Survivor: How keeping the Final 4 twist impacts returning players

While it seemed like an off-the-cuff addition, Survivor season 35’s Final 4 twist heading to future seasons has a long-term impact on possible returnee winners.

I know, I know, I’ve talked about the Final 4 twist of Survivor Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers way too much as it is. However, for Jeff Probst and the show’s production to fundamentally change how the finale episode works in any season is worth discussing as much as the Final Tribal Council format changed in Game Changers.

While I’ve looked at how things would shake up if the twist didn’t happen, I clearly was looking too backward into its implications. I thought about how this change would affect previous seasons’ results, but in that scenario, it’s hard to gauge all the factors implied with dramatically altering the Final 4 as a surprise before the Final Tribal Council.

What we should be thinking about is how it will affect players going forward, especially for returnees.

After Devon Pinto was eliminated from Survivor season 35, the live reunion cut to Jeff Probst interviewing him and talking about his game. Despite dragging on the finale for wayyyyyy too long, one moment right before going to commercial may have a crucial clue about how Survivor is played going forward. “In case you were wondering, that Final 4 twist is not a one-off’; that is a part of the show,” Probst declared. “So you can expect to see it again next season.”

Granted, Survivor Ghost Island was filmed roughly three weeks after Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers was filmed, and roughly five months before Probst made that statement on stage. It very well could be a twist that is dropped as early as season 37 but considering that Jeff sees it as an antidote to the problem of the strongest player unanimously being voted out at the Final 4, it could very well be an ongoing strategy.

Many who were upset with the twist (including yours truly) weren’t upset over the fact that it happened, more so it was how it was a secret that the players didn’t know beforehand and couldn’t plan around. I think it’s an interesting dynamic for newbie seasons, and cannot wait to see how it comes into effect at the Final 4 in Ghost Island.

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However, should that Final 4 rule change continue beyond that, it got me thinking about all the great players who fell just short of a Final Tribal Council. Cirie Fields has been in the finale episode three times, yet she comes up just short due to her inability to win Immunity or hide her strategic threat level (or didn’t win one of five idols). The same thing goes for Keith Nale, although he’s had a more reserved, low-key gameplay that coasts on his charisma and social play. Rob Cesternino is one of the best strategic players in the game, but he’s too ingrained in the community now and too strategic to not be cut at the Final 4 (even if he would probably do well up until then).

However, should Survivor have another all-returnee season, all those players who have come up just short now have an extra chance at redemption. This Final 4 twist would present the opportunity where a player who would never be given a chance to sit at the Final Tribal Council would be able to compete for their way to the end should they make the Final 4.

Next: Survivor Winners: Ranking All 34 Sole Survivors By Season

Who knows; we now could foresee a player on par with Kelley Wentworth, Eddie Fox or Cirie Fields take home the million-dollar prize with this Final 4 twist on a Survivor returnee season! That, or likely an under-the-radar player will adopt the strategic play of the winner of their season in order to take home the prize on their second time out on the island.

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