Survivor returns on February 20 with a season which features four returning players – Joe Anglim, Aubry Bracco, Kelley Wentworth, and David Wright. If you’re interested in seeing some backstory on the four players, here’s what and where to watch.
Survivor: San Juan Del Sur (Season 29). Ok, this is probably the least essential season when it comes to prepping for the current season. It is Kelley Wentworth’s first season, but it’s not the most memorable run for her. However, if you’re new to Survivor, this is the Wentworth season to watch (I’ll explain later). While you may not get a ton of insight into what Wentworth brings to the table, you will get an entertaining season. It’s a season that will frustrate, delight, and keep you watching. It’s an underrated season, uniquely oddball, and it has one of the best winner arcs in Survivor history. So, come for the Wentworth intro, and stay for the absolute glory of Keith Nale. Currently available on Hulu and CBS All Access.
Survivor: Worlds Apart (Season 30). This season, which divided tribes by their choice of career, pitted white collar, blue collar, and “no collar” players against each other. Joe Anglim, whose listed occupation was “jewelry designer”, lands in the latter group. It’s not a great season, but it’s not an un-entertaining one. There’s some ugliness and some genuinely unlikable people, and the season is light on competent and motivated players. Luckily, Joe is extremely likable. He fits a classic Survivor archetype – the “Ozzy”. Except, unlike Ozzy, Joe isn’t insufferably self-involved. He has some social game, although it’s overshadowed by his excellence in challenges. Worlds Apart has a chain of events that leads to challenges down the stretch, more than any other recent season, being the most fascinating aspects of the endgame. Its winner arc, while not the most impressive path to victory, is exhilarating to watch. Currently available on Hulu and CBS All Access.
Survivor: Kaoh Rong (Season 32). Kaoh Rong is a cast full of very unlikable folks, one of the worst casts in the modern era – an era typically marked by better casting than early on. This season, a second run at the Brains vs. Brawn vs. Beauty formula that worked to perfection in Cagayan (S28), would have been great, except there’s no one to really root for. No one except Aubry Bracco. Aubry may not make for great television – she doesn’t have one of those “what are they going to do next?” personalities – but you can appreciate her attempt to navigate through this game. She makes mistakes but also enjoys big successes, moving from a position of hopelessness to one of control. Her arc is pretty much the only one of real interest this season, but you can see why they brought her back. Currently available on Hulu and CBS All Access.
Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X (Season 33). This one I can’t suggest strongly enough. It’s an all-time great season, and while it doesn’t have the comic entertainment of the brilliant season we just wrapped up, it’s nearly as entertaining when it comes to gameplay. It’s 20 people who all show up ready to play hard. David Wright shows up ready to play a little too hard, and he has what many believe is the most transformative Survivor arc in the show’s history. It’s always fun to see the show be a crucible for its players, watching them change under the heat and pressure, and I don’t know if that has ever been more evident than David’s stint on Season 33. This season, however, has so much more to offer than David. The blindsides are emotional and fun, so many players wear their hearts on their sleeves, and nearly everyone is memorable. Currently Available on Hulu and CBS All Access.
What not to watch
Sadly, if you’re relatively new to Survivor, I can’t recommend Cambodia (Season 31), which is the second season for both Joe and Kelley, for your cram session. It’s THE Wentworth season, without question. But Cambodia is another Hall of Fame season, with the theme of “Second Chances”, and to fully appreciate it, you really need to have seen a lot of other previous seasons. Players really embrace the theme, probably more than any themed season in the show’s history. The players were one-time players who all lost, and after being voted into this season by fans, the cast was probably more motivated and focused than almost any season I’ve seen. Everyone turned their game to 11, trying to avoid the mistakes of their first season, and it’s a roller coaster ride of a season. Strategically, it’s a ground-breaking season, with voting blocs supplanting hardened alliances, and it’s among Survivor’s best. Unfortunately, it’s just not quite as fun without all the baggage they bring in to the season.
Similarly, I won’t recommend Game Changes (S34), which is Aubry’s 2nd season. It’s another All-Star season, and while it’s not nearly as interesting as Cambodia, it is possibly a bit more digestible without knowing the backgrounds. Still, backgrounds do help, and at the same time, this doesn’t offer any more insight into Aubry that Kaoh Rong couldn’t provide. She’s similarly likable, but it’s not necessary. It’s also a frustrating season. A top-heavy cast of returnees features some legends of the game alongside some head-scratchers. (Hali is a game changer? Decide for yourself when you watch Worlds Apart, if you notice her at all.) And sadly, the head-scratchers mostly dominate the season. It does produce one great transformation – the winner treats Game Changers like it’s Cambodia, as a “Second Chance” to play the game differently, and it’s great to watch. But all in all, not Survivor’s best all-star season.