INTRO
Survivor host Jeff Probst, former Edge of Extinction player Rick Devens, and producer Jeff Wolfe get together for the latest On Fire podcast to discuss the second episode of Survivor 45. They talk about the importance of sharing information in the game and how timing is everything in Survivor. Probst also shares an Easter egg in the show’s main title and some extra behind-the-scenes info when capturing Survivor’s magic.
EPISODE 2
- Devens and Wolfe talk about players having to adapt not only their games but even their personalities at times to advance in the game, for instance, Bruce and Emily.
- Devens says it’s all about fluidity when it comes to playing Survivor, as no matter what your plan at the beginning was, you have to change it up, as no one plays the game alone.
- Devens acknowledges how Emily’s ability to change up her social game from last week to this is a huge move, even though it might seem subtle.
- Wolfe asks Devens about Brandon’s decision not to open the Beware advantage. Devens says it could be argued not opening it is just as big of a move as opening it, especially if a player isn’t on their own when finding it. Brandon knew who had the advantage and what it entailed, so it wasn’t necessarily a wrong move.
- Wolfe asks how fast the game moves in real time. Devens responds it does flip on a dime, especially when it comes to players taking advantage of opportunities, which is demonstrated by how Kaleb took the chance on Emily as soon as she changed her gameplay.
- Devens recognises one of his mistakes in the game was not taking the time to get to know Aurora, as she wasn’t a number for him, and he didn’t want to get emotionally attached. Kaleb is doing precisely what Devens failed to do, which could be a game-changing move for him.
- Is it worth it for a player to risk their vote? Devens says it depends. If a player is at risk and needs an advantage, they should play. If a player needs their vote to survive their next tribal council, it would be better to play it safe.
- Is it a good strategy to share or overshare when players have an advantage? It comes down, once again, to where a player is amongst their tribe, as it could be used against them afterwards or, as it was in Drew’s case, to garner allies and trust.
- Bruce’s decision to smirk at the Lulu tribe before jumping last into the water was questioned by Wolfe and Devens, as neither thinks it was out of malice. Still, Devens says everything is hyped in Survivor, and it could be something Lulu holds against Bruce down the line.
- How much is loyalty worth? Devens says loyalty is situational and often overrated, as Emily’s loyalty to Kaleb could be more valuable than Brandon’s to four different people.
PROBST
- Probst says he rarely sees footage before it is released on the episodes.
- Probst denies the Survivor intro is back due to the fans’ demand, but mostly because episodes are longer this season and time constraints differ. Probst also agrees it’s an integral part of the show and is happy to watch fans and players again see it on their screens.
- Bonus content: Probst reveals there is an Easter egg in every main title this season. In other words, one shot each week is different in the main title as it is a clue for the upcoming episode. For instance, this week, there was a shot of the beware advantage, which later made an appearance. Probst adds sometimes the shot might be more subtle than others, but it’s another fun way for fans to engage with the show.
- Devens asks Probst which camp talks get shown over others. Probst says every scene in the show is there for a reason, as they could be related to tribal councils, to reveal players’ personalities, to be used for misdirection and be later rectified, as clues for later episodes, etc.
- Wolfe asks Probst about the lack of votes in the new era, as in this episode, only three votes were cast. Probst says before the new era, votes weren’t even considered an opportunity for change, but as dangerous fun is a new concept, players risking their votes has become a new layer of the game.
FAN QUESTIONS
- Since the show is now always in Fiji, how does production reset the jungles between seasons, and how are natural resources protected when players need them to survive? Probst says production works closely with the Fijian government to preserve the land, and resources naturally replenish themselves reasonably quickly, so this hasn’t been an issue. Since season one, the close relationship between production and local governments where Survivor has been filmed has been favourable.
- How does production go about filming activities that players want to keep secret? (ex. Tony building and hiding in his spy shacks) Probst answers that the camera crew will shoot everything they can so it wouldn’t be too obvious they’re shooting something secret, and also, crews know how to shoot something without alerting other players. Perhaps as players are looking for an idol on one side of the jungle, they’re simultaneously shooting the player, finding the idol in the background.
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