What Season Should You Watch 6.0

Cambodia symbolizes the risk inherent in all returnee seasons. When you revisit Survivor’s past, you chance a season that celebrates the past, rather than provides viewers with something new. Cambodia falls into that trap. It comes off as forced, overdone, repetitive, and derivative.

It’s ironic that this season is called “Second Chances.” Many of the characters are mirrors of their former selves. Grouchy people remain grouchy. Same for people who were bitchy, domineering, funny, nerdy, awkward, physically dominant, strategically foolish, etc. I disagree with producers that there is much character change in this season. Mostly everyone is a rerun of their first appearance. And that makes Cambodia seem like a Survivor circlejerk.

Cambodia is admittedly a strategic turning point of sorts. This was when continuously shifting alliances — “trust clusters,” if you will — came to dominate most of the post-merge. Yes, we’ve seen that before (Gabon, Nicaragua, even Pearl Islands), but Cambodia seems to have established the style as the standard. Both seasons since were also strategically defined by the trend.

Unfortunately, what’s good about this season always seems balanced by what’s bad. There are exciting tribals, but also frustratingly uneven editing. There are innovative twists, but they are executed in silly ways by production. There are unexpected boots, but also a glaring winner’s edit.

How will we remember Cambodia long term? Probably as a lower-tier returnee season. HvV is miles better, as is FvF1. I’d even rather All-Stars, with its unapologetic dark themes, then the overwrought rehashing of Survivor’s past that was Cambodia. Yes it’s better than Caramoan, but what isn’t? This is a season to watch towards the latter stages of your time spent catching up on Survivor.

/r/survivor Thread Parent