Survivor: Edge of Extinction’s episode 1 marooning has hidden secrets

As revealed in part of a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Survivor: Edge of Extinction episode 1, EW reveals secrets that will affect the game.

Warning: This post will discuss the making of the opening minutes of Survivor: Edge of Extinction episode 1, up to (and the creation of) the marooning.

Though the Survivor: Edge of Extinction preseason press period has been shorter than it’s ever been before, that hasn’t stopped people who were on location from going all out in their coverage. ET Canada has been helpful with their in-depth interviews with members of the cast, as well as providing an overall behind-the-scenes look. Josh Wigler offered up his excellent “First One Out” podcast, talking at length with the new and returning players.

However, nothing written up about Survivor: Edge of Extinction goes so into the weeds as Dalton Ross’ behind-the-scenes look at the final hours of pre-production for season 38. He provided an itemized, oral history-esque timeline of the final preparations for the opening marooning, showing the insane amount of work put into pulling it off by production.

Day 1 starts at 2:45 a.m. local time for the players, as they are checked for wardrobes and possible smuggling of items before taking portrait shots for press images and taken to the boat set for the opening moments of the show. Meanwhile, production switched the boat they used, rotated the direction, are fixing last-minute changes and setting up audio in minutes for what usually takes hours.

It’s a long, harrowing read that details a lot about the show audiences at home don’t think about often, but there are also teases for what we’ve come to expect. For example, there’s not just one secret advantage at this marooning, but there are two. One of them is for the tribe’s benefit with a contraption releasing canned food underneath the boat. The other is a clue, which makes the intricacies of placing advantages on the islands a challenge of its own.

There’s a lot more covered in Dalton Ross’ piece, so make sure you have the time to read through it fully to appreciate just how much effort has been poured into this show by the hundreds working on it.