Survivor is a rare actuality TV present that has been fascinating audiences for over 40 seasons, and it reveals no indicators of slowing down. I’ve curated a powerful record of seasons that you just completely should expertise. Oh, and worry not, as this record is totally spoiler-free, so you possibly can absolutely benefit from the pleasure and surprises of every season! Listed below are my takes for the greatest survivor seasons, ranked.
10. Season 33: Millennials vs. Gen X
Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X has plenty of good going for it: a tremendous solid, a heartfelt and satisfying winner, completely bonkers moments, and shock vote-outs. Nonetheless, a second that actually makes this season stand out has to do with a scene the place one contestant comes out to a different. It’s a second that isn’t solely joyous however truly one which performs considerably into the season’s theme.
Actually the one factor that restricts Millennials vs. Gen X from being any increased has to do with what many would argue is a problematic boot order that occurs right here. Optics-wise, it’s a boot order that doesn’t look good in any respect. Fortunately, this season incorporates a solid that’s arguably the tightest and closest one ever post-season, which helps clean issues over to some extent the place Millennials vs. Gen X definitely deserves to be acknowledged right here.
9. Season 6: The Amazon
The Amazon is the earliest season on this record, and for cause, on condition that it’s a season with an emphasis on technique, one thing that the 5 prior seasons didn’t emphasize. The choice to divide the contestants by gender labored very well right here, with the tribes of largely handsome children hilariously enjoying into the division.
It’s a season that advantages from having a mixture of several types of gamers, with some enjoying arduous and others not figuring out learn how to alter when coming face-to-face with the technique. Additionally price mentioning is that The Amazon is the place Rob Cesternino took place, who’s undoubtedly probably the most lively gamers on-line at the moment, given his podcast.
The Amazon positively does present its age at occasions although, which prevents it from being any increased. For instance, there’s an notorious scene the place girls strip for peanut butter, and whereas they’re those that supply it themselves, it’s nonetheless not nice when wanting from a extra fashionable perspective. That being mentioned, although, the season being far more elevated with its technique than prior seasons does enhance The Amazon as much as deserving to be within the prime 10 Survivor seasons, and it’s a enjoyable watch it doesn’t matter what.
8. Season 27: Blood vs. Water
Proper from the get-go, the season’s theme right here is unimaginable. One half of the solid being returning gamers, whereas the opposite half being their family members provides an excellent wrinkle to the sport that led to a few of the franchise’s most iconic moments and strategic choices. Folks being pressured to return to phrases with how their actions of their tribe have an effect on their family members on the opposite tribe is chef’s kiss perfection.
Additionally, one of many added wrinkles right here within the season is the return of Redemption Island, with gamers needing to look at their family members who had been voted out battle for his or her survival within the sport in a contest –that’s simply the cherry on prime. All of this, together with a satisfying winner, results in a season that’s undoubtedly worthy of being on this record. The one cause this season isn’t any increased is that the opposite seasons are only a bit higher; nothing in opposition to Blood vs. Water particularly.
7. Season 15: China
Survivor: China has an extremely memorable solid, which is barely helped by the season’s excellent theming regarding its location, one thing that plenty of different Survivor seasons surprisingly lack. Survivor: China goes all in on its Asian location, that includes rewards and challenges themed across the nation, and whereas this may occasionally not sound like a giant deal when watching this season, it truly elevates the season and makes it extra thrilling and compelling.
The solid of Season 15 does have some unimaginable standouts, with the season offering a few of the most iconic gamers in Survivor historical past. China additionally options an astonishing winner, who not solely offers implausible gameplay but in addition is an extremely underrated character within the present’s run. The technique right here will not be as complicated as another seasons, however that’s one thing that may present a little bit of a profit to the season as it may be a bit simpler to observe than some others. Plus, simply because a season’s technique isn’t complicated doesn’t imply it might probably’t be compelling, which Survivor: China’s technique completely is.
6. Season 37: David vs. Goliath
Not like Millennials vs. Gen X, David vs. Goliath’s theme doesn’t actually present something particular; nonetheless, regardless of a lackluster theme, the solid right here is excellent. There’s no weak spot with these castaways; from the primary boot to the winner, everybody right here has a objective for the general gameplay, technique, and even the story.
Versus quite a few different seasons, there aren’t too many particular person standouts, which showcases the solid’s power as virtually all people has their time to shine. To not point out that the castaways are in a position to take twists that actually shouldn’t have been in a position to work and use them to their benefit in methods which might be so superior and enjoyable that makes this a season that’s on a complete different stage. It actually can’t be pressured sufficient, and if this had been an inventory purely primarily based on the solid alone, David vs. Goliath would possible be at the very least prime three.
Facet word: In case you’re a White Lotus fan, you may acknowledge a few of the castaways on this season as minor characters in that present, and that’s as a result of Mike White, the showrunner, was a contestant on this season too.
5. Season 31: Cambodia
It could be the present’s thirty first season, however it’s solely the third time that Survivor has had an all-returnee season, and oh boy, is that this season excellent. Earlier than watching it, although, it’s vital to know that this can be a season the place the followers obtained to vote on which castaways obtained to return, a implausible alternative that led to a complete new component to the sport with how all of the castaways felt that they had one thing they wanted to show. Nearly each participant felt they wanted to show to each themselves and the viewers why precisely they deserved to have been voted for, which led to an extremely cutthroat season.
Survivor: Cambodia additionally advantages from not having too many twists impacting the season, which permits the gamers to essentially go on the sport with out the worry of a twist actually screwing them over. Then the few twists that Cambodia does have, specifically the way in which that hidden immunity idols are discovered, had been truly superb and led the season to have some iconic moments for the franchise.
Forcing the gamers into feeling like they wanted to show one thing was an ingenious thought by producers and is one which they shockingly haven’t gone again to though they completely ought to. All of this, alongside a implausible winner, makes this a season that undoubtedly deserves to be within the prime 5 of Survivor seasons.
4. Season 7: Pearl Islands
Like Survivor: China, this can be a season that completely excels in relation to its theme. This time, it’s all about pirates. But the pirate theme isn’t what makes this season particular, though it definitely boosts it. What makes Pearl Islands particular is that the solid of characters listed below are so quirky and memorable whereas on the similar time offering an entertaining sport and season.
Nearly instantly you possibly can inform that this shall be a particular season because of the premiere the place contestants are actually pillaging one another’s objects. From considered one of Survivor’s most iconic opening episodes to an episode the place a contestant convinces their tribemates that their grandmother is lifeless in an effort to realize sympathy, regardless of the cherished one being alive and properly, this can be a season that by no means lets off the fuel.
In case you discuss to any Survivor fan they’re positive to have Season 7 on their record of top-tier Survivor seasons as Pearl Islands is the gold normal of what these older seasons can present. This can be a season that could be a must-watch for any Survivor fan, because it actually has every thing: compelling episodes, kooky characters, and a satisfying and enjoyable winner.
3. Season 16: Micronesia
A season with half returning gamers and half new gamers, Survivor: Micronesia incorporates a solid of some actually superb characters. So, whereas not each participant is nice, those who’re greater than make up for it, pulling off attention-grabbing transfer after attention-grabbing transfer. The pre-merge showcases some glorious blindsides main right into a post-merge that’s chock-full of a few of the greatest blindsides the present has ever seen.
Regardless of Micronesia being virtually 30 seasons in the past, there are nonetheless moments from the season which might be broadly talked about, with what’s arguably considered one of, if not the signature second of the franchise occurring throughout the season. Nearly each episode has one thing intriguing occurring, which solely will get boosted by the truth that the winner of this season is among the hottest gamers of all time.
2. Season 28: Cagayan
Survivor: Cagayan is superb not solely due to its unimaginable winner but in addition due to the journey that viewers go on to get there. From the beginning, followers knew that that they had one thing particular on their palms because the premiere is undoubtedly the perfect season premiere the present has ever had. The craziness that occurs in that premiere is barely the start although, as each episode is compelling proper up till you see somebody’s torch get snuffed.
Together with the implausible premiere, the merge episode additionally critically stands out, which solely proves to be the beginning of what turns into a loopy merge stuffed with twists and turns that no person may see coming. The unpredictability of this season, particularly with what occurs post-merge is one thing that future seasons may solely hope to copy.
The solid of Survivor: Cagayan is unimaginable, with each castaway having their place throughout the season’s story and sport. Cagayan can’t be puffed up sufficient and is one that each Survivor fan ought to be sure that they watch, simply to allow them to expertise a season stuffed with compelling characters and gameplay.
1. Season 20: Heroes vs. Villains
The creme de la creme of all Survivor seasons is indubitably Survivor’s twentieth season, Heroes vs. Villains. It’s a season that not solely has every thing {that a} Survivor fan may probably need, however it carries itself with excellence. From characters to gameplay to a scarcity of game-interfering twists, there actually isn’t something that Heroes vs. Villains doesn’t do proper.
Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains even has a plethora of iconic strikes and moments which might be nonetheless broadly talked about to this present day by the Survivor neighborhood. With a lot of nice idol performs, a lot of memorable confrontations and rivalries, and even a participant principally voting themself off, it’s a season not like some other.
The solid right here is totally excellent as properly, that includes a ton of probably the most iconic gamers ever to grace the screens of followers. The Heroes tribe is already nice by its personal benefit, and the Villains tribe is commonly argued to be one of many best possible tribes to have ever been created by the present. Heroes vs. Villains is sort of at all times mentioned as a must-watch for anyone who likes the present, and for cause. All of this and lots extra, which lean extra in the direction of the spoilers facet of issues, make this the best season of Survivor of all time.
High 10 Finest Survivor Seasons, Ranked
- Season 20: Heroes vs. Villains
- Season 28: Cagayan
- Season 16: Micronesia
- Season 7: Pearl Islands
- Season 31: Cambodia
- Season 37: David vs. Goliath
- Season 15: China
- Season 27: Blood vs. Water
- Season 6: The Amazon
- Season 33: Millennials vs. Gen X