Episode 2: Twos and threes in 43

Survivor 43 Episode 2 recap/ analysis

By Brent Sullivan | Published: October 3, 2022

The opening episodes of Survivor 43 have provided more time to get to know the new contestants, and Brent uses that introduction to identify and examine key solo players, pairs, and trios in the game's first two episodes.

Episode 2: The hat project

Survivor 43 Episode 2 Recap/ analysis

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: September 30, 2022

It's another super-sized week of Survivor 43, and Ryan is here for all the big scenes involving Cody, rising and falling fates on Baka, Cody, Geo and Ryan's brotherhood, Cody, and more Cody. Beads for all!

Episode 2: We're on strategy watch

Survivor 43 Episode 2 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: September 29, 2022

Idol hunting and snooping began in earnest (and paid off ... or did it?), pairs abound throughout the game, and one tribe had to maneuver around one, possibly two missing votes. Damnbueno is back with a more strategy-focused look at Episode 2 of Survivor 43.

Episode 1: Three new tribes of big characters

Survivor 43 Episode 1 recap/ analysis

By Brent Sullivan | Published: September 26, 2022

As Survivor 43 kicks off with an expanded, 2-hour premiere, Brent revs "Top Five, Baby!" up again with an also-larger six items, with a focus on every tribe and (at least) one important player from each, as shown in the first episode.

Episode 1: Text me back

Survivor 43 Episode 1 Recap/ analysis

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: September 23, 2022

Ryan returns with a review of the premiere, in which he celebrates almost everything but Risk Rock, stans a mom or two, projects future tattoos, and wildly projects winner potential onto various contestants based on their first-episode showing. As one does.

Episode 1: LIVIN

Survivor 43 Episode 1 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: September 22, 2022

Damnbueno gives his quick reactions to a double-length premiere. He applauds the show's return to a form lacking some of 41/42's most objectionable twists, and tries to parse which of the group of 18 new contestants are the best prepared, and are making good game choices so far.

Seasons past: Why subtlety prevails over 'big moves' in Survivor: Part 2

Survivor Multi-season analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: September 12, 2022

Damnbueno's series on the power of subtlety concludes with a look at a few more winners, plus some non-winners who fell just short, all with a continued emphasis that quiet, non-flashy manipulation of the other players will get a contestant further in the game than someone blowing up the game with 'Big Moves.'

Pre-season: Survivor 43: Swipe right or swipe left?

Survivor 43 Pre-season cast analysis

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: September 7, 2022

It's the fall, the new Survivor season's premiere is but two weeks away, so that means it's time for Ryan to start making fire assessments of the new castaways' future abilities to be "dateable" (in Kat's eyes). So grab some matches (oh wait, those aren't used any more) and some Tinder and steel yourself for some flinty decisions, as we see who sparks Ryan's interest.

Seasons past: Why subtlety prevails over 'big moves' in Survivor: Part 1

Survivor Multi-season analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: September 6, 2022

In another inter-season series, Damnbueno pushes back on the modern Survivor refrain that "you have to make Big Moves to win," and highlights six specific examples in which eventual season winners instead subtly manipulated their castmates into making moves that ultimately improved their position in the game. Even in the "new era" game!

Week 6: Relish every single moment that this gift is

SA: Return of the Outcasts Episodes 21-24 recap/ analysis

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: August 28, 2022

It seems like we only just started, but SurvivorSA has already awarded its 2 million prize and aired its (fully stocked) reunion show. But fear not, Ryan has recapped and praised the final week, and season as a whole, and most importantly, crowned his Santoni Stan Star of the season. Who could it be?

Seasons past: Race in Survivor: Part 2

Survivor Multi-season analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: August 22, 2022

Damnbueno concludes his look at the history of race (and racism) in Survivor with a deeper dive into individual case studies of players whose seasons included incidents or accusations of racism. Plus an attempt to list why every Black player was voted out.

Week 5: Shifting in my pants

SA: Return of the Outcasts Episodes 17-20 recap/ analysis

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: August 20, 2022

As the last named SurvivorSA alliance disintegrates, the pace slows down to watch the slow-motion implosion, but Ryan is here to pick up all the pieces, especially any marked with a Salan symbol. The finale approaches, and who among the final five is best situated to take home the two million rand?

Seasons past: Race in Survivor: Part 1

Survivor Multi-season analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: August 15, 2022

In which Damnbueno takes a look at the reasons why discussions about race became such a prominent component of Survivors 41 and 42, the show's history of (scant) minority representation, and what the increased diversity of recent seasons means (and doesn't mean) for the show moving forward.

Week 4: Is a friendship going to buy me a house?

SA: Return of the Outcasts Episodes 13-16 recap/ analysis

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: August 12, 2022

An already super-sized week of SurvivorSA became even super-er-sized, with a whopping four boots for Ryan to mourn, cheer, mourn, and mourn again. Who finds themselves atop the Stan Star charts this week, and who does Ryan see as having the best chance to win?

Week 3: Who are you with, and how many are there?

SA: Return of the Outcasts Episodes 9-12 recap/ analysis

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: August 5, 2022

Ryan recaps a tumultuous week, as multiple underdogs try to stay in the game, only to fall just short (of the merge). Ryan takes stock of the remaining players, and prepares for another four days of heartbreak next week, as the post-merge commences.

Episode 13: Fun winner, fun cast, fun but flawed season

Survivor 42 Episode 13 (finale) recap/analysis

By Jeff Pitman | Published: June 7, 2022

As a season, Survivor 42 succeeded due to its collectively fun-filled personality, which in part reflects the larger-than-life enthusiasm and energy of its winner, Maryanne. An appreciation of the final five and their varied games, and a big-picture look at what the "new era" game needs to fix before it runs out of top-notch cast members.

Episode 13: Looking back on 42

Survivor 42 Episode 13 recap/ analysis

By Brent Sullivan | Published: May 30, 2022

With the winner crowned and the finale and aftershow shown, Brent looks back on how certain seemingly important (at the time) scenes and narrative threads from Survivor 42 ended up paying off (or not).

Episode 13: Close the deal

Survivor 42 Episode 13 (finale) recap/ analysis

By Ryan Kaiser | Published: May 27, 2022

The winner of Survivor 42 has been crowned, and Ryan relives the highlights of the last two eliminations and Final Tribal, celebrates the final five players, looks ahead to 43, and to another worthy Survivor season that will hit screens in just over a month.

Episode 13: (Mis)perception is everything

Survivor 42 Episode 13 (finale) recap

By Damnbueno | Published: May 26, 2022

The Survivor 42 season finale featured challenge beasts falling short, straight-shooters misfiring, and overlooked or "weak" players coming up big at the end. Damnbueno recaps the action as it unfolds, and offers his thoughts on the season as a whole.