Episode 3: FWAP!!!! aka Emily’s boomerang strategy

Published: March 12, 2026

Yes, we indeed voted for a tribe swap, and Damnbueno is thrilled to revisit the highlights of Episode 3 of Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans, one of his favorite, strategy-filled (some of it sloppy) episodes in a long time.

Episode 2: Louie, Louie, we gotta go now

Published: March 5, 2026

Dambueno guides you through the duos of Episode 2 of Survivor 50: Two big evacuations in the opening minutes, two separate challenges, two tribes winning immunity, and two former winners heading to the exits.

Episode 1: Playing to win vs. playing to be remembered

Published: February 26, 2026

A bleary-eyed Damnbueno walks us through a very extended (3-hour), highly eventful Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans premiere, from the two journeys (one of which became Exile Island), to the two challenges, to the two already exited returning players.

Pre-season: Playing in back-to-back seasons

Published: January 5, 2026

With Survivor 49 now complete and Savannah and Rizo headed right back out to play in Survivor 50, Damnbueno looks at how contestants have fared historically playing in back-to-back seasons, then tries to assess the S49 alums' chances in the context of their starting tribes.

Pre-season: Survivor 50 cast preview, Part 3: The New Erans

Published: July 21, 2025

Damnbueno returns to his Survivor 50 previewing with the second group of contestants, chronologically, those who first appeared in seasons 35-38. Or the non-New Era players who have only played once before.

Pre-season: Survivor 50 cast preview, Part 2: The thirties

Published: July 15, 2025

Damnbueno returns to his Survivor 50 previewing with the second group of contestants, chronologically, those who first appeared in seasons 35-38. Or the non-New Era players who have only played once before.

Pre-season: Survivor 50 cast preview, Part 1: The returning returnees

Published: July 7, 2025

It's done filming and won't air until 2026, but Damnbueno is already recapping Survivor 50! In this case, he's reviewing the previous games of the first group of contestants, chronologically - those who first appeared in seasons 1-32, all of who have already played Survivor at least twice. These are the returning returnees.

Damnbueno got his nickname in 8th grade Spanish class when his friend shouted out "You're pretty damn good at Spanish." The teacher insisted he say it in Spanish, so the friend said "Esto es damn bueno en Espanol." The nickname stuck. These days, when he's not forgetting his 8th grade Spanish, Damnbueno is indulging his obsession with all things Survivor. Reach him in the comments section here at True Dork Times.