The Highs, Lows, and Whoas of the Survivor 50 Trailer

The season finale of Survivor on Wednesday night saw Savannah Louie win after a strong push from Sophi Balerdi. But many viewers were most excited to finally get a preview of Survivor 50 in February. In just two and a half minutes, host Jeff Probst showed a whirlwind of returning players – some noticeably older, and others that fans weren’t thrilled to see.

Almost a year ago, Jeff revealed that the 50th season would be called “In the Hands of the Fans.” This was a pledge to let longtime, dedicated viewers have a say in the show, and a recognition that this season would deliver what those fans had always wanted. As a devoted fan myself, I want to share what excited and worried me about the trailer.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=mmK3Cq-8z9c?si=zE4Ffp2fCscHAzq4

LOW: Coach’s opening solliloquy

In a voice-over accompanying shots of contestants walking towards a plane to Fiji, Survivor’s famously talkative Coach Wade quotes explorer Ferdinand Magellan. He says, “Life rewards those who are brave enough to take chances, not those who play it safe. The greatest rewards come to those who face the storm.”

Coach consistently seeks to highlight his strengths, and this statement perfectly frames his past three seasons of Survivor not as losses, but as ambitious efforts against tough odds. Recently, Survivor’s tribal councils have become known for dramatic, metaphorical discussions about the game, and Coach seems eager to participate in this current trend.

WHOA: Colby Donaldson’s time-worn face

Look, I’ve watched a lot of Survivor, and Colby Donaldson… well, he’s back. Again. This is his fourth time, which is honestly baffling considering how checked out he seemed during Heroes vs. Villains back in 2010. Fifteen years have passed, and it’s a little jarring to see these former challenge beasts – Colby and Ozzy Lusth, for example – now navigating the game in their 40s and 50s. It’s a real reminder that time marches on for everyone. In a preview clip, Ozzy actually asks how many more chances he’ll get, and honestly? I think we’re all asking ourselves the same thing.

HIGH: Jenna dang Lewis

Seeing Jenna Lewis, the only contestant from the very first season of Survivor, really brought the excitement. In a pre-season interview, she described Season 50 as a celebration of the show that changed her life, and her colorful outfit definitely gave off enthusiastic supporter vibes – a proud PFLAG mom, perhaps! While I admire her enthusiasm, I hope she sees this season as a chance to win, not just celebrate. As the most experienced player, she could fly under the radar and avoid becoming an early target. Come on, Jenna, we fans who’ve been watching since 2000 are counting on you to play hard!

WHOA: Jeff doing a challenge!

The latest trailer hints that Jeff Probst, the host of Survivor, might finally compete in a challenge this season, which many fans have wished for. We see a quick shot of him struggling with a familiar hand-crank lift, and hopefully, a player like Rick Devens will jokingly yell encouragement at him – like, “You gotta pick it up!” – for the fun of it.

HIGH: Cirie is back!

When the cast for Survivor 50 was revealed, many fans and critics were confused about the selection process. It wasn’t clear if the show was aiming for an all-star lineup of the best players from throughout its history. The cast seems split evenly between those who played before season 40 and players from the last ten seasons, which doesn’t quite fit that idea. It also wasn’t a clear ‘battle of the eras’ since several returning players, like Ozzy, Colby, Coach, and Stephenie, have been on the show multiple times already. However, the return of Cirie Fields for her fifth attempt is exciting. She’s been successful in other reality competitions like Big Brother, The Traitors, and Australian Survivor, and now she’s hoping to finally win the original Survivor. While it’s unlikely anyone would let her reach the final vote – she’d be a very popular winner – it’s still great to see her compete again.

WHOA: Rizo and Savannah are back?!

As a fan who follows casting news, I knew going into Season 49 that Rizo Velovic and Savannah Louie were likely to be on Season 50. But when Savannah actually won Season 49, it was huge! She became the third former winner on Season 50, joining Dee Valladares and Kyle Fraser, and made history as the first champion to return and play immediately the very next season. It was an amazing move and a really exciting twist!

Survivor 50 was filmed very shortly after season 49 ended, and before it even aired, meaning the other 22 contestants had no knowledge of Savannah and Rizo’s gameplay or their strong connection – unless Savannah and Rizo chose to share it. This gives them a significant edge, which could help them overcome any fatigue from playing two seasons in a row.

LOW: Q continues to cancel Christmas

A frustrating trend in recent seasons of Survivor is its obsession with its own history. Most contestants are now dedicated fans who are deeply familiar with every strategy and idol, which makes the show less enjoyable to watch. Host Jeff Probst often contributes to this problem, as seen in Wednesday’s finale where a significant amount of time was spent emphasizing Savannah’s challenge wins and their place in Survivor history – a level of excited commentary usually reserved for major events, like a presidential address.

Q Burdette, known for his unpredictable gameplay on Survivor 46, truly baffled both his fellow castaways and viewers at home. He also became famous for a quirky phrase he’d use in interviews – “cancel Christmas” – which didn’t have a clear meaning, yet somehow seemed to say everything. Now, back for Survivor 50, Q is already repeating his signature phrase as if he’s a star promoting new work. It’s reminiscent of Tony Vlachos returning to the game and building increasingly elaborate schemes, but Q isn’t one for such obvious tactics.

HIGH(ish): “In the hands of the fans”

Jeff Probst revealed the season’s theme to the returning players, sparking a lot of surprise and questions. Throughout season 48, viewers were asked to vote on different aspects of the game, with the promise that season 50 would be tailored to what the fans wanted.

It wasn’t a completely clear-cut decision. Many of the voting options focused on minor details like the show’s colors or the look of challenges. Some questions were also too open-ended to be helpful. The most important votes were about bringing back the traditional post-show reunion format (which won) and whether to continue with the fire-making challenge at the final four (the results of that vote are still pending).

LOW: Some fans’ hands are more important than others.

The most frustrating parts of the trailer were definitely when celebrities started appearing in the game. We see country singer Zac Brown arrive by boat, and contestant Christian Hubicki worries that Jimmy Fallon might be influencing his fate – possibly by creating a special advantage. Host Jeff Probst has allowed celebrity fans to impact the game before, most notably in Survivor: Cagayan with an overly powerful Immunity Idol created by Tyler Perry. So, seeing another contestant, Rick, upset about a “Billie Eilish Boomerang Idol” isn’t surprising, but it is concerning.

The most jarring part of the trailer is definitely the appearance of Mr. Beast, the incredibly popular YouTuber whose show Beast Games is doing well on Amazon. This collaboration feels like a violation of the special, almost untouchable status Survivor has maintained. Despite any issues it’s had over the years, Survivor remains the most important and impactful reality TV show ever, and watching Jeff Probst seemingly try to attract Mr. Beast’s viewers feels really uncomfortable.

WHOA: “It’s a Billie Eilish Boomerang Idol!”

Yeah, okay, fine, I’m at the very least interested in what this might actually mean.

HIGH: The cinematography is ripping

Despite some parts of this season feeling overly calculated to please viewers, the visual presentation is still excellent. There’s a striking slow-motion shot from what appears to be the premiere episode – a typical trailer tactic to avoid spoilers about who makes it through the first tribal council. In the shot, Savannah gracefully walks across a balance beam while Aubry dramatically dives into the water. The contrast between Savannah’s elegance and Aubry’s dynamic movement is truly cinematic, as one commenter might say.

LOW: Where are my faves?

The trailer for the show featured lots of slow-motion shots of players like Colby, Coach, and others, but it barely showed the people I’m most excited about. I had to really pause and rewind to catch even a glimpse of Angelina, Genevieve, Emily, or Kyle. We also only saw quick shots of Dee, Charlie, and Chrissy, which makes me worry that my favorite players might be eliminated early in the game. It feels like the first few episodes could be a disaster for those I’m rooting for.

WHOA: So much Stephenie!

Stephenie LaGrossa, a memorable contestant from Survivor: Palau but less popular on Survivor: Guatemala, appears prominently in the trailer for the new season. Since the cast was revealed, Stephenie has been publicly arguing with fellow Survivor alum Eliza Orlins about political views, and has faced criticism for making antisemitic comments. The trailer features several dramatic, slow-motion shots of Stephenie, hinting that she’ll either be a central figure this season or that CBS is trying to create that impression.

2025-12-19 22:56