I got bored, so I posted thoughts for each season.
1. Heroes vs Villains (20)
- Hands down the most entertaining season ever, from start to finish. The Villains tribe was the best and most entertaining tribe ever. If you weren't rooting for them, you were rooting for the wrong tribe.
2. Micronesia (16)
- Arguably the best game ever played by Parvati, this was the first season I really felt there were truly and utterly shocking blindsides. Micronesia set up HvV for the next era of Survivor players.
3. Cagayan (28)
- Cagayan set up the "big moves" era of Survivor with Tony leading the way. He invented the aggressive play style that could actually win. And whether you like big moves or not, it sure was entertaining the first time we saw it.
4. Cambodia (31)
- Cambodia really perfected the "big moves" era, as every single player was out there to play. The fans voted in a phenomenal cast, and we saw some players shine through that we didn't see in their first seasons. It was great seeing new school players with old school players. Even if they didn't do a whole lot, players like Kelly Wiglesworth and Kimmi were fun to watch after all these years.
5. China (15)
- This is often a forgotten season in terms of how good it was. Todd invented the "meat shield" strategy by aligning with James and Jean-Robert. They would always be bigger threats physically than he was strategically. He aligned with Courtney, so there was always a weaker person around. And then he aligned with Amanda, who he could talk strategy with. Great cast.
6. The Amazon (6)
- This was a fun cast, highlighted by Rob Cesternino. He was the first player to really account for how others would react, and strategize based on that. He carved the way for future superfans like Fishbach, Cochran, and Spencer.
7. Blood vs Water (27)
- This was the 2nd season I ever watched, and I didn't really appreciate it until I rewatched it. The loved ones made it so much more dynamic, and I didn't realize that until I had seen all the other seasons. A great mix of returnees (Tyson, Aras, Tina, Laura M.) and new players (Ciera, Hayden, Vytas). Laura Morett is also one of my "most underrated" players of all-time. She's great.
8. Millennials vs Gen X (33)
- Great cast all around. Both tribes had good strategists, good characters, and unpredictable gameplay. David's transition was a great story.
9. Borneo (1)
- The first season needs to be in the top 10 because it started it all. Going back to rewatch it now is pretty dull, but Richard Hatch was way ahead of his time. Without him, the game probably doesn't continue today. He was the only one in the first season to realize how to play the game. Everyone else was just going through the motions.
10. Pearl Islands (7)
- Good cast. Sandra, Rupert, Fairplay. The Outcast twist was awful, but the pirate theme oddly worked. Rupert was great in this season, before it became more about strategy, which he lacks mightily in.
11. Koah Rong (32)
- Aubry deserved the win, which is why this isn't higher. But great cast. Some moments that make you cringe, but Aubry is one of my all-time favorites, so it got bumped pretty high.
12. Caramoan (12)
- Slow pre-merge, but the post-merge was pretty good. I know some cringe when they hear Cochran's name, but if you look at him solely in Caramoan, he played a very good game. This is the season Andrea stepped forward and became a player. Malcolm also added to the fun with his invention of the live Tribal (though he played it entirely wrong).
13. Cook Islands (13)
- Lots of good players, several who returned: Penner, Parvati, Candice, Ozzy, Yul.
14. Tocantins (18)
- Good cast, and we got one of the biggest characters in the game with Coach. Other notable players include JT, Fishbach, Tyson, and Taj. A medevac also added to this season's drama.
15. Heroes vs Healers vs Hustlers (35)
- This would have been MUCH higher had it not been for the terrible finale, which magically gave Ben the win. The amount of good players and interesting characters was incredible, including the pre-merge boots: Ben, Lauren, Chrissy, Devon, Ryan, Joe, Ali, Cole, Patrick, Alan. Most of those players I thought at one point could win. Others were just entertaining characters.
16. The Australian Outback (2)
- A major highlight here was the first medevac, which was totally encapsulating. Skupin going down like that made everyone realize Survivor is real. Tina was the first female winner, and proved that Survivor isn't just about Surviving. Otherwise Colby would have won. We had our first female villain in Jerri.
17. Fiji (14)
- Earl was a great winner, and he had never seen the show before. Yau-man quickly became a favorite. The Dreamz move with the car went down as one of the most infamous moves in Survivor history at the time.
18. Panama (12)
- More great characters. Terry, Aras, Cirie, Shane, Danielle. Cirie has since become a Survivor legend, who could have very easily been a 4 time winner, once in each of her seasons, had it not been for unforeseen twists or gimmicks.
19. Philippines (25)
- Not as high on this season as some are. I found a lot of the cast to be annoying (Jeff Kent, Russell Swan, Lisa, Skupin). There were only a few that I really liked (Penner, Malcolm, Denise). Penner would have been one of the best ever winners, had he not made a very stupid mistake.
20. Palau (10)
- The Tom and Ian moment was great TV, and masterfully played by Tom, who likely would have not been able to outlast a much younger opponent. Other than that, I remember a few names, such as Katie and Janu, but not much else. Stephenie LaGrossa was a great player, and one of the more underrated and forgotten ones as years have passed.
21. San Juan del Sur (29)
- Natalie played exactly how she needed to in order to win, and she is one of the most underrated winners. The rest of the cast lacked in gameplay, but that's probably because Josh and Jeremy were the first two merge boots.
22. Game Changers (34)
- Great cast, but too many of the best players were voted out early. Too many gimmicks that sent other great players home. Sarah deserved the win, but she was helped immensely by a dominant pre-merge tribe and idols/advantages.
23. Africa (3)
- Don't remember lots about this other than the scenery. Ethan was a deserving winner for his era. I remember Silas was the first ever to be screwed by a tribe swap. He was doing a solid job, too.
24. Samoa (19)
- The Russell story was a drag by the end of the season, but he was entertaining to watch. Dave Ball was a character, and Laura Morett was someone I liked, but I didn't like most of the cast. Jaison and Mick were drab, and Natalie has about one notable move (the social move to flip Kelly and the opposing tribe on Eric), but she's one of the least deserving winners. I get every winner deserves it, but she would be at the bottom if there were ones who didn't.
25. All-Stars (8)
- Great concept to bring old players back, but the bitterness is what brings this season way down. Rob deserved the win, but players like Tom and Lex took a game way too personally.
26. Vanuatu (9)
- A few good players and characters, such as Ami and Eliza, but I also remember Twila and Scout being very annoying.
27. One World (24)
- I actually think this season is not bottom-barrel like a lot of fans do. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Kim dominate physically, socially, and strategically. The men's tribe was a mess, and I didn't like a single male on that season. Colton is appalling.
28. Worlds Apart (30)
- Another cringe-worthy season with all the bullying. Mike needed to win based solely on challenges, which I never like. I really like Carolyn, but she doesn't get the credit she deserves. Joe is overrated. Aside from Carolyn, and maybe Jenn, there's nobody from that season I'd care to see again. Although, Jenn did pretty much quit.
29. Marquesas (4)
- Don't remember tons of moves aside from the rock draw, but I found much of the cast to be annoying. I didn't like Vecepia as the winner. Kathy was a good player who deserved to win had she gotten to the end.
30. Guatemala (11)
- Don't remember a lot about this one either. I remember rooting for Stephenie, who should have won over Danni in the final TC. I also remember liking Rafe. I remember hating Judd.
31. South Pacific (23)
- I like Sophie for her takes since she's played, rather than how she actually played. Coach's "cult" was gag-worthy. Brandon was, too. Much of the cast was unlikable. Ozzy pulled off a bold move by asking to go to Redemption Island, but Ozzy's cockiness continued to grow from Micronesia.
32. Nicaragua (21)
- Brenda was the sole positive of this season. I hated nearly ever other player. Including Jane, who was a fan favorite. The way she flipped out when she learned she'd be voted out had me rolling my eyes. Na'Onka and Purple Kelly... enough said.
33. Thailand (5)
- I remember the most boring final challenge ever, I remember two people who had a sexual assault argument, and I remember an adult entertainment star winning. Need I say more?
34. Redemption Island (22)
- It gave us Andrea, but she did virtually nothing in her first season, not unlike Parvati, who she is often compared to. Phillip was annoying. Rob played amazingly well, but I was not as mesmerized by his gameplay like I was with Kim in One World. In fact, I found his win to be too easy because everyone was in love with him. Jeff also seemed to skew questions to where Rob was more likely to not be a target.
35. Gabon (17)
- The sole highlight to this season was Corinne. Watching anyone else was like nails on a chalkboard. Bob, Susie, Kenny, Crystal, Mattie, Randy (who I've grown fonder of since, but not when I watched Gabon)... they were all way too much.
