Episode 13: Looking back on 43

Published: December 19, 2022

With the Survivor 43 finale and aftershow in the rearview, Brent takes stock of five key scenes during the season that correctly forecast long-term important points, along with one that seemed predictive, but was misleading.

Episode 12: Top five, baby!

Published: December 12, 2022

It's that time of year, when the column title is the same as the column name, and Brent looks at the top five (baby) of Survivor 43 in his final pre-finale column, and projects which of the quintet has the best chances of getting that money (baby, also).

Episode 11: Plots + schemes + underdogs = fireworks?

Published: December 5, 2022

Brent looks at all the still-unresolved scheming and plotting in Episode 11 of Survivor 43, notes the well-stocked armory of unplayed idols, and puts a massive firework display at the top of his pre-finale wishlist.

Episode 10: Lurking idols, planted seeds, and players on the outside

Published: November 28, 2022

As the majority alliance crumbles and rebuilds, there are just three votes left in the game and three idols still in the mix, creating opportunities for those on the outs to mix things up. Brent highlights five key scenes and items from Episode 10 that may play into how Survivor 43 finishes up.

Episode 9: Two wins, two out, eight left

Published: November 21, 2022

Episode 9 of Survivor 43 split the Gaia tribe back in half, but that opened up the game to some big moves (okay, one big move), and Brent examines the newly formed connections, in a projection of which of the alliances shown could go all the way.

Episode 8: Surprise idols, sketchy power, and fishing

Published: November 14, 2022

As Survivor 43 moves deeper into the post-merge, Brent sees a murky path ahead for one player, another whose hold on power seems suspect, and questions and surprise answers elsewhere. Whose path to the end (with votes) looks the clearest?

Episode 7: Moves, mud, and the AlliGabler

Published: November 7, 2022

Episode 7 of Survivor 43 saw the arrival of individual challenges (sort of), a reptilian challenge winner, another original tribe splintering, and the return of an advantage everyone thought had been safely eliminated. Brent tries to put all the key pieces together to figure out where things are headed.

Episode 6: Four vs. four vs. four

Published: October 31, 2022

The sort-of-merge episode of Survivor 43 featured the infighting and implosion of Baka, the largest group, leaving an even three-way split among original tribes, all still armed with idols and advantages galore. Brent is excited to see where this all is headed in the post-merge.

Episode 5: Manhunts, lost votes, and acting

Published: October 24, 2022

As the pre-merge of Survivor 43 wound down to an event-filled but familiar-feeling conclusion, Brent looks at how the various advantages and disadvantages could affect the fates of the players holding them in the individual portion of the game.

Episode 4: Conflict, cooperation, and questions

Published: October 17, 2022

After an episode that saw alliances split, camps receive unwelcome visitors, and opposing tribes make surprising collaborations, Brent looks at the groupings, conflicts, and rising tensions that may pay off within the next few episodes.

Episode 3: Idols, advantages, and the joys of searches

Published: October 10, 2022

In an idol- and advantage-heavy episode, Brent praises the drive and determination of the contestants who went to work acquiring such items, as well as those who put in the effort but came up short.

Episode 2: Twos and threes in 43

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 1: Three tribes of big characters

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.