Whether you like reality TV or not, it’s almost a guarantee that you’ve at least heard of Survivor. In the year 2000, the first of currently 42 seasons aired, making the show one of the longest running reality TV shows. All 42 seasons have had the same host, Jeff Probst, and he’s definitely become a staple of the show. No matter where the show is filmed, who the contestants are, or what challenges they face, it’s certainly a thrilling show to watch.
Of course, the show is not without its ups and downs. Not every season can be as successful as the last, and with as many variables as this show has, there could be any number of reasons the season isn’t as successful. Nonetheless, it continues to be renewed, so its popularity is still strong as people still tune in to every episode. Whether you’ve watched for a long time and are looking to relive some of the best moments, or you haven’t watched before and are trying to find a place to begin, here are some of the best Survivor seasons.
7 Season 40: Winners at War
To celebrate the show’s 40th season and 20th anniversary, the season features a cast full of returning members hoping for another shot at winning. A new twist also came into play with fire tokens, introducing an economy where players could buy items and advantages with enough tokens. It also brought back the Edge of Extinction, where players could stay for a chance to get back into the game, as well as the return of classic challenges. Brimming with shifting alliances and tons of blindsides, this season definitely deserves its spot among the best.
6 Season 31: Cambodia - Second Chance
This unique season gave the audience a chance to vote on who would be playing in the season. A list of 32 former survivor players, all of who had only played once, was whittled down to 24 by the audience, who then got to enjoy those 20 in the game. A power struggle soon made an appearance as one of the tribes was split in two, as no one could come to an agreement on how to play the game. This proves to be their downfall through the two tribe swaps and eventual merge as the other tribe was able to make stronger alliances.
5 Season 37: David and Goliath
The two starting tribes of this season were divided by the degree of success each member had in life. Those on the David tribe were underdogs, while those on the Goliath were overachievers. The Davids struggle in the beginning, quickly losing numbers. However, the tribes still merged with pretty even numbers, and thanks to some hidden immunity idols and advantages, the Davids were able to stay afloat amidst the Goliath’s alliances. Full of lots of luck and strategy, this season is sure to thrill new and old viewers alike.
4 Season 28: Cagayan
Unofficially named ‘Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty,’ this season starts out with three tribes, the contestants separated by the previous traits. The Brains quickly dwindled, losing most of the immunity challenges before the tribes were condensed into two. However, as the two tribes shuffled the undefeated brawn tribe around, new alliances began to emerge, paving the way for several blindsides. As some players navigate through the different alliances to try and vote out the people they view as threats, there are definitely a lot of entertaining moments throughout the season.
3 Season 1: Borneo
There’s no doubt that the first season deserves a place among the best, though it can seem tame compared to other seasons, as there were no previous seasons to base their game on, so the social aspect does lack in some areas. However, it set the scene and precedence for every season after, and is often credited for changing television and setting the scene for other reality TV shows to break through. It’s an interesting season to watch too for the pure survival aspect, which is more in depth than any of the other seasons.
2 Season 20: Heroes Vs. Villains
To celebrate the ten-year anniversary, an entire cast of returning players appears, separated into two distinct tribes. The heroes were players who, throughout their time playing, were known for their integrity, while the villains were known for deception, in a season which embraced the TV antihero protagonist. The season involves many harrowing alliances, lots of deceitfulness, and many surprise plays that, to many, came out of nowhere. The heroes and villains may go into the merge balanced, but there’s no telling what they might try and do against each other. There’s almost no moment to rest as the season is full of excitement and drama sure to enthrall any viewer.
1 Season 16: Micronesia – Fans vs. Favorites
This season’s tribes were split by two kinds of people: 10 fans of the show faced off against 10 fan favorites who have played before. The two tribes remain pretty even at first, as neither team won the majority of the immunity challenges. However, when a tribe swap occurs, the fans begin to succumb to the favorites, slowly voted out as they can’t form strong enough alliances. It’s definitely hard to beat the pros, but the fans give it their all, making for a very interesting and entertaining season that deserves its top spot for best season.