Upon the premiere of the penultimate episode ofSurvivor 48,the latest twist for whichSurvivorfans can vote to influence the upcomingSurvivor 50season has been revealed: hidden immunity idols are at stake, and fans and viewers alike will have a chance to decide whether they make an appearance or not duringSurvivor 50.
Hidden immunity idols have been part of everySurvivorseason since their induction inSurvivor: Guatemalain 2005. Gary Hogeboom was the first person inSurvivor's history to find an idol, and he later used it to save himself from being voted out. While idols have evolved throughout the years, they have certainly become one of the show's best ideas/twists, giving players and fans unforgettable moments.
As previously said, on May 14, Mike Bloom revealed inParadethat the last "In the Hands of the Fans" category will come down to fans deciding whether to include idols inSurvivor 50. Other voting categories have included deciding between colors forSurvivorbuffs, the design of the immunity necklaces, for players to have starting supplies, having a tribe swap, the number of advantages in the game, and whether to include the controversial Final-Four fire-making twist.
There's an argument to be made on whether including or leaving out idols fromSurvivorcould be a great idea. On the one hand, idols have cemented epic strategic moves (flashback to "Wentworth does not count" back inSurvivor Cambodia); they are incentives for fluid gameplay that can be used to save a player at the bottom when they're against a majority alliance, they can also be used as a threat against other people's plans to create enough chaos, and even fake ones have managed to lead to a blindside or two.
On the other hand, having no idols and even no advantages in the game can allowSurvivorto go back to what it was during its first 10 seasons, where players entirely relied on their social games and alliances to save each other from elimination. It could also be an interesting change of pace and lead to potentially surprising new strategic opportunities, as no Hail Marys would come into play for anyone's benefit. Plus, an Advantage-geddon 2.0 would be avoided, which makes having a season with no idols already an intriguing idea.
Even if idols are taken out of the game, some semblance of advantage could still be introduced forSeason 50's players, especially as this season will undoubtedly have a stacked cast of members many won't like to see depart too soon. Only time will tell whether we will see aSurvivor: All-Starssituation with no idols or aSurvivor: Winners at Waradvantage-fest one. I'm personally hoping for an in-between scenario.
The vote will open as soon as the 12th episode ofSurvivor 48airs at 8:00 p.m. ET, so don't miss your chance to voice your opinion and become part ofSurvivor's next significant milestone. Honestly, 2026 can't come soon enough forSurvivorfans.
Add us as a preferred source onGoogle