CBS's Road to Survivor 50 continues tonight with a trip to the Edge of Extinction, specifically highlighting some iconic gameplay from Rick Devens.
Last night, we looked back on Survivor: David vs. Goliath, but tonight, Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 8 p.m. ET, we'll see some Goliath strategy come into play that will definitely give those who don't already know some keen insight into why Devens was invited back for Survivor 50.
Since season 38 was the first to introduce the Edge of Extinction twist—a new take on Redemption Island that was only to be used again in Winners at War—it was unprecedented in how the season was measured, both by players and by fans. First off, we saw four return players against 14 new castaways. Then there's the entire existence of the Edge of Existence that made everything completely crazy.
Upon being voted out, players received an option to either exit the game as normal, or stay. Every single eliminated player chose to stay and was taken to the "Edge of Extinction," a desolate island that acted as a sort of holding area outside of the normal game, while still keeping players alive in the game. There were also occasionally advantages hidden throughout the island, which, if found, could be anonymously gifted to players still in the game.
A white sail sat in the middle of the beach, noting that anyone could choose to leave the game by raising the sail. Only two players ultimately chose to raise the sail and leave the Edge. This was after the first return challenge, though, where all the players still in the game learned of the Edge of Extinction twist. On day 17, all players on the Edge of Extinction were given an opportunity to compete to return to the game. Devens, who was voted out fourth, won a place back in the game and immediately became a target to get eliminated again.
And that leads up to tonight's episode! Now down to the Final Eight—technically (with seven in the game and one spot still open for another player on the Edge to eventually win back)—Devens has managed to keep himself alive by the skin of his teeth. Despite winning the last immunity challenge, he's once again on the bottom and feeling threatened, willing to make some big moves to stay in the game another day.
Tune in tonight at 8 p.m. ET to see if Devens is able to turn things around for himself or if he's sent back to the Edge to fight his way into the game, yet again! And then get ready for the Survivor 50 premiere, which is just around the corner, next Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.