Not to sound like a Survivor curmudgeon, but as a fan who has watched the show for two decades and counting, I have to admit how much I miss the unique array of challenges we once had. This is not necessarily limited to how we once had reward and immunity challenges, although those are sorely missed as well. Every now and then, I’d like to see tasks beyond the expected recipe of obstacle course, balance beam, and puzzle. As far as challenges go, variety is the spice of life.
That being said, the true game changer of the new era has proven to be the 90-minute episodes we’ve gotten since Survivor 45. It was in 45 that we finally saw the long-awaited return of the Survivor Auction, a fan favorite that we hadn’t seen since Worlds Apart. Yes, 15 seasons is a long time to wait, but there are other challenges that fans have been waiting even longer to see return.
While Jeff Probst has been adamant that some of these favorites are “broken,” I don’t believe that any of these games are beyond repair. With that being said, here are the five that I personally think should be at the top of production’s priority list for Survivor 50.
5. Choose Your Weapon
In all fairness, this challenge has been used both for reward and immunity. Nonetheless, it’s always fun to watch. Choose Your Weapon is a skill-based challenge that isn’t dependent on physical strength or balance, the most common types of challenges. We’ve seen players use slingshots, blow darts, spears, a bow and arrow, and even a catapult, all to varying degrees of success. My favorite instances of this challenge are when we see unexpected MVPs as a result (Rory in Vanuatu or Yau-Man in Fiji) that we wouldn’t necessarily get in other challenge formats. If only to break up the monotony of obstacle courses and puzzles, let’s dare to throw in a little target practice every once in a while.
4. Matchmaker (aka “The Mixer”)
An oldie but a goodie, I’ll never understand why The Mixer hasn’t made a return since All-Stars. In the new era, the advantage journeys are usually the only chance we get for cross-tribal interactions, and frankly, I believe we’ve gotten all we could’ve possibly wanted from these altercations. Matchmaker is a light-hearted and charming way for players to get to know their competition; the reward items they receive are just a bonus for their efforts. Hey, if they really need to spice it up, they can throw in a little advantage or two, as production has been known to do, though I don’t think this challenge needs it. The superfans will love the return of this challenge, and new fans will be introduced to a pleasant piece of Survivor history. Really, it’s a win-win for everyone.
3. Loved One Overboard (or any Loved Ones equivalent)
Truthfully, any Loved One challenge will do, but there’s something so special about the challenges where the Loved Ones are actually participating. Loved Ones Overboard is famous for being the challenge of the infamous Dead Grandma lie, but the challenge itself was a perfect mix of player interactions and testing the relationships of their partners, friends, and relatives. This challenge is limited by the fact that Survivor hasn’t done an in-person Loved Ones visit since Winners at War. That being said, with the show slowly bringing parts of the old-school era back into the fold, I haven’t given up hope that we could be seeing a challenge like this in the near future.
2. Touchy Subjects
Ask a Survivor fan about their favorite challenges, and Touchy Subjects is bound to come up. In its infancy, Touchy Subjects was a hilarious way to tell players about themselves and unleash some hard truths onto the camp. The fun fizzled out in the later seasons in a similar fashion as the auction, with dominant alliances finding ways to game the system. Jeff insists that this challenge is broken, but I’m not so convinced. After all, he said the same thing about the auction, only to bring it back for 45. Perhaps the most shocking thing readers will find about this ranking is that Touchy Subjects hasn’t received top billing. And while Touchy Subjects is certainly the most requested challenge to make a return, there remains one other that I believe is even more overdue for a second act.
1. So You Think You Can Meke?
Like it or not, Survivor will be in Fiji for the foreseeable future. So why not take advantage of that fact and bring back an iconic reward challenge that can only be held in this country? This challenge has only been held once in season 14, also known as Fiji’s titular season. In a pre-merge plagued by the Haves vs Have Nots twist, the Meke challenge was a fun break in between the bad blood and dueling rivalries that had yet to reach their boiling point. Watching the players learn the dance and have fun with the body paint was an entertaining homage to the country that has become Survivor’s permanent home.
The show has mostly veered away from challenges and themes that connect to the location’s culture, but a challenge like the Meke could be a way to reintroduce cultural aspects back into the show in a more respectful way. While Touchy Subjects may be the challenge that’s most requested to make a return, So You Think You Can Meke is a tribute to Fiji (both the country and the season) that deserves to make a return to our television screens.
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