Survivor Needs to Bring Back the Villains

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I’ve noticed a pattern with Survivor: if a tribe is called “strong,” the season tends to be dull. And Survivor 49 is proving that to be true – it’s become very predictable. It started with the quick elimination of the weakest tribe, Kele. Since then, the two remaining members of Kele have stayed quiet, while the two stronger tribes have mostly just targeted each other – it’s reminiscent of the Tika Three from past seasons. For several episodes, all we’ve seen is conflict between Hina and Uli, even after the tribes were reshuffled to try and avoid this. Episode five was particularly frustrating: the Uli tribe pretended to consider voting out Jason Treul, the last remaining member of the original Hina tribe, or turning on one of their own, Jawan Pitts, who Savannah Louie finds irritating. But predictably, they stuck together, played it safe, and eliminated Jason.

It’s so frustrating to watch Savannah try to shake things up, because everyone else is just playing the same old boring game! We saw this last season with Kamilla – she knew Eva and Joe were running things and tried to get people to target them, but nobody would listen. I think it was because she was also working with Kyle, who ended up winning. They talked about making a move every week, but it was all just filler – a way to fill up the hour without actually changing anything. It’s like they’re stuck in a rut!

Reality shows often stumble because of poor casting choices, and that’s the issue here. Jeff Probst stated last year he wanted to move away from casting ‘villains’ and instead focus on enthusiastic, lifelong fans who are thrilled to be playing the game. This has led to a focus on overly emotional backstories and contestants emphasizing how much the show means to them and their families. While Probst acknowledged that changing the game’s twists could create conflict, the production team hasn’t done that. The twists, like the ‘Beware Advantages,’ have remained largely the same since Season 41, only becoming more complex. Even the challenges are repetitive – one contestant successfully practiced and solved an identical puzzle in his backyard before even facing it on the show. Furthermore, starting the season with three tribes, a strategy used in Season 49 and before, continues to be a flawed experiment that Probst refuses to abandon despite its clear lack of success.

This all comes down to how the show casts its players. Probst seems determined to avoid anyone who might be considered a villain, and the result is a cast of overly nice, sincere people. But honestly, they aren’t very entertaining to watch play Survivor! No one wants to see someone like Bhanu Gopal desperately pleading for survival – it’s not a strategic move. These players focus on loyalty, sticking with the majority, and emphasizing teamwork, even to the point of falsely claiming to have immunity idols just to gain trust. They’re playing Survivor exactly as they think it should be played, and that’s precisely the kind of behavior the show’s producers and casting team seem to favor.

The most memorable seasons of Survivor feature a wide range of players. While CBS has made good progress in including more people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals, the show often relies on the same types of contestants. What it really needs is more variety in personalities and gameplay strategies. This season, contestants have referenced legendary players like Parvati Shallow, Sandra Diaz-Twine, and Ozzy Lusth as if they were universally known celebrities. These players became icons by breaking the mold and creating unique approaches that caught everyone off guard. For example, Sandra Diaz-Twine famously threw Russell Hantz’s hat into the fire simply because she disliked him. This season, Jake Latimer needlessly hid people’s shoes, copying a move he’d seen on a previous season of Survivor. But you can’t achieve greatness just by imitating others – you need to forge your own path.

Jeff Probst’s search for genuine players seems to have led to a cast of superfans – people who know everything about the show, from past seasons to every podcast interview. This raises a question: who does that really appeal to? It’s difficult to say, but the show is now filled with people deeply immersed in pop culture and Survivor trivia. Conversations on the beach revolve around things like Pokémon and Marvel, and players like Charlie Davis from season 46 constantly talked about Taylor Swift. This season even features a player trying to turn his nickname into a catchphrase. While I enjoy a good nerdy hobby myself, these contestants are so focused on the show’s history that they struggle to innovate. They’re so protective of how the game should be played that they can’t find new ways to actually play it.

Throughout its run, Survivor has featured memorable players of all types. We’ve seen incredibly strategic and intelligent contestants like Carson Garrett, John Cochran, and Aubry Bracco. But the show also needs charismatic and socially skilled players, like Parvati and Jenna Morasca, who can influence others. Strong physical competitors, such as Ethan Zohn and Colby Donaldson, are essential too. And we need clever and charming players like Yam Yam Arocho and Todd Herzog who can masterfully navigate the game while putting others at ease.

Reality shows thrive on conflict, and that means they need villains. Think about shows like Real Housewives or even American Idol – it’s often the ‘bad guy,’ like Simon Cowell, who makes the show truly memorable. If you look at the most iconic seasons of Survivor, especially Heroes vs. Villains, the players we still talk about – Sandra, Parvati, Boston Rob, Tyson – were all known for playing a cutthroat game. Why? Because villains are willing to betray those closest to them, and that’s ultimately what Survivor is all about – as host Jeff Probst himself pointed out recently! The strategy of forming strong alliances started with the first winner, Richard Hatch, who was also a bit of a villain. While playing the ‘hero’ is admirable, it comes with a set of unwritten rules. Recently, a player claimed to have pulled off a big blindside, but it wasn’t really a surprise – the person they voted out likely saw it coming. Why? Because they played by the rules. Truly memorable television happens when someone breaks those rules.

Some villains are truly awful, and we’ve had enough of characters like Russell and Brandon Hantz. But a player like Courtney Yates, who was both funny and delightfully cutthroat, is exactly what the show needs right now. We’re seeing hints of that same energy in players like Savannah and Sage, who finally made a bold move by turning on one of their own. These kinds of players need allies to succeed, just like Parvati and her ‘black widows.’ That group was great because everyone brought something different to the table – Natalie was the aggressive one, Cirie was the nurturing mom, and Amanda was the athletic competitor. A variety of personalities is what makes Survivor special, and that’s what feels missing lately. Hopefully, after season 50 – which has a decent mix, though maybe a bit too many strategic players – the show can find a way to cast a wider range of characters and bring some fresh gameplay to the next 25 years. And if they can’t get the casting right, at least someone needs to convince Jeff to switch up his wardrobe!

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2025-11-11 16:55