Survivor is arguably the most influential reality show of all time, but the New Era has its highs and lows. Though the iconic title has been airing since 2000, Season 41 marked a drastic shift, modernizing the game and upping the ante following the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of Survivor’s milestone season 50, however, the New Era may deserve some reconsideration.
Seasons 41–49 have already included iconic Survivor castaways, revolutionary powers, and historic tribal councils. Yet, the new age of Survivor is far from perfect, as many fans have expressed since 2020. As a result, the New Era has cultivated a less-than-stellar reputation. Regardless, not every New Era shake-up took away from Survivor— some major changes undeniably improved CBS’ silver-anniversary staple.
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Best: Permanently Staying In Fiji
The Show Needs A Controlled Variable
Survivor’s premise is simple enough to be replicated in a variety of settings, and the first 33 seasons traveled the globe accordingly. From Malaysia to Australia to Guatemala, Survivor showed off diverse scenery, climates, and local flora and fauna for over a decade. Since 2016, however, the show has filmed exclusively in Fiji.
According to host Jeff Probst, it’s unlikely the New Era will leave the gorgeous archipelago— and Survivor planting roots potentially has strategic advantages. In preparation, contestants can research Fijian islands, edible plants, and potentially dangerous animals to set themselves up for success. Plus, having a stable location lets production get more creative with the staging for challenges, rewards, and journeys.
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Worst: The Three-Tribe Split
So-Called Disaster Tribes Have No Room To Breathe
Unlike the classic format of two big tribes battling it out until a swap or the merge, modern Survivor instead divides the cast into three small tribes. Unfortunately, the smaller groups all but guarantee one tribe will never reach a level playing field. Once a tribe loses a member, they’re on their back foot, unlikely to recover without an upset.
The three-tribe format is also what most predominantly causes modern “disaster” tribes, wherein one team falls into a cyclical losing streak, perpetually underfed, exhausted, and without basic comforts. Furthermore, having such few players makes Survivor alliances in the New Era a necessary— but oftentimes hollow— strategic move. Once a tribe settles on a majority, the fallout is set in stone.
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Best: Actually Risky Advantages
Idols Shouldn’t Be An Easily Renewable Resource
After immunity idols were first introduced in season 11, they became a Survivor trademark. Once players understood the mechanics, however, it was easy to bulldoze to the end by abusing the system. At the same time, it gradually lost its edge. Some Survivor idol plays were legendary moments, but many players went home with safety in their pocket.
In the New Era, everything has a cost, for better or for worse. Rather than finding idols around camp with no strings attached, modern Survivor has Beware Advantages, hidden clues, and dire straits like the Shot In The Dark twist. To get ahead, it’s high-risk, high-reward, and it’s always intriguing to see if fortune will favor the bold.
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Worst: Penalties For Losing
It Feels Like Survivor Is Punching Down
One of the biggest changes in the New Era, as Jeff boasts in every casting call, is that it’s more challenging than ever to become the Sole Survivor. The castaways are given less food, less downtime, and they aren’t even allowed swimsuits anymore. By far the worst, however, is Jeff taking away flint when a tribe loses an immunity challenge.
Surviving the elements aside, there are late-game ramifications to losing flint. Given that Survivor’s divisive final four firemaking can be the difference between winning and being the final juror, losing flint could be disastrous. By robbing players of precious time with the tool, Jeff interferes with one of the biggest challenges of the entire season.
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Best: Longer Episodes
Every Castaway Has Time For A Compelling Character Arc
Older seasons felt action-packed, but some players faded into the background due to not having enough screen time. The broad strokes were there, but even Survivor’s best blindsides weren’t shown in full. With the longer episode lengths of the New Era, however, every big move can be foreshadowed and create a satisfying storyline.
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The contestants themselves also have much more time to show their personalities and how the show changes them. Regardless of whether a castaway pleads their case at final tribal council or goes home within the first week, the players each have their own journey. Fortunately, longer episodes allow the audience to follow those narratives to their bittersweet conclusion.
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Worst: Shortened Days
New-Age Players Are Getting The Short End Of The Stick (Literally)
Somewhat counter-intuitively, the New Era of Survivor has more content but fewer days on the island. Whereas classic Survivor seasons ran for 39 days, the New Era is a mere 26. Yet, the number of challenges and tribal councils remains roughly the same, setting a brutal pace for the castaways while making certain records practically impossible to surpass.
Greats like Parvati Shallow and Rob Mariano have survived over 150 days across their Survivor career, which means that, simple to break even, New Era contestants would have to play at least six seasons. Beyond that, the grueling onslaught of constant challenges with very little rest often borders on cruel rather than compelling, and it takes a visible physical toll.
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Best: Diverse Casting
Every Other Reality Show Should Take Note
For far too long, it was rare for major reality TV competitions to have POC contestants, let alone winners. Since the New Era began, however, Survivor (alongside other CBS hits like Big Brother and The Amazing Race), has implemented a diversity initiative to provide more equitable representation on-screen.
The results speak for themselves, as most of the New Era winners have been history-making POC castaways— like season 42’s Maryanne Oketch, who was only the second Black woman to ever win the game. With such wonderfully diverse casts, Survivor’s next generation of fans will be able to see themselves represented via iconic winners, regardless of their race.
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Worst: Superfan Overload
There’s Far Too Much Meta-Gaming
Sadly, there’s a new issue with Survivor’s casting: over-saturating each season with self-proclaimed “super-fans.” People who know the game too well can’t see the forest for the trees, always focusing on the end-game before the tribe has even built a shelter. By trying to meta-game off the bat, most superfans end up self-sabotaging themselves and their tribe.
Rather than keep strong tribe members during the team phase, superfans are worried about their teammate becoming the next Survivor challenge beast. Instead of building strong relationships, betrayal is prematurely prioritized in the name of adding to a final tribal resume. By casting its biggest fans, Survivor sadly has to sacrifice the very heart of its social experiment.
2
Best: The Sanctuary
Castaways Deserve A Brief Respite Now More Than Ever
Each season, one lucky castaway walks away with Survivor’s million dollar prize. The rest of the cast, however, go through a month of physical, mental, and emotional turmoil for nothing more than the experience. As such, players deserve rewards like the idyllic Sanctuary now more than ever.
New Era “rewards” usually boil down to basic gear that tribes would’ve earned much more easily in the first 40 seasons. Even the iconic Survivor auction now has the added risk of losing your vote. By implementing the Sanctuary, dedicated fully to recharging the lucky contestants who make it there, Survivor offers a much-needed pause from the chaos.
1
Worst: Mergatory
It Guarantees One Player Is Needlessly Robbed Of The Jury Phase
Over the past 25 years, there have been plot twists in Survivor ranging from amazing to unbelievably awful. Yet, the New Era takes the cake for the worst twist in Survivor history: mergatory. The entire point of the merge used to be a celebratory milestone passed as one cohesive group, with a luxurious feast for all.
Now, not only is the feast gatekept for a select few, but one player who should rightfully be on the jury is voted off in a purgatorial desecration of the merge. Every season, a castaway is unnecessarily robbed of the juror experience, and it never gets easier to watch— but Survivor, by nature, is ever-changing.
The New Era has pros and cons, but the game must evolve to continue truly challenging its castaways. Regardless of when it starts, Survivor’s next era will surely be in a league of its own.