There have been many iterations of hidden immunity idols over the history of the show since its introduction in Survivor: Guatemala. From Super Idols to the latest Billie Eilish Boomerang Idol, we’ve already seen a few twists on the classic format that didn’t quite live up to expectations. But in recent seasons, immunity idols have rarely been seen, especially in a way that impacted the game.
There used to be a time when idols were gathered and played left-and-right in order to keep players active participants in the vote—even if they’re on the bottom or the outs—by giving them a way to stay in the game or shakeup where the votes actually land.
I was talking about the evolution of the hidden immunity idol with some of my fellow Super Fan friends and we all agreed there are two main issues with the current format:
1. Idols have too long an expiration date
As we’ve now seen two seasons in a row with Rizo Velovic, when the idol expires at the Final 5, it’s fairly easy for players to hold onto it, using it as an excuse for people not to vote them out, but never actually using it to dictate the game or change the outcome of votes. Idol play like that is super exciting for fans at home to watch—we love blindsides and keeping players on their toes.
If idols were given a shorter expiration date—possibly tied to gameplay risks that allow the player to expand the idol’s length—they have the potential to be ticking time bombs. No one wants to let an idol go unused, so a shorter playability in the game could encourage players to use their idols to make big moves.
An idol that’s found at camp and only can be used at their next Tribal Council could be a saving grace for that player. Or if they don’t feel the need to use it, there can be a risk associated with extending its life. Similar to when Sabiyah Broderick in Survivor 45 opted to give up her vote at Tribal Council in order to give her idol a few more days of validity only to be blindsided and sent home that very night.
But it doesn’t always have to be giving up a vote. We loved the heart-pounding moment Kelley Wentworth had to sneakily secure an idol in the middle of a challenge on Survivor: Cambodia. More in-the-open risks make for a much more dynamic and out there game that fans love to watch.
2. The “Beware Advantage” element of idol hunting isn’t as difficult as it could be
After the “Beware Advantage” was introduced back in Survivor 41, it really upped the game of idol hunting—making the reward come with a risk. But for the most part, the risks weren’t really that big of risks to take in order to secure the idol. The biggest risk of course being the fact that you lose your vote until you possess the idol, but that’s only actually happened once.
In Survivor 41, at the beginning of the “Beware Advantage” era, the twist was that players had to deliver a certain phrase when all tribes were present and the idol would only unlock if both other tribes delivered their phrase as well. But despite Xander Hastings accepting the “Beware Advantage,” neither of the other tribes found their phrases before Xander had to attend his first Tribal Council and he lost his vote.
Since then, the “Beware Advantage” has always been solved in time for a player’s first Tribal Council, but we think they should bring back the more difficult challenges—the ones that require teamwork or time to complete. Immunity is a huge reward, we need to increase the risk it takes to get it this far into the series. Like how idols used to come with clues, but eventually productions stopped providing them because players didn’t need them anymore.
The game and the players have evolved over the last 15 years, the twists and advantages should, too.
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