Discovery Channel’s Survive the Raft has been firing from all cylinders since its premiere on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
The third episode delivered loads of speaking factors, together with blindsides, a contestant deciding in opposition to stealing $20,000 anonymously from her fellow contestants, and a lot extra.
TV Fanatic acquired to talk with collection host Nate Boyer about the twists and turns.
Episode three was such an enormous episode. What was it prefer to be on the set for it?
It was nice. It was cool to see the characters develop a bit extra, get just a little extra snug with what we’re doing with the experiment itself, and discover a little bit of a rhythm.
Jonathan had a seizure on the premiere, and lots was taking place. That’s a tricky transition for anyone. Then you may have episode two with the shock of the swaps and new individuals being introduced in.
At the starting of episode three, they lastly have a rhythm, and it’s the first time that they’ve had that chance to be snug and work out the routine.
Of course, it would not get any simpler as a result of there’s nonetheless lots occurring.
The episode picks up in the aftermath of Summer H.’s exit. It appeared like individuals’s mindsets instantly shifted to “Lashanna has to go next.” Do you assume a lot of the solid had been so hopeful about that to keep away from their very own names arising?
I do not know. There was numerous rigidity between Lashanna and Summer H. in episode two. I believe numerous that carried over, and they felt like that friction was nonetheless lingering.
That’s a great level you introduced up. I hadn’t thought of it that means, nevertheless it may have been extra, “Hey, I could be safe for another week because we still have this lingering elephant in the room.”
I hadn’t thought of that.
Truthfully, that query in all probability stemmed from me being a fan of Big Brother, The Challenge, and Survivor. I’m at all times considering extra strategically once I watch this sort of present.
That’s a great level. It’s a social experiment, and all of those dynamics are distinctive, however at the identical time, there’s a technique inside the gameplay, so to talk, as a result of there’s cash at stake, and individuals need to keep so long as they will, if to not the finish, and take house a few of that cash.
You have to remember in the again of all these individuals’s heads that each transfer they make has penalties inside the social dynamic and inside the technique of attempting to outlive the raft for the complete season.
The consuming bounty this week was fairly vile. It wasn’t for me. I questioned whether or not Merissa could be singled out as a result of I did not imagine she would have the ability to eat something. I used to be shocked that 4 of the 9 individuals managed to complete their plates. Who shocked you the most throughout that problem?
I did not actually know him as a result of he was new, however Mykhal.
He’s acquired to impress as a result of he desires to earn a spot on the crew, however at the identical time, no one’s watching you. You are by your self. And he simply acquired on the market.
He was placing it down.
Maddie was given this chance to steal the cash the 4 individuals who completed earned for the crew. What are your ideas on her not taking the cash?
I believe all of us realized lots about Maddie at that second. I noticed glimpses of it earlier than, however she has numerous integrity.
She’s very empathetic, places different individuals first, and thinks of the group earlier than she thinks of herself, which is exclusive.
That’s a robust character trait to have on the raft. If solely the others knew a few of these dilemmas, and I suppose they’re going to get to see after they watch this episode as a result of they could not see what I acquired to see there at that second.
You may see it in her eyes. It was a very laborious choice, after all. That’s a life-changing amount of cash to somebody like Maddie, however she by no means genuinely thought-about it as a result of it was like, “I can’t do that to the team.”
I felt for Lashanna all through the episode as a result of it appeared like she knew that folks wished her out of the sport. It appeared like they’d’ve nominated her had Russell not popped as much as save her sport. Do you assume that allowed Lashanna to rebuild connections as she heads into episode 4?
That’s acquired to be her focus as a result of she mentioned so herself, and numerous that has to do with what she does for a residing, her upbringing, and simply the world she’s accustomed to.
She has a really robust persona, and she lets you understand how she feels, and I worth that in individuals however for some individuals that are not used to that, It could be a little overwhelming.
I believe we see that with a few of the reactions from individuals as a result of they’re simply not used to people with that sort of ardour and brutal honesty in a few of these moments. That can generally throw individuals off.
If we return to the technique you talked about earlier, she does should sort of perhaps rethink the means she reacts and take a step again. That sucks as a result of then perhaps it isn’t genuinely her being her true self, and I’m positive she would not need to really feel like she has to play a personality or be someone else with the intention to slot in with the group.
I’d think about Lashanna in all probability feels that lots in her life and in all probability has, and that is the place that comes from. So it’s important to respect her for that, nevertheless it does make it difficult.
It does make it difficult when you have to not solely rebuild, however you may have the fixed concern or the menace of those individuals coming in that additionally convey lots to the desk that you have to form of beat out.
Walking on eggshells isn’t any enjoyable for anyone. I believe perhaps she’s in a spot proper now the place she may really feel like that is the solely means ahead.
Russell’s choice was wild. They had been presupposed to be a democracy, however he took it upon himself to say that he was going up, and it did not give his co-stars any room to veto it. How ought to we anticipate that second to form the remainder of Russell’s time on the raft?
Russell additionally has a really robust persona, and he is a frontrunner. He served in the navy. He’s additionally acquired fairly an enormous social media following, so he is used to rallying the troops and being that sort of man.
I’m wondering if he felt that was wanted, that someone wanted to only sort of tackle that place, as in the voice for the crew or, such as you mentioned, the head of that democracy.
I do not assume he meant to be a dictator, however it could really feel like that to a few of the crew due to these discussions occurring about how issues needs to be completed as a crew.
It goes again to the self-preservation in the again of those individuals’s minds; how can I solidify myself as someone that the crew values a lot that it doesn’t matter what, they cannot afford to let me go?
We’ve acquired free divers who can catch fish 100 ft beneath the water’s floor. We’ve acquired different those that convey different items to that pie.
You’ve acquired somebody like Elliot, who’s extremely robust bodily. Maybe Russell additionally thinks, “Where am I strongest, and how can I flex my quote-unquote muscles?”
You appeared shocked when Mykhal got here down the stairs at the finish of the episode. Can you hear what’s taking place upstairs, or is that each one lower off from you?
When they debate, after they go on their very own after I depart them and allow them to make their choice, I’m not listening. I do not know what they’re saying. I’m unsure who’s coming down these stairs till they arrive down.
I bear in mind seeing that and considering, wow, the pact is actual if that is what’s taking place. Jonathan had a seizure in the prior episodes and needed to be faraway from the experiment.
Summer H. volunteered to depart. So this was the first time {that a} vote was completed. They did preserve that dedication, the pact to stick with the unique group.
I used to be shocked as a result of I knew numerous the battle that had gone on and the wrestle inside the group dynamic. I assumed he was only a fairly agreeable man and very likable.
He acclimated nicely to the group, assimilated, and positively inserted himself, however I suppose it wasn’t sufficient of their eyes.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
Survive the Raft continues Sundays at 9 p.m. on Discovery Channel.
Paul Dailly is the Associate Editor for TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter.
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