Episode 10: The many moving parts of a big move

Survivor 41 Recap/ analysis

By Brent Sullivan | Published: November 29, 2021

After a shocking blindside, Brent takes a look at the people involved in making it, their reasons in doing so, and how their decision to act positions them in the game, as numbers dwindle.

Episode 10: Let me count the ways

Survivor 41 Recap/ analysis

By Andy Baker | Published: November 28, 2021

Andy presents a 13-point enumeration — from casting to gameplay to editing and storytelling — of the reasons why this episode, "Baby with a Machine Gun," was an all-time great episode of Survivor.

Episode 10: Today is the day

Survivor 41 Recap/ analysis

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: November 28, 2021

Christmas came early for Ryan, in the form of a (pre-Thanksgiving) complex, emotional, deeply-felt episode leading to an epic blindside of a superstar player: the perfect balance of pathos, scheming, and player-driven drama. (Also, Heather survives another week.)

Episode 10: Survivor works best when the players make the moves

Survivor 41 Recap/analysis

By Jeff Pitman | Published: November 27, 2021

"They scheme without juicers! They scheme without blenders! They scheme without flunjers, capdabblers and smendlers!" This was a rare gem of an episode in modern Survivor, one in which the players did all the work. As they should.

Episode 9: Conflict, faces, and showing power

Survivor 41 Recap/ analysis

By Brent Sullivan | Published: November 22, 2021

Brent looks at the continuing conflicts within the main alliance in power, the shifting profiles of people within that core, and whether anyone outside that group can stay in the game.

Episode 9: Killer quotes

Survivor 41 Recap/ analysis

By Andy Baker | Published: November 21, 2021

Andy celebrates the episode's bevy of delectable verbiage, from a couple of potential winner's quotes to obvious cringe content, to others in between, and looks at how they tell us about what's actually going on in the game.

Episode 9: Twists vs. idols vs. advantages

Survivor 41 Recap/analysis

By Jeff Pitman | Published: November 20, 2021

Last season, we had winners at war. This season, most of the crossfire is between one production-imposed twist and others. Or just as often, twists and plans the contestants came up with. Feel a big power shift coming? Why risk that failing when we can guarantee it by throwing in a random rock draw instead?

Episode 9: I will literally kill you

Survivor 41 Recap/ analysis

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: November 19, 2021

Ryan tries to make sense of the twin Tribals — a TMI one with the threat of advantages flying everywhere, and another not-enough-advantages performance from Xander. But in the end (or at least the one before the end), Ricard saves.

Episode 8: Fractures, etiquette breaches, and other disasters

Survivor 41 Recap/ analysis

By Brent Sullivan | Published: November 15, 2021

It's only Day 16, but two of the three original tribes are in tatters, people are eating slivers of fruit without getting approval, and there's someone named Heather at Tribal Council! Brent looks at these and other shocking developments in Episode 8 of Survivor 41.

Episode 8: Dysfunction junction

Survivor 41 Recap/ analysis

By Andy Baker | Published: November 14, 2021

While Survivor 41's merge tribe finally has a name and buffs, they're far from unified. This week, Andy turns his attention to the group dynamics (testy) and relationships (crumbling), and where those factors suggest the game is heading.

Episode 8: Only YOU can prevent Live Tribals

Survivor 41 Recap/ analysis

By Jeff Pitman | Published: November 14, 2021

Live Tribals (or allegedly live ones, at least) are Survivor's shiniest new toy, and like every other "feature" the show adds, they're confusing and borderline unwatchable. But they're not going away, not unless players wise up that they're more damaging than useful, at least in a normal season with actual alliances. Will we ever see one of those again?

Episode 8: Don't shut me down when I speak

Survivor 41 Recap/ analysis

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: November 12, 2021

This week's episode was all about being heard, and it featured a rare appearance by the elusive Heather – in camp, before challenges, nearly winning challenges, at Tribal, and in confessional (!) — and Ryan is here for hearing it.

Episode 7: Clarity

Survivor 41 Recap/ analysis

By Andy Baker | Published: November 9, 2021

Andy attempts to deconvolute the tapestry of whispers and provide a clear-eyed perspective on who's in trouble, who's in command, and the actual monster is after Episode 7's chaotic Tribal goings-on.

Episode 7: A big move, and a big tribe finally merges

Survivor 41 Recap/ analysis

By Brent Sullivan | Published: November 8, 2021

Brent looks at a bold move that shook up Tribal Council, a small tribe that now appears united, and a big bond that formed surprisingly quickly as Survivor 41 officially enters the post-merge phase.

Episode 7: The illusion of choice

Survivor 41 Recap/ analysis

By Jeff Pitman | Published: November 7, 2021

Thanks to some highly creative gameplay, the second half of the merge episode delivered as the contestants thwarted an overpowered new advantage, in part through their own work, and in part through conditions the half-tribe immunity set in motion. A mixed bag, unnecessarily so, and one that reveals the season's true villains: the producers.

Episode 7: Putting on her big girl pants

Survivor 41 Recap/ analysis

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: November 5, 2021

With the merge finally completed, Ryan checks back in on the big surprises, the big non-surprises, and the big let-downs of the as yet unnamed red-buff tribe and their complicated first Tribal Council together.

Episode 6: Let me explain

Survivor 41 Recap/ analysis

By Andy Baker | Published: November 3, 2021

Andy Baker returns to take stock of a convoluted season and its 12 remaining players, and even comes up with a potential boot order (future twists notwithstanding).

Episode 6: Add the four and the one: Five topics at the merge

Survivor 41 Recap/ analysis

By Brent Sullivan | Published: November 1, 2021

While the merge is only halfway complete (maybe?), Brent looks at the traditional long-term meat of the merge episode: The feast talk, the new alliances, some old ones falling apart, and, of course, an exile.