At an exclusive Survivor 48 viewing party, it was announced by Jeff Probst that fans would have the opportunity throughout 48 to vote for the game mechanisms that they would like to see in Survivor 50. Taking inspiration from the Bitter Jurors Podcast’s voting guide, I decided to use this as an opportunity to formally endorse certain positions in this important vote.
Do I expect viewers to take these endorsements seriously? Of course not! But this is an opportunity to have fun with a season that is being hailed as a celebration of the entire history of Survivor. I look forward to voting, and I hope you take an opportunity to make your voice heard as well!
Should Advantages Be Minimal, Strategic, or Dynamic?
Gia’s Endorsement: Minimal
Advantages are best when they have minimal impact on the overall game. An idol at each camp? Perfect. A Shot in the Dark option? Acceptable. An indistinguishable third option hidden at a reward in merge? Also fine. But advantage journeys, knowledge is power, idol nullifiers and the like take away the agency of players and their strategic capabilities. We’ve already seen the best that these advantages have to offer; let’s not push our luck any further.
Tribe Swap or No Tribe Swap?
Gia’s Endorsement: Tribe Swap
What are we even doing if we aren’t giving the players, whose tenures on the show will span throughout 49 seasons, a chance to interact with as many of their peers as possible? A tribe swap is needed, especially if they are planning to stick with the three tribe format (hopefully there will be a vote regarding this in the near future). Survivor is better when we see as many possible social dynamics in play, and a tribe swap will provide that to us. Sure, there is always the chance (nay, the likelihood) that players we are rooting for will get “swap-screwed,” but that is the risk that comes with playing Survivor at all.
Picking the Final Four Challenge
Gia’s Endorsement: Hands on a Hard Idol
Production, stop playing with me right now. We can’t celebrate 50 seasons of Survivor and not honor one of the most iconic, grueling, and season-defining challenges of all time. Hands on a Hard Idol was the final challenge of Season 1, so, of course, we need it to come full circle and have it be the final challenge of Season 50. Simply put, no other challenge will do.
Voting begins tonight during episode 4 of Survivor 48. Let’s enjoy our chance to make our voices heard during this unprecedented experience!
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