Survivor: David vs. Goliath will start out with stormy weather

It’s been a while since Survivor in Fiji provided torrential downpours and difficult living conditions. David vs. Goliath seemingly starts out tough for the players.

I remember watching the beginning of Millennials vs. Gen X with wonder and majesty over the elements. It was the first (and only) time in Survivor history where the tribes had to be evacuated from their beaches due to a hurricane, as they were sent to separate tents at base camp until it was safe to return. Though the elements aren’t as heavy in David vs. Goliath, they will be present early on.

As part of The Hollywood Reporter’s coverage of Survivor: David vs. Goliath, downpours are heavily present throughout the first few days of production in the game. Granted, Josh Wigler wasn’t in Fiji for all 39 days of the game, but it hasn’t been since the Cambodia days where rainfall was a difficult survival challenge for the players.

The hardest part for any starting tribe is finding a groove, building the shelter and adjusting to life without the bare necessities. Adding constant rain to that process is going to be mitigating in a number of ways, chief among them being the freedom to play the game as freely as possible. It’s hard to argue a reason why to search for firewood (looking for idols) if it’s raining on any wood you might need.

When it’s heavily raining, it’s also hard to strategize about who is going home first. Imagine if by Day 3 a tribe has no fire, a derelict shelter, loses the first Immunity Challenge and has little freedom to move around and strategize due to everyone huddling together for warmth? It makes for less interesting television overall, too, as you’re not getting to see groups of players partner up.

Hopefully, it doesn’t last for too long, but it does make the beginning of David vs. Goilath a fair bit more intriguing. We could see an early game without finding a bunch of advantages and idols. With a 90-minute opening episode, the producers will find ways to make their extended debut compelling.