Survivor since 2000: Reliving the game’s greatest moments year by year

Survivor 2013: SHE VOTED OUT HER MOM!

Perhaps the most underrated change to the Survivor formula was the pairing up of family members to face off against each other in Blood vs. Water. Quickly, though, partnered players were recognized as huge threats, as players on one tribe would often target players to hurt loved ones on the other tribe.

Eventually, though, partners teamed up on swaps and at the merge, placing targets on duos’ backs. Ciera Eastin actually had a strong standing in the game, and her veteran player mother, Laura, was dragging her game down. As it became clearer that the two of them together posed a threat to Tyson’s alliance, Tyson made the noble effort to let Ciera know she didn’t need to follow tribal lines in Laura’s elimination.

Instead of laying down, Ciera did the hardest thing she thought she’d do and told her mom she’d have to vote to send her home. Ultimately, she did, showing how much of a gamer she was in playing up her social gameplay. It was a touching moment on a season where emotions were high.