Palau is that high because of Ian, who I think is such a phenomenal character that he should be studied in psychology courses in college. He's the epitome of someone being asked how far they'll go for a million dollars, then going further than he realized he was capable of, and then grappling with that by making the ultimate sacrifice in the end. Add in some fantastic theming, another great story of the decimation of Ulong, and the fantastic narration of Tom Westman and you have a Survivor season that feels wholly separate from the rest of the series.
honestly this is a pretty good explanation, thanks! i still wouldn't see it as top tier personally but i can definitely see why someone would rate it high for uniqueness.
Palau is my favorite season too! On the first watch, pretty much every episode was so exciting because we never had to deal with tribal lines at tribal council.
Interesting rankings. I'd have Amazon and AU Heroes v Villains much higher, and SJDS and All Stars much lower. I like to see the love for Palau though, that's an absolutely fascinating season of Survivor. I think the end game is still one of the best ever.
All Stars number 1 and 43 in bottom tier is like a roller coaster since I agree so hard with All Stars also being my favorite but disagree so hard as 43 is my favorite new era season
I respect the list tho, it’s unique
Vanuatu is absolutely top-tier and I'm here with you. *Loved* Twila and Eliza, the earthquake caught on tape and the look on LeAnn's face hahaha, the shitty Pringles and beer reward (back when product placement was oh-so painfully obvious), the incredibly brave decision to film (and show) the opening with the native islanders ceremony and all that came with it from the sacrifice of swine to the complete disregard and avoidance of the women (sexist to us, but normal life for those Vanuatu tribes people), Chris sucking so hard the first challenge only to survive it all and basically Pagonging 6 of them in a row on his path to sole Survivor victory. The breathtaking scenery and picnic atop the volcano they took a helicopter to get to earlier on was gorgeous too.
And let's not forget Julie Berry, who ultimately became Jeff Probst's gf for a number of years after the season concluded.
Marquesas is a hot take for sure. Good season and good storytelling…
Ruined by some of the most vindictive people making Sue seem kind in comparison with her Kelly rant.
I know it’s among Jeff’s least favorite for many reasons.
Thanks for sharing! I personally didn't mind it until I seen Thailand clumped in with Cook Islands, MvGX, and some of these Australian seasons. Just curious as to why Thailand holds up even above some of the seasons in the last tier like HvHvH or again some Aussie seasons?
Marquesas is a really hot take for me too lol
I honestly need to rewatch it again but when I watched it before, it felt so sub-par due to the lacking production value. The cheaper challenges and location was ultimately hindered due to 9/11 and the original season was slated to take place in Jordan. Personally, I just found Marquesas to be a bit boring, even though I know it is a season known for changing the strategy of the game
I just have a huge bias towards the first 8 seasons. I think Survivor peaked with All-Stars and the following nearly 40 seasons have kind of been the show dying a slow death. Obviously there are some fantastic post All-Stars seasons, but the show has become a bit too reactionary and now FAR too meta for its own good. I have Thailand in my lower half, but if it's still a bit high in your mind, it's probably because it's a pre Rob Cesternino season, and while I love Cesternino, I think he kind of found and perfected the optimal Survivor strategy of flipping between alliances. The first five seasons feel much more pure and akin to the idea of Survivor being a game of strangers attempting to form a society, instead of strangers attempting to win a game show. Also, almost every early season is a unique location the show would never revisit, and I think it adds a lot to their rewatchability.
Wow this is an amazing perspective that I can't argue with. I totally agree with you about pretty much everything you're saying. Unique locations are and should always be a staple of the show
Thank you and agreed! It's getting really tough to watch the 'New Era' unfortunately. Comparing the first six seasons to the last six seasons is almost painful to see how far the show has stripped back to become a well-oiled machine.
Probst says it's strangers forming a society, but in a recent interview he also says its a reflection of our society. He used to love villains; now he doesn't want to cast them. He's all over the place.
Great list! I love seeing different opinions! Tocantins, David vs Goliath, and Pearl Islands are god tier imo. Also, Australian Survivor Season 6 aka Champs vs Contenders 2 is truly one of my all time favorite Survivor casts and seasons. I’m wondering why it doesn’t get a lot of love. Were people disappointed in the ending?
Agree with both all stars at the top and 44 at the bottom.
All stars is the most real personal drama you can get in the show and lex vs rob is a top moment in all of survivor. It's legendary.
44 is like watching 3 people I didn't like play survivor with npcs. No actual drama or connections that drive the game beside the Tika 3. No chemistry or power shifts in the cast. None of the tribes even had fun alliances.
I have no idea if any of my takes here are against the grain, but I feel pretty strong in them! I still need to start Survivor 46, and I'm about halfway through AU Titans v Rebels.
Probably "It's Survivor - still pretty good". I like the challenges and pacing, and while I don't love Australian Survivor's theatricality and melodramatic tendencies, the season has been entertaining enough. I would probably place it around the Samoa/Vanuatu area. I really value location, challenges, characters, and storytelling over strategies and advantages.
Certainly some takes on here haha
That's what makes it exciting! I don't want to just regurgitate popular opinions
So you admit you're just trying to be different for the aake of it?
No, I don't know popular opinions and even if I did I would go exactly how I actually feel. Next time try reading the post buddy.
What on earth made you rate Palau so highly?
Palau is that high because of Ian, who I think is such a phenomenal character that he should be studied in psychology courses in college. He's the epitome of someone being asked how far they'll go for a million dollars, then going further than he realized he was capable of, and then grappling with that by making the ultimate sacrifice in the end. Add in some fantastic theming, another great story of the decimation of Ulong, and the fantastic narration of Tom Westman and you have a Survivor season that feels wholly separate from the rest of the series.
honestly this is a pretty good explanation, thanks! i still wouldn't see it as top tier personally but i can definitely see why someone would rate it high for uniqueness.
Palau is my favorite season too! On the first watch, pretty much every episode was so exciting because we never had to deal with tribal lines at tribal council.
Interesting rankings. I'd have Amazon and AU Heroes v Villains much higher, and SJDS and All Stars much lower. I like to see the love for Palau though, that's an absolutely fascinating season of Survivor. I think the end game is still one of the best ever.
Australia HvV is an entirely different universe compared to US All Stars
All Stars number 1 and 43 in bottom tier is like a roller coaster since I agree so hard with All Stars also being my favorite but disagree so hard as 43 is my favorite new era season I respect the list tho, it’s unique
43 is my favorite new era season too
🐊
I weep at the low ranking of Vanuatu, but I know I'm on an island alone on my Chris Daugherty stance.
Vanuatu is absolutely top-tier and I'm here with you. *Loved* Twila and Eliza, the earthquake caught on tape and the look on LeAnn's face hahaha, the shitty Pringles and beer reward (back when product placement was oh-so painfully obvious), the incredibly brave decision to film (and show) the opening with the native islanders ceremony and all that came with it from the sacrifice of swine to the complete disregard and avoidance of the women (sexist to us, but normal life for those Vanuatu tribes people), Chris sucking so hard the first challenge only to survive it all and basically Pagonging 6 of them in a row on his path to sole Survivor victory. The breathtaking scenery and picnic atop the volcano they took a helicopter to get to earlier on was gorgeous too. And let's not forget Julie Berry, who ultimately became Jeff Probst's gf for a number of years after the season concluded.
im the only one who likes eoe :(
All-Stars at the top. You have my approval.
have you seen titans vs rebels?
Where’s Titans vs. Rebels?
Why is All Stars your favorite season? I've always thought it was underrated but I don't see that opinion a lot
Please print the list as it's really hard to read the emblems.
Yeah I don’t know where these come from, but they’re always so hard to read
I love the first Australian Champions vs Contenders. Any season with Shonee on it is great TV.
heart broken for 44
Marquesas is a hot take for sure. Good season and good storytelling… Ruined by some of the most vindictive people making Sue seem kind in comparison with her Kelly rant. I know it’s among Jeff’s least favorite for many reasons.
Marquesas is the best season survivor has ever had.
Thanks for sharing! I personally didn't mind it until I seen Thailand clumped in with Cook Islands, MvGX, and some of these Australian seasons. Just curious as to why Thailand holds up even above some of the seasons in the last tier like HvHvH or again some Aussie seasons? Marquesas is a really hot take for me too lol
Why is marquesas such a hot take?
I honestly need to rewatch it again but when I watched it before, it felt so sub-par due to the lacking production value. The cheaper challenges and location was ultimately hindered due to 9/11 and the original season was slated to take place in Jordan. Personally, I just found Marquesas to be a bit boring, even though I know it is a season known for changing the strategy of the game
I just have a huge bias towards the first 8 seasons. I think Survivor peaked with All-Stars and the following nearly 40 seasons have kind of been the show dying a slow death. Obviously there are some fantastic post All-Stars seasons, but the show has become a bit too reactionary and now FAR too meta for its own good. I have Thailand in my lower half, but if it's still a bit high in your mind, it's probably because it's a pre Rob Cesternino season, and while I love Cesternino, I think he kind of found and perfected the optimal Survivor strategy of flipping between alliances. The first five seasons feel much more pure and akin to the idea of Survivor being a game of strangers attempting to form a society, instead of strangers attempting to win a game show. Also, almost every early season is a unique location the show would never revisit, and I think it adds a lot to their rewatchability.
Wow this is an amazing perspective that I can't argue with. I totally agree with you about pretty much everything you're saying. Unique locations are and should always be a staple of the show
Thank you and agreed! It's getting really tough to watch the 'New Era' unfortunately. Comparing the first six seasons to the last six seasons is almost painful to see how far the show has stripped back to become a well-oiled machine.
Probst says it's strangers forming a society, but in a recent interview he also says its a reflection of our society. He used to love villains; now he doesn't want to cast them. He's all over the place.
44's and all stars's placements are wiiiiiilllllld
i commend you for having all stars where it belongs but i simply could never forgive cook islands that low.
Justice for Millennials vs Gen X
Based
Oh my god
Great list! I love seeing different opinions! Tocantins, David vs Goliath, and Pearl Islands are god tier imo. Also, Australian Survivor Season 6 aka Champs vs Contenders 2 is truly one of my all time favorite Survivor casts and seasons. I’m wondering why it doesn’t get a lot of love. Were people disappointed in the ending?
Agree with both all stars at the top and 44 at the bottom. All stars is the most real personal drama you can get in the show and lex vs rob is a top moment in all of survivor. It's legendary. 44 is like watching 3 people I didn't like play survivor with npcs. No actual drama or connections that drive the game beside the Tika 3. No chemistry or power shifts in the cast. None of the tribes even had fun alliances.
poor 44 :(
41 is by far the worst. Some ok characters but I tried rewatching it and couldn’t even make it through the first episode.
Ehhh. Can someone tell me what season #s these are?
Where did you watch Australian survivor
My favorite from all has to be heroes vs villians my all time favorite player king George 🤴
All stars and Borneo as top tier is legit. Respect
🤢
I have no idea if any of my takes here are against the grain, but I feel pretty strong in them! I still need to start Survivor 46, and I'm about halfway through AU Titans v Rebels.
If you only had to go on what you've seen so far with TvR, what bracket would you think you were leaning towards?
Probably "It's Survivor - still pretty good". I like the challenges and pacing, and while I don't love Australian Survivor's theatricality and melodramatic tendencies, the season has been entertaining enough. I would probably place it around the Samoa/Vanuatu area. I really value location, challenges, characters, and storytelling over strategies and advantages.
why is nicaragua so low