Best pre-Hidden Immunity Idol blindsides in Survivor history

Best pre-Idol blindsides in Survivor history- No. 2: John (Marquesas, Season 4)

Is there a more iconic image in the early seasons of Survivor than John standing under the waterfall after Boston Rob was booted? John was convinced that he had won Marquesas at that stage of the game and he and his alliance weren’t shy about it.

During a challenge that involved answering questions and then chopping coconuts of fellow contestants, the Rotu 4 got a little too big for their britches. They revealed the pecking order down the line and that obviously didn’t sit well with the remaining contestants.

Sean and Vecepia were able to persuade Kathy, Neleh, and Paschal to flip the script on the Rotu 4 and that’s exactly what transpired. John was the first to get taken out and he was completely shocked, so much to the point that he cried in his final words. This blindside was one of the best to ever occur on the show and was really the first true shift of power in Survivor history. It needs to be discussed more often.

Best pre-Idol blindsides in Survivor history- No. 1: Leann (Vanuatu, Season 9)

It was close, but Leann’s blindside in Survivor: Vanuatu is the best to take place in the pre-Idol era of the show. Not only that, but it could definitely be considered one of the best blindsides ever on Survivor.

Vanuatu was a season that divided the contestants by gender and it remained that way throughout the season. Leann was right in the thick of that, as she and Ami led a ruthless women’s alliance that took out any man that dared get in their way. Well, except for one.

Chris, the eventual winner of Survivor: Vanuatu, was able to get Eliza to align with him, Scout, and Twila (which was a huge move considering how much Eliza and those two women hated each other), and together, the four of them took out Leann. It was a shocking vote that shook up the game and paved the way for Chris to make it to the end and ultimately win the game.

Leann’s blindside sent ripples through the game and totally changed the outcome of Vanuatu. She’d have easily been in the finals had it not been for this massive shift of alliances.

What were your favorite blindsides that took place before the Hidden Immunity Idol was implemented?