A show that has been on for 48 seasons and counting is bound to have its fair share of emotional moments. Survivor is no exception. The audience has seen a range of different impact events, from heartbreaking stories, to terrifying injuries, to uncomfortable conversations, to stories of inspiration. Each moment can inspire the audience, and humanize the individuals we see on our screens.
With how many moments we have seen over the last 25 years, it can be hard to identify the most emotional moments in Survivor history. Everyone finds different things to relate to. That said, here are six of the most tearjerking moments on camera. Get your tissues ready!
6. Noelle Lambert conquers the balance beam on Survivor 43
This moment went from tragic to inspirational in a flash. Noelle is a Paralympic athlete who had her leg amputated in 2016 after a moped accident. Competing with her prosthetic leg, Noelle was struggling to get across a balance beam at a reward challenge in Survivor 43.
The struggle was causing her to become emotional and highly frustrated. Just when it seemed she was going to give up, she not only made it across the beam but finished and won the challenge. Tears freely flowed from Noelle, and her perseverance became inspiration for us all.
5. "Timber" Tina Scheer makes a memorial for her deceased son on Survivor Panama
Unfortunately, Tina only made it to one episode of Survivor Panama, but she made that appearance impactful. Tina had lost her son in an automobile accident right before she was supposed to be on Survivor Guatemala. At one point in her only episode, we saw Tina go to the beach and sit by the shoreline. Her tribe did not know, but Tina was making a memorial to honor her son. The visual was both powerful and heartbreaking, and that she only lasted one episode made it that much more painful.
4. Caleb Reynolds is medevacked from Survivor: Kaoh Rong
The moment in Survivor Kaoh Rong that saw Caleb get medevacked is one of the scariest moments in Survivor history. At a reward challenge on day 9, castaways were asked to complete a grueling, exhausitng challenge that required them to dig in the sand for what ended up being over an hour.
After the challenge, three separate players fell to the ground and needed medical attention. Through editing, the viewers saw the absolute chaos and emotion of the scene, with every single member of the crew rushing in to offer help, bring shade and water, etc. Tribes stood to the side huddled. In the end, Caleb was medevacked and spent 5 days recovering from heat stroke. His tribe's reaction, especially Tai Trang's, was the final straw to send the tears flowing at home.
3. Cirie Field's reaction to her vote out in Survivor Micronesia
Cirie Fields has become an icon and everyday inspiration in the Survivor and Reality TV community. She is widely considered one of the best players to never win, and her closest shot was on Survivor Micronesia. Cirie is known for being eliminated in unpredictable ways, and this season was no different. After preparing for a final three, Survivor shocked the castaways by announcing it would be a final two that season.
An immunity challenge ensued, where fellow "Black Widow Brigade" alliance member Amanda Kimmel won and voted out Cirie. In Cirie's closing confessional, she rips out viewers' hearts with a painful declaration. In it, she expressed heartbreak and felt like she let her family down and was not meant to win. Even the toughest of us could relate to that moment, and it truly crushed our souls.
2. Eva Erickson gets help from Joe Hunter on Survivor 48
The most current moment on this list, perhaps some will say there is some recency bias in the placement. However, when a moment brings even Jeff Probst to tears for the first time in history, one has to acknowledge to power of the moment. Eva is a perfect example of why representation matters. She embraces her autism, and shows that differences are not weaknesses.
At an immunity challenge in episode 5 of Survivor 48, Eva was struggling to complete a table maze task. The viewers could see her getting more and more visibly overwhelmed, to the point where she was emotionally breaking down. She eventually won the challenge, but she had become over-stimulated and was having trouble calming herself down even with support from her tribe.
This is when Jeff allowed a rule break to send Joe Hunter, a member of a separate tribe after the tribe swap, to come over and console her. This touching moment showed the depth of their connection and the compassion Joe possesses. The interaction inspired Eva to open up about her autism to the cast and brought Jeff to tears as he thought about his own children. The real, raw feelings captured in this moment brought everyone to tears and should act as an inspiration for so many.
1. Adam Klein and Jay Starrett share fears / Adam wins Survivor 33 after losing his mother
This moment has to act as two parts because it sets up the moment that sent everyone into their "ugly cries". During the season of Survivor: Millennials Vs. Gen X, tribemates Adam and Jay shared a touching conversation. While they had a complicated relationship, the two bonded when Adam opened up about his sick mother. Both expressed their fears of losing loved ones, and it strengthened their connection.
This moment would have been emotional as is, but then we fast-forward to the finale. Adam Klein is voted winner of the season. At this reunion, he announced, through tears, that his mother passed away just two days after the show had ended. This reveal tore apart the hearts of the fans watching, and truly humanized the love Adam had for his mother. Given the tragic loss and the inspiration Adam gained from his mother, this moment has to be the most powerful in the show's history.
Final Thoughts
In the 48 seasons of Survivor, there are so many more moments that bring up raw emotions for both castaways and viewers. Jeff Varner outing Zeke Smith, Dan Spilo inappropriately touching Kellee Kim, Tina Wesson losing her son, several other medevacs, family visits, Jenna Lewis not receiving a family video, Brett coming out to Zeke, and Cirie making it across the water balance beam all come to mind as well.