On Feb. 28, the premiere of “Survivor 46” aired on CBS. “Survivor” is a reality show that follows 16 to 20 people — or in the case of season 46, 18 — as they get marooned on an island and divided into tribes. The castaways must learn to provide themselves with food, water, fire and shelter in order to survive. This season continues the new era of gameplay — taking place over the span of 26 days and forcing players to earn everything they need, including the most basic supplies.
The tribes compete against each other in grueling challenges, fighting for the most coveted reward — immunity. Immunity provides players with safety during the most anxiety-inducing part of the game — tribal council. During tribal council, castaways cast votes against each other to vote their fellow players out of the game, bringing them one step closer to crowning the final victor. The game forces players to forge alliances, think strategically and blindside their fellow castaways in order to survive.
At the end of the game, when only three players remain, the finalists plead their case to a jury made up of players previously voted out. These jurors decide the fate of the final three as to who was able to outwit, outplay and outlast their competition to be most deserving of the title of sole survivor and the million dollar prize that accompanies it.
The season premiere opens with a showcase of three new tribes — Nami, Siga and Yanu — arriving at the marooning challenge, anticipation brewing within the cast as they prepare for an adventure many have waited their whole lives for. “Survivor” host Jeff Probst welcomes the new castaways to the beautiful islands of Fiji.
Reintroducing a concept seen in recent “Survivor” seasons, the first place tribe of the marooning challenge wins their basic camp supplies (pot, machete and flint), while the second place tribe gets first pick in a “sweat or savvy” task against the last place tribe. This can be a physical challenge or puzzle.
Other notable returning concepts and twists include the return of the “Beware Advantage,” an advantage that forces players to make a difficult decision — take a risk by wagering your vote in tribal council for a potential advantage or leave the advantage alone for another player to potentially find. The premiere featured Yanu tribe member Tiffany Nicole Ervin, a 33-year-old artist from Elizabeth, New Jersey, finding her tribe’s hidden advantage. She ultimately takes the risk, ultimately leading her to a highly coveted hidden immunity idol — an advantage that when played at tribal council, negates all votes cast against the player that it is played on.
There is also confirmation on the return of the infamous “Shot in the Dark Advantage,” an advantage that every player receives on their first day that they can use if they feel unsafe. However, no reward comes without a risk as players must sacrifice their vote for a one-in-six shot at safety. The advantage has only been successfully played one time in its five seasons in play by fan favorite Kaleb Gebrewold in “Survivor 45” which negated the unanimous 11 votes cast against him.
The premiere of the new season proves that it is evident that the game of “Survivor” isn’t getting any easier. This season, players must work together to lift a 500-pound gecko through an obstacle course as part of the first immunity challenge, and as in past seasons, castaways have to make tough choices and maneuver difficult dynamics. As usual with “Survivor,” some players simply give up when the game gets tough. The first released episodes prove to be more difficult and fast-paced than ever, starting what will hopefully be a season filled with an entertaining cast, epic blindsides and exciting moves.
The show has undergone many changes since its first season aired back in 2000. However, with new twists, personalities and challenges, both superfans and new fans alike will be kept on the edge of their seats in season 46. This season also continues to utilize the newly implemented format of longer 90-minute episodes, with the first two episodes each spanning two hours. This length expands the adventure, tension and excitement crammed into each episode.
New episodes of “Survivor 46” release Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on CBS or it is available to stream on Paramount+.