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What are your thoughts on "Survivor"?

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BowieZ

Banned
I'm making this post because my housemate, whom I persuaded to give the show a try despite his trepidations, just finished watching his twentieth season, and is now a hooked superfan. So I'm curious what other people think about the show, what they know about it, what they've watched of it before, whether they've given it a chance, and whether they'd be interested in jumping on board in time for the next era of this wonderful game (that just happens to be televised), called "Survivor".

VOTED ONTO THE ISLAND

As some of you may know, Survivor is heading into its 31st season next month, for "Survivor: Cambodia". For the first time ever, America voted in all the players, for a special Second Chance themed season -- all 20 contestants have played just once before, and didn't win (placing everyone on an even playing field).

Many of the players are strategic masterminds, physical prodigies and superlative socialisers, surely making this round of outwitting, outplaying and outlasting one of the greatest ever.

NOT JUST REALITY TV

In case you've lived under a rock for 15 years, the format of Survivor is unlike any other reality game show, and is as follows: 16-20 people are marooned in a foreign location for 39 days with minimal if any supplies, split into usually two (sometimes three or four) "tribes" (teams) that compete against each other every few days in an "immunity challenge" to win the "immunity idol," where the losing tribe has to go to "Tribal Council" and each player casts a secret ballot, the person with the highest number of votes being voted out and leaving immediately. After about six vote-offs the tribes usually merge into one big new tribe, and players now compete in individual immunity challenges where one player wins the individual immunity idol and is safe at the subsequent Tribal Council. From this point on when players are voted out they join an ever-increasing jury of eventually 7-9 people, and in the final episode, during the Final Tribal Council, the remaining two or three players must persuade the jury of their peers, whom they had a hand in voting out, of voting FOR them for a million dollar check. (There are usually a few "twists" at play, many now standard, including the "hidden immunity idol" which, if found by following the clues, can be played at Tribal Council before the votes are read, granting that person safety, if they received any votes.)

Speaking personally, I feel like Survivor is unfairly dismissed by people who don't understand that it's a great social experiment and a deep strategic game, for being "fake" or "junk TV" with "manufactured drama". Contestants are secretly fed off camera, etc.

This is all hogwash.

The show is a real life-or-death survival situation. About 20 contestants have had to be medically evacuated during the show's run, some due to life-threatening injuries or illnesses.

The drama is completely real. Unlike other shows, pitting people against each other on an island with no food or water, having to form alliances and indeed a new society, and vote each other out in a game for a million dollars, naturally causes some tension. The only "manufacturing" if you can call it that, is regarding what they decide to show, and what hits the cutting room floor.

And finally and most importantly, the game is amazing to watch. Alliances of voting blocs are formed and betrayed, people are backstabbed and blindsided, idols are won or lost at intensely crucial moments, and because of the jury voting on a winner, karma is ruthlessly and enjoyably consistent at faltering those who played too hard and pisses everyone off, and denying those who were too meek to deserve victory.

L OR RTTP?

So, GAF, those are of course just my opinions. Now I'm asking you. What are your thoughts on "Survivor"?

If you're bored and feel like giving the show a chance, whether you've watched it before or not, why not catch up on past seasons? I suggest watching the following seasons, as they all have a stake in this upcoming returning player season. (If you're committed to it, then watch in order, but otherwise I suggest watching S18, S7, and S10 first as they are some of the better seasons while being easy to follow, and watch S15 and S28 if you only have time to watch the creme de la creme, although, Survivor is like pizza, even the worst pizza is still good.)

S1 Borneo (a bit crude, but fascinating to see how it all started)
S2 The Australian Outback
S4 Marquesas (because this season isn't the greatest, but because it introduces a very important player in future seasons, I recommend watching the premiere, episode 7, and the finale only, to save time, unless of course you're really into it and have lots of free time!)
S7 Pearl Islands
S9 Vanuatu
S10 Palau
S11 Guatemala
S12 Panama
S13 Cook Islands
S14 Fiji (As with S4, you can probably get away with only watching the premiere, episode 10, and finale)
S15 China
S16 Micronesia - Fans vs Favorites
S17 Gabon
S18 Tocantins
S19 Samoa
S20 Heroes vs Villains
S24 One World
S25 Philippines
S27 Blood vs Water
S28 Cagayan
S29 San Juan del Sur - Blood vs Water II
S30 Worlds Apart
 
My parents haven't missed a season, and I have no clue how they haven't gotten bored with it. I made it to the one with Rupert before losing interest.
 

obin_gam

Member
I hate Swedish Television for introducing this concept to the world, hogging prime time instead of literally anything else.
 

BowieZ

Banned
I hate Swedish Television for introducing this concept to the world, hogging prime time instead of literally anything else.
That's pretty unfair, no? I mean apart from American Idol, I wouldn't have though reality programming had that much of a negative impact on scripted shows. Maybe for a couple of years? But there's been some Amazon scripted shows for the last 15 years on the plethora of available networks, and especially nowadays when the medium is the best it's ever been.

I know in your op you said it wasn't fake

but I'm sorry to break this to you...
How is it fake?
 

Jimrpg

Member
Possibly my favorite show of all time though I'm still behind two seasons. Even bad seasons are worth watching. I'm pretty content with the format of the show too and they only have to tweak it a little bit each season to keep it interesting.
 
I started watching Survivor from the onset, and loved it back then. However, after about 10-12 seasons, I started watching other things.

I went back to it last season, and now want to watch the seasons I missed, but that seems like it'll be difficult.

It's a pretty good reality show which is easy to become immersed in. It's not overly cheesy like others, or stupid.
 

Couleurs

Member
I used to love the hell out of the show, but Heroes vs Villians was the last season I really enjoyed. After that it got annoying with people trying to imitate Russell Hantz's play style. They desperately need to mix up locations also; it was great when they'd do places like China, Tocantins, or Gabon instead of every season being on a pacific island. And stop casting useless models/actors who are always terrible at strategy.
 

kirblar

Member
Did a huge amount to indirectly lead to the rise of serialized dramas like GoT where the good guy didn't always win.

Show'Game's still incredible.
I used to love the hell out of the show, but Heroes vs Villians was the last season I really enjoyed. After that it got annoying with people trying to imitate Russell Hantz's play style. They desperately need to mix up locations also; it was great when they'd do places like China, Tocantins, or Gabon instead of every season being on a pacific island. And stop casting useless models/actors who are always terrible at strategy.
25/28/29 are all great if you stopped watching. S21-24 are the second dark age (after S11-14).
 

kirblar

Member
My parents haven't missed a season, and I have no clue how they haven't gotten bored with it. I made it to the one with Rupert before losing interest.
It's essentially an insane poker game with new players each season. The show's naturally interesting because each group of people has a different dynamic.
 

Galang

Banned
I used to knock this show, but I became a super fan from the 10th season. The last one I watched was right before blood vs. water. What season was that? I hated that twist and didn't even bother continuing. Since then I haven't gone back to the series. I've been curious though.
 

kirblar

Member
I used to knock this show, but I became a super fan from the 10th season. The last one I watched was right before blood vs. water. What season was that? I hated that twist and didn't even bother continuing. Since then I haven't gone back to the series. I've been curious though.
28 (the one right after BvW) is a top 5 season, and 29 is really good too, although its a slow starter. (29 is BvW2 with all newbies, plays out MUCH differently.)

30 is good if you love drama, bad if you love strategy.
 
My thoughts are "this show still on?" Watched the first 2 seasons 15 years ago. Reality show people became unbearable and not anything close to real. Everybody is playing to the camera to be the next "star".
 

Mohonky

Member
Yep, Gumby won:

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Gumby1_zps99d612da.png

Gumby2_zps57047aaa.png

Gumby3_zps9b4d0367.png

lol who is this fucking tool?
 

Swig_

Member
I haaaaaaate reality TV. I barely watch anything, aside from the "top tier" shows and adult cartoons (Rick and Morty, Fam Guy, Regular Show, etc). But for some reason I love Survivor. I got hooked in Russel's first season, because CBS was the only channel I received where I was staying (working part-time, going to college).

I watch it every season. Some seasons are amazing and some are a let down, but overall, I enjoy it and I don't know why. I do wish that they focused a little more on the "survival" aspect, which almost no longer exists and the nature of the location, but I do enjoy it.
 
How is it fake?

It's not fake but they do frame characters in certain ways and create drama out of situations that may not be as they seem. I wouldn't be surprised if they outright fabricate dramatic scenarios. We've had people on reality TV shows here that have stated they will even create a different background story for you if yours isn't that interesting.


I think we had someone on one of those Wipeout type shows.

It's not that much different than most reality TV. If you think it's a social experiment you need to take a closer look at how these shows are produced. Survivor isn't happening in a petri dish. The producers are always angling for conflicts and drama.
 

kirblar

Member
Survivor works in ways others don't because it's a Game Show first and a Reality Show second. Big Brother isn't even legally classified as a game show.
 

Red Comet

Member
It's amazing. I've only started watching a few seasons ago, but I love it. I like reality TV in general though. I also love Big Brother and the Amazing Race.
 

satriales

Member
I never gave this show a chance as I hate reality TV, but I started season 1 about 6 months ago and have now caught up (skipping a few of the weaker seasons).

I love it! It's more of a televised strategy game than a typical reality show.

There was only once where I thought it was a bit fake and that was in an early season when the castaways went to do a challenge and the cameras watch as their camp burns down while they are away. I just felt (from the way it was shot/edited) like the producers may have started the fire to cause drama, but there's no way to know.

They constantly keep things fresh by introducing new rules or changing things up. I wish they weren't so quick to bring players back all the time but with two seasons a year it's not a big deal.
 

AndrewPL

Member
Love survivor, my wife also loves it. I think one of the reasons its so good is we really enjoy discussing the strategies and rooting for our favourites.

My only gripe is effectively 'seeding' some returning players to have a huge advantage, like boston rob on the season he won. He may have played great and deserved the win, but sticking him with dumb people certainly helped him get there.

Cochran was an amazing player! He wrote for the millers tv show after winning, basicly living the dream.
 

kurahador

Member
Huh...Cochran was a gaffer? And one of those who posts homophobic and racist rants too apparently.

If he did those just 3-5 years later his lives is pretty much ruined.
 

Galang

Banned
28 (the one right after BvW) is a top 5 season, and 29 is really good too, although its a slow starter. (29 is BvW2 with all newbies, plays out MUCH differently.)

30 is good if you love drama, bad if you love strategy.

Cool thanks! I think I'll try jumping right in with season 28!
 

bill0527

Member
Cut Gumby some slack.

He was like 16 years old when he was posting on GAF. (He's now 28)

We were all cunts at 16.
 
You realize he was like 15 when he posted that right?

Survivor is awesome but I can usually only take a couple seasons at a time before the format gets old. After 30 seasons the show's extremely predictable.

I've been watching a Korean show called "The Genius: Rules of the Game" as of late; the amount of scheming, backstabbing, betrayal, and just general hilarity that occurs in a single episode of the show puts even the best seasons of Survivor to shame. Highly recommend it if you like Survivor.
 

coy

Member
I watched the early seasons from the start, stopped after S8, then came back at S17 and have seen every season since. I'm enough of a fan to read recaps, watch Ponderosa clips, pay attention to Dalton Ross, look for winner's edits, and lurk the seasonal GAF Survivor threads. I don't watch a lot of reality shows (started getting into The Amazing Race recently), but I find Survivor fascinating. I can't wait for S31 to start.
 

Firebrand

Member
I hate Swedish Television for introducing this concept to the world, hogging prime time instead of literally anything else.
I thought it was sort of interesting for a season or two, but once contestants knew what to expect and people made pacts it got boring.

IIRC the man who was voted out first on the first (Swedish) season committed suicide before the show aired. :( You'd think that would have made them reconsider the format.
 

Cromat

Member
The best the genre has to offer. I'm absolutely hooked and this is the only reality TV show I could see myself entering. Currently watching it based on friends' recommendations who say that season 20 is one of the best things ever on television - in order to make the most of it I am watching previous seasons with those returning contestants.

I watched 1, 7, 13 and 16 and they were all fantastic (especially 1 because of the innocence and 16 because it was just a great cast).
 

TheYanger

Member
I love the "ITS SO FAKE" posts from people that have clearly never watched the show. It is absolutely EDITED for maximum drama on our end, but they don't do anything to influence the game on the island as it is happening. There's a big difference between overblowing things in editing and making the actual game 'fake'

I'm sure a lot of people here might be too young to even remember (and most probably aren't, I'm sure) but this shit was a cultural phenomenon when it came out. There's a reason for that, it really was quite unlike anything else on TV. So many imitators, and some are good don't get me wrong, but Survivor is fucking pure. It's like how the real world used to be, except since it's a game they haven't had to try and sex it up too much as its gone on - the basic formula works. They add twists to spice it up and sometimes those are dumb, but they haven't really had to muck with it much in 15 years. That to me is a testament to how good the basic game of Survivor is.

Would absolutely love to be on it someday.
 

DietRob

i've been begging for over 5 years.
Love the show, always have, always will. Despite freaking Gumby winning it.

Dude was quite a brash character here.
 
I think it stinks!The producers kicked me and my friends off Tarutao island because they were filming, even though we had a permit for the whole weekend.
Deserted island my ass, they brought so much shit it looked like a movie set.
 

Codeblue

Member
I use to follow pretty closely but sort of fell out of it in the last 4 years due to school and the cast they had on when I got bogged down. I've been meaning to jump back in, but I hate any sort of public intervention in game shows so I abstained last season.
 

B.K.

Member
I watched the first season and liked it because it was something new. I haven't watched a full season since then and I haven't watched a single episode of the series in probably a decade.
 
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