Survivor has been on for 48 seasons and counting. Over that time, fans have gotten to watch players compete in some iconic challenges, such as the Survivor auction, as well as participate in some truly exceptional rewards. I mean, who can forget the car curse from the earlier seasons? However, possibly the most impactful reward, outside of the actual loved one visits from the previous eras, is the letters from home.
Letters from home matter to Survivor castaways more than just about any other reward. Having the peace of mind and comfort of knowing your family is okay and that they are thinking of you, after having been isolated for such a period of time, is both highly emotional and highly rejuvenating for the players.
Oftentimes, though, many players do not get to receive their loved one's letters on the show. The letters are offered as rewards for winning a challenge, with many variations of the mechanics being implemented over the years. It has always begged the question: What happens to the letters that players do not get to read on the show?
Jeff Probst answers the burning letters from home question
On this week's episode of On Fire, the official Survivor podcast, the very question of letters from home was brought up, given that the challenge that earned players their letters occurred on the previous episode of Survivor 48. Jeff Probst was asked directly what happens to the letters that are not won on the show. His answer gives fans a lot of insight into the behind-the-scenes action that we do not typically get to see or be privy to.
Jeff acknowledged that the castaways do eventually see the notes.
"Yes, we give them to the players at the end of the season. Lots of times, we will give them to a player after they're voted out and they're at Ponderosa as a way to help heal the sadness and also remind them that they're going to be home soon."
Rachel LaMont also chimed in, as a former Survivor player and Survivor 47 winner, who did not win the letters from home reward challenge.
"Yeah, I got mine the day after the game ended, and I was a hysterical mess for probably about an hour. So you know, not ugly crying on national TV was a small, small consolation for not getting to go on that reward."
Fans can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the heartfelt letters families write out and send in do not go unnoticed or unappreciated. No matter when the Survivor player gets them, they are still a meaningful and cherished item that they can carry with them for the rest of their life as a reminder of the adventure they undertook, and the love they have supporting them at home.
One way or another, all the castaways have received their loved ones' letters after the filming ended for Survivor 48.