For a long time now, we've watched Survivor players go on Journeys to win advantages, lose their votes, and make new connections in the game. Clearly, the Journeys are not a surprise to these players, but it's starting to feel like an unnecessary part of the gameplay in Survivor 48.
On the surface, sending players to a remote location away from their tribe for a chance to win advantages seems like a good gameplay idea. It opens up the game to more possibilities, more variables to track, and more opportunities for players to shape their destiny in the game.
Except, it doesn't always turn out that way.
After Justin Pioppi lost his vote on a Journey in Survivor 48 episode 3 and was voted out in one of longest and most iconic Tribal Councils in Survivor history, there's been a lot of talk about the Journeys in Survivor and if they ruined Justin's game.
I mean, to me, it seems clear that Justin was tripped up by losing his vote, but it's too challenging to blame the Journey for that. In another timeline, Justin wins the advantage and doesn't get voted out.
I love the possibility that Journeys present to the players. I like that they can win advantages, but I don't love that players lose their votes by trying to get a leg up on the competition. It definitely adds another layer of drama to each episode. Votes are not nearly as straightforward as they used to be. Throw in the Shot in the Dark, too, and you have the potential for a real mess on your hands at Tribal Council, which is what we saw in episode 3.
With all that said, there are too many Journeys early in the game, and the stakes are too high. Losing your vote on a 12-person tribe right after the merge has consequences. Losing your vote on a four- or five-person tribe is basically a death sentence in the game.
Justin Pioppi had no business even being an option to go home in episode 3. Had he been able to choose his adventure and choose to do the Journey or not, he said in his many exit interviews that he would not have played. The upside was not good enough. He really needed his vote.
The other problem with the Journeys is that there are already too many advantages in the game already. I have seen every episode, and I still can't remember who has what advantages, who has a vote, who doesn't have a vote, who has an immunity idol, and who doesn't. There's no upside to making the game more confusing for the audience. Yes, we want an entertaining game, but the more variables and advantages there are in the game, the less authentic the game feels. It feels like a gimmick.
I'm not advocating against Journeys at all, but doing them so early in the game with such steep consequences feels like a bad idea. It waters down what this game is really about: social politics and strategy. When there are too many variables in play, the players don't get the opportunity to plan ahead and make those big moves or execute a strategy three Tribal Councils ahead. I would much rather Survivor return to those days.