Each week, Christine Pallon and Gia Worthy will round up the previous week of Survivor 42 as they list their top moments in various important categories. This includes the most essential information, the stand-out castaways, and the key moments from the week.
Here, Christine and Gia break down all the action from the season premiere.
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Top 3 Moments
Advantage Amulet
Gia: Right from the first minute, Jeff made sure to let us know that Seasons 41 and 42 will have a lot of similarities since this cast has not seen the preceding season. The Advantage Amulet is one exception that will set this season apart. As part of the first challenge, Lindsay, Drea, and Hai were given a choice between an advantage and an easy turn. They all go for the advantage, and it needs to be mentioned that they got the chance to pour mud and fake blood on themselves to throw off the competition.
For their efforts, they are rewarded with the Advantage Amulet, which only works if it’s played by all players with amulets remaining in the game. Depending on how many advantage-holders are left, the power gets better (if three are left, it’s an extra vote, if two are left, they can steal a vote; if one is left, it becomes an idol). I’m actually very excited to see where this advantage will go and whether or not the three players will get the chance to work together… or stab each other in the back.
Prisoner’s Dilemma is Back
Christine: With this season’s twists being more or less a rehash of last season’s, the return of the Summit and its Prisoner’s Dilemma played out similarly to last season. Maryanne, Drea, and Jenny all meet at the summit for a hike before deciding whether to risk their votes for an extra vote or to protect their votes. Like Danny last season, Jenny opts to protect her vote. Maryanne and Drea risk theirs, earning themselves an extra vote that they can claim at their first Tribal Council of the season.
Jackson’s Unprecedented Exit
Christine: Our first exit of the season is an unconventional one, as Jackson is pulled from the game on Day 3 due to medical complications from Lithium withdrawal. Although his time on the show was cut short—and I do wish that production would have decided to save him for a later season when he was in a better state to compete—Jackson certainly made an impression before he left. His campfire story about his journey as a trans man and his gradual reconnection with his family impacted not only his tribemates but also everyone watching at home.
Tribe Breakdown
Vati
Christine: After losing the first challenge, Jenny helps her tribe secure their supplies with her leadership during the “savvy” triangle challenge. We then see a series of potential duos form on Vati: Jenny and Mike, Lydia and Hai, and Chanelle and Daniel. So an eventual Tribal with this group could be messy. Daniel’s Stephenie LaGrossa shoulder injury at the first challenge might very well be what sends him home if his tribe loses soon unless he can make some serious social headway with his tribemates.
Taku
Christine: By the end of this two-hour premiere, Taku is the biggest question mark when it comes to our three starting tribes. Taku lost a player this week after Jackson’s unexpected early exit, but with no Tribal Council, it’s hard to get a read on what the tribe dynamics might be like moving forward. Jonathan clearly established himself as a physical force to be reckoned with in both challenges, so there’s a good chance they could win out for a little while before heading to Tribal.
Ika
Gia: We see a lot of Ika in the premiere, mostly because they’re the ones that go to tribal council. They start off strong by winning the first challenge, securing their flint and basic supplies. We get a better sense of their personalities and tribe dynamics while they’re setting up camp. For now, Ika’s alliances are divided by age, with Romeo, Drea, and Rocksroy solidifying a “big kids” alliance. This alliance kept them all safe in the first vote, but with Drea wanting to initially vote out Rocksroy due to his challenge performance, who knows how long this will actually last.
Stand-out Castaways
Drea
Gia: There were several standouts in the premiere episode, but Drea is the one at the center of absolutely everything. She is one of the three players to receive an advantage amulet and is also the recipient of an extra vote after successfully maneuvering the prisoner’s dilemma. She was integral to all the voting scenarios when Ika was sent to Tribal but was never in danger of going home herself. If the premiere is any indication of what’s to come, Drea will certainly prove to be a force to be reckoned with.
Maryanne
Christine: If there’s a standout narrator from this episode, it’s Maryanne. From the instant she stepped on screen, it was clear that Maryanne would be one of our major personalities of the season, and she didn’t disappoint. She’s all heart and big emotions and isn’t afraid to let that show. On top of her big personality, she’ll also soon be in possession of an extra vote thanks to her decision at Shipwheel of Fortune. And it’ll be interesting to see how she balances the emotions of the game with the strategy, especially if that extra vote puts her in a position to make a big move at some point.
Zach
Gia: Zach was living every Survivor superfan’s dream. From the moment he stepped on the beach, you could tell that he was having the time of his life. Unfortunately for Zach, his charisma couldn’t save him from the “big kids” alliance of Romeo, Drea, and Rocksroy, and fumbling on the puzzle certainly didn’t help his case. However, he fought for his safety every step of the way, even turning to his Shot in the Dark when he exhausted all other options. He wasn’t there for a long time, but he was so much fun during his stay.
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