Survivor is one of the longest-running reality television series on American TV. They have completed 48 seasons and over 25 years of filming, with at least a filming promise from CBS through season 52. With that many seasons in the book, there have been quite a lot of celebrations, winning moments, and iconic and memorable scenarios over the years.
With the Fourth of July on Friday and the long weekend ahead, there is a lot of time to binge-watch some of the most iconic seasons in Survivor history. While it could be easy to simply pick the five "best" or "most popular/loved" seasons. Given that Independence Day is about, well, independence, but also celebration, unification, love, family, friends, and even the tradition of fireworks, this weekend may be best served by binge-watching some of the seasons that best fit these themes.
With that preface, let's examine the five seasons that most match these different themes and get our binge-watching on! Remember, all seasons of Survivor are available to stream on Paramount+.
1. Survivor: Blood vs. Water (Season 27) - Love, Family, and Friends
If we are talking about the theme of family and love, there is no other season that we could binge-watch than Survivor: Blood vs. Water. For the first time, this season featured players who had played the game previously competing with loved ones by their side. Or at least, that was the expectation, until they found out they were on opposite tribes. The dynamics brought some of the most compelling narratives in the series' history. Can love conquer all?
For an added bonus, those who want a sixth season could also binge the second Blood vs. Water-themed season, San Juan Del Sur, for additional family and loved one-based competition, this time with an entirely newbie cast.
2. Survivor Borneo (Season 1) - Unification
Survivor Borneo was the very first season of Survivor, and the season that solidified the show as a bona fide hit, one that only grew in the following season.
Players on the season are the pioneers. There were essentially no rules, no expectations, no strategies, and no ideas on what fans would want to see. In many ways, they were like the original pilgrims who came to the United States. These castaways were completely unified in the ultimate goal of establishing an entirely new entity. Bring it back to where it all started!
3. Survivor Gabon (Season 17) - Fireworks
Long-time fans of the show may highlight Survivor: Gabon as one of the lowest-rated seasons of all time, so why is it worth binge-watching? For one, I would argue Gabon is not a bad season, just a polarizing one; perhaps as polarizing as the cast itself.
The cast played emotionally, they played messy, and they had absolutely no problem speaking their mind, and in turn, blowing up at each other. Fireworks and heated and iconic speeches, were in plenty all season long. If ever there was an explosive season, this is it.
4. Survivor: David vs. Goliath (Season 37) - Independence
The theme of Survivor: David vs. Goliath is not, upon first glance, independence. That being said, back when the country was declaring independence from the UK, it was very much a David vs. Goliath moment, in which the David ultimately came out the victor. In the same sense, Survivor 37 became a battle of the big guys versus the little guys, and quickly shot itself up to one of the highest-rated seasons ever.
And, much like US History, a David came out on top, not only in the final moments but by running through a gauntlet of four other Goliaths to get there.
5. Survivor: Winners at War (Season 40) - Celebration
If ever there is a season that represents a true celebration, it is Survivor: Winners at War. A collection of some of the best Survivor players of all time, all of whom won at least one previous season, is a celebration unto itself. But the producers leaned into this as well, with music, with editing, and with overall production value.
Jeff Probst made it clear he wanted the players to celebrate one of the most iconic seasons in all of reality television, and this could be felt through the screen for all viewers. Cue up the lights, noisemakers, and cheering!
More from Surviving Tribal: