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An important thank you
I must begin here: My obsession with Survivor began in 2021 with Brian and Bella Kirkup, who convinced me that I should give the 20-year-old show — which I did not even know was still on TV — a chance. I was just starting to date their best friend, so I agreed, mostly because I wanted to impress them. Brian originally put this list together for us and, after watching 30+ seasons (lol thanks COVID), I’m now the one trying to convince all of you. Thank you, Kirkups, for turning me into the Jeff Probst stan that I am 🫡
Now, let’s talk about the show itself
First airing in 2000, Survivor was one of the earliest reality television shows that went mainstream in America. I remember it being a thing and my mom’s friends talking about it, but was too young to really get it.
The premise is this: A group of strangers is separated into 2 to 3 “tribes”, plonked on an island (or similarly deserted area), and forced to band together to build a shelter, find food, weather storms, and win challenges — and then vote each other out until 2 to 3 contestants remain. Then — and this is the bit that makes the show so special, IMO — the contestants who have been voted out choose the winner, based on the show’s tenets to “outwit, outplay, outlast” your competition, and that winner gets $1 million. This mechanism adds a layer of subjectivity and social nuance that keeps us coming back season after season.
Why I love and proselytize it
In addition to the losers-as-jury element, Survivor’s key components are physical competitions to determine which tribe has to vote someone out; reward challenges, often in the form of food, which brings out the worst in people (hehe); and, of course, the social elements of creating alliances, building trust, convincing people that you are not lying to them about voting them out when you actually are, and then trying to convince those people to give you a million dollars afterward. Jeff Probst, the host of Survivor since its inception, has a way of asking the right questions, pushing people’s buttons, and revealing how this mini-society represents culture at large.
The guide to the guide
The ultimate goal here is to reach the show’s 40th season — where 20 previous winners return to compete against each other in an epic showdown — and understand all of the dynamics between the contestants. Like most reality competition shows, strategy and inter-season relationships develop over the years. We’ll start with more recent seasons to get you hooked, and then go back in time to the show’s origins so you can appreciate how far it’s come and meet all the players who helped evolve the game.
🚨 Remember: NO GOOGLING! 🚨
I know that you want to see who is running their own MLM and whether that showmance went anywhere, but the risk of spoilers is too great. If you must, include “no spoilers” in your search. It is also helpful to have a personal shaman (TY Brian) who can answer to questions or at least google without fear. Text me if you get desperate.
Your first three seasons to watch
Emoji key
🏆 Pre-requisite for S40: Winners at War
➕ Not a requirement for S40, but still a good watch
🫶 A personal favorite of mine
🏆 Season 37: David vs. Goliath
This perfect entry season has it all:Biblical references, underdogs, and an oft-quoted, now-infamous moment regarding a jacket. You’ll get the lay of the land without feeling overwhelmed.
🏆🫶 Season 28: Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty
You read that right! This spicy season pits three tribes against each other based on strength, smarts, and looks, and it goes down just as chaotically as you would imagine. This one has a special place in my heart — it’s when I really started to understand the strategy behind game moves.
🏆 Season 33: Gen X vs. Millennials
Despite the somewhat forced conceit — do other millennials think about Gen X because I don’t lol — this season features Survivor tropes and dynamics that appear again and again.
Let me know if you decide to give it a go, and stay tuned for your next batch of eps!
The starting-from-scratch Survivor guide
Part I: Why Survivor and your first three seasons
COMING SOON
Part II: Your next batch of seasons
Part III: And your next batch of seasons
Part IV: The new era, plus supplementary content
