Deliver Again the Basic ‘Survivor’ Reunion Present

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, as a consequence of COVID, Survivor was pressured 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 sporting 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have been lifted since Survivor 41 debuted the brand new reunion present, there was no impetus to revert to the outdated format. As a substitute, Jeff Probst has championed the brand new type and expressed his view that not solely is it right here to remain, but it surely’s additionally higher. Followers disagree, nevertheless, as the brand new format lacks depth as a consequence of it occurring instantly following the ultimate tribal council. The finalists should not allowed to vary, nor can they course of how they only received or misplaced the sport. The castaways are unable to offer context to their sport as a result of they have not seen it play out within the episodes but and may 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.” Finally, the brand new format serves little objective to each the castaways and the viewers to wrap up the present in a significant approach.

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 may permit them to observe the present and see what errors they might have made or how their sport 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 pressured to clarify their sport which they haven’t gotten to witness or talk about mere hours after realizing they will not be profitable 1,000,000 {dollars}. Survivor 43 shedding finalist, Owen Knight, was visibly shaken in the course of 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 sport and power Fijian pizza onto him.

There’s additionally no follow-up when a reunion present is straight away following the ultimate tribal council. The viewers was left in the dead of night 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, obtained no content material on the reunion present, as manufacturing had no concept the influence Sol would have on audiences till the present aired. Pre-jurors are additionally not ready to discuss their expertise on the present, leaving out precious 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 a whole bunch of followers cheer as they anxiously look ahead to 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 notice had been made towards them. It was thrilling to see how relationships had been introduced collectively or pressured aside by the airing of the episodes. Perspective is integral to a profitable reunion present and the brand new format doesn’t permit for that.

With Jeff Probst pushing the brand new format as superior and CBS saving cash protecting it in Fiji, it is unlikely the reunion present will ever seem in its authentic 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 on the market to stream on Paramount+ within the U.S.

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