As the Survivor showrunner, Jeff Probst has overseen a variety of twists, turns, and changes in the series' history. Whether for the better or the worse, Jeff has never been one to shy away from trying new concepts or bringing back old ones that created an engaging dynamic between the castaways.
One such twist from previous seasons was brought back on episode 8 of Survivor 48, where the cast was told in treemail that they had to divide into partner pairs before arriving at the immunity challenge. Each player had their approach on how to best find a partner, and when the dust settled, partners had to work together to get to the late stages before facing off against each other for immunity.
It is a compelling Survivor dynamic to watch play out from home. Jeff explained his thoughts and why the twist is so interesting and exciting to watch on this week's episode of On Fire, the official Survivor podcast.
Jeff weighs in on social dynamics and strategy
On the most recent Survivor podcast with Jeff Probst, the group discussed many different factors and thought processes behind the game dynamics from the show. Jeff explained how much he loves the twist of dividing tribes into pairs before the challenge, and there were a few specific reasons he gave for why it is such a good twist for the show.
First, Jeff talks about the dynamic at play on this specific episode. When Chrissy Sarnowsky wanted to choose the partners randomly, Joe Hunter took exception to that. Joe said, "I am trying to force that dial so I can start picking apart alliances."
For Survivor producers, that moment was gold.
Jeff explained further that he loved that dynamic so much because it became a memorable and impactful moment in the game. As Jeff says, the question becomes, "Who am I going to choose to be my partner, and equally important, who are you all looking at choosing because this is a big, big turning point in the game again?"
Jeff continues on to say that the twist works because it can change the story in the game up to that point. It shakes the social dynamics up a bit.
"Who do you choose to be your partner? That question has stakes. No matter who you choose, it has consequences. Do I prioritize my alliance partner... or do I choose someone else because my alliance partner is a liability in challenges?"
Jeff also says that no matter what the season or what is going on at the time, is that the twist and format work not just on Survivor 48, but any season it is applied to.
"It always works. It is the same fundamental dilemma. What is best for me?"
That question is at the heart of every Survivor decision, and the choice can have long-term ramifications for a player's specific gameplay.
Rachel Lamont chimes in and gives the player perspective
Rachel LaMont, who co-hosts On Fire with Jeff Probst, added her two cents to the competition and twist as well, thinking about the format from both a player's view and a person sitting at home watching it play out. Rachel shared that she enjoys the twist.
As Rachel puts it, the game twists are at their best when decisions are known by the players. It adds an open dynamic to a game full of secrets. As she puts it, "People are forced to make a choice publicly. You are forced to show your hand."
That public display can affect how others view you, one way or another.
In episode 8 of Survivor 48, this dilemma is presented, and each player has a very different strategy on it. David Kinne chose Chrissy as his partner, for example, because he was hoping to obscure his alliance with Kamilla Karthigesu. Others went straight to their closest alliance members and possibly exposed them as a duo. Chrissy wanted to divide randomly.
Each of these strategies has its merits, with pros and cons in all scenarios. The key is not what the right and wrong strategies are, but how the players view each choice. It brings a layer into the game that may not have been exposed otherwise. It gets players thinking and observing. And those observations can bring a key change to the game, as some players realize where they, or others, stand.
Jeff introduces a lot of twists and turns into the show each season, and some work while others just seem to make the game more unbalanced or chaotic. Sure, chaos can be interesting to watch at times, but it also changes the game and the true nature of Survivor, which is the social dynamic and aspect of the game.
That is what makes this twist so great and worth revisiting. It does not take away the social dynamic and element, but actually enhances and exposes it for the players and the world to see. That is the root of the game, it is a social experiment. Any twist that puts that to the test is perfect for the show, and this twist is one of them. Hopefully, he continues to bring it back moving forward, because it is enjoyable for the viewers and challenging for the players. Just how we like it.