‘Survivor 41’ spoilers find it has been a season riddled with twists and host, Jeff Probst’s long-winded explanations as to how these advantages work. However, for all the promised twists and turns, very few have made an iota of difference to the game. And for that, the purists are thankful.
It is these purists, many of whom have been watching Survivor for two decades who would prefer the game to go old school with zero advantages at all, especially after Survivor: Gamechangers. During this 34th season, fan favorite, Cirie Field was sent home despite having zero votes cast against her throughout the entire season.
This was due to an abundance of immunity idols and an advantage all being played concurrently, leaving Cirie the only one unprotected. Due to no fault of her own, Cirie’s torch and game life was snuffed out prematurely.
‘Survivor 41’ Spoilers: Twists Galore and Zero Repercussions
Probsts, however, has out-and-out said about peeling back all of the crazy advantages- it will never happen.
“If we eliminated the ability for a player to shift the game with an advantage or pull off a blindside with an idol, you would be left with a majority of very predictable Tribal Councils,” he explained, adding, “Predictability is death.”
Instead, Survivor 41 has gone harder on the advantages and twists than any other season. Yet despite this, the purists have strangely enough seen their wish for simple game play granted.
From the beginning f the shortened 41st season, members of opposing tribes would meet up, walk up a mountain and have the chance to bond before deciding on a “Prisoner’s Dilemma”, risking their vote for an advantage. Not one double crossed another by going against their word as to which way they would turn the ship’s helm, and very few connections made during the hike made any sort of impact.
Liana Wallace and Shan Smith were the one exception, bonding over being women of color. When Liana tried to protect Shan’s ally, telling Shan when Ricard Foye’s name was brought up as a possible vote, she inadvertently cost Shan her place in the competition. The Mafia Pastor was blindsided and sent to the jury with an activated idol in her pocket.
Speaking of immunity idols- only four have been found this season, with both Xander Hastings and Danny McCray missing out on two more ‘by this much’. However, none of the idols have been played, or even flushed. Xander still has the one he did find which was eventually activated by another twist that did little more than expose the three idol owners. Naseer Muttalif, the third activated idol owner was also voted out with a lovely idol souvenir in his pocket, as did Brad Reece who was voted out fourth with not just an immunity idol in hand but also a vote stealing advantage.
The big twists, which production must have been patting themselves on their backs about have also done little to the trajectory of the show.
The Shot in the Dark advantage, which allows someone who feels they are on the chopping block to give up their vote for a one-in-six chance to earn immunity was only played once. Sydney Segal pulled a “not safe” parchment and was sent home.
The Knowledge is Power advantage Liana earned after her Prisoner’s Dilemma hike with Shan could have been a cunning twist but proved powerless when too many people knew about it. Xander was alerted to the advantage and that Liana was gunning for him. He made a great show of swindling Liana into demanding his not so hidden idol, however Liana was unaware Xander was showing off a fake and had passed the real one onto alliance member, Tiffany Seely to hold for him.
Recently, a truly unfair Do or Die twist saw the competitor first out of the immunity challenge, DeShawn Radden, face a Monty Hall Problem of finding the one door out of three that held a safe, fire effigy. DeShawn chose wisely, stayed safe and a regular tribal council vote took place.
Erika Casupanan’s Turn Back Time conundrum was really the only twist that had any baring on the game, and even then, it did little more than give Erika a pass (which may end up being a million dollar advantage) and making Danny McCray really, really angry (off camera, unfortunately). After reversing the results of the team immunity challenge, Sydney and her arrogant attitude was sent home- maybe one tribal earlier than she would have been, anyway.
So now, with the game down to five castaways and one final episode, it seems the most twisted season of all time has actually been the most advantage free, and no, we did not see predictable votes each tribal council. On the contrary, never has a season been so messy with whispers and under the bus tossing almost each time the tribe sat down.
However, as the season draws to a close, Probst has warned of one final twist- a four way fire making challenge.
While this could be a much needed way to stop the goats from being dragged to the finale while those much more deserving dip out, it could also be just another last ditch attempt by Survivor producers to ruin it all for the purists.
What do you think of how season 41 of Survivor has played out and do you agree that the much touted twists and turns have fallen far flatter than what the producers must have expected? Does that make you happy or would you have preferred to see the game turn upside down?
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below and get ready for the Survivor 41 three hour finale , this Wednesday at 8pm ET on CBS!
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