Yes, we all know that our favorite CBS reality competition series is reaching the incredible milestone of 50 seasons. Survivor 50 has been filmed, and some of the cast have been posting on social media again and are already talking about season 50 like it's the next one that will be on our screens!
But lest we forget that mere weeks before this titanic battle, 18 new castaways were duking it out in Fiji and have created what might be just as exciting a season of television. While we're all excited about the possibilities of Survivor's 50th season, I'm sure the cast of Survivor 49 would like us all to give their season a shot and show it some love.
So, I shared three reasons why we should really care about Survivor 49 and its potential impacts on the anniversary spectacular season that will follow it.
1. The Cast
The most tangible impact Survivor 49 will bring is its new crop of players. We already know that two players from 49 will be appearing on Survivor 50. There's a chance that one of the greatest/most important players in the history of Survivor is part of this cast! I mean, look at Rupert Boneham's back-to-back appearances on Pearl Islands/All-Stars or the Russell Hantz show on Samoa/Heroes vs. Villains. Even 49 seasons in, new legends could be born, and we don't even know their name(s) yet! So as we watch this cast battle it out, let's enjoy the new names that might be soon added to the Survivor pantheon, even if they aren't the ones specifically on Survivor 50.
2. Game Structure/Design
Ever since Survivor started their "filming two seasons back to back" model, you can see numerous examples of seasons that, in terms of look/feel/game design, can be put into pairs. Be it challenges, Tribal Council, reward locations, etc, the vibes of Survivor 50 could definitely be teased at in 49. I also wouldn't at all be surprised if production used 49 as a testing ground for some potential Survivor 50 ideas. Think about how Survivor: Edge of Extinction ended up essentially being a proof of concept to use "The Edge" in Winners at War. And in the new era, there's been an increase in bringing back ideas from the first season filmed in the cycle to see how a second cast reacts to those parameters (seasons 41/42 were the clearest example of this). Don't be surprised if some of Survivor 49's best ideas get implemented into Survivor 50 as well.
3. The end of the "New Era"?
Jeff Probst has always described the 40s as Survivor's "New Era." It's been an era of throwing all kinds of new ideas at the wall and seeing what sticks in this 26-day version of the game we know and love. Yet, if the online fanbase has been any indication, it seems very little of the production's new ideas have stuck. While CBS's focus on diversity has led to some top-notch casting, and ideas such as the Shot in the Dark have become established parts of the current game, other ideas have fallen apart and have greatly upset the fan base. Be it the hourglass twist, "do or die," players losing their votes when they didn't have any say in if they wanted to risk that vote, etc., it feels like Survivor production has taken some of the worst instincts from Big Brother's "expect the unexpected" motto and sometimes turned a game of relationships and social politics into island Russian Roulette. And I'd much rather watch the former of those two. The good thing is that Survivor has been willing to listen to their fans and say, "That didn't work." And more recent seasons have turned down the chaos factor a good chunk. With Survivor supposedly putting the 50th season "in the hands of the fans," there's a good chance we see a more stripped-down season in terms of advantage and idol mayhem, and more focus on the legendary players and the game THEY decide to play. All this to say, 49 might be the final season of this "new era" philosophy. In a post-Survivor 50 world, I could see Survivor shifting its focus once more. Where will this shift lead us? Who knows. But if 41 was the dawn of the new era, 49 might be the dusk. So be ready to possibly say goodbye to this version of Survivor after the 49th Sole Survivor is crowned.
Stay tuned for more news about Survivor 49 and Survivor 50!