Survivor: Beginner Guide @survivorbeginnerguide - Tumblr Blog

Season 11: Guatemala

Castaways: 18 (2 returnees from Season 10)

Tribes: 2

This season features returnees - it should definitely not be watched until you have seen Season 10 as the returnees stories are entirely formed by their journey on the previous season. This season is fairly average in terms of strategy, challenges and cast.

This season also features the introduction of the hidden immunity idol - an incredibly significant development that changes the entirety of Survivor and is critical to all future strategy in the show.

This season does feature some unusual editing especially near the end, and I had a different reaction to many of the contestants than others did. I found this winner's game to be quite weak compared to most of the other winners overall.

MY PICK: Voted off just before Final Tribal Council, made it onto the jury.

VERDICT: Watch immediately after Season 10. This season is great to watch immediately after Season 10, in order to understand the journey of the returnees as a whole. This is overall quite a solid season

WINNER RATING: D

Season 10: Palau

Castaways: 20

Tribes: 2

This is a truly unique season to watch, and one that I wish I could watch again for the first time. This season features two of the greatest storyline arcs that Survivor has ever had. The way this season plays out leads to some great badass moments and some fantastic characters. The World War II theme is also quite fun and one of my favourite challenges of all time is also featured here.

Some negatives for this season are that it lacks a little in terms of strategy - and some emotional aspects of the storyline can be difficult to watch due to what some contestants go through. I also find the winner fairly overrated, but definitely still deserving.

MY PICK: Made it to the end but did not win

VERDICT: Definitely watch, but much later This season is phenomenal - but incredibly unique, and to truly appreciate just how unique this season is, it would be a lot better to watch after having watched a few of the other seasons first. Definitely watch Season 11: Guatemala immediately after you watch this one.

WINNER RATING: B

#survivor

Season 1: Borneo

Castaways: 16

Tribes: 2

Where it all begin. The first ever season of Survivor - the ultimate social experiment.

There was no blueprint, just 16 strangers dropped onto an island left to fend for themselves and figure out the amazing game of Survivor.

This is the most unique season of Survivor, simply because no one had any idea what was coming, and this season influences everything that comes after in such a big way that it can’t possibly be described. The cast is also amazing with a fantastic mix of different people from different backgrounds, leading to some great dynamics and hilarious moments.

The only criticism I have of this season is that the production is very basic and old in style compared to most seasons of Survivor - part of the charm but this is definitely not as easy to watch compared to the presentation of newer seasons. The challenges are also very basic and you can definitely tell the show was still figuring itself out. There are also some comments regarding homosexuality/race that are a product of its time - these types of comments weren't so controversial at the time but would not be acceptable today.

MY PICK: Made it to the jury

VERDICT: Absolutely, yes This season is a must-watch for any Survivor fan. The cast is amazing, and the social dynamics will never be replicated simply because this was the season that started it all!

Because of how different the production and style of this season is, it's not my choice for first season to watch. This season should be watched early, maybe 3rd or 4th.

WINNER RATING: B

#survivor

Season 24: One World

Castaways: 18

Tribes: 2

The theme of this season was One World - both tribes living on the same beach. This theme did have a big impact in the early stage of the game, especially for one specific castaway.

However, the pre-merge is possibly the worst in the history of the show including some incredibly horrible episodes and moments, particularly Colton who I find to be the worst Survivor contestant ever based on how much of a racist, whiny bitch he is.

The winner plays an amazing game - however this also detracts from the game as the level of strategic play is very low. The cast is a big weak point - one of the worst casts of all the seasons I've watched.

MY PICK: Made it to the Final Tribal Council but didn't win

VERDICT: Don't watch This season is not great, and the episodes that focus on Colton are painful to sit through because of how much of a colossal bitch he is. Overall, the season features neither great characters or great strategy - however it does have some good challenges and some nice moments here and there, so it's not a complete waste of time.

If you choose to watch this season, maybe leave it for a little while later as you will appreciate the twist more once you have watched a few regular seasons where the tribes live separately.

WINNER RATING: C

#survivor

Season 19: Samoa

Castaways: 20

Tribes: 2

This season is really different to most seasons, and that’s due to the heavy focus on a single contestant. The editing is very one-sided, and as a result, the rest of the cast is fairly forgettable and bland. There is a heavy focus on strategy for that one contestant and very little focus on other contestants gameplay, and so your enjoyment of this season will depend a lot on whether you like that one castaway.

The challenges are interesting and some very impressive performances, especially later in the season. I found the pre-merge very interesting due to the crazy and annoying contestants that get eliminated. The Final Tribal Council was not as entertaining as what I expected. This season also has some really funny moments and there is a cohesive story that flows through the episodes, but definitely could have been told in a better way due to the one-sided editing.

What I like about the ending of this season is that it shows how complex the strategy on Survivor should be and how hard it is to really win.

MY PICK: Made it all the way to the Final Tribal Council but eventually was in third place.

VERDICT: Watch, later (maybe before you watch S20) This season is quite entertaining and has a great story, but is weighed down a lot by the decision to focus the editing on one castaway specifically. This season is fairly important to later seasons, especially to season 20. However, this season should be left til later, due to the heavily one-sided editing as this season is not a good indicator of how Survivor usually goes. Also, watching a few seasons before this will allow you to appreciate how different this season is.

WINNER RATING: D

#survivor #survivorsamoa

Season 29: San Juan Del Sur

Castaways: 18

Tribes: 2

The theme of this season was Blood vs Water. This is a very unique twist where contestants come onto the show as pairs and are put on opposing tribes, so people have to play against their loved ones. The cast is a good mix of likeable, crazy, funny and villainous contestants.

This season also features Exile Island, which usually I am not a big fan of, but works quite excellently when combined with the Blood vs Water theme. The gameplay is more character-driven than strategy-driven, with a lot of bad strategy and gameplay. The season had quite an unpredictable elimination order, due to the suspenseful editing.

Something I didn’t like about this season is that the challenges are somewhat repetitive, with a similar concept or idea being used in multiple episodes. The Final Tribal Council is also not the most entertaining, as I felt the jury didn’t ask many entertaining or interesting questions.

MY PICK: Voted off at the final six, got a place on the jury.

VERDICT: Watch, later I would recommend watching this season, but later. The fairly simplistic strategic play and interesting characters mean this season is definitely worth watching. The reason I wouldn’t recommend watching this early is the fact that Blood vs Water is an entertaining twist, but it would be more appreciated after having watched a few seasons of ‘regular’ Survivor.

WINNER RATING: C

#survivor #survivorsanjuandelsur

Season 28: Cagayan

Castaways: 18

Tribes: 3

The theme of this season was Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty, and I believe it was an awesome idea that they bring back later. The cast is really mixed, with some great underdogs, prominent villains, crazy contestants and more, but also some boring or super annoying contestants (Kass is a super annoying bitch).

This season gets widely praised for its unpredictability; unfortunately for me, I had spoilers and already knew the winner of this season, so it would obviously be less exciting and suspenseful.

Something I love about this season are the challenges; every challenge was really fun and exciting to watch (with 1 exception), with great storylines, comebacks and amazing performances. There were also some great strategic plays by fan favourite contestants. One of the greatest tribal councils of all time happens in this season that has to be seen to be believed. The editing is somewhat uneven, with a couple of players getting a lot more screen-time than others.

A big disappointment for this season was that there were very few players who were thinking strategically, and the few that were thinking strategically were dealt very unlucky hands. I believe the key moments of this season were shaped by players making huge strategic mistakes. Another big negative was the high amount of immunity idols, including the “super-powered” idol which hopefully they never bring back.

MY PICK: Voted off after the merge, made it onto the jury.

VERDICT: Watch, early This is a great season with exciting storytelling, good cast, amazing challenges and a fairly simplistic level of strategic play, making it ideal for new viewers. This season is definitely a must-watch, and watching early is definitely recommended. I wouldn’t recommend watching it first due to the high number of idols and how annoying Kass is.

WINNER RATING: B

#survivor #survivorcagayan

Season 32: Kaoh Rong

Castaways: 18

Tribes: 3

The theme of this season was Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty, just like Season 28: Cagayan. However, the theme is not adhered to as strictly, and is mostly inconsequential (e.g. Tai is on the Beauty tribe for some reason, despite being old and ugly). The cast is excellent with many interesting, funny and smart contestants, featuring a variety of heroes, villains and underdogs.

This season is very well-rounded, with a balanced focus on strategy and characters. Starting with three tribes was definitely a good decision and leads to fantastic and unpredictable storylines before and after the merge. There are very exciting and entertaining challenges, and some of the best or funniest Tribal Councils in Survivor history.

The biggest negative for this season is that there are way too many medical evacuations, which completely disrupts the strategic play and alliances. There are some episodes where there is a focus on the contestants’ medical issues, but this goes on for way too long which I found very uncomfortable to watch.

This season also directly spoils Season 28: Cagayan, at Tribal Council in one of the earlier episodes.

MY PICK: Voted off early, did not make it to the merge

VERDICT: Watch, early (but after Season 28: Cagayan). This is an entertaining season with great storytelling, strong cast and a good blend of strategy and characters, but is definitely weighed down by the excessive number of medical evacuations. Keep in mind that this season spoils Season 28: Cagayan, so definitely watch that season before this one.

WINNER RATING: C

#survivor #survivorkaohrong

Season 25: Phillipines

Castaways: 18

Tribes: 3

This season has three returning contestants who were previously medically evacuated, and also features the worst tribe in Survivor history, performance-wise. The storyline is solid and interesting, but not that exciting or special. The pre-merge is quite unique, and post-merge is very unpredictable at times. I found the cast weak for this season, with the exception of a couple of fantastic underdogs and one crazy but entertaining villain. Overall, I think this is a great season that gets weighed down by cast members I found annoying or repetitive, and if you like these characters then you will enjoy this season more.

MY PICK: Voted off just after merge, first member of the jury

VERDICT: Watch, early. I would definitely recommend watching this season. The fairly simple but solid storyline makes this a great choice to watch early. The only reason I wouldn’t recommend watching this first is the fact that it starts with three tribes rather than two.

WINNER RATING: A+

#survivor #survivorphillipines

Season 13: Cook Islands

Castaways: 20

Tribes: 4

This season has a racial divide theme, with four tribes split by their ethnicity. The theme is handled fairly well, and doesn’t last throughout the season. The cast is definitely a weak point. There are some awesome characters in this season, including two Survivor legends (who return in future seasons, more than once!) but almost all of the cast is generally just boring or forgettable, rather than unlikable. There is a great storyline, with an unusual twist leading to a fantastic underdog comeback. The final showdown between strategic dominance and physical dominance is great. I liked this season, but the storyline is fairly bland compared to a lot of others.

MY PICK: Voted off near the end, got a place on the jury

VERDICT: Watch, early. Watch this season early on, but definitely not first. Maybe watch a couple of other seasons before watching this one. I’d recommend not to leave it too late because you may find this season too slow compared to others.

WINNER RATING: A

#survivor #survivorcookislands

Season 33: Millennials vs. Gen X

Castaways: 20

Tribes: 2

It’s a nice coincidence that I watched this season right after Survivor: Fiji because this takes place in Fiji too. This season is very strategy heavy from the beginning, with contestants being hyperaware about their gameplay, thinking about big moves and ‘resumés’ early. Every episode is unpredictable and exciting. The challenges are all very entertaining, and exhilarating to watch, and the heavy strategy discussions lead to awesome tribal councils. I liked the cast a lot too, but as a millennial myself, I found myself firmly rooting for the Millennials tribe.

The worst thing about this season is definitely the theme. The forced references to the Millennials v Gen X stereotypes when they were completely irrelevant are the most cringeworthy part of the season, and probably the only time I didn’t like Jeff as the host. A specific players’ overeagerness and paranoia in the first episode is annoying, and makes it hard to root for him throughout. There are also definitely way too many idols this season, and I was disappointed that a specific contestant’s sob story becomes such a huge focal point.

MY PICK: Voted off quite early, didn’t make it to merge.

VERDICT: Definitely watch, but later. I definitely enjoyed this season a lot, but a new viewer might find it overly complex or confusing. This season was very exciting and dynamic, with great twists, moves, power-shifts and a high level of strategy by almost all the players. This season would definitely be more appreciated by an experienced viewer who understands the usual strategy and dynamics of Survivor and has watched a few seasons.

WINNER RATING: C

#survivor

Season 14: Fiji

Castaways: 19

Tribes: 2

I chose to watch this season because I love Fiji, and also because I wanted to start with a few seasons that have two tribes. This season really tries to change up expectations with major twists, and quite honestly, every twist is unfair or straight up bullshit. There are a couple of fantastic ‘characters’ in this season, but this might be outweighed by the fact that there are a lot of unlikable or annoying characters. There is some drama/fighting, and the Final Tribal Council was a lot more hostile than I expected it to be, but the hostility and bitterness was very entertaining. The winner plays an excellent game. Personally, I’m not a fan of the Exile Island concept, and so the seasons that have this twist aren’t my favourite. There is also a bit more of a focus on the ‘survival’ scenes in the beginning, but these are quite difficult to watch.

MY PICK: My pick (and favourite contestant) was in a fantastic position but got voted off in one of the stupidest and most pointless twists, resulting in a place on the jury.

VERDICT: Do not watch. I would not recommend this season. There are some hilarious, iconic or dramatic moments, so if you really want to watch this season, leave it for later on.

WINNER RATING: A

#survivor #survivorfiji

Season 15: China

Castaways: 16

Tribes: 2

This season is an excellent season to start with. The cast features all new contestants (no returning players), and is one of the biggest strengths of this season. There are a lot of hilarious and fun moments, and also some great fights and drama. The location is awesome and used incredibly well in the reward/immunity challenges, but quite different from the usual Survivor seasons. My biggest criticism for this season is that I found a couple of characters cringeworthy. There is clever strategy and gameplay but not too deep or complex, making it ideal for new viewers.

MY PICK: My pick didn’t win this season, but got a place on the jury.

VERDICT: Definitely watch this season early. Great choice for first! I would definitely recommend as a starting season for a new viewer, and I enjoyed it a lot.

WINNER RATING: B

#survivor #survivorchina

Guide to Survivor

If you are a complete newbie to Survivor, here is some essential information on how the game works. Reading this should be enough for you to understand the game, and as you watch you will start to pick up on a lot more advanced gameplay and strategy.

PREMISE: A group of strangers (between 15 to 20 people usually) of different ages and backgrounds are taken to an isolated location, typically a beach/tropical island. The contestants have to live off the land, and are provided minimal supplies, food or shelter. Despite this, Survivor is definitely a social game.

Every episode ends at ‘Tribal Council’, where one contestant is voted off by the ‘tribe’, and is eliminated. The last contestant standing is the ‘Sole Survivor’, and wins $1 million. A lot of the show is about contestants forming alliances or deciding on who to vote for at Tribal Council, and the strategy ranges from simple to very complex.

TRIBES: At the beginning of the season, contestants are split into tribes. A majority of seasons start with two tribes; however, some seasons start with three or four tribes.

The tribes compete in two types of challenges; Reward or Immunity. The tribe that wins the Immunity challenge does not have to go to Tribal Council, and is safe from elimination for that episode. Contestants who are weaker, perform poorly in challenges or do not contribute around camp are the ones usually eliminated near the start.

MERGE: The Merge is an important turning point for any season. After the Merge, the tribes are combined into a single tribe, and Immunity Challenges are for individuals, not teams. Contestants who perform well at challenges are typically targeted to be voted off after the merge, as they are likely to win immunity challenges.

JURY: Contestants who are voted off around/after the Merge form the Jury. The jury plays the most important role as they vote for who wins the season. After there are only two or three contestants left, a Final Tribal Council is held in the Finale of the season, where the jury members ask the contestants questions, and then vote for who they think should win the $1 million.

HIDDEN IMMUNITY IDOL: Chances are, if you are reading this guide then you will be watching the Survivor seasons out of the chronological order. If so, the season you start with may already contain the most groundbreaking twist in Survivor history: the Hidden Immunity Idol.

The Hidden Immunity Idol is simple; if you have the idol, you can play it at Tribal Council and any votes cast against you do not count.

The rules surrounding the idol change depending on the season. It was introduced in Season 11, but the changes introduced in Season 14 are much more similar to how it works now. The rules surrounding the idol are explained in every season, but it is an extremely important thing to keep in mind, as gameplay and strategy in newer seasons is heavily influenced by the possibility of an Idol.

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Now that you know the Survivor essentials, you are ready to start watching! Watching the show is definitely the best way to understand the gameplay, and as long as you do not start with a very unusual season, you won’t be confused or lost. So go ahead, you are ready to begin your Survivor journey! :)

For help on which season to watch first, read on for my ‘What Order to Watch Survivor’ guide as well as individual season recommendations and reviews! And most importantly, avoid spoilers!!

#survivor

SURVIVOR BEGINNER GUIDE

Want to start watching the reality competition series Survivor, but don’t know what order to watch the series, or which seasons to watch and which seasons to avoid? Look no further, this guide is for you. Here is a spoiler-free guide to watching Survivor, with reviews of each season as I watch them.

The reviews will feature information about each season as well as important information about what the focus is on (i.e. gameplay, strategy, characters). I will also include a guess on which castaway will win based on the first episode, and would recommend doing this too as you’ll definitely be emotionally invested as your choice progresses or is eliminated!

#survivor

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