Worst twists in Survivor history

Worst Twists in Survivor History – Number 3: Edge of Extinction

• First Appearance: Edge of Extinction (Season 38, 2019)

Any time a player has a chance to re-enter the game after being voted out, it’s going to be unpopular amongst the diehard fans of the show. The motto is “Outwit, Outplay, Outlast” and these twists take away the whole “Outlast” part of that motto.

The Edge of Extinction, which originated in the season of the same name, allowed voted out players another shot at making it back into the game and was the worst one yet.

Those voted off would go to the Edge of Extinction until it was time to compete for a chance at winning their way back into the game. There would be two chances for players to try and win their way back in, once at the merge and another at the final five (making them the sixth contestant currently in the game).

Edge of Extinction is controversial for many reasons, but the main being is that it paves the way for someone voted off early in the game to somehow win the season. We saw this in season 38, as Chris Underwood won his way back in at the final five and went on to win the game. Chris was voted off on Day 8 and ended up playing just 12 days of the game itself yet was crowned the winner of Edge of Extinction. 

While he was on the Edge, Chris had the luxury of bonding with the jury, who also had to experience what he was going through and were therefore a little biased when it came to voting. It also gave every single contestant a spot on the jury if they didn’t wave the white flag and that led to some of the jurors never having met the finalists.

Edge of Extinction was brought back for Winners at War – likely due to giving viewers the chance to see their favorite winners throughout the entire season – but it honestly about ruined the entire season. Natalie Anderson, who was the first boot of Winners at War, had a chance to win the season. I repeat – The first boot had a chance to win the entire season!

Winners at War made the Edge an even worse twist with those stranded on the forsaken island having a chance to send advantages (and disadvantages) to players remaining in the game. Winners at War was a good season because the right player won, but had Natalie gone from first boot to winner, it’d have sunk the season tremendously.

Please Survivor – Stop using the Edge of Extinction!