Survivor 48 Discussion Thread

[PUSH]

It's that time again! The Survivor preseason is back! This time for Survivor 48, which premieres February 26th. This thread is for all discussion of Survivor 48, as well as any other topics that come up about Survivor throughout the season.

Here is a link to the cast that dropped today:

https://parade.com/tv/survivor-48-cast-2025#gid=ci02f2c32410002609&pid=jeff-probst

Throughout the next few weeks, interviews and more press will come out. I'm so excited to have Survivor back!

 

[PUSH]

This isn't Survivor 48 related, but former Survivor contestant, Brandon Hantz, has been arrested for racketeering conspiracy and arson.

'Survivor' Contestant Brandon Hantz Arrested for Racketeering, Arson

Brandon Hantz -- a veteran of the "Survivor" universe -- has been arrested on charges of racketeering conspiracy and arson ... while several of his alleged associates are facing murder charges.

www.tmz.com

 

[JPPT1974]

This isn't Survivor 48 related, but former Survivor contestant, Brandon Hantz, has been arrested for racketeering conspiracy and arson.

'Survivor' Contestant Brandon Hantz Arrested for Racketeering, Arson

Brandon Hantz -- a veteran of the "Survivor" universe -- has been arrested on charges of racketeering conspiracy and arson ... while several of his alleged associates are facing murder charges.

www.tmz.com

His uncle is notorious and infamous Russell Hantz. From the same TV show!

 

[PUSH]

Huge Survivor 50 news!!!!!!

The official title of the season will be Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans. Fans will be able to vote on key elements of the season, such as...

Idols or No Idols
Final Four Fire Making or Not
Live Reunion in LA or Reveal the Winner in the Aftershow

We will get to vote starting with the finale on Wednesday! However, players won't know the results until they are playing the game on the island.

I am so excited!!!!! Here's a link for more info.

'Survivor 50' will allow fans to vote on putting key elements into the game

'Survivor 50' will allow fans to help dictate the course of the season by voting on key elements of the game.

ew.com

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Huge Survivor 50 news!!!!!!

The official title of the season will be Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans. Fans will be able to vote on key elements of the season, such as...

Idols or No Idols
Final Four Fire Making or Not
Live Reunion in LA or Reveal the Winner in the Aftershow

We will get to vote starting with the finale on Wednesday! However, players won't know the results until they are playing the game on the island.

I am so excited!!!!! Here's a link for more info.

'Survivor 50' will allow fans to vote on putting key elements into the game

'Survivor 50' will allow fans to help dictate the course of the season by voting on key elements of the game.

ew.com

It will be interesting to see if the hardcore strategy fans get their way, or if the more casual fans favour things like fire making.

 

[PUSH]

It will be interesting to see if the hardcore strategy fans get their way, or if the more casual fans favour things like fire making.

I've thought, this could either go really well or really poorly. For the categories we know of so far, this is how I'd vote...

Idols
No final-four fire making
Give them rice
Live reunion

I think this theme is very creative, and I like it. However, it also makes me nervous.

 

[PUSH]

It's time for me to make my Survivor 48 winner picks. I always choose one man and one woman. So here we go...

Man: Kyle - He seems level-headed, and this cast has a lot bigger, more threatening men out there.
Woman: Charity - I like her vibes. She seems like she can speak, but I do wonder if she will be too big of a threat.

I tried to go mostly off of vibes this season, but also not having anything too big that disqualifies them.

Kyle is my top pick, with Charity as #2, if I didn't choose one from each gender.

Here are my previous picks, I bolded my correct ones. However, I've also gotten some very wrong.

31 - Vytas
32 - No winner pick
33 - M: Adam, F: Figgy
34 - M: Malcolm, F: Andrea
35 - Winner: Ashley, Runner-Up: Desi
36 - M: Brendan, F: Kellyn
37 - M: Dan, F: Alison
38 - Returnee: Kelley, Newbie: Victoria
39 - M: Tommy, F: Molly
40 - M: Jeremy, F: Parvati
41 - M: Ricard, F: Sara
42 - M: Hai, F: Chanelle
43 - M: Jesse, F: Elie
44 - M: Matthew (medevac backup: Yam Yam), F: Helen
45 - M: Jake, F: Sabiyah
46 - M: Hunter, F: Soda
47 - M: Andy, F: Aysha

 

[PUSH]

Another premiere is in the books!

I will start by saying, I really am enjoying this cast so far! I didn't get any strong vibes in the preseason, but I like so many of them after one episode. The relationship between Eva and Joe is so cool. It's the most touching moment I can remember in a long time. I also like Shauhin, Mary, Kyle, Mitch, Bianca, Tom, and Kevin. Again... I like a lot of them.

The opening challenge apparently had a lot more to it than we were showed. Mike Bloom was on location for the first couple days, and he said Kevin's shoulder injury was a lot more intense. Picture Stephenie LaGrossa dislocating her shoulder, only more. He dislocated his shoulder, blacked out, and following the challenge Jeff called for Dr. Joe, who had to pop it back into place.

I will echo last season... stop with the mud in the first challenge. We don't know who these players are yet, and covering their faces with mud doesn't help. I don't know who is who.

Earning your flint has been overplayed. The fact that Kyle was able to smash his jug to end the challenge was kind of crappy, but it was really cool that he helped Kevin. He definitely added a potential future relationship there, so it was a really good play for the situation he was in.

Seeing the initial dynamics is always so entertaining. I can't even remember all of them.

Sai's idol hunt was unique, but I felt like it took too much time. But I'd rather have that than what they've had in the past. I can't believe the players passed so many symbols without thinking anything strange. Maybe they did, but we just didn't see it. Sai saying she thought they were street names was a little crazy.

The tribal council was very contentious. Mike Bloom said is was more intense than what he was. Sai definitely has a personality to her, and it did not mix with Steph's. I don't think Sai has any chance of winning the game based on her personality, unless she has an Emily-style turnaround. But she pretty much told us this is how she would be in her preseason press.

Overall, I'm really excited to see where this season will take us. It's been a while since I've been so invested in so many players after one episode. I'm hoping that trend keeps up.

Also, my official votes are in for the first round of Survivor 50 voting. Here's my ballot...

- Option B for the colors
- Give them rice (although I'm not bothered either way, I'm just tired of seeing the rice negotiations)
- No Final Four Fire-Making (this is about as passionate as I can get about a topic)
- Live Reunion in LA (I'm also very passionate about this, but not as much as fire)

 

[dmw]

Also, my official votes are in for the first round of Survivor 50 voting. Here's my ballot...
- Option B for the colors
- Give them rice (although I'm not bothered either way, I'm just tired of seeing the rice negotiations)
- No Final Four Fire-Making (this is about as passionate as I can get about a topic)
- Live Reunion in LA (I'm also very passionate about this, but not as much as fire)

I voted the same, except for the live reunion. I like it at the final tribal.

 

[PUSH]

I voted the same, except for the live reunion. I like it at the final tribal.

I feel like that's the hottest take out of all of them. Most people think that one is the safest to assume it'll be a landslide for live reunion.

 

[dmw]

I feel like that's the hottest take out of all of them. Most people think that one is the safest to assume it'll be a landslide for live reunion.

probably. I know you really enjoyed being there, based on what you shared.

 

[PUSH]

probably. I know you really enjoyed being there, based on what you shared.

I've never been to a reunion, although I would love to! I was at a prescreening event before an episode last season. If I enjoyed that as much as I did, I think I'd explode if I ever got to go to a reunion.

 

[dmw]

I've never been to a reunion, although I would love to! I was at a prescreening event before an episode last season. If I enjoyed that as much as I did, I think I'd explode if I ever got to go to a reunion.

Oh, I thought I recalled seeing a post about you being able to go to a live reunion. Maybe I was recalling the pre-screening. Anyways, you are such a big fan, I totally get why you would want to.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

For the fan votes, I honestly just want them to switch things up now and then. Have fire making some of the time. Have a two person final again. Keep the players on their toes and force them to play differently from season to season.

I wouldn't mind an island reunion AND after show later. Get that initial reaction but also hear from players after they've had the time to process the experience.

 

[PUSH]

For the fan votes, I honestly just want them to switch things up now and then. Have fire making some of the time. Have a two person final again. Keep the players on their toes and force them to play differently from season to season.

I wouldn't mind an island reunion AND after show later. Get that initial reaction but also hear from players after they've had the time to process the experience.

I think one of the most fun parts of this fan vote will be that the players won't know what's coming.

I do wish they would switch up some things, such as final 3 vs final 2... three tribes vs two tribes... tribe swaps at different times in the premerge, etc. Unfortunately, it looks like we are getting three tribes again. Make it unpredictable like it used to be. In the new era, players know exactly what to expect and when to expect them.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

I think one of the most fun parts of this fan vote will be that the players won't know what's coming.

I do wish they would switch up some things, such as final 3 vs final 2... three tribes vs two tribes... tribe swaps at different times in the premerge, etc. Unfortunately, it looks like we are getting three tribes again. Make it unpredictable like it used to be. In the new era, players know exactly what to expect and when to expect them.

For a show that has constantly made changes to keep things fresh, it's very odd that they've settled on things like three tribes and fire making as definitive elements that must not be changed.

The premiere was good as far as introducing characters go, but it's otherwise very stale. The camp supplies challenge was a fun design but doesn't change the fact it follows the same design of every season of having to win supplies. Changing the format of the beware idol scavenger hunt is likewise just a slightly different coat of paint on the same thing.

They want the three tribes because they see it as giving us interesting votes in the pre merge. And yet, this aired days after a week of Australian Survivor episodes that had two tribes and a whole lot of chaos and crazy moves. Three tribes all the time is less interesting than the alternative.

 

[PUSH]

For a show that has constantly made changes to keep things fresh, it's very odd that they've settled on things like three tribes and fire making as definitive elements that must not be changed.

The premiere was good as far as introducing characters go, but it's otherwise very stale. The camp supplies challenge was a fun design but doesn't change the fact it follows the same design of every season of having to win supplies. Changing the format of the beware idol scavenger hunt is likewise just a slightly different coat of paint on the same thing.

They want the three tribes because they see it as giving us interesting votes in the pre merge. And yet, this aired days after a week of Australian Survivor episodes that had two tribes and a whole lot of chaos and crazy moves. Three tribes all the time is less interesting than the alternative.

I think the three tribes causes players to play conservatively. Yes, players like Sai will make big moves, but players like Kevin and Justin are just going to sit on their hands because they just want to squeak by, and there's nobody to hide behind if they do make a move. And players like Sai will swing for the hills regardless of the size of the tribe.

In bigger tribes, there are more places to hide, and more people to potentially flip. In a tribe of 6, you get a majority and you stick with it because it's the safest option.

 

[CynBeth]

Another premiere is in the books!

I will start by saying, I really am enjoying this cast so far! I didn't get any strong vibes in the preseason, but I like so many of them after one episode. The relationship between Eva and Joe is so cool. It's the most touching moment I can remember in a long time. I also like Shauhin, Mary, Kyle, Mitch, Bianca, Tom, and Kevin. Again... I like a lot of them.

The opening challenge apparently had a lot more to it than we were showed. Mike Bloom was on location for the first couple days, and he said Kevin's shoulder injury was a lot more intense. Picture Stephenie LaGrossa dislocating her shoulder, only more. He dislocated his shoulder, blacked out, and following the challenge Jeff called for Dr. Joe, who had to pop it back into place.

I will echo last season... stop with the mud in the first challenge. We don't know who these players are yet, and covering their faces with mud doesn't help. I don't know who is who.

Earning your flint has been overplayed. The fact that Kyle was able to smash his jug to end the challenge was kind of crappy, but it was really cool that he helped Kevin. He definitely added a potential future relationship there, so it was a really good play for the situation he was in.

Seeing the initial dynamics is always so entertaining. I can't even remember all of them.

Sai's idol hunt was unique, but I felt like it took too much time. But I'd rather have that than what they've had in the past. I can't believe the players passed so many symbols without thinking anything strange. Maybe they did, but we just didn't see it. Sai saying she thought they were street names was a little crazy.

The tribal council was very contentious. Mike Bloom said is was more intense than what he was. Sai definitely has a personality to her, and it did not mix with Steph's. I don't think Sai has any chance of winning the game based on her personality, unless she has an Emily-style turnaround. But she pretty much told us this is how she would be in her preseason press.

Overall, I'm really excited to see where this season will take us. It's been a while since I've been so invested in so many players after one episode. I'm hoping that trend keeps up.

Also, my official votes are in for the first round of Survivor 50 voting. Here's my ballot...

- Option B for the colors
- Give them rice (although I'm not bothered either way, I'm just tired of seeing the rice negotiations)
- No Final Four Fire-Making (this is about as passionate as I can get about a topic)
- Live Reunion in LA (I'm also very passionate about this, but not as much as fire)

I voted that way as well for the Survivor 50.

 

[PUSH]

That was a good episode, but holy cow the green tribe is a mess. Sai is unhinged.

Starting at the beginning, I loved seeing the camp life. The body part conversation was something, for sure.

The idol hunt on the purple tribe was actually fun, because it came with strategy and social gameplay. Thomas saying to just lose the paper was crazy, and could make him a target. He's definitely playing too hard, and it'll come back to get him. I like how Shauhin thought through his options, but ultimately decided not to straight up sabotage Star's chances.

Moving over to orange, Kamilla was definitely the partner on the group project who did all the work, and Kyle is the one who did nothing and got an A. But I like Kyle.

Eventually, the cryptogram got boring. That's another downfall of the three tribe format. We see essentially the same thing three times with idols, but production probably likes it because it puts an extra idol in the game.

The challenge wasn't very exciting, but it showed how unbalanced the three tribes are once again. I hate the disaster tribe narrative. Jeff admitted this week that he doesn't really think much about tribe strength, but you know what Jeff??? Maybe you should!!!!

Taking out Kevin was definitely a choice. Cedrek choosing Sai over Kevin was definitely a choice. Kevin seemed loyal to Cedrek and Justin. Sai seems loyal to herself and doesn't care about anybody else. But time will tell.

 

[dmw]

some random thoughts...

• The tribes are too small with the three tribe format. Go back to two.
• It was good that each tribe had a slightly different variation of the the beware idol, but...
• The task for the beware idol was much too easy, and...
• The beware idol concept is old and not very exciting. Bring back plain, simple idols. And PLEASE... SOMEONE... keep it a secret that you have an idol/advantage.
• The solo boat where the survivor has to do something solo to get an advantage or lose their vote has been done too many times. Change it up and introduce something new - maybe those individuals swap tribes? Or the three (or two) survivors compete to win something for their tribe?
• I'm over Fiji. I prefer when the locations changed. Maybe a winter survivor?
• This episode left me wanting more action. Maybe more challenges? Or, perhaps separate the immunity and reward challenges.
• I hope we see someone using the fishing rewards.