Survivor is a unprecedented actuality TV present that has been fascinating audiences for over 40 seasons, and it exhibits no indicators of slowing down. I’ve curated a formidable record of seasons that you simply completely should expertise. Oh, and concern not, as this record is totally spoiler-free, so you possibly can absolutely benefit from the pleasure and surprises of every season! Here are my takes for the finest survivor seasons, ranked.
10. Season 33: Millennials vs. Gen X
Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X has numerous good going for it: a tremendous solid, a heartfelt and satisfying winner, completely bonkers moments, and shock vote-outs. However, a second that basically makes this season stand out has to do with a scene the place one contestant comes out to a different. It’s a second that’s not solely joyous however really one which performs considerably into the season’s theme.
Really the one factor that restricts Millennials vs. Gen X from being any larger has to do with what many would argue is a problematic boot order that occurs right here. Optics-wise, it’s a boot order that doesn’t look good in any respect. Thankfully, this season contains a solid that’s arguably the tightest and closest one ever post-season, which helps easy issues over to a degree the place Millennials vs. Gen X actually deserves to be acknowledged right here.
9. Season 6: The Amazon
The Amazon is the earliest season on this record, and for an excellent motive, provided that it’s a season with an emphasis on technique, one thing that the 5 prior seasons didn’t emphasize. The resolution to divide the contestants by gender labored rather well right here, with the tribes of largely handsome children hilariously enjoying into the division.
It’s a season that advantages from having a mixture of several types of gamers, with some enjoying exhausting and others not understanding the way to alter when coming face-to-face with the technique. Also value mentioning is that The Amazon is the place Rob Cesternino took place, who’s undoubtedly one of the crucial energetic gamers on-line right now, given his podcast.
The Amazon positively does present its age at instances although, which prevents it from being any larger. For instance, there’s an notorious scene the place ladies strip for peanut butter, and whereas they’re those that provide it themselves, it’s nonetheless not nice when wanting from a extra trendy perspective. That being mentioned, although, the season being rather more elevated with its technique than prior seasons does increase The Amazon as much as deserving to be within the prime 10 Survivor seasons, and it’s a enjoyable watch it doesn’t matter what.
8. Season 27: Blood vs. Water
Right from the get-go, the season’s theme right here is unimaginable. One half of the solid being returning gamers, whereas the opposite half being their family members provides an excellent wrinkle to the sport that led to a number of the franchise’s most iconic moments and strategic selections. People being pressured to come back to phrases with how their actions of their tribe have an effect on their family members on the opposite tribe is chef’s kiss perfection.
Also, one of many added wrinkles right here within the season is the return of Redemption Island, with gamers needing to look at their family members who have been voted out struggle for his or her survival within the sport in a contest –that’s simply the cherry on prime. All of this, together with a satisfying winner, results in a season that’s undoubtedly worthy of being on this record. The solely motive this season isn’t any larger is that the opposite seasons are only a bit higher; nothing towards Blood vs. Water specifically.
7. Season 15: China
Survivor: China has an extremely memorable solid, which is barely helped by the season’s excellent theming referring to its location, one thing that numerous different Survivor seasons surprisingly lack. Survivor: China goes all in on its Asian location, that includes rewards and challenges themed across the nation, and whereas this will not sound like a giant deal when watching this season, it really elevates the season and makes it extra thrilling and compelling.
The solid of Season 15 does have some unimaginable standouts, with the season offering a number of the most iconic gamers in Survivor historical past. China additionally options an astonishing winner, who not solely gives implausible gameplay but additionally is an extremely underrated character within the present’s run. The technique right here is probably not as advanced as another seasons, however that’s one thing that may present a little bit of a profit to the season as it may be a bit simpler to observe than some others. Plus, simply because a season’s technique isn’t advanced doesn’t imply it will probably’t be compelling, which Survivor: China’s technique completely is.
6. Season 37: David vs. Goliath
Unlike Millennials vs. Gen X, David vs. Goliath’s theme doesn’t actually present something particular; nevertheless, regardless of a lackluster theme, the solid right here is excellent. There’s no weak spot with these castaways; from the primary boot to the winner, everybody right here has a function for the general gameplay, technique, and even the story.
As against quite a few different seasons, there aren’t too many particular person standouts, which showcases the solid’s energy as nearly all people has their time to shine. Not to say that the castaways are in a position to take twists that basically shouldn’t have been in a position to work and use them to their benefit in methods which might be so superior and enjoyable that makes this a season that’s on an entire different degree. It actually can’t be careworn sufficient, and if this have been a listing purely based mostly on the solid alone, David vs. Goliath would probably be no less than prime three.
Side observe: If you’re a White Lotus fan, you would possibly acknowledge a number of the castaways on this season as minor characters in that present, and that’s as a result of Mike White, the showrunner, was a contestant on this season too.
5. Season 31: Cambodia
It would be the present’s thirty first season, however it’s solely the third time that Survivor has had an all-returnee season, and oh boy, is that this season excellent. Before watching it, although, it’s essential to know that this can be a season the place the followers bought to vote on which castaways bought to return, a implausible selection that led to an entire new ingredient to the sport with how all of the castaways felt they’d one thing they wanted to show. Almost each participant felt they wanted to show to each themselves and the viewers why precisely they deserved to have been voted for, which led to an extremely cutthroat season.
Survivor: Cambodia additionally advantages from not having too many twists impacting the season, which permits the gamers to essentially go on the sport with out the concern of a twist really screwing them over. Then the few twists that Cambodia does have, particularly the best way that hidden immunity idols are discovered, have been really superb and led the season to have some iconic moments for the franchise.
Forcing the gamers into feeling like they wanted to show one thing was an ingenious thought by producers and is one which they shockingly haven’t gone again to despite the fact that they completely ought to. All of this, alongside a implausible winner, makes this a season that undoubtedly deserves to be within the prime 5 of Survivor seasons.
4. Season 7: Pearl Islands
Like Survivor: China, this can be a season that completely excels in terms of its theme. This time, it’s all about pirates. Yet the pirate theme isn’t what makes this season particular, though it actually boosts it. What makes Pearl Islands particular is that the solid of characters listed here are so quirky and memorable whereas on the identical time offering an entertaining sport and season.
Almost instantly you possibly can inform that this might be a particular season due to the premiere the place contestants are actually pillaging one another’s objects. From one among Survivor’s most iconic opening episodes to an episode the place a contestant convinces their tribemates that their grandmother is lifeless in an effort to achieve sympathy, regardless of the beloved one being alive and nicely, this can be a season that by no means lets off the gasoline.
If you discuss to any Survivor fan they’re certain to have Season 7 on their record of top-tier Survivor seasons as Pearl Islands is the gold customary of what these older seasons can present. This is a season that could be a must-watch for any Survivor fan, because it really has every part: compelling episodes, kooky characters, and a satisfying and enjoyable winner.
3. Season 16: Micronesia
A season with half returning gamers and half new gamers, Survivor: Micronesia contains a solid of some really superb characters. So, whereas not each participant is nice, those who’re greater than make up for it, pulling off fascinating transfer after fascinating transfer. The pre-merge showcases some glorious blindsides main right into a post-merge that’s chock-full of a number of the finest blindsides the present has ever seen.
Despite Micronesia being nearly 30 seasons in the past, there are nonetheless moments from the season which might be broadly talked about, with what’s arguably one among, if not the signature second of the franchise occurring inside the season. Almost each episode has one thing intriguing occurring, which solely will get boosted by the truth that the winner of this season is likely one of the hottest gamers of all time.
2. Season 28: Cagayan
Survivor: Cagayan is superb not solely due to its unimaginable winner but additionally due to the journey that viewers go on to get there. From the beginning, followers knew that they’d one thing particular on their palms because the premiere is undoubtedly the very best season premiere the present has ever had. The craziness that occurs in that premiere is barely the start although, as each episode is compelling proper up till you see somebody’s torch get snuffed.
Along with the implausible premiere, the merge episode additionally significantly stands out, which solely proves to be the beginning of what turns into a loopy merge filled with twists and turns that no one might see coming. The unpredictability of this season, particularly with what occurs post-merge is one thing that future seasons might solely hope to duplicate.
The solid of Survivor: Cagayan is unimaginable, with each castaway having their place inside the season’s story and sport. Cagayan can’t be puffed up sufficient and is one that each Survivor fan ought to make sure that they watch, simply to allow them to expertise a season filled with compelling characters and gameplay.
1. Season 20: Heroes vs. Villains
The creme de la creme of all Survivor seasons is surely Survivor’s twentieth season, Heroes vs. Villains. It’s a season that not solely has every part {that a} Survivor fan might probably need, however it carries itself with excellence. From characters to gameplay to an absence of game-interfering twists, there actually isn’t something that Heroes vs. Villains doesn’t do proper.
Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains even has a plethora of iconic strikes and moments which might be nonetheless broadly talked about to at the present time by the Survivor group. With a lot of nice idol performs, a lot of memorable confrontations and rivalries, and even a participant principally voting themself off, it’s a season in contrast to some other.
The solid right here is totally excellent as nicely, that includes a ton of probably the most iconic gamers ever to grace the screens of followers. The Heroes tribe is already nice by its personal advantage, and the Villains tribe is usually argued to be one of many very best tribes to have ever been created by the present. Heroes vs. Villains is sort of at all times mentioned as a must-watch for anyone who likes the present, and for an excellent motive. All of this and lots extra, which lean extra in the direction of the spoilers aspect of issues, make this the best season of Survivor of all time.
Top 10 Best Survivor Seasons, Ranked
- Season 20: Heroes vs. Villains
- Season 28: Cagayan
- Season 16: Micronesia
- Season 7: Pearl Islands
- Season 31: Cambodia
- Season 37: David vs. Goliath
- Season 15: China
- Season 27: Blood vs. Water
- Season 6: The Amazon
- Season 33: Millennials vs. Gen X
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