Survivor is one of the most successful reality television franchises of all time. It has already produced 48 seasons, over the last 25 years, with no end in sight and a popularity that remains strong in a slowing broadcast television climate. Over the years, what has made the series so successful is the fact that, despite the same basic premise, every season is completely different.
While the main reason for this is the cast, as the players drive the social interactions, strategies, exciting moves, etc., it is not the only reason. Older seasons had themes, whether location-based or twist-based or both. The producers have thrown different formats, twists, and advantages at the players. All of these elements add up to wildly different experiences for players and viewers from season to season.
As such, it stands to reason that some seasons would be more popular than others. Some are nearly universally accredited, such as Micronesia, Heroes vs. Villains, China, David vs. Goliath, and Cagayan. Others are nearly universally disliked, such as Thailand, Redemption Island, Ghost Island, Island of the Idols, and One World.
The rest that don't fit either category land somewhere in the middle, and have their fair share of proponents and detractors. We just recently discussed those that do not get as much recognition as they should have earned. The flip side, of course, is the seasons that get recognition above where they actually should.
These are the seasons that get highly rated, maybe due to nostalgia, isolated, memorable moments, or certain favorite cast members. The reality of these seasons is that they can still be good, but when looked at objectively, they are more towards the middle than fans may lead you to believe. Which three most directly fit this description?
1. Survivor: Tocantins
Tocantins is one of the best examples of a cast making a season, maybe of any in Survivor history. There was a collection of incredibly iconic players, from Coach Wade to Tyson to Fishbach to eventual winner J.T. to Taj to Erinn to Sierra. The list keeps going on. This, however, is precisely why it is overrated.
Once you get past the cast, there is really nothing else interesting about the season. In fact, it is quite boring. The location was not very interesting, there was nothing particularly enthralling with twists, and the strategy itself was pretty non-existent outside of the dominant J.T. and Fishbach duo. The cast carried, but in the end, the season was still fairly boring when looked at from the outside.
2. Survivor: Kaoh Rong
It appears more and more of the fanbase is coming around to this opinion on Kaoh Rong. First, let's start with the positives. The cast had a lot of highlights, including a brilliant strategist in Aubry, a fan favorite in Tai, a lovable challenge beast in Cydney, and a social winner in Michele, although many rank her as one of the less deserving winners (I personally do not subscribe to this belief).
In the end, it is actually the location that brings this season down the most. It is not that the location was boring, but rather that it was unbelievably brutal and unforgiving. Most fans will remember Kaoh Rong as the season where three different players collapsed in a challenge, leading to one of the most dramatic moments in the show's history. But, three different players (out of 18) ultimately were removed from the season medically, which entirely disrupted the flow and enjoyment of the season.
3. Survivor: Australian Outback
This choice may surprise some people. The truth is, the Australian Outback was very early on in the show's history, so it has to be judged from that lens. Obviously, twists, strategy, and gameplay were all at the very early stages of development, and production value was just beginning to formulate. That said, it had several great and iconic moments, including the first terrifying medical emergency of the series, our first finale winner in Tina, and the birth of the "Black Widow" female villain in Jerri Manthey.
It was a foundation upon which the show has built since, and deserves praise for that and its success at the time of its release. What makes it so overrated is how the cast has been looked at since that time. The season has had representation in over half the seasons that brought back returnees, including every all-returnee season, and this includes the upcoming Survivor 50. The cast was fine, but it simply was not memorable enough to get this kind of repeated attention.
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