Survivor, which has been on the air for more than 40 seasons and 20 years, continues to be one of the best, most successful, and most popular reality television contests on the air. However, given the show’s long history, it’s only natural that it has had numerous highs and lows (Greenleaf Season 6).
Some seasons are better and more popular than others, but no season of Survivor is a complete failure with nothing to offer the viewer. Certain casts work together better than others to produce intriguing alliances, rivalries, strategies, and overall drama, while others struggle to do so. When all of these factors come together to form a flawlessly coherent whole, it results in a top-tier Survivor season for the castaways.
10. Gabon (Season 18)
Gabon is one of the show’s most contentious seasons. Fans either adore or hate this season. The gameplay is poor, which is why most Gabon haters loathe the season. The winner feels like an afterthought, and thoughtful strategy is scarce. Notable characters include geeky Ken, grumpy Randy, professorial Bob, and perennial exile Sugar. Like a great cult film, Gabon has a niche audience that loves its oddities.
9. Blood Vs. Water (Season 27)
Blood vs Water reimagined Survivor’s famous “fans vs. favorites” premise. The cast had half returning players and half newcomers. But this time, each newcomer was beloved by a returning player. The idea alone breathed new life into Survivor’s format, and it paid off handsomely. Every vote-out had emotional weight, especially when players considered voting against (or even backstabbing) a loved one. The season was entertaining from tip to finish, as a long-time fan favourite finally won a game.
8. The Amazon (Season 5)
It is considered one of the best episodes of the program’s early seasons, and it is an excellent starting point for new fans who want to see what the show was like in its early seasons. The Amazon has the documentary flavour of Survivor’s first few seasons, but this is when strategy and gaming took centre stage throughout the game.
This is primarily due to Rob Cesternino, who was one of the first Survivor super fans to participate in the game. In addition to being widely regarded as one of the best Survivor players never to win, the strategic smart-aleck also introduced humour and cunning to the program, which helped transform it for the better for the long haul.
7. Survivor: Philippines (Season 25)
The Philippines was a breath of fresh air following a string of bad seasons – Nicaragua, Redemption Island, South Pacific, and One World. But to say the Philippines is good compared to other seasons is unfair because the Philippines is great on its own. First, it brought back three former participants who had all been medically evacuated from the game earlier. But the season’s heart is the alliance between Malcolm and Denise, two excellent players who endured horrible luck bordering on disaster throughout the game. This season is full of drama and excitement.
6. Survivor: China (Season 15)
The location of each season was formerly an essential ingredient in the Survivor stew. The show used to travel the world, putting contestants in exotic locations with art and tasks that mirrored the culture and history. Survivor: China is an excellent season in this regard. The environment was fresh, and the topic permeated each episode. This season’s cast included beloved players like James Clement, Amanda Kimmel, Peih-Gee Law, and Courtney Yates, who all returned to play in succeeding seasons.
5. Survivor: Tocantins — The Brazilian Highlands (Season 18)
The Tocantins edged over Survivor: Philippines, China, and the Tocantins due to the antics of the icons Benjamin “Coach” Wade and Tyson Apostol. “Class clown/smartass” is Coach’s most quotable character, whereas Tyson is Coach’s most quotable.
Tocantins J.T. Thomas played a “perfect game” by never losing a vote throughout the game and winning the final tribal council. The Tocantins, in the Brazilian highlands, presents an unexpected setting for Survivor.
4. Survivor: Cook Islands (Season 13)
The Cook Islands sparked debate when it debuted in 2006 with four beginning tribes split by race. With the success of the “Aitu 4” alliance, Cook Islands delivers one of the best tribe underdog tales in the show’s history.
Parvati Shallow, Ozzy Lusth, Yul Kwon, Candice Cody, and Jonathan Penner all made their Cook Islands debuts. Despite a slow middle, this season ends with a thrilling final tribal council and an unlikely winner.
3. Survivor: Palau (Season 10)
The tasks of Palau makes it unique. After losing every immunity task before the merge, the Ulong tribe was plucked off one by one until fan-favourite Stephenie LaGrossa was the final woman standing. But she came back twice in Survivor: Guatemala and Survivor: Heroes vs Villains.
Palau was also a good place for the tribes to live, with good fishing and fauna. They also taught them how to fish and served them a great feast during the merge. Even better, the season’s champion, Tom Westman, drank the local rum. Given Tom’s generally austere demeanour, this was incredibly amusing.
2. Survivor: Millennials Vs. Gen X (Season 33)
Millennials vs Gen X was the theme of Survivor’s 33rd season. With modest expectations, fans were pleasantly pleased by the results of season 33.
After the live finale and reunion, season winner Adam Klein rewarded his castmates to a weekend in Vegas, and they are still close. The cast shows how to build on the island’s unique friendships while letting go of any remaining hatred or resentment.
1. Survivor: Pearl Islands (Season 7)
Pearl Islands is usually always on the top ten list. Jonny Fairplay, the legendary bad-boy villain who lied about his dead grandma, is back for Season 7.
“Beg, Barter, Steal” is the best season-opening of Survivor yet. After bartering for supplies to return to their camp, Rupert steals the other tribe’s shoes after noticing they were left unattended.
So, what do you think? Have you watched all of the season? Leave your comment below!
