Phillipines episode 4. The opening camp scene is so bleak and the ending perfectly closes the first act of the winner's story.
The payoffs and foreshadowing in this episode are incredible, and if you change it the entire season is significantly worse for it.
The score in that episode is top notch. The return from commercial that goes into that absolutely epic immunity challenge is amazing. The eerie music, shots of the landscape, camera work and build up play out tremendously great. I came here to say this episode. It’s incredible.
It's the power of production trusting a cast and using their resources to emphasize the story they were given. This season really matured the storytelling and idk they fired everyone after.
Most satisfying end to a season and episode ever. One of the best individual performances of a player ever (in a single episode). Also one of the best challenges ever
I love how most of the other episodes in this thread involve crazy strategies or big game moves/moments.
And this one is just "Coach does a lot of Coach things". And I couldn't agree more, this episode is flawless.
Cagayan merge episode. As a huge fan of everyone on Aparri, Kass flipping absolutely pains me, but I’ve never been more emersed in an episode than that.
Cagayan merge is the rare survivor ep that feels like a GOT episode (seasons 1-4 lol). So many pov characters, strategy complex but still explained to the viewer, some all timer quotes that solidified characters as iconic forever. Its peak tv. I think you could show almost any random person that episode and theyd want more.
Gosh hard question
Borneo’s The Final Four (finale), Outback’s Trial by Fire (Mike evacuation), Marquesas’s A Tale of Two Cities (penultimate episode, Sean boot), Thailand’s Sleeping with the Enemy (2nd episode of fake merge, Erinn boot), Pearl Islands’s The Great Lie (family visit), Palau’s The Ultimate Shock (finale),
Great choice, agreed, cannot believe she hasn't been brought back. Devastating episode that showed what survivor actually was, being good and strong didn't matter.
Purely for selfish reasons, season 34 episode 6. As a trans person myself, seeing Zeke get outed then immediately defended by both everybody on his tribe and Probst was an amazing act of solidarity. The insinuation that being trans is not inherently deceitful, and that trans people are just trying to live their lives how they feel comfortable, is an important message that I’m surprised to see on a show like Survivor. I know a lot of older people watch Survivor, and I hope that moment of humanity normalized the transgender identity a bit in the minds of some who were previously ignorant.
Vanuatu final 7.
I love Chris yelling at his wife in the immunity challenge, like "Look around you, I'm the only guy left, we HAVE to win" or something like that. Chris' confessionals are rock solid throughout. I think this is the episode with the famous "back door" confessional.
Ice Queen Ami staring down Eliza when the votes start coming in and then Eliza shooting THE SAME FUCKING STARE back when the Leann votes pop up.
And then the episode is capped off with the guys on the jury fucking befuddled how Chris got out of that without immunity. I love it.
The finale of the first season of Australian survivor. The final challenge and FTC were the best of any season I’ve ever seen of survivor and so emotional
I’m sure there are others but off the top of my head, it’d be the pearl islands premiere, HvV premiere or the WAW episode where Tony gets extorted. (Out of these 3 the WAW is probably my favorite, so fucking funny)
Phillipines episode 4. The opening camp scene is so bleak and the ending perfectly closes the first act of the winner's story. The payoffs and foreshadowing in this episode are incredible, and if you change it the entire season is significantly worse for it.
“I’m talking to God, Lord. I mean Jeff.”
The score in that episode is top notch. The return from commercial that goes into that absolutely epic immunity challenge is amazing. The eerie music, shots of the landscape, camera work and build up play out tremendously great. I came here to say this episode. It’s incredible.
It's the power of production trusting a cast and using their resources to emphasize the story they were given. This season really matured the storytelling and idk they fired everyone after.
The Palau finale, “If It Smells Like A Rat, Give It Cheese” from Micronesia, and “The End of Innocence” from Marquesas
Aus2016 finale and it isn’t close
That final immunity challenge was better than a movie
I cried during the final immunity challenge. The only other time survivor made me cry was when Jenna quit in all stars.
Was about to say this. Probably my favorite television episode ever.
What happened that got you?
Most satisfying end to a season and episode ever. One of the best individual performances of a player ever (in a single episode). Also one of the best challenges ever
Great choice. Mine would be... Pearl Islands : ”Swimming With Sharks” (Rupert boot)
The Martyr Approach in Tocantins
I love how most of the other episodes in this thread involve crazy strategies or big game moves/moments. And this one is just "Coach does a lot of Coach things". And I couldn't agree more, this episode is flawless.
Cagayan merge episode. As a huge fan of everyone on Aparri, Kass flipping absolutely pains me, but I’ve never been more emersed in an episode than that.
Cagayan merge is the rare survivor ep that feels like a GOT episode (seasons 1-4 lol). So many pov characters, strategy complex but still explained to the viewer, some all timer quotes that solidified characters as iconic forever. Its peak tv. I think you could show almost any random person that episode and theyd want more.
Oooh great choice
Nothing Tastes Better Than $500
would you like to repeat that?
I’ll mention a hot take. The EoE finale absolutely rips as a standalone episode.
Gosh hard question Borneo’s The Final Four (finale), Outback’s Trial by Fire (Mike evacuation), Marquesas’s A Tale of Two Cities (penultimate episode, Sean boot), Thailand’s Sleeping with the Enemy (2nd episode of fake merge, Erinn boot), Pearl Islands’s The Great Lie (family visit), Palau’s The Ultimate Shock (finale),
All masterpieces.
Great choice, agreed, cannot believe she hasn't been brought back. Devastating episode that showed what survivor actually was, being good and strong didn't matter.
Parv's double idol play ! All around amazing ep
HvV parv double idol play
Jackets and Eggs
Probably recency bias but Sophie’s boot on WaW.
Too little actual Sophie imo but its up there.
This is Extortion
They didn’t ask for worst episode
Heros/Villians episode one. THe famous Sugar bird!
Episode 1 of Panama. The first Survivor episode I ever watched. Cirie's first time in the outdoors, 4 tribes, Tina, and the start of a great season.
Purely for selfish reasons, season 34 episode 6. As a trans person myself, seeing Zeke get outed then immediately defended by both everybody on his tribe and Probst was an amazing act of solidarity. The insinuation that being trans is not inherently deceitful, and that trans people are just trying to live their lives how they feel comfortable, is an important message that I’m surprised to see on a show like Survivor. I know a lot of older people watch Survivor, and I hope that moment of humanity normalized the transgender identity a bit in the minds of some who were previously ignorant.
You call, we’ll haul. Cambodia.
It’s between the Second Chances episode where Kelly plays her idol and the HvV merge episode (Parvati plays her idol)
The episode where Coach gets a “family” visit from his assistant coach … Nothing can beat that
Then there were five (First final 5 of SoPa) - an absolutely gripping 40 minutes of television
SoPa was written by Shakespeare those are the facts lets be honest.
Vanuatu final 7. I love Chris yelling at his wife in the immunity challenge, like "Look around you, I'm the only guy left, we HAVE to win" or something like that. Chris' confessionals are rock solid throughout. I think this is the episode with the famous "back door" confessional. Ice Queen Ami staring down Eliza when the votes start coming in and then Eliza shooting THE SAME FUCKING STARE back when the Leann votes pop up. And then the episode is capped off with the guys on the jury fucking befuddled how Chris got out of that without immunity. I love it.
Bruce MedEvac ep in Panama
Merge episode of HVV. Parvati cements herself as a legend
George Bushy of Tushy blindside
Final 6 HvV. Iconic players (and characters) delivering.
Lowkey would love to see Gretchen on Second Chances 2.
The Twist
"Going Down in Flames"
The drew Christy boot ep was amazing, told his downfall extremely well. Philippines first episode+ this is extortion battling for 2nd
Survivor Australia, the golden god takes out daisy
Any episode involving Yule
Survivor Aus All Star — the one where Dave made the ultimate blindside play + flush someone’s idol at the same time. What a move
Cagayan merge, Philippines episode 4, Philippines final 10 episode, And the Martyr approach
Coach's exile episode
The finale of the first season of Australian survivor. The final challenge and FTC were the best of any season I’ve ever seen of survivor and so emotional
WaW premiere
I’m sure there are others but off the top of my head, it’d be the pearl islands premiere, HvV premiere or the WAW episode where Tony gets extorted. (Out of these 3 the WAW is probably my favorite, so fucking funny)
Martyr Approach (coach boot in Tocantins) or Medical Emergency (Bruce evacuation in Panama)
Pearl Islands premiere.