Steve's
Survivor Season Rankings (Worst to Best) Last updated with:
46
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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.
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46. |
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.
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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.
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45. |
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.
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Highlights: Can't remember any.
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44. |
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.
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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.
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43. |
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.
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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).
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42. |
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.
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41. |
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.
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40. |
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.
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39. |
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.
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38. |
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.
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37. |
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!
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36. |
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.
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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.
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35. |
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.
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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.
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34. |
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.
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33. |
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.
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32. |
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.
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31. |
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.
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30. |
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. :)
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29. |
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.
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28. |
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.
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27. |
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.
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26. |
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.
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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.
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25. |
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.
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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.
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24. |
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.
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Highlights:
- The sad contrast between the "jocks" and the "nerd".
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- 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.
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23. |
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.
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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.
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22. |
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.
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21. |
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.)
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20. |
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).
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- 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).
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19. |
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.
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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. :)
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18. |
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.
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17. |
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.
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16. |
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.
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- 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.
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15. |
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.
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Highlights:
- Francesca Hogi clinching "worst Survivor player ever" by getting voted out first twice!
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- Brandon Hantz melting down and forcing me to reconsider him as "worst Survivor player ever".
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- 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.
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14. |
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.
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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.
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13. |
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.
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12. |
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.
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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.
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11. |
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.
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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.
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10. |
Survivor 46 (season #46)
The funniest season I've ever watched, wherein the serious players turned into unwilling foils for the
chaotic, unintentionally funny players. I didn't even mind the 90-minute episodes this time around. I
liked the eccentricity and purity of the gameplay, with nary any twists or advantages ruining it (all of
the hidden immunity idol holders got voted out in a Survivor record). The moments that stuck out to me as
the most surreal: a) the haunting sight of a doomed player begging on his knees to stay in the game, b)
the merge feast where in order to appease the Yanu swing voters, both Nami and Siga had to offer up one
tribesmate to put on the chopping block, c) Q upsetting everyone at tribal council by asking to be voted
out, d) Liz losing it over Q stoically denying her the Applebee's reward she was begging for, and e) Liz
helping Kenzie win against their biggest threat Maria during the next to last immunity challenge.
Highlights:
- Unique player Bhanu struggling to cope with his sealed fate after volunteering so many tribe
secrets that Q had to coach him on how to dodge questions from Jeff Probst. Admittedly, I'd rather
watch diverse personalities like this than the same old cookie cutter players--but having said that,
any competitor who stoops to begging and prayer to get ahead in a game doesn't win a heart from me.
- Yanu losing every immunity challenge until the final one, avoiding a record-breaking losing streak.
- An interesting merge episode with six players discussing a novel "plus one" alliance, the swing
three-person Yanu tribe favoring the tribe with more cracks (the five-person Nami tribe) over the
guarded five-person Siga tribe, and the Nami and Siga tribes each volunteering a name as if they
were sacrificing tributes to the Hunger Games.
- Q finally getting ostracized (by everyone but Maria) after his unpredictable whims on which people
to target in his tribe--himself included--such as Jelinsky for quitting the "Sweat" challenge they were
unlikely to win (instead of playing for pride?), Tim then Tiffany for floating votes against a member of
"The Six" (ultimately a joke of an alliance), Hunter and Ben for winning Hide 'N Seek, and Q himself for
leaking the Tevin blindside to Hunter. The close-up on Q's eyes in the recap was a nice touch.
- Starving, food-allergic Liz flipping out when Q denied her a sentimental Applebee's food reward in
possibly the hangriest meltdown I've ever seen on Survivor (complete with Venus reversing course in
the middle of it, and the castaways on the reward not even eating the Bourbon Street Mushroom Swiss Burger
that was so special to her).
- Kenzie almost choking the final firemaking challenge, and basically edging out the jury votes with
the perfect jury answer about spending the million dollars on herself instead of her salon employees.
Admittedly, I rooted for her in the end because I liked her overall story more than the narrative Charlie
pushed of being a fence-sitter--and I was relieved it didn't go to a tiebreaker, as I didn't trust Ben to
determine the outcome of the game after that tribal council where he wrote the wrong name down.
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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. :)
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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.
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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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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- 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.)
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- 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.
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- 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.
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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!
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- 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.
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- Tina eliminating her own daughter Katie at the Redemption Duel, which also made me
uncomfortable.
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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...
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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. :)
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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.
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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. :)
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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).
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- 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.
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- The final immunity challenge (a maze) coming down to a climactic photofinish.
- The final three actually coming down to the best three players.
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