Earlier than 2020, each Survivor season would finish with a reunion present with a reside viewers in both New York Metropolis or Los Angeles. Host Jeff Probst would learn the votes to crown a winner and the solid would focus on their perceptions of the present whereas reflecting on what occurred months in the past. Sadly, because of COVID, Survivor was compelled to tape the reunion present instantly following the ultimate tribal council in Fiji, not even giving the ultimate three an opportunity to bathe and alter out of the garments they’d been carrying for the previous 26 days.
Whereas COVID restrictions have been lifted since Survivor 41 debuted the brand new reunion present, there was no impetus to revert to the previous format. As a substitute, Jeff Probst has championed the brand new fashion and expressed his view that not solely is it right here to remain, but it surely’s additionally higher. Followers disagree, nonetheless, as the brand new format lacks depth because of it occurring instantly following the ultimate tribal council. The finalists will not be allowed to vary, nor can they course of how they only gained or misplaced the sport. The castaways are unable to supply context to their recreation as a result of they have not seen it play out within the episodes but and might solely go based mostly on rumour and conjecture from the jury. The pre-jury castaways aren’t even invited, which defeats the aim of calling it a “reunion.” In the end, the brand new format serves little function to each the castaways and the viewers to wrap up the present in a significant method.
A Reunion Present With out Perspective Is Ineffective
Earlier than Survivor 41, castaways who made the ultimate tribal council must wait months earlier than attending to know the results of the final vote. This is able to enable them to look at the present and see what errors they could have made or how their recreation was perceived by gamers and viewers alike, making the sting of shedding extra palatable. Since Survivor 41, those that lose the ultimate vote are actually compelled to clarify their recreation which they haven’t gotten to witness or talk about mere hours after realizing they will not be profitable one million {dollars}. Survivor 43 shedding finalist, Owen Knight, was visibly shaken through the reunion present the place he was nonetheless coming to phrases with not receiving a single vote as Jeff Probst tried to ask him questions on his recreation and power Fijian pizza onto him.
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There’s additionally no follow-up when a reunion present is straight away following the ultimate tribal council. The viewers was left at midnight as to how Charlie Davis moved on from Maria Shrime Gonzalez‘s betrayal of not voting for him to win after being shut allies all through Survivor 46. As a substitute, Jeff Probst forced Charlie to discuss the matter with out him talking to Maria, leaving little to extrapolate from his nebulous solutions. Asking inquiries to castaways with out permitting them time to course of the occasions or witness the edit given to the viewer makes any reply irrelevant.
Even the lighter moments of the reunion present are misplaced within the new format. Somebody like Solomon “Sol” Yi, who was a surprise fan favorite on social media throughout Survivor 47, acquired no content material on the reunion present, as manufacturing had no thought the impression Sol would have on audiences till the present aired. Pre-jurors are additionally not ready to talk about their expertise on the present, leaving out worthwhile closure for the viewer.
A Reside Viewers Provides An Integral Layer to the Viewing Expertise
The brand new format lacks spectacle. Gone are the times of Jeff Probst riding in on a jetski with the votes whereas tons of of followers cheer as they anxiously watch for the winner to be topped. Now, the winner is greeted solely by the applause of their friends, not attending to really feel the load of their win in entrance of their many followers. It is also isolating to be the winner surrounded by everybody who was voted out, forcing the winner to behave humbly whereas the jury showers them with reward to make the winner really feel higher.
There’s additionally little drama with the new format, due to the jury not having seen the season but. With the older format going down months later, confrontations occurred with castaways demanding apologies for statements made in confessionals or blindsides they did not understand have been made towards them. It was thrilling to see how relationships have been introduced collectively or compelled aside by the airing of the episodes. Perspective is integral to a profitable reunion present and the brand new format doesn’t enable for that.
With Jeff Probst pushing the brand new format as superior and CBS saving cash maintaining it in Fiji, it is unlikely the reunion present will ever seem in its unique format once more. Sadly, viewers will obtain nothing greater than shallow reflections mere moments after the ultimate tribal council. Survivor continues to provide quality content when it comes to gameplay and social dialogue. It is solely truthful that they supply a high quality reunion present in return. Survivor is offered to stream on Paramount+ within the U.S.
A actuality present the place a gaggle of contestants are stranded in a distant location with little greater than the garments on their again. The lone survivor of this contest takes residence one million {dollars}.
- Launch Date
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Could 31, 2000
- Solid
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Jeff Probst
- Ranking
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- Seasons
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45
- Studio
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- Story By
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Jeff Probst
- Writers
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Jeff Probst
- Community
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CBS
- Streaming Service(s)
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Hulu
, Netflix - Administrators
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Jeff Probst
- Showrunner
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Jeff Probst
