34--R12--Edge of Extinction

Returnee #12
Season # 38
Title:  Survivor: Edge of Extinction
Location: Mamanuca Islands, Fiji
Broadcast: Spring, 2019
New Players:  14
Returning Players: 4
Days: 39
Winner:  Chris Underwood
Final Tribal Council:  3 Players 13 Jury
Initial Tribes: Manu, Kama
Swap at 15 Manu, Kama, Lesu
Merge: at 12 Vata
Jury: at 18  
Premise:   Once players were voted out, they were given a choice to go home or go to the Edge of Extinction, to wait for another chance to get into the  game. 

The Edge of Extinction was a twist that was first used in Pearl Islands, but neither the players nor the viewers knew about the Outcasts.  In Season 38 however, it was the theme of the show and although the players didn't know about it, unfortunately the viewers did.  

EoE was not easy, you had to subsist on very little food,  Reem who was voted out first spent 32 days on the edge.  Wendy and Aurora spent one night on the island.  Wendy quit after the first challenge and EofE was closed after the second. 

EoE highlighted what I believe is a problem with Survivor.  The Jury spends time together and much of their decision-making can have nothing to do with the game, but is more influenced by the conversations that are had at Ponderosa.  In this season, everyone who did not quit, were part of the Jury starting at the merge.  Reem spent no time with Gavin or Julie, but spent about 30 days with Chris.  Gavin got 4 votes at FTC, but only one of them came from one of his original Tribemates (Aurora),   Chris had the advantage of information from discussions on EoE, and although he dominated the final 4 days, he only spent 11 days competing.  

Alternatively, the other potential winner was Rick, who also came back from EoE, and did well with little help, but only spent 6 nights on the Edge.  Rick was also dominant in the edit especially after he came back into the game, and lost because Chris gave up immunity to challenge Rick (and win) in fire-making.  

Production also gave both returnees an Edge for coming back into the game in the form of a split idol.  They initially had to share it with someebody who had to give it back for them to use it.   Both returning players succeeded at this, although Rick played his idol for David whom he had shared his idol with. Chris played his at 5 on Day 37.  

The four returning players, Joe, Aubry, Kelley and David also detracted from the season.  All four were targeted early and went out 5th, 7th, 10th and 11th.  Kelley's biggest influence was telling everyone on EoE that Lauren had an Idol.  Aubry and Kelley both left with idols in their pockets.  

Many people claimed that EoE was intended to have Joe essentially do what Chris ended up doing.  The rest of the cast was mostly likeable.   Another aspect of the EoE twist was that players exiled, found rewards that could be given to people still in the game.  This was kind of fun but put too many advantages into the game.  And in the end, if Chris had not won, it would have been Rick as he was also an earlier returnee of the game, which would have given the producers their desired result.  

All in all, this was not a bad season until the final episode.   To see the complete season, you only have to watch episodes 1-3, and 13, skipping the 10 hours between 4-12 which although entertaining, was a waste of time for the result.

The same pattern emerges in Winners at War, 2 seasons later which used EoE, fortunately it has a different result.   

Update: Rob Has A Podcast Ranked this Season at 36 in their Top 40 Countdown (2021)



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