Oh goodie! I'm in a similar boat to yours - 19, started at Gabon, etc. - and I lovelovelove the first ten seasons. All of my top six are from the first ten (1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10.) And i love seeing people's thoughts on them.
Seasons: Never been exceptionally high on Amazon myself but I get what people are - it's a DabuSurvivor issue more than an Amazon issue. I like Rob, Heidi, and Deena, but I don't really love any of them, and I feel like the story is weak here; it's a collection of good individual episodes, but the whole feels weaker than the sum of its parts. But I can definitely get why other people rank it higher than I do myself, and I still do like it. I just don't love it. But yeah, I know that I'm weird and in the minority on that. Same deal for China.
Right now I rank Vanuatu just outside of my top ten, but I think it'll rank higher on an eventual third viewing, since when I've gone through and watched various clips, I like them more than I remember. The winner storyline is great, the location is great, all the backing characters are great... I have no complaints about it at all. That it doesn't rank in my top ten speaks to the quality of the series as a whole, not to any problems with Vanuatu itself - and, again, I could see it ranking as high as #4 on an eventual rewatch. Certainly it should rank at least #9 for me.
Absolutely love Palau. I agree that its finale is one of the most unbelievable, amazing episodes ever, and the Ulonging is just marvelous. Excellent season, and I rank it #6. Borneo is tied with two others for my all-time favorite; I could maybe split hairs eventually if I rewatch those three back-to-back-to-back, but I have no particular desire to. Borneo is fucking incredible. Pearl Islands is another one of the ones tied for #1 for obvious reasons.
Marq is my third #1. I can get the complaints on Vee but I love her even as shown and edited. Top to bottom I thinkt hat that cast is amazing, it's an excellent season with so many dynamic and unprecedented and exciting moments, it has the most wonderfully complex story of any season (other than maybe Borneo)... It is just a work of art.
Africa is my #4, and a lot of that is because I lovelovelove the location. Every single shot, I am just in awe of how incredible and surreal the setting is. I think it is utterly fantastic, and then it also has a lot of characters I like - Frank, Teresa, Clarence, Silas, Lindsey, Kim J are the standouts for me. And Tom is entertaining most of the time (but he's dragged down overall, because when he's not entertainnig, he's really not entertaining.
I need to rewatch All-Stars. Can't imagine I'll be a fan, though. Uncomfortable with a disappointing and predictable boot order. nothx. Episode six is the fucking nadir of Survivor and almost everybody comes out looking worse for it. Kathy, Tom, Rupert, Rob M, Amber - when Alicia Calaway is the voice of reason, you know things are fucked up.
Australia is my #5. I'm surprised when people think that it's boring post-Mike; the F10, F8, F7, and F6 episodes have a lot of excellent stuff. I could see arguments on the other ones - but even so, I'm willing to forgive it, because it gave us Tina, Colby, Jerri, Mike...
I'd rank Thailand above All-Stars (and, because I'm weird, Amazon) but it's hard to argue it as #10. I don't think it's a bad season by any means; it's just less good, and definitely a step back after Marq.
Richard and Mike are both among my favorites from their seasons. I need a Borneo rewatch, but my favorite for that season is most likely Richard or Sue. Mike ranks below Tina for me but is still excellent. Tom's icky parts drag him down for me and I think Ethan is kinda meh on a rewatch - but I'm still SUPER happy Ethan won and love him as a person and his place in Survivor lore, and Tom is entertaining most of the time. I think Kathy is a better character than Rob, but Kathy, Rob, Sean, and John would all be great picks for a #1 that season since there's so much great stuff going on. I loaaaaaathe Brian Heidik, I think he's the worst (non-All-Stars) thing to come out of Survivor until season 13 or 14 and pretty much dragged his season into the ground and I can't stand that he exists - but owell, different strokes for different blokes. Helen and Robb are my favorites there. Jon is one of many excellent choices for Pearl Islands, Chris and Twila are about even for the spot of my Vanuatu favorite and it depends on when you ask me (Scout is #3 of course <3333), and Ian is obviously my favorite for Palau because he's a fucking god.
I agree with your best moment for #1. #2 I'd have to say Mike falling into the fire - it's my pick for the best episode in Survivor history. I think the tribe swap would be my favorite for Africa? John's vote is the obvious standout for Marquesas (which is saying something with how many other INSANE moments there are.) Fake merge is my favorite for 5, Christy's random power trip might be my favorite for 6?, I don't even know what my favorite would be for 7 since there are so many excellent ones, I'd probably agree on #8, #9 is a fair one though I think I prefer the Leann vote (or any time Scout opened her mouth), Ian/Tom is definitely a great climax for #10.
I generally agree with your top five challenges, tho I'd need to put the coconut chop in there as well. I think the episode three IC in Pearl Isles, the F6 of season one, and Hot Pursuit are also excellent, off the top of my head.
Lol @ your #1 stupidest <3 I'm not quite sure what your criteria for stupidest moments is there, though? Since I don't know if you're going, like, strategy or impact on the season or what. I'd disagree on 3 or 4 being there in any case.
Penny's jury question <3