Many Survivor fans believe that the show relies on an overabundance of idols, advantages and twists. Ghost Island paying homage to the past should be different.
IfSurvivorin 2017 gave us any indication of the show, it’s that CBS and Jeff Probst are in love with dynamic, twisty gameplay that has fans on the edge of their seats. That means that Secret Advantages, Hidden Immunity Idols, one-round bonuses and long-term options are going to be prevalent going forward.
To me, the sheer number of advantages in modernSurvivorhas brought the game dangerously close to a hide-and-seek adventure over a competition about social dynamics and elevated gameplay. Hell, a guyidoled his way into the Final Tribal Councilafter the final twist ofHeroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlersallowed him to compete in a forced, non-optional fire-making challenge.
When I first heard aboutSurvivor Ghost Islandand its premise of bringing 20 players onto an island and subject them to the mistakes and misplays of players from past seasons, I had a mixed reaction. Having 20 players in a season makes for rushed gameplay on its own, and throwing more gameplay items into the mix will draw away focus from the characters and emphasize more on its tools.
Related Story: Survivor: Ranking all 34 seasons
That was all beforeI saw the trailerforSurvivor Ghost Island.After watching it, I knew that there is an opportunity for CBS to present its advantages in a new light without making them feel familiar; they would respect the history of its show and the players who made it so intensely watchable for 35 seasons.
Just from the intro to the preview alone, you can see how CBS pays homage to its past seasons. Logos from pastSurvivorseasons includePearl Islands, All-Stars, Africa, Thailand, The Amazon, Vanuatu, Guatemala, Panama, NicaraguaandChina.Not all of those seasons are top of the minds of fans at home, and I’m surprised that production even remembersGuatemalawas a season that even happened!
More from Ghost Island
- Most memorable moments from Survivor: Ghost Island
- Survivor: Ghost Island DVD set available now on Amazon
- Survivor: David vs. Goliath will start out with stormy weather
- Survivor: David vs. Goliath introduces new idol advantage
- Survivor: David vs. Goliath’s Gabby Pascuzzi already trolling fans
Most importantly, the waySurvivor Ghost Islandis teased comes intrinsically through a variety of big moments inSurvivorhistory, ranging from players’ gameplay, strategic decisions or straight-up embarrassments. These twists, and how they apply to the upcoming season, don’t have an inherent pattern to them besides how memorably bad it went for one player, meaning how they can play in a season filled with redemption opens up to a ton of possibilities.
By doing so,Survivor Ghost Islandwill likely benefit those who are intimately familiar with the show and how such misplays worked in order to counter their effects during the season. With token items, idols, torch snuffers and other memorabilia draping the island, the pressure is on both players and production not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Jeff Probst notes that this will be the first time players have the opportunity “to reverse the curse of some of the worst decisions inSurvivorhistory,” yet also showed the hint of a “Game of Chance” as the first clue of what to expect. The zoom-in on “feeling lucky,” while player quotes talk about not “making the same mistake” and “listening to their gut.”
To me, it seems likeGhost Islandwon’t feed into extra bonuses without a possible consequence, and how that is presented to the players in the audience should be make-or-break on how the “ghost of misplays past” shakes up. The show loves to make players earn their advantages in the game, and similar to howHeroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlersincluded timed bonuses, we could see some players actually be disadvantaged from these twists.
Next: Survivor Winners: Ranking All 34 Sole Survivors By Season
Blending in narrative and gameplay while sprinkling in loving passages toSurvivorlegends,Ghost Island, at the very least, offers a window into the opportunity to please both old school and new school fans of the game. Let’s just hope it works out this time!
Add us as a preferred source onGoogleLoading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations