If you've watched new episodes of Survivor or read about the show at all over the last few years, you've likely heard the "new era of Survivor" referenced by the show's fearless leader, Jeff Probst. Contestants on CBS's most-watched reality TV series have used the phrase, too, to describe the new seasons of the series.
But, what does it all mean? What is the new era of Survivor, a show that's been around with basically the same format for more than two decades and 40 seasons?
The new era of Survivor begins with Survivor season 41
The new era of Survivor begins in Survivor 41. Survivor: Winners at War, which was the 40th season of the series, brought back many of the winners from previous seasons and marked a turning point in the game.
The new era of Survivor can't exactly be defined, but you know it when you see it. Mostly, it's a soft reboot of the show that premiered on May 31, 2000, after Winners at War. Survivor was also delayed for more than one year during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the show finally returned, the game had changed.
Probst shared what the new era means in an interview with Parade. He said the new era is:
"a faster, more dangerous and much more intense game. We really leaned into having fun with this season and the best kind of Survivor fun is the dangerous kind."
According to The New York Times, Probst and CBS were planning to make changes in season 41 before the pandemic, so it was more of a coincidence that the game changed after the COVID-19 break.
There are a few major changes to Survivor's new era from the first 40 seasons of the show.
What's different about the new era of Survivor?
To casual fans, the changes in Survivor's new era are not that noticeable. We're still seeing a group of about 20 contestants venturing out an island to compete for $1 million and the title of Sole Survivor. There are still reward challenges, immunity challenges, hidden immunity idols, and tribal council. One player, for the most part, is eliminated every episode. That all remains the same.
There are also unique wrinkles that Probst and the creators are working into the game. That's not part of the new era, in my opinion, because the game evolved so many times and in so many different ways over 40 seasons. It's worth mentioning, though, that the game keeps evolving with the advantages, penalties (lost votes), and more.
Those changes are much more subtle, but true Survivor fans know it changed everything.
1. The new era features shorter seasons
Originally, seasons of Survivor were 39 days, with a little bit of variance. Since the new era began in season 41, the seasons are only 26 days. It's a shorter, faster season. There's less of an emphasis on literally surviving the elements and more emphasis on the gameplay, less time between challenges, and tribal councils. It's definitely more chaotic.
2. There are no more themed seasons
Since the new era started, the seasons are styled as "Survivor 45," "Survivor 46," etc. There are no more themed seasons like Survivor: Edge of Extinction, Survivor: Redemption Island, Heroes vs. Villains, David vs. Goliath, etc.
The twists and advantages remain, but the tribes are divided by casting rather than a personality type, career, or style of game they plan to play.
3. The game begins with three tribes of six
In the new era, each of the six seasons has started with three tribes of six players. While we've seen that in the past at times, many seasons started with two tribes, usually, of 10 players. Personally, I prefer the three-tribe start for a few reasons. Mainly, it allows the producers wiggle room if one of the tribes is overmatched. As we've seen with Yanu in season 46, they didn't get flint until they won a challenge, which is also a new wrinkle, and they had to fight their way off the bottom to make it to the merge. We also don't see the tribes getting food or many supplies, like they did in the early seasons. They must win the food and supplies as a reward when given the opportunity.
It gets rid of the need for a tribe swap, which can turn the game on its head for no reason other than sowing chaos. The three-tribe start is also much more fair entering the merge. It's not like the tribe with the most players has the immediate advantage anymore, and that's a really good thing. We saw too many seasons, in my opinion, end with chalk votes along tribe lines too long after the merge. It didn't always play out that way, but it did on occasion.
4. There are no returning players (yet)
So far, there haven't been any returning players in the new era. It's not something that I think will last. There are so many fan favorites who the fans want to see return to Survivor. Probst told EW's Dalton Ross that there are no returning players in season 47 or 48, either. We'll have at least eight full seasons of Survivor in the new era before there's the possibility of a returning player joining the cast.
Inevitably, I think the producers are planning for and setting up a new era vs. old school season in, probably, season 50. That's just a prediction. I don't have any inside information, but I would love to see it!
5. The episodes are longer episodes
This isn't about the gameplay, but since Survivor returned following the pandemic and through the writers' and actors' strikes of 2023, the episodes of Survivor have been 90-minute or 120-minute episodes. This is obviously great for fans of the series because we get a much more in-depth look at the contestants. Combine that with the shorter seasons, and there's a lot of action happening in each episode. It makes for more exciting seasons, in my opinion!
Who has won the new era of Survivor?
There have been five winners of the new era of Survivor, and we'll have another to add in a few weeks when season 46 ends.
- Survivor 41 winner: Erika Casupanan
- Survivor 42 winner: Maryanne Oketch
- Survivor 43 winner: Mike Gabler
- Survivor 44 winner: Yam Yam Arocho
- Survivor 45 winner: Dee Valladares