversifying the tribes like they did in one of my favorite seasons, "Survivor: Cook Islands", would definitely freshen up the show.
  • Maryanne, Mike, and Jonathan risking a split-vote to eliminate Omar despite the likelihood that an immune Lindsay would play her expiring amulet immunity idol on him. Also, Maryanne selling the perfect narrative as to why she should receive jury votes for withholding her secret immunity idol at final five. Overall, I liked her energy.
31. Survivor 45 (season #45)
A trying season of excruciatingly long 90-minute episodes and castaways overacting like street performers thinking that will make them more likeable. Which is why I found someone like Emily refreshing, because she had the opposite problem but IMHO worked her way up to most improved player. Side note: I can't help but hypothesize that the complete lack of provisions has been causing more players to quit.

Highlights:

  • The Lulu tribe losing every immunity challenge (and flint) to the point where Sabiyah couldn't even melt the wax off of her hidden immunity idol (and get her vote back) until the tribal council where she got voted out with it.
  • Kaleb negating all 11 unanimous votes against him with a longshot Shot in the Dark "lottery win", which I had mixed feelings about.
  • Emily tricking Bruce into not playing his immunity idol so the tribe could vote him out.
  • Deserving winner Dee expertly walking the tightrope between her two most trusted allies Austin and Julie.

30. Survivor: Pearl Islands (season #7)
I hated the twist in this season where eliminated castaways voted two outcasts in. I also hated how two of my favorite castaways, Rupert and Andrew, got voted out while two of my least favorite castaways, Jonny Fairplay and Lillian, made it all the way to the final episode.

Highlights:

  • Rooting for Andrew Savage's team in immunity challenges.
  • Rupert Boneham's victory scream.
  • Jonny Fairplay lying about his grandmother's death...except I didn't see how that helped him in the game.

29. Survivor: Vanuatu - Islands of Fire (season #9)
A female-dominated season where the last man managed to win against all odds. I remember a lame controversy about whether a player crossed the line by swearing an oath on her son.

Highlights:

  • The interesting matriarchal alliance.
  • The two most deserving players making the final two. :)

28. Survivor: Africa (season #3)
I loved the generational clashes in this season. Didn't care much for the self-righteous winner though. :(

Highlights:

  • The contrast between one tribe's younger and older players.
  • The first ever tribe swap that fractured the young folk alliance.

27. Survivor: The Amazon (season #6)
The first season to divide tribes into all-male and all-female castaways. Made for some interesting social dynamics.

Highlights:

  • The contrast and socialization between the male and female tribes.
  • Rob Cesternino's levity and shrewd moves.
  • Multiple blindsides.

26. Survivor 43 (season #43)
A slow season that didn't pick up for me until Jesse orchestrated a "blindside checklist" against Noelle (the inspirational Paralympian who got him a letter from his daughter), and then secretly confessed that he'd do anything to get his family the million dollars before he betrayed his most trusted ally Cody (with the smart reasoning that their games would look too similar to the jury). Too bad Jesse then lost to Gabler, whose biggest move in the game was dismantling his own tribe's advantage in the merged Gaia tribe because he couldn't let go that Elie "went through his bag on Day 3" (an incident so forgettable that I had to verify afterward that Jeanine had searched his bag at Elie's urging).

Highlights:

  • Jeanine getting the empty immunity idol bracelet for her Beware Advantage and having to swindle Gabler into giving her a special bead he was saving for his daughter.
  • Noelle refusing to give up a balance beam challenge made hard by her prosthetic leg, and winning it.
  • Karla faking tears to convince Cassidy she hadn't turned on her and to convince Cody and Owen of not having an immunity idol; then wasting her idol during Jesse's successful tribal council gambit to take both her's and Cody's idols out of play.
  • Gabler donating his million dollars to a veterans charity, and not even using the move to get jury votes.
25. Survivor: Gabon (season #17)
A veritable encyclopedia of the different Survivor strategems, including: a) a player who voted tactifully and constantly lied, b) a player who voted emotionally and felt that "the good guys should win in the end", and c) a "paragon" player, good at challenges, who tricked voters with fake immunity idols. blog

Highlights:

  • Alliances implementing "Plan Voodoo" a couple of times; one of them backfiring on a tribe because the runner-up defected.
  • The tribe deciding to toss one of the immunity idols into the ocean.
  • Kenny and Crystal overcoming the majority three times in a row (twice by unexpectedly swinging Sugar and Susie).
  • Bob and Sugar swerving voters with their idols.

24. Survivor: Tocantins (season #18)
An unpredictably cutthroat season wherein the last two castaways managed to betray all three of their alliances. This cast featured one of the haughtiest personalities I've ever seen, Coach the "Dragonslayer", and showed the importance of building character references. For instance, I couldn't help but respect J.T. and stigmatize Sierra after hearing fairly consistent remarks about them. blog

Highlights:

  • A "first impressions" poll that led the two stigmatized castaways to choose between high and low roads.
  • A curiously well-liked player that various castaways wanted in their alliance.
  • A crossroads where a three-person alliance had to choose between a "Warrior" alliance and an unprecedented "Exile Island" alliance.
  • One case of poetic justice where a desperate outcast outlasted a cocky nemesis.
  • An interesting exploration into whether a million dollars should outweigh a close month-long friendship.

23. Survivor: Fiji (season #14)
This season reminded me of a counter-intelligence thriller because of that one episode where a rival alliance conspired to use a hidden immunity idol. It also featured a castaway that I hated more than anyone in Survivor history, Dreamz, because of a deal with that he infamously reneged on. Granted, back stabs happen a lot on Survivor--but it make me sick how this guy boasted on and on about how he'd honor the deal and show his son a good example. Then he had the nerve to act all proud of the betrayal! Stinking hypocrite. blog, blog

Highlights:

  • The sad contrast between the "jocks" and the "nerd". blog
  • The pivotal tribal council where the minority alliance plotted to use their hidden immunity idol.
  • The suspense over the tribal council where Yau-Man used the hidden immunity idol.
  • The suspense and outrage over Yau-Man's deal with Dreamz.

22. Survivor: Philippines (season #25)
A refreshingly unpredictable season thanks to the return of the three tribe formula (breaking the five-person alliance tradition), shifts in alliances (including one betrayal foreshadowed by the "four-fingered handshake"), and...players who didn't seem to know what they were doing (particularly during the tribal council where all of the alliances and hidden immunity idols got blown). I enjoyed rooting for Jonathan Penner again as he narrowly escaped elimination multiple times. I also legimitimately worried that Michael Skupin might require evacuation again. blog

Highlights:

  • Colluding tribes, i.e., the reward challenge bargain and the interesting merge wherein rival tribes conspired in a Plan Voodoo against Jonathan (first time I ever saw that work).
  • Michael Skupin defecting during a crucial tribal council.
  • The winner becoming the first and only player to attend (and survive) every tribal council of the season.

21. Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X (season #33)
An unpredictable season of follies thanks mostly to those goofy millennials, from that whole #FIGTAILS clique to the "trust cluster" of geeks. Nothing much came from the twists either, from the Legacy and reward-stealing advantages to the misusage of hidden idols. I did find some of the gameplay interesting...but in the end, did the sole survivor win on merit or sympathy?

Highlights:

  • David using his immunity idol to save Jessica when she trusted the wrong alliance despite Ken's forewarning.
  • Adam and Taylor blackmailing each other over Taylor's stolen food and Adam's advantage to steal a reward.
  • Zeke and David turning on each other, which I liked even though it led to a rock tiebreaker and two wasted immunity idols.
  • High schooler Will suddenly taking control of the game and forcing everyone to openly campaign for his vote.
  • David pulling off the best fake immunity plant I've ever seen, tricking Jay into abandoning his search for the real immunity idol. I also felt a lot of suspense when it occurred to me that David might have faked and planted the idol that Adam found too.

20. Survivor: David Vs. Goliath (season #37)
Shades of "Survivor: Worlds Apart" in how the show oversold its tribal labels (even using injured Davids to reinforce the narrative), and spammed us with both a crier from the Davids and an aspiring narcissist (enough with the rice deal already!) from the Goliaths. The main difference: my favorite player (and his interesting vocabulary words) didn't make it to the final episode. :( A consequence of the new fire challenge rule, perhaps? At least this time we have a legit winner, who got to the end on votes and immunity victories rather than on fire making or rock picking.

Highlights:

  • Watching players suffer Natalie Napalm, particularly when she pressured minority allies to relinquish their jackets to her.
  • Tribal warfare with hidden immunity idols.
  • The season's narrative actually working out when the underdog Davids, outnumbered in both the tribal shuffle and merge, stole a vote and slingshotted an Idol Nullifier straight through the Goliath majority's head. Too bad the David victory didn't last long.
  • Nick faking that he found an immunity idol in front of witnesses to deter everyone else from looking for one. (Not a highlight: Angelina trying to stage a big immunity idol swerve for her personal Survivor résumé.)

19. Survivor: San Juan del Sur - Blood vs. Water (season #29)
Same tears, pangs of emotion, and double-edged swords as the first Blood vs. Water season (as far as I'm concerned, the show can bring back this premise every season)--but even more unpredictable this time around, mostly because of this one maddening lovey-dovey couple who seemed to play musical chairs with their loyalties every time a new tune played (from Jaclyn not getting enough attention to Jon trusting someone different). Side note: Never seemed to dawn on any of the players that relinquishing a reward to win someone over doesn't work!

Highlights:

  • John Rocker getting vilified after falling confusingly short on an Exile Island deal to protect Jeremy's wife Val.
  • Drew Christy managing to get eliminated early when he threw his tribe's immunity challenge without securing a single vote first. Smooth move.
  • Sweethearts Jon & Jaclyn weighing who to be "couples' friends" with during a Hunger Games-type rivalry (where one daughter had to inherit her father's "beef" against players whom she could have aligned with); then becoming the swing votes again for a for a post-tribal merge power struggle between Josh and Jeremy (leading Joclyn to flip on both of them). blog
  • Keith throwing a tribal council into chaos when he accidentally leaked Reed's Plan Voodoo ploy.
  • The show hilariously pointing out that "5 hours later", Jaclyn was still giving her boo Jon the #SILENTTREATMENT (which apparently put everyone else's game on pause too).
  • The deserving winner Natalie making some big moves, including long-awaited revenge on Jon. Interesting side note: I learned afterward that Jon was no longer allowed to give his immunity idol to Jaclyn (and that it was even confiscated from his bag).

18. Survivor: Palau (season #10)
A season highlighted by two standout players: Tom Westman and Stephenie LaGrossa. I once called Tom the best Survivor player of all time. He inspired such respect in fellow players that the jurors actually took his BS seriously. He even inspired one player to forfeit the last immunity challenge for him! Now that's what I call charisma. blog

Highlights:

  • A clean sweep of immunity challenges that reduced one tribe down to one member, Stephenie.
  • Ian forfeiting the final immunity challenge for Tom.
  • The most deserving player winning. :)

17. Survivor: All-Stars (season #8)
This season pitted a lot of renowned Survivor players against each other, stirred some intense emotions, and sparked the romance between my favorite Survivor couple, Rob and "Ambuh" (both of whom I later enjoyed watching in "The Amazing Race").

Highlights:

  • Rob betraying Lex, Kathy, Alicia, and Tom. The emotional backlash brought up an intriguing controversy about whether real-life friendships factor into the game.
  • A bizarre coincidence where the tribal swap only affected one player.
  • Rob courting and then proposing to Amber in the live finale.
  • Rupert Boneham winning the million dollars as the show's favorite contestant.

16. Survivor: The Australian Outback (season #2)
This season had a good villain (Jerri) and a memorable tragedy where Michael Skupin passed out into the fire. It also featured a young Elisabeth Filarski before she went on to co-host "The View" as a staunch Republican.

Highlights:

  • Jerri convincing players to vote out Kel based on suspicion rather than proof.
  • The aftermath of Michael Skupin's accident. I remember re-watching that scene over and over. :)
  • A pivotal tribal council where the rival tribes tied their votes.
  • A memorably heartwarming scene where castaways cyber-chatted with loved ones.

15. Survivor: Kaoh Rong - Brains vs. Brawn vs. Beauty (season #32)
Big egos and knife-edged betrayals. Amusingly, the sensitive Buddhist gardener (Tai Trang) struck me as the most ruthless player of the season! Twist-wise, it might be time to retire that extra vote advantage as nothing interesting ever seems to come of it. Though I did like that the players had to choose to compete for it rather than draw rocks at an auction. Generally I don't like luck-based twists subverting the game, so I hated how this season's random isolation twist predetermined the outcome of the next vote.

Highlights:

  • An intense medical evacuation episode where overheated reward challenge competitors began dropping like flies.
  • An early merge wherein the Brains, Brawn, and Beauty cliques had to decide whom to join forces with.
  • Tai "breaking bad" by secretly sabotaging the campfire for his allies' "psychological warfare", then royally screwing them by withholding his half of a Super Idol from them. Ice cold. blog
  • Jeff Probst punking the final three into thinking that the final challenge was for immunity, when really it was a reward challenge for a paper that could vote out a juror! Good twist and I completely agreed with Michele's decision to vote out the juror most likely to rally the others against her. Though when I think about all the past jurors who orated those long rallying speeches, they were usually people I didn't expect.

14. Survivor: Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites (season #26)
Just as "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains" helped me proclaim the best player of all time, this season helped me crown the worst player of all time. I mean seriously, at first glance that "Favorites" tribe looked like a Survivor Hall of Shame. But admittedly to my admiration, some of them really stepped up their gameplay. I felt particularly proud of Cochran, who in my judgment delivered the best jury presentation in Survivor history. blog

Highlights:

  • Francesca Hogi clinching "worst Survivor player ever" by getting voted out first twice! blog
  • Brandon Hantz melting down and forcing me to reconsider him as "worst Survivor player ever". blog
  • Corinne forging a secret counteralliance during an entertaining tribal merge.
  • Malcolm dominating the hidden immunity idols from playing Reynold's own idol to playing two idols in one tribal council (until Andrea finally foiled his streak by hovering over him).
  • Cochran, the ultimate underdog story, going from South Pacific outcast to heavyweight champion.

13. Survivor: Worlds Apart - White Collar vs. Blue Collar vs. No Collar (season #30)
All season long, it felt like I was watching a bunch of children. From the vicious mean streaks to castaways wallowing in their own hurt feelings (in one case because a guy didn't get a reward for his birthday!), the overall lack of maturity made it hard to root for anybody. I kept dreading a nightmare final three of the season's three biggest jerks: Dan, Will, and Rodney. Thankfully, Mike Holloway managed to scrape and claw his way back from the brink of oblivion (due to that auction mistake fairly early in the game, he went from odds-on favorite to dangling by a thread). The most touching irony for me: that Mike spent the whole game premeditating stratagems, but probably never even stopped to consider that a single act of kindness (his impromptu defense of Shirin while everyone else stood by) would end up helping him when he needed it most. blog

Highlights:

  • The tribal shuffle causing amusing predicaments, e.g., Mike coaching loudmouth Dan on how to apologize to a female swing voter he offended, and a multi-Collar tribe debating which of two zealous players is more annoying.
  • Mike course-correcting himself into a tailspin. His best gambits: framing Joe with finding the hidden immunity idol and then using it to make Tribal Council voters blink in a "Survivor Russian Roulette" bluff. His most dubious gambit: comically throwing a tribal immunity challenge to save his ally on the other tribe. His most disasterous gambits: trying to renege on an auction pact to gain an advantage and then publically outing Rodney's secret four-person sub-alliance.
  • Carolyn parrying Dan's extra vote with her hidden immunity idol (fortunately it did not occur to Dan to force a Plan Voodoo with that extra vote). Side note: I liked the "extra vote" idea but wasn't happy that they had to draw rocks for it--I would've rather they just had given an extra vote to all three bidders.
  • Rooting for Mike in quite possibly the best, most emotional Survivor finale ever--from the immunity challenges (one in which Mike's mother felt like she failed him) to a jury presentation that looked dire for him until Jenn, Shirin, and even Dan spoke in his favor.

12. Survivor 44 (season #44)
A good-hearted season highlighted by possibly my favorite power trio of Survivor personalities (Yam Yam, Carolyn, and Carson). I enjoyed watching them play the middle in the power struggle between the Ratu and Soka tribes, and liked the suspense of whether they'd turn on each other.

Highlights:

  • Interesting twists such as the padlocked birdcage containing an immunity idol and fake idol, the "Inheritance" advantage, and the "Bank Your Vote" advantage--even though all of these fake idols and advantages went to waste.
  • Josh getting caught lying about his surgeon background and a fake "bootleg" immunity idol--made out of treemail beads--that fell apart in Yam Yam's hands (and reused the same Journey Island instructions that Carolyn had read already).
  • Carolyn fulfilling her promise to play her hidden immunity idol on Carson, and Yam Yam coaching his possible firemaking competitor Carson on how to best use the flint.

11. Survivor: Cagayan - Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty (season #28)
A bizarro, borderline subversive season where the players (particularly "Chaos" Kass and Tony Vlachos) seemed to indulge whatever harebrained "strategy" suited their fancy. Examples: the inaptly-named "Brains" tribe keeping a nutjob who dumped out their rice, castaways swapping immunity idols at tribal council, safe players illogically flipping on their solid alliances, and Woo opting to "compete against the best" in the final two! But possibly the biggest farce of them all: the show bringing back the super-powered "immunization" idol, which combined with the normal immunity idol gave Tony the most ridiculous handicap in Survivor history. blog

Highlights:

  • Tony repeatedly thinking outside of the box. Even though most of his ploys seemed to fizzle, e.g., engineering "spy shacks" to eavesdrop on fellow tribesmates (like the schemer in one of those Shakespearean comedies), misrepresenting an immunity clue, and masqueraiding a real immunity idol as a fake one, he did innovate one idea that I considered a home run: bluffing that he could use the super idol in the final four.
  • Spencer and Tasha somehow making Tony, the most immune player in the history of the game, paranoid enough to turn on his own alliance.
  • Spencer fighting tooth and nail against elimination pretty much the entire game.
  • Kass' "anti-Survivor" strategy of making enemies and voting against allies. I still can't reconcile why this worked as well as it did.

10. Survivor: Game Changers (season #34)
Thank you to awesome player Sarah for redeeming this all-star season from an embarrassment of production twists that kept deciding the game! Total BS what happened to Cirie at that one tribal council where all of the votes got thrown out because all five of her tribesmates had immunity. I also hated how the constant tribal swaps did in two-time winner Sandra. The show even meddled with the time-honored jury format. Admittedly, the "no re-vote" rule change and the "choose your own advantage" struck me as promising ideas. blog

Highlights:

  • Harebrained Tony Vlachos sprinting for idols, digging a "spy bunker", and waging an entertaining war with "Queen" Sandra.
  • An amusingly chaotic joint tribal council where two tribes clashed head-to-head in a mad scramble to vote out one player.
  • A WTF tribal council where Jeff Varner inexplicably outed Zeke as transgender.
  • Sarah snatching Michaela's steal-a-vote advantage from under her nose (then voting her out with it); Sarah tricking Cirie into believing she could steal a vote from her; and finally, Sarah saving herself with a Legacy Advantage she conned out of Sierra! Plus Sarah shook up alliances and delivered one heckuva jury presentation. They should just rename this season to "Survivor: Game Changer" (singular).
  • Jeff Probst finally explaining how the show would break a juror tie for a final three.

9. Survivor: Borneo (season #1)
Although I remember complaining about the lack of strategy among these castaways, this first season of Survivor kept me on the edge of my seat and led to some interesting talk around the water cooler.

Highlights:

  • Rudy Boesch's curmudgeonly remarks.
  • Sean Kenniff's alphabet strategy.
  • The riveting final episode.
  • The most deserving player winning. Too bad that he neglected to pay his taxes. :)

8. Survivor: Redemption Island (season #22)
The return of Boston Rob and Russell Hantz! Even though Russell went out too early, I'd still rather watch four episodes of him rather than entire seasons of lame players. :) As for Boston Rob...I developed a whole new respect for the guy. He took the game to new heights, and masterminded some impressive (albeit troubling) new strategies. Of all the castaways to ever play Survivor, I proclaim that Rob deserved to win the most. P.S. I didn't like the Redemption Island twist. blog

Highlights:

  • Rob playing the best strategic game I've ever seen, including keeping kooky "Former Federal Agent?" Phillip to the end, making up the "Royal Treatment" game so he could scramble for the hidden immunity idol (then hilariously sabotaging the clues), segregating the tribes, inventing the ingenius buddy system, and even preventing his starving tribe from eating the enemies' fish.
  • Russell's tribe throwing a challenge (and dooming themselves) just to get rid of him. blog, blog
  • Matt returning to the game after winning six out of six duels on Redemption Island; then getting voted out again at the very next tribal council! Das cold. blog
  • Rob pulling out an emotional, clutch victory in that final nail-biting immunity challenge.
  • Rob, arguably the best player never to win the game, finally winning the game. blog

7. Survivor: Winners At War (season #40)
A chaotic all-winners season that felt less like a Super Bowl and more like an exhibition game. Mostly because I found the gameplay futile to follow without the crucial vote revelations at the end of each episode, and also because the season focused so much more on the personal lives of its stars (which admittedly, I did enjoy). Initially, I lamented that post-merge would turn into "garbage time" once all my favorite old school players got benched early to the Edge of Extinction (I blame the experimental new fire tokens currency for tripping a lot of them up). But that "Cops R Us" partnership between real-life police officers Tony and Sarah turned into buddy comedy paydirt. I might've ranked the season higher, but that third spot in the the final three should have gone to a player who survived 39 days worth of tribal councils, not the very first player voted out! Natalie basically bought her way into the final stretch with fire tokens, and then got immunity for all three remaining tribal councils. blog

Highlights:

  • Boston Rob's real-life "poker" friends and Sandra turning on his wife Amber in a heartbeat, during a premiere episode where panic and paralysis reigned.
  • Boston Rob checking for a hidden immunity idol by convincing everyone at tribal council to empty their bags; then after the tribal swap, hilariously reinstituting the "buddy system" at camp (basically like a father grounding his kids).
  • Inspirational cancer survivor Ethan gutting through an inhumane Edge of Extinction challenge where the four of them had to hike up and down a mountain 20 times before sundown, all for one fire token.
  • Adam mistaking the emblem on Jeff Probst's tribal council podium for a hidden immunity idol, and trying to jiggle it loose in front of everyone.
  • The show unexpectedly letting all of the castaways spend time with their families (including the eliminated players on Edge of Extinction) after Jeff Probst pretended that the kids would have to dig in the loved one challenge to stay with their parents.
  • Sarah playing chicken with Jeremy on who will play their pre-vote advantage first, then stealing a vote from Denise to successfully bait Kim into wasting her hidden immunity idol on Denise. Then two episodes later in an even crazier tribal council, Sarah refusing Tony's immunity idol play for her and Jeremy screaming from the tension of not playing Michele's 50/50 immunity coin.
  • Tony relapsing into his cartoonish hijinks like scaring everyone with his shoddy homemade ladder, scrambling for fire tokens to pay off his Extortion Advantage, and inventing new redundant spycraft, e.g., the "spy nest". Hijinks aside, Tony might be the most death-defying winner I've ever seen in the annals of Survivor.
  • Tony and Sarah competing in a heartbreaking fire challenge to decide the presumptive winner of the two million dollars. I pretty much checked out during the jury presentation, but found the split-screen "award show" format of the virtual final vote reading interesting (and possibly even better than their traditional onstage format).

6. Survivor: Cambodia - Second Chance (season #31)
Chaotic to a fault and overseasoned with production twists, but made interesting by plenty of returning fan favorites to root for. I don't know if it was fan appreciation or the players' trauma from their first loss, but I had never seen such overzealous gameplay before. This new trend of "voting blocs" had players flash mobbing their votes cross-allegiance over reasons that seemed totally random to me, e.g., one day it was target a threat who played too "new school", another day it was target a threat who wasn't part of the reward.

Highlights:

  • The show letting the fans vote on which ex-players to cast into the season, and actually having a great selection too. It's like the show read my mind on who to nominate. blog
  • Kelley Wentworth making the first tribal challenge excruciatingly suspenseful when she bided (and bided) her time on the hidden immunity idol. (Also by trying to grab another one underneath the shelter before any of her tribesmates came back.) blog
  • Outsiders Tasha and Andrew Savage managing to control the vote of the six-person tribe they got swapped into.
  • Spencer somehow staying one step ahead of multiple eliminations, including one where his sworn enemy Chaos Kass inexplicably saved him!
  • Kelley invalidating a landslide nine votes against her with an immunity idol, a Survivor record and quite possibly the most cosmic gaffe I've ever seen a majority alliance make. blog
  • Stephen Fishbach obsessing the entire game about voting Joe out and still failing even after using a "steal-a-vote" advantage to turn Joe's vote on himself. Also Joe obsessing so hard about winning immunity challenges that his body finally gave out!
  • Jeremy and Kelley both playing immunity idols, leading to an unprecedented tribal council where every single vote got invalidated. Maybe I'm just a stickler for formalities, but I wanted Jeff Probst to actually go through all the motions, i.e., hold the revote, dramatically reveal the result, hold the second revote, dramatically reveal the result, and then if need be end with the irony of giving Keith (who wanted to draw rocks in the first place) a bag with only one rock in it.
  • The final four actually coming down to the best four players.

5. Survivor: Blood vs. Water (season #27)
A fiendishly personal season where returning castaways had their own loved ones used against them. The premise paid off so well that I wondered why they hadn't come up with it sooner! That is, until one player voted out her own mother. Then it just got awkward and weird for me (in my opinion, you'd have to be one heckuva Survivor purist not to blink at that). I also felt that the rock tiebreaker tainted the season's results.

Highlights:

  • "Public enemy number one" Brad Culpepper intentionally using the other tribe's loved ones against them, smartly telling wife Monica to burn an immunity clue given to her by a rival married couple, and then ending up exiled with that very couple after Caleb improvised a coup! blog
  • Castaways burning immunity clues instead of using them.
  • The merge presenting a wide variety ways to "slice the pie", e.g., by tribe, by couples, by gender, or by original alliances.
  • Ciera voting out her own mother to get further in the game--which isn't as bad as it sounds because they pre-discussed it. On second thought, it IS as bad as it sounds. blog
  • Tina eliminating her own daughter Katie at the Redemption Duel, which also made me uncomfortable.

4. Survivor: Samoa (season #19)
An entertaining season thanks to a groundbreaking player whom I credit with saving Survivor: Russell Hantz. At first, he seemed like a complete jerk...but then after he found a hidden immunity idol without any clues, I really began to admire his guile. To my amazement, his machinations went on to save his tribe from a near-hopeless 8-to-4 decifit! If only this guy had won... blog

Highlights:

  • Russell finding two hidden immunity idols with zero clues, and finding a third one with only one clue.
  • A torrent of rainstorms that depressed the castaways and kept them from strategizing.
  • One particularly suspenseful tribal council where Russell saved himself with a hidden immunity idol, followed by another suspenseful tribal council where the tide turned. Say what you will about the "purple rock", it deters deadlock most effectively. :)
  • Most thrilling final immunity challenge ever that came down to Russell vs. "bump on the log" Brett. Man, a victory by Brett would've ruined the season for me. :)

3. Survivor: Cook Islands (season #13)
One of the rarer seasons where the player that I heavily rooted for, Yul Kwon, actually won the game. He overcame formidable obstacles too: a mutiny and a popular player (Ozzy) in the final vote. Although this season took a lot of criticism for dividing the tribes by ethnicity, I welcomed the variety. I also loved how this season finally cast some charismatic "intellectuals", i.e., Yul and another favorite player of mine, Jonathan Penner. blog

Highlights:

  • Cao Boi campaigning "Plan Voodoo" to flush out the immune player. Amusingly, Cao Boi was the one voted out. blog
  • The unprecedented mutiny of Candice and Jonathan.
  • The intellectual "business deal" between Yul and Jonathan.
  • A nail-biting final vote. I felt that the most deserving player won even though some would dissent that the most athletic player should've won. :)

2. Survivor: Micronesia - Fans vs. Favorites (season #16)
A refreshing season that cast some of the most conniving players in Survivor history--most notably, an alliance of women that kept ensnaring men in their traps. This "black widow brigade" led to one of my favorite Survivor moments of all time: the final four women managing to persuade the last surviving man to give up his immunity! blog

Highlights:

  • The ridiculously false immunity idol...that got played!
  • Multiple blindsides...most of them orchestrated by that conniving female alliance.
  • The ridiculously bold plot to vote out an immune player...that worked!
  • A sappy but entertaining public declaration of love from Ozzy.

1. Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains (season #20)
A big-time "WrestleMania" meets "Game of Thrones" for Survivor fans that excited me before it even began...and wow, it did not disappoint. Unlike other seasons where the best TV only occurred after the merge, this season managed to thrill me from start to finish. It featured suspenseful gameplay, shockingly bold moves, and lots of WTF moments for the water cooler. Some of my favorite seasons' all-stars like Boston Rob, Russell, and alumni from the "black widow brigade" managed to shine all over again. blog, blog

Highlights:

  • Boston Rob rebounding from his physical collapse, and pretty much carrying the Villains tribe on his shoulders.
  • "Plan Voodoo" backfiring on Cirie when she went up against another top player, Tom, whom I viewed as a total antithesis of her.
  • Russell feuding with Boston Rob, including such highlights as Russell unapologetically looking for the hidden immunity idol despite the taboo against it, Russell thwarting Rob's "Plan Voodoo" by tricking his top ally Tyson into eliminating himself, Russell casually suggesting to Rob that they vote out the two people sitting with them, and a final showdown wherein Russell successfully corrupted Jerri and Coach against Rob. Rob's parting words to Coach: "You're a little man." Wow. blog
  • Sanda standing up to Russell and plotting against him; poisoning him against Coach and trying to stage a coup (then eventually resorting to burning Russell's hat; haha, the irony).
  • J.T. tragically smuggling a hidden immunity idol (packaged in a written letter) to the last person he should ever entrust an idol to, Russell, based on the Heroes' misconception of an all-female Villains alliance!
  • Parvati headlining the greatest episode in Survivor history (the one where the Heroes and Villains merged). blog
  • Amanda and Danielle wrestling for possession of a game-changing clue to the next hidden immunity idol (unprecedented and reminded me of Barry Bonds' 73rd home run baseball). blog
  • Rupert faking a hidden immunity idol by hiding a rock in his pants. Brilliant way to save himself, and I'm surprised that no one ever thought of that before.
  • Russell spearheading the unexpected self-destruction of the Villains alliance. blog
  • The final immunity challenge (a maze) coming down to a climactic photofinish.
  • The final three actually coming down to the best three players. blog


Maintained by Steven Aoki, saoki@iname.com