Disappointing ending aside, I thought this was a pretty solid premiere. Hopefully the entertaining messiness of the cast should be enough to overcome the overabundance of young superfans.
All the "I love you" and "I love you so much" as Hannah's torch was snuffed bugged me to no end. You've known each other for 2 days! Sure, they were very intense days, but I bet in another week the other players will have experienced so much more together they'll struggle to remember the one who quit.
In his post-mortem with EW, Probst was very clear that he viewed Hannah’s exit as a quit and disclosed that he felt they had gotten it wrong in casting her so it was surprising how dignified that exit was allowed to be presented as, even as the show has gotten softer in its messaging and its “it’s all about the adventure and pushing yourself is victory enough” mindset over the years. Maybe they were just trying to make the best out of a fairly deflating end to a otherwise fun premiere but even five years ago there would have been more anger about what she was doing.
Anyways, I am feeling optimistic about this season even if I fear the added runtime will be used for more nonsense instead of more character moments (Probst has also said they were aware they had longer episodes this season when the filming began so some stuff like the complicated, multi-step method for getting the idol was planned in anticipation of that). I weirdly am rooting for Emily if only because her pessimistic, unnecessarily combative personality is refreshing in an era where so many of the players try to get along and stay positive (she has said that she applied out of anger the day after Gabler won) and I am curious to see if she can figure a way out of the hole she’s dug for herself or if she’s doomed to be next out the door (Brandon I suspect will hang in there for one of those underdog arcs the show has been busting out a lot lately). I’m also pretty big on Kaleb (this season’s Canadian player) in the early going. This seems like a fairly strong cast overall and I’m excited to spend more time with the other tribes now that we have a strong sense of how dysfunctional Lulu is.
I definitely respect someone who was as angry as I was about Gabler's win, although I just...I need a shred of rationality when you're actually playing the game.
I'm actually watching Survivor for the very first time just to follow along with your reviews, Myles! I've always been curious and the strikes have given me some free time in my TV schedule.
I feel like the casting has been stellar the last few seasons, but this first ep has me *slightly* worried about this bunch. A lot of the players came across as pretty grating, and with the longer eps, obviously, a solid cast is more important than ever. But I also really hate when people quit, which probably contributed to the bad vibes.
There have been plenty of seasons I loved after a first ep I didn't, so I'm hoping some of the quieter personalities emerge next week and win me over.
I usually go the opposite direction where a bunch of nobodies and a handful of strong/charismatic personalities shine through leaving me skeptical, then of course as the season plays out you get to know everyone better and actually become attached. All this to say I know better than to get too high or low in the early episodes and give folks a chance.
Just chiming in to once again thank you for covering this show despite the viewership numbers Myles. It is a core part of my subscription experience and your discourse is always thoughtful and nuanced as a long term fan of the show.
Yikes! I had heard the AUS show was good but this is edging into Big Brother/The Challenge territory, I don't need that much of anyone on my tv per week lol.
An interesting detail that has come out in both Probst's podcast and Hannah's exit interview is that there was apparently an entirely unseen twist where Kenda from the blue tribe came over to the Lulu beach pre-vote, spent time with everybody and then secretly got to cast a vote that would have counted if they had actually voted. Presumably it got cut because Hannah forced their hand on the vote and it had no relevant implications for the rest of the season but it seems like such a wild thing to have happen and then just leave out entirely.
It does make me suspect that Kendra isn't long for the game, as having a bit of intel into another tribe would be an asset during a merge and likely come up in strategy discussions.
Jeff has been pushing the narrative of "the toughest game ever" for some time. Kind of karmic in a way for people to get cast only to say "Actually you're right, this is too tough. Bye"
Eliza Orlins posted a TikTok about the casting process and how hard she (at the time a 21 year old undergrad whose applicaiton video was shot on the steps of her sorority house) was grilled about not being tough enough to compete.
I watched Hannah's exit press and she remarks having not quit nicotine or caffeine or sugar, all things former players highly suggest you do ahead of the game. Seems like Hannah just knew it wasn't her thing and gave her spot to the other 5 people on the tribe, which I do respect. At least she left before anyone else.
But I'm almost more preoccupied with 2 issues that keep popping up. 1) Medevacs and quits on Day 1/2. Jackson, Bruce, nearly Brandon, and now Hannah. What is going on that's causing so much calamity on these early days? Feels like Survivor should allow one person to just jump right in at a deficit, rather than accept it's actually a 17 person season.
2) Boring boring casting. Skinny white women with brown hair are all blurring together for me. I don't remember anyone's story, anything notable they did. At least Brandon flopping like a fish on the edge of a boat was entertaining, but god how did we reach a point where 9/18 players will never be memorable in a fight for a million dollars?
Disappointing ending aside, I thought this was a pretty solid premiere. Hopefully the entertaining messiness of the cast should be enough to overcome the overabundance of young superfans.
All the "I love you" and "I love you so much" as Hannah's torch was snuffed bugged me to no end. You've known each other for 2 days! Sure, they were very intense days, but I bet in another week the other players will have experienced so much more together they'll struggle to remember the one who quit.
In his post-mortem with EW, Probst was very clear that he viewed Hannah’s exit as a quit and disclosed that he felt they had gotten it wrong in casting her so it was surprising how dignified that exit was allowed to be presented as, even as the show has gotten softer in its messaging and its “it’s all about the adventure and pushing yourself is victory enough” mindset over the years. Maybe they were just trying to make the best out of a fairly deflating end to a otherwise fun premiere but even five years ago there would have been more anger about what she was doing.
Anyways, I am feeling optimistic about this season even if I fear the added runtime will be used for more nonsense instead of more character moments (Probst has also said they were aware they had longer episodes this season when the filming began so some stuff like the complicated, multi-step method for getting the idol was planned in anticipation of that). I weirdly am rooting for Emily if only because her pessimistic, unnecessarily combative personality is refreshing in an era where so many of the players try to get along and stay positive (she has said that she applied out of anger the day after Gabler won) and I am curious to see if she can figure a way out of the hole she’s dug for herself or if she’s doomed to be next out the door (Brandon I suspect will hang in there for one of those underdog arcs the show has been busting out a lot lately). I’m also pretty big on Kaleb (this season’s Canadian player) in the early going. This seems like a fairly strong cast overall and I’m excited to spend more time with the other tribes now that we have a strong sense of how dysfunctional Lulu is.
I definitely respect someone who was as angry as I was about Gabler's win, although I just...I need a shred of rationality when you're actually playing the game.
Damn it, applying out of anger at Gabler winning means I HAVE to like her. Hopefully she pulls back a bit from her on in, she went HARD this ep.
The casting problem keeps getting worse. Three lawyers? Multiple *grad students*? Stop it.
Putting two "grad students" on the same tribe? Jail.
lmao
I'm actually watching Survivor for the very first time just to follow along with your reviews, Myles! I've always been curious and the strikes have given me some free time in my TV schedule.
I feel like the casting has been stellar the last few seasons, but this first ep has me *slightly* worried about this bunch. A lot of the players came across as pretty grating, and with the longer eps, obviously, a solid cast is more important than ever. But I also really hate when people quit, which probably contributed to the bad vibes.
There have been plenty of seasons I loved after a first ep I didn't, so I'm hoping some of the quieter personalities emerge next week and win me over.
I usually go the opposite direction where a bunch of nobodies and a handful of strong/charismatic personalities shine through leaving me skeptical, then of course as the season plays out you get to know everyone better and actually become attached. All this to say I know better than to get too high or low in the early episodes and give folks a chance.
Just chiming in to once again thank you for covering this show despite the viewership numbers Myles. It is a core part of my subscription experience and your discourse is always thoughtful and nuanced as a long term fan of the show.
90 minute episodes is maybe the wrong lesson to take from Australian Survivor but at least it's not on 4 nights a week like AU is so THAT'S something.
Yikes! I had heard the AUS show was good but this is edging into Big Brother/The Challenge territory, I don't need that much of anyone on my tv per week lol.
An interesting detail that has come out in both Probst's podcast and Hannah's exit interview is that there was apparently an entirely unseen twist where Kenda from the blue tribe came over to the Lulu beach pre-vote, spent time with everybody and then secretly got to cast a vote that would have counted if they had actually voted. Presumably it got cut because Hannah forced their hand on the vote and it had no relevant implications for the rest of the season but it seems like such a wild thing to have happen and then just leave out entirely.
Really embraces the “portions of this program that did not affect the outcome were edited out” ethos, jeez.
It does make me suspect that Kendra isn't long for the game, as having a bit of intel into another tribe would be an asset during a merge and likely come up in strategy discussions.
Jeff has been pushing the narrative of "the toughest game ever" for some time. Kind of karmic in a way for people to get cast only to say "Actually you're right, this is too tough. Bye"
You really do wonder how she got that far in casting. She was giving "Stranded with a Million Dollars" energy right off the bat.
Eliza Orlins posted a TikTok about the casting process and how hard she (at the time a 21 year old undergrad whose applicaiton video was shot on the steps of her sorority house) was grilled about not being tough enough to compete.
I watched Hannah's exit press and she remarks having not quit nicotine or caffeine or sugar, all things former players highly suggest you do ahead of the game. Seems like Hannah just knew it wasn't her thing and gave her spot to the other 5 people on the tribe, which I do respect. At least she left before anyone else.
But I'm almost more preoccupied with 2 issues that keep popping up. 1) Medevacs and quits on Day 1/2. Jackson, Bruce, nearly Brandon, and now Hannah. What is going on that's causing so much calamity on these early days? Feels like Survivor should allow one person to just jump right in at a deficit, rather than accept it's actually a 17 person season.
2) Boring boring casting. Skinny white women with brown hair are all blurring together for me. I don't remember anyone's story, anything notable they did. At least Brandon flopping like a fish on the edge of a boat was entertaining, but god how did we reach a point where 9/18 players will never be memorable in a fight for a million dollars?
Very excited for another season of Survivor recaps on Episodic Medium! Great work as always.