Thoughts on Survivor 41 (FINALE + WINNER SPOILERS)

This is a quick and less formal video that sums up my thoughts on Survivor 41 and its winner/finale. I also give an update about the next part in my Old School Survivor documentary series.

This video covers my thoughts on the cast (Erika, Shan, Ricard, Xander, Liana, Deshaun, Danny, Evvie, Tiffany, Heather, Sydney, etc.), the season's editing, the season's many twists (Do or Die, Smash the Hourglass, Risk Your Vote, Knowledge is Power), and the Final Four fire-making challenge.

Survivor new season
Survivor 42 first boot
Survivor 42 quit
Survivor 42 review

[razbuten]

I think that Shan and Ricard being interesting and fun players to watch mixed with the fact that they had SO much screen time in the first half because they were always at tribal, really ended up skewing the edit in that direction, and while it made for REALLY great TV, it came at the cost of giving Erika the edit she deserved. Like, the first half, we got a few conversations where Luvu was like "we need to vote out Erika because she is dangerous" but I remember thinking how weird of a thought that was because she literally was never on screen. Definitely wish we would have gotten more balance.

All in all, I really liked this season due to the strength of the cast; it is amazing that despite Jeff and production doing everything they can to take the focus off of the players and on to the twists, that the players still find a way to shine through. I do think it is important to try to bring new ideas and life to the game, but they so often throw too much at the wall and present stuff that doesn't even present an interesting choice. I get the sense that 42 will be about the same, but I really hope that they pull back a bit moving forward.

[marcusrex]

XANDER SHOULD HAVE WON!!!!
1. He made a move at Tribal where he saved Tiffany. He gave his idol to Tiffany. And then he duped Ilana into using her advantage... and he gave her a fake idol. That move alone, will go down in Survivor History.
2. He showed that he cared about others when he gave won his challenge, but then he gave up his reward to let all of his
cast-mates eat rice for 3 days.
3. He had a chance to save Ricard, but he didnt. Ricard was the best challenger in the game, thus he allowed Ricard to go.
4. He strategically used Ricard as a shield.
5. He had a good social game. And yes a social game does matter. Because in the past Russel, who was the best Survivor, did not win and a weakling laying flat person won instead. If Russel had any kind of a social game, then he would have won, twice.

** I REST MY CASE **

[JokrzGrinn]

Huh... I didn't think this cast was all that good. There was a few good players/personalities/characters, but overall I thought the cast was kinda boring.

[rogersmith]

I've watched every season of Survivor but gotta say this season has kind of turned me off a bit. The entire season seemed to be less about the game and more about the contestants being diverse and sensitive and focusing a lot on social issues. Don't get me wrong, I'm very openminded but I watch Survivor for the entertainment of watching cut-throat game playing like we've had in past seasons. Not really looking to be drawn into a discussion on systemic racism and people's feelings in their regular life. I thought the whole thing of Jeff bringing up and someone agreeing that "Come on in guys" was insensitive was just beyond ridiculous.

[sunnyboi]

I'm hoping Survivor 42 will come out a lot better. I think Xander should've gotten some votes considering how well he played the game. And Evvie I think should've been in the final 3 as well. The amount of advantages though seemed a little overbearing then other seasons for sure. Overall I'd say it was like a 6/10. I'm just hoping the next one will be better.

[damienbreitsprecher]

I have to say this was entirely the fault of the editors. Xander should have won according to the edit. However if you read the ponderosa and really look into it, Xander was not seen as a threat at all, he was just there. And he also didn’t know much of what was going on in the game. At FTC they essentially show the real dynamics, Erika was always seen as a threat and Xander was clueless. Don’t be upset with the jury or the winner, this is on the show 100%

[marcusrex]

Shan is too rude to be on more Survivors.
But I can see other people coming back for more seasons.
*But, as for that arrogant Shan... I never ever want to see that bossy and controlling young lady, again.*

[cherryonasundae]

100% they need to get back to the 39 days!!! 26 is way too short and they just try to add too many gimmicks and twists that do not make the game genuine but just seems too fabricated

[willbuck]

Way too many twists. I'm honestly not sure that I can keep watching survivor if the trend continues like this.

[Jonathan-xgqq]

Erika was a great winner - her edit on the other hand, was terrible. The survivor producers talk so much about the importance of gender inclusivity and having diversity but thats not reflected at all in the show's history of editing their female winners - this season included unfortunately.

[craigneeve]

Three tribes over a shorter timeframe was a mistake

[shesjustafrienduhhafriend]

I thing that annoyed me this season is that the challenges felt shorter and less harder then they used to be which should be a good thing but it felt of atleast to me I don’t maybe it was just me

[SteveA]

Yeah, I've never seen so many openly racist and sexist people. I knew when I saw the jury that Xander didn't have a chance. He didn't get a single vote, even though he should have won in a landslide.

Australian Survivor is way better than the American version. People can see for themselves, it’s now available on Paramount Plus. The contestants are way more likable and they actually have to fight and struggle. Plus the challenges are so inventive and refreshing. It feels like the American one just uses the same ones over and over again.

[hmmm]

I love the fire building at the end. It helps to even the playing field. Malcolm would have ruled at fire building.
I didn’t love the cast. Xander was amazing…as was Erika. Liana and Shan were just mean girls. So glad they were voted off. I thought the cast had too many mean people. Didn’t matter what Xander did, he was never going to win because of the rest of the cast.

[Caesarsalad]

I disliked all the social justice conversations… I wished they would just focus on the game. I already feel like I didn’t get to see much strategy and that took even more of it away.

I also miss better reward challenges, and think challenges would have been better if they had food

[robtheservantof]

It's been like 3 weeks and I'm still baffled Xander got no votes😂😂 like bro, not even 1

[Dylan-fbcy]

This season was SUPER underwhelming. Lame winner, too many advantages, bad twists, and focusing more on sob stories and social antics then strategy and gameplay

[RyanCaravana]

I love the fact that season 41 is less predictable….. and not the same crap as previous seasons….

[SCme]

*The only problems I had with the rewards and twists:*
1. The steal a vote/idol/advantage was too powerful.
2. The penalty for some was too large - at most, announce by reading a line at a challenge, or lose your ability to vote at next tribal council.
3. Too many in play at the same time - all pre-merge advantages/idols should expire at final 12 or final 11, with new ones planted.
4. Of course you break the hourglass to give yourself immunity, this was stupid.
5. I don't like the split at 12 - let the tribes merge and new alliances form before introducing the risk they get split.

*I do like:*
6. Split at 10/9, allowing a minority alliance to close the gap.
7. Do or Die at 7 allows a last chance for a minority alliance to come back. Example - 1 wins immunity, another wins do or die, 3rd person plays idol or wins shot in the dark, ...or... someone from majority loses do or die, narrowing to 3-3 at 6.
8. Shot in the dark, the most underutilized option.
9. Extra vote (though they were wasted here).
10. Final 4 fire making is the ultimate even playing field challenge.

[myview]

Dont like how ricards projects and claims himself as the best! Duh! Wait for others to say that about you, ricard.