In the year 2000, the first season of Survivor aired and absolutely captivated the world. From the very start, I have been a major fan of the show because I love virtually every part of the game, especially the strategy.

On top of watching every Survivor episode ever, I frequently listen to podcasts about the show and pay attention to how it is discussed on social media. I’ve also introduced Survivor to my young child, which has helped me see the show through new eyes.

After spending hours thinking about and discussing Survivor, I have a strong opinion on what makes a good or bad season. I will use that expertise to rank every Survivor season from the absolute worst to the best.

Survivor: Island of the Idols Season 39 (2019)

Easily the worst season of the show ever, it is nearly impossible to defend Survivor: Island of the Idols. Mostly remembered as the season that included inappropriate touching that the show’s producers initially did virtually nothing about. For most viewers like myself, that situation was disgusting to see play out.

On top of that, several other players conducted themselves in disappointing ways after details of what was going on began to influence the game.

Kellee Kim, Jamal Shipman, Karishma Patel, Elaine Stott, Lauren Beck, and Janet Carbin all especially deserved to be in better seasons. Survivor’s producers should bring them back but they may want to avoid that for fear of bringing attention to this horribly sad and disturbing season.

Survivor: Thailand Season 5 (2002)

Up until Survivor: Island of the Idols aired, Survivor: Thailand reigned supreme as the most disturbing and off-putting season ever. After all, the season was won by someone who seemed extremely dark, even though his life later took surprising turns.

Worse than that, the inappropriate touching scandal that rocked this season was incredibly uncomfortable to watch. No wonder Ghandia Johnson still spoke out about how she was treated during that situation many, many years later.

This is a season I will never rewatch or forget for terrible reasons.

Survivor: Nicaragua Season 24 (2010)

When Survivor: Nicaragua aired, it often seemed like many of the players weren’t competing to win. Instead, it seemed like the season’s many unlikable players were competing to see who viewers would hate the most.

In every way, this is a disappointing season. Between the underwhelming winner and the fact that two players quit in a very flippant way, I believe this season is just plain bad.

Survivor: One World Season 24 (2012)

Considering how stellar the winner of this season was, I really want to like more. The fact that Kat Edorsson was so lovable and she has gone through so much also makes me wish I could rank this season higher. I also find the One World twist to be a fascinating idea that I would support returning in the right circumstance.

Despite all that, I can’t deny that I believe that Survivor: One World is a bad season because of the majority of its cast. The way that Alicia Rosa and Colton Cumbie treated Christina Cha was deplorable and the majority of the male cast members were boring.

Survivor Worlds Apart – White Collar vs. Blue Collar vs. No Collar Season 30 (2015)

In many cases, theme seasons of Survivor have been great, since it is interesting to see players from different backgrounds come together. That should have been the case for Survivor Worlds Apart, but I believe that several players being unnecessarily nasty ruined this season.

Dan Foley and Will Sims II conducted themselves in ways that made me want to turn the TV off. I kept watching since I am a big fan of the show, but I wanted to turn away from them. The only thing that makes me smile about this season is thinking about Rodney Lavoie Jr. complaining about his birthday.

Survivor: Guatemala Season 11 (2005)

Easily one of the most forgettable seasons ever, it felt like Survivor: Guatemala’s players and viewers were struggling to get through the season. The only thing that makes Survivor: Guatemala important is that it was the first season to feature a hidden immunity idol.

Survivor: Edge of Extinction Season 38 (2019)

Throughout most of the season, Survivor: Edge of Extinction seemed like it was going to be a good season. Then, the Edge of Extinction twist came into play and torpedoed almost everything that came before it.

As a fan, I felt like there was little to no point in watching the entire season when a player returned to the game and practically negated most of what came before.

What are the worst Survivor twists ever, according to Entertainment Weekly?

• The Medallion of Power
• The Outcasts/Redemption Island/Edge of Extinction
• Dividing the Tribes by Ethnicity
• The Haves vs. Have Nots
• Final Four Fire-Making Challenge

Survivor: Kaôh Rōng – Brains vs. Brawn vs. Beauty Season 32 (2016)

One of the quickest ways for a season to go awry is for it to feature bitter players who try to ruin the game for other players. I believe that Survivor: Kaôh Rōng is a perfect example of since Kyle Jason and Scot Pollard seemed to became very bitter at losing and lashed out.

Survivor: Redemption Island Season 22 (2011)

After Survivor: All-Stars, fans came to believe that “Boston” Rob Mariano was one of the best players ever. With that in mind, it may seem like a season that Mariano utterly dominated would be great, but that simply isn’t true.

Of course, Survivor: Redemption Island has some highlights. For example, Mariano and Phillips Sheppard’s partnership is amazing to watch, even though the latter player once claimed the season was rigged to help “Boston” Rob. Still, this is one of the most predictable and therefore boring seasons ever.

Survivor: South Pacific Season 23 (2011)

When I learned that Ozzy Lusth and Benjamin “Coach” Wade were returning to the show, I was excited. Little could I have known that Survivor: South Pacific would mostly be defined by its hypocritical, judgmental, and entitled players.

On the one side, there was Coach’s alliance that pledged to play with high morals only even though almost all of them were duplicitous. Then, there was Ozzy’s side of the aisle, who seemed to be openly dismissive of people only to resent it when other players didn’t follow their orders.

Because of both of those teams, Survivor: South Pacific is hard to watch. The season’s only highlights are John Cochran and Sophie Clarke in my opinion.

Survivor: Africa Season 3 (2002)

Looking back, Survivor: Africa had one of the most unique locations in the show’s history which is a huge argument in its favor. However, there is a reason why the show has never been filmed in a landlocked location since Survivor: Africa.

Easily the biggest problem that Survivor: Africa had is that it featured too many unlikable cast members. A group of the season’s younger stars were portrayed as brats which resulted in them annoying viewers from the same age range as them. While Survivor: Africa also had several popular stars, they ultimately weren’t enough to overcome that.

Survivor: Gabon Season 17 (2008)

Perhaps the oddest season of Survivor ever, Survivor: Gabon somehow managed to feel unnecessarily nasty and innocent at the same time.

On the nasty side of the equation, players like Corinne Kaplan and Randy Bailey brought a level of bitterness to the season that often wasn’t fun to watch. On the other hand, Jessica “Sugar” Kiper and Bob Crowley both came across as overly innocent.

I believe that both of those aspects made Survivor: Gabon feel frustrating to watch. On top of that, the person who won made the season hard to take seriously.

Survivor 48 (2025)

Prior to the second-last episode of this season, I would have ranked Survivor 48 lower on this list. However, Kyle Fraser and Kamilla Karthigesu convincing Joe Hunter and Eva Erickson to turn on Shauhin Davari made the ending much more interesting. Survivor 48 also had the advantage of featuring memorable players, including the aforementioned five people, Star Toomey, David Kinne, and Thomas Krottinger.

Despite what Survivor 48 had going for it, I can’t ignore how boring a lot of the season was. With many of the players spending the whole season afraid to make a move, a lot of Survivor 48 sadly felt tedious and predictable. On top of that, Survivor 48 also featured the worst journey in the show’s history, which involved players losing their luck solely due to bad luck. All things considered, there is no way to rank Survivor 48 higher than this, despite the aspects of the season I loved.

Survivor: San Juan del Sur – Blood Vs. Water 2 Season 29 (2014)

In my opinion, Survivor: San Juan del Sur has the most underrated winner in the history of the show. Survivor: San Juan del Sur’s inclusion of Keith Nale, Kelley Wentworth, Jeremy Collins, and the Blood vs. Water theme also made it entertaining.

Still, the truth is that aside from an immunity idol play, this season lacks memorable moments because overall, it is on the boring side.

Survivor 43 (2002)

While looking back at Survivor 43, there isn’t anything to be outraged by, as there is with other seasons. While looking back at Survivor 43, there isn’t anything to be excited by, as there is with other seasons.

In the coming years, it seems all but certain that Survivor 43 will be one of the more forgettable seasons. The only things that will likely stand out about it is that the season had a winner who donated his entire prize and how many fans liked Jesse Lopez.

Survivor 41 (2021)

After Survivor went on a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the show’s team wanted change some things. The only problem is that many of those changes were terrible. Most notably, most fans and I believe that the hourglass twist was awful. One player from this season, Danny McCray, publically called out the show’s producers for this poorly thought-out twist.

The only reason why this season isn’t ranked lower is that it featured several great cast members. It would be wonderful if Evvie Jagoda, Deshawn Radden, Shan Smith, and Ricard Foyé returned in the future.

Survivor: Philippines Season 25 (2012)

Throughout the show’s history, some Survivor players have put on master classes on how to play. Survivor: Philippines succeeds as a season because it is a prime example of that. During Survivor: Philippines, I was blown away by how one of the players proved the importance of emotional intelligence and trusting their instincts.

Survivor: Philippines wasn’t ranked higher on this list because of the inclusion of one player. After previously becoming the first player to be medically evacuated after a serious injury, one Survivor: Philippines went on to disgrace themself so it is hard to watch them here.

Survivor: Fiji Season 14 (2007)

I actually believe that Survivor: Fiji is an underrated season in many ways. Most of all, the fact that Earl Cole doesn’t get more respect as a winner is a crying shame.

That said, I still find it impossible to rank this season any higher and that is entirely the fault of the season’s producers. The reason for that is that the “Haves vs. Have-Nots” twist was an extremely bad and unfair twist. How about changing the name to the easy life and totally screwed twist instead?

Survivor 44 (2023)

To argue why Survivor 44 is a really good season, all I have to do is list three names; Yam Yam Arocho, Carolyn Wiger, and Carson Garrett. I believe that the three-person alliance was an unlikely trio that kept Survivor 44 feeling fresh, fun, and frenetic.

On top of all the fans who loved Yam Yam Arocho, Carolyn Wiger, and Carson Garrett as a trio, they appear to still be friends. Since their season ended, their reunions have been chronicled on social media much to the delight of fans.

Survivor 44 also features several more lovable cast members, including Jaime Lynn Ruiz, Matthew Grinstead-Mayle, Frannie Marin, and Matt Blankinship. However, Survivor 44 isn’t one of the best seasons because I feel that most of the strategic gameplay doesn’t stack up.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers Season 35 (2017)

On the downside, Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers is a highly controversial season. The reason for that is many Survivor fans actually believe that the show’s producers rigged the game for Ben Driebergen. That controversy drags this season’s ranking down even though I think it is silly to believe the season was rigged.

On the bright side, Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers was highlighted by the fantastic feud between Driebergen and Chrissy Hofbeck. That feud is so great because the rivals are very evenly matched and clearly respect each other’s abilities.

Survivor: The Amazon Season 6 (2003)

In some ways, Survivor: The Amazon doesn’t hold up and one scene likely would get Jeff Probst canceled if it happened today. Still, Survivor: The Amazon overall remains a solid season for several reasons.

Most notably, Survivor: The Amazon features one of the funniest players in the show’s history, Rob Cesternino. On top of that, the season features a lot of compelling drama including alleged bullying, a player who was portrayed as being strange, and more.

Survivor: Samoa Season 19 (2009)

Depending on how each fan feels about Russell Hantz, they could argue that this season deserves to be ranked higher or lower on this list. After all, Survivor: Samoa pretty much is the Russell Hantz season.

As someone who thinks Russell Hantz was fascinating to watch but not one of the best players ever, this is the perfect ranking for Survivor: Samoa. After all, I find Survivor: Samoa to be an interesting season, but don’t think one compelling player is enough to rank it any higher than this.

Survivor: Palau Season 10 (2005)

For many Survivor fans, it will be shocking to see Survivor: Palau listed so low on this list. However, in my opinion, Survivor: Palau has long been highly overrated because the season’s winner was so beloved.

Certainly a solid season, Survivor: Palau is remarkable in many ways including one tribe getting destroyed. Still, I believe this season isn’t compelling enough to rank it any higher than this, as most other fans would.

Survivor: Panama – Exile Island Season 12 (2006)

When most fans think about Survivor: Panama, they are bound to smile since it featured Cirie Fields, Terry Dietz, and the always unique Shane Powers. Despite those three appearing, however, Survivor: Panama is a mid-level to low-tier season for me.

Looking back at Fields, Dietz, and Powers, the trio certainly made some Survivor: Panama episodes entertaining enough that it isn’t a bad season. However, the truth is that Fields is best known for other seasons and neither Dietz nor Powers’ antics could carry the season.

Survivor: The Australian Outback Season 2 (2001)

Earlier during this list, I revealed that one Survivor: Philippines player’s disgraced legacy resulted in its relatively low ranking. That same player was a part of Survivor: The Australian Outback but they were eliminated a lot earlier. Still, that player’s inclusion drags down Survivor: The Australian Outback’s ranking for me but not as much.

In general, I believe that many fans overrate Survivor: The Australian Outback because it plays such an important role in the show’s history. Still, Survivor: The Australian Outback is a good season thanks to its cast that was full of characters and the many memorable moments.

Survivor: Cook Islands Season 13 (2006)

Easily the most controversial season ever, Survivor: Cooks Islands was different since the starting tribes were divided on ethnic lines. Obviously that decision fact many people, but Jeff Probst defended the decision by stating the show’s producers wanted to have a more diverse cast.

Who are the best Survivor players ever, according to Screen Rant?

• Jeremy Collins
• Yul Kwon
• John Cochran
• Sarah Lacina
• Sandra Diaz-Twine
• Cirie Fields
• Ozzy Lusth
• Parvati Shallow
• ‘Boston’ Rob Mariano
• Tony Vlachos
• Tyson Apostol
• Kenzie Petty
• Erika Casupanan
• Dee Valladares
• Maryanne Oketch

That controversy aside, I believe that Survivor: Cook Islands is a really good season thanks to its cast. Survivor: Cook Islands featured the debut of Parvati Shalow, Ozzy Lusth, Yul Kwon, Candice Cody, Jonathan Penner, Nate Gonzalez, and Cao Boi Bui among others.

Survivor: Ghost Island Season 36 (2018)

For longtime fans like myself, Survivor: Ghost Island featured a lot of moments that really paid off. Most obviously, the fact that the titular Ghost Island was filled with highly memorable relics from Survivor’s history was a lot of fun.

Another fact that Survivor: Ghost Island doesn’t get enough credit for was that it answered a question fans had for almost two decades. Since Survivor: Ghost Island featured two players who played spectacularly, it gave viewers the answer to a huge question. What happens if there is a tie during the final tribal council?

Survivor: Vanuatu Season 9 (2004)

Unfortunately for the legacy of Survivor: Vanuatu, the season featured several very easy-to-forget players. However, this season is saved by the inclusion of underrated players like Ami Cusack, Eliza Orlins, and Chris Daugherty.

There was a potential for Survivor: Vanuatu to become predictable and boring. However, Survivor: Vanuatu is saved because the alliances that ultimately broke down amid infighting. I believe that resulted in fans getting to see how entertaining Eliza, Ami, and Chris were.

Survivor 45 (2023)

Survivor 45 is a fascinating study of the importance of the casting department and how unpredictable that process can be. On the one hand, this season features some very likable players who seemed like great people but added nothing to the game. On the other hand, Survivor 45 also features several entertaining players and the best winner of the modern era, in my opinion.

Thanks to that latter group, Survivor 45 is really good season that hopefully will have several players return. Still, the season couldn’t be ranked any higher since there weren’t enough exciting moments to make it be considered one of the best seasons ever.

Survivor: All-Stars Season 8 (2004)

During the first seven seasons of Survivor, it seemed like the show’s fans would never get to see their favorite players return. All of that changed after Survivor: All-Stars reunited the most popular and hated players up until that point.

In terms of gameplay, it was disappointing to see the players who’d been the most successful get eliminated first. I will also always be sad we didn’t get more Rob Cesternino.

Still, Survivor: All-Stars featured some of the most intense gameplay and repercussions in the show’s history. It is amazing to see how angry some players get about being betrayed after previously doing the same thing to others.

Survivor 42 (2002)

In terms of gameplay, the truth of the matter is that there really isn’t anything overly special about Survivor 42. On top of that, Season 42 featured some of the previous season’s aforementioned twists which I and most other fans hated. For those reasons, Survivor 42 easily could have been placed lower on this list.

However, Survivor 42 did a better job handling the annoying twists. On top of that, Survivor 42 handled the discussion of important social issues extremely well. Most of all, I think that Survivor 42 proves how much a single player can buoy a season, since Maryanne Oketch’s enthusiasm was infectious for most viewers.

Survivor: Caramoan – Fans vs. Favorites 2 Season 26 (2013)

The second season to feature a tribe of veterans competing against a tribe of newbies, Survivor: Caramoan isn’t as good as the other Fans vs. Favorites season. That said, Survivor: Caramoan is an extremely entertaining and cringe-inducing season.

For Survivor fans who are all about the strategy, one player’s mental gymnastics allowed them to take the season by storm. Fans who love the drama will also be blown away by Survivor: Caramoan because of one player’s epic meltdown. On top of that, another player intentionally humiliated their tribemate in front of the world.

Survivor: China Season 15 (2007)

A season that is full of memorable players and moments, Survivor: China became a huge moment in the show’s history. After all, James Clement showed viewers how not to use immunity idols (that were far too big). Fans like myself also couldn’t get enough of Courtney Yates’ sarcastic humor.

Survivor: China also provided fans with arguably the best final tribal council performance in the show’s history. Thanks to all those elements and more, Survivor: China is a lot of fun to watch.

Season 46 (2024)

While some fans may have been annoyed by Survivor 46 for valid reasons, I couldn’t help but love it. After all, Survivor 46 was too much of a hot mess for me to not be captivated.

For example, there was Liz Wilcox’s meltdown and entitlement, Bhanu Gopal’s lovable and lost energy, and Quintavius “Q” Burdette’s not seeming to care how mad he made people. Even the season’s first player who got voted out was captivating in his own unique way that included an odd definition of the word several.

Survivor: Marquesas Season 4 (2002)

Since the first several seasons of Survivor were gigantic successes, it can be easy to assume the show was always destined to last. In reality, however, I believe that Survivor: Marquesas played a pivotal role in the show surviving to this day.

There are two reason that Survivor: Marquesas felt fresh which allowed it to revitalize the show. First off, after a group of supposedly strong players took control, the so-called weak players overthrew the dominant players. Secondly, Survivor: Marquesas featured many amazing moments like one player peeing on another’s hand.

I also believe that it is incredibly disappointing that Sean Rector never played again and Vecepia Towery was brilliant.

Survivor 47 (2024)

During the majority of Survivor seasons, there are points when things get boring. Aside from Survivor 47’s briefly becoming too predictable, however, the season remained entertaining throughout, since almost every episode felt alive.

Another reason why Survivor 47 is one of the best seasons is it featured so many memorable and/or great players. After all, Survivor 47 featured Rome Cooney, ,Genevieve Mushaluk Sol Yi, Teeny Chirichillo, and Andy Rueda. Rachel LaMont also was a solid winner which also helped Survivor 47’s ranking.

Survivor: Winners at War Season 40 (2020)

In fairness, I have to admit that Survivor: Winners at War’s gameplay was a little bit disappointing. With that in mind, some fans may wonder why Survivor: Winners at War lands so high on this list.

At the end of the day, I believe that Survivor: Winners at War is great because it is a celebration of the show and its fans.

Most obviously, Survivor: Winners at War features a cast that includes almost all the show’s best winners. On top of that, Survivor: Winners at War brought back a slew of beloved challenges. If that wasn’t enough, Survivor: Winners at War featured touching moments like when the players were visited by several loved ones. That was followed up by players rushing over to hug Jeff Probst to thank him for that moment. All of that adds up to a joyous season.

Survivor: Borneo Season 1 (2000)

The season where it all began, Survivor: Borneo has gone down in history as a landmark moment in television history. While that makes Survivor: Borneo the show’s most important season, that doesn’t mean it is the best. That said, Survivor: Borneo has a lot going for it that earns it a spot near the top of this list.

Similar to how fans like myself didn’t know what to expect from Survivor: Borneo, the show’s players were making things up as they went along. That fact makes Survivor: Borneo incredibly entertaining. After all, players like Sean Kenniff who played the game with kindness found themselves grappling with a cutthroat person like Richard Hatch.

Survivor: Borneo is also a great season since it featured many unique players who created must-see TV. The most obvious examples of that are Colleen Haskell, Gervase Peterson, Greg Buis, and Sue Hawk.

10

Survivor: Tocantins

Season 18 (2009)

During Survivor: Tocantins, the two aspects of the show that make it such a joy to follow were on full display.

On the one hand, Survivor: Tocantins featured some of the most memorable personalities in the show’s history. After all, Tyson Apostol and Benjamin “Coach” Wade debuted during this season and their personalities were remarkable, to say the least.

If that wasn’t enough, Survivor: Tocantins also featured some of the best strategic gameplay in the show’s history. Most fans remember how impressive Stephen Fishbach and J.T. Thomas’ strategic partnership was. What should be noted more is that Taj Johnson-George’s incredible gameplay gets forgotten about far too often.

9

Survivor: David vs. Goliath

Season 37 (2018)

Throughout Survivor history, there have been many times when two seemingly unevenly divided teams went to war. During Survivor: David vs. Goliath, the two starting tribes were designed to be uneven as the Goliaths mostly were athletically dominant.

Thankfully, Survivor: David vs. Goliath proved that nobody should be counted out as the Davids proved to be far more threatening than they may have seemed. A big portion of the reason for that is many of the Davids, and some of the Goliaths too, proved their strategic pedigree.

Another key reason that made Survivor: David vs. Goliath was such a great season was how many legendary moments it featured. For example, a player becoming inebriated and trying to climb a ramshackle ladder will go down in history. This season’s most incredible moment came after one player pleaded for another one’s jacket.

8

Survivor: Game Changers

Season 34 (2017)

When the team behind the show put together this season, they made one mistake, calling it Survivor: Game Changers. After all, fans loved to call the show out for pretending that some of the players who took part in this season changed the game when they obviously didn’t.

That aside, Survivor: Game Changers featured some electric gameplay. For example, two of the biggest stars in the show’s history went to war and blew up their own games in the process. On top of that, one strategic mastermind’s obsession undid his fortunes.

Survivor: Game Changers also featured one of the show’s most disturbing moments, followed by one of its best. After one player outed another in a much-reviled moment, the rest of the tribe called them out and unreservedly voiced their support for the wronged player.

It also has to be noted that Survivor: Game Changers featured two masterful performances by female players. One of those women was so impressive that they were eliminated without a single vote being cast against them.

7

Survivor: Cambodia – Second Chance

Season 31 (2015)

After thirty seasons of Survivor were filmed, the team behind the show did something truly brilliant that they should definitely do again. The show’s producers chose 32 former players who’d only played once before and then allowed fans to vote who would get to compete. After fans chose 20 players, they came together to star in one of the best seasons ever.

Survivor: Cambodia also featured a slew of incredible moments thanks to the production team. For example, hiding advantages at challenges was a great move and having Jeff Probst tempt players to quit challenges always is great.

Most importantly, Survivor: Cambodia was so great because virtually everyone on the island really came to play. With many players stating they felt they owed the fans who voted them in, everyone seemed to be playing to win. That resulted in some of the most captivating strategic gameplay in the show’s history. The fact that everyone was playing hard also meant that some players had their game blow up in their face, which also is highly entertaining.

6

Survivor: Cagayan – Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty

Season 28 (2014)

The perfect word to describe what makes Survivor: Cagayan such a fantastic season is a very simple one, personality. When Survivor’s casting department was finding the people who would appear on Survivor: Cagayan, they hit the jackpot repeatedly.

After all, Survivor: Cagayan has some of the most over-the-top and unpredictable players ever. Survivor: Cagayan arguably also has the most laid-back player ever playing during the same season as another player who prided themself on being chaotic.

Between all that and the fact that the players never seemed to hide who they were targeting, Survivor: Cagayan is a thrilling, astonishing, and highly entertaining season.

5

Survivor: Blood vs. Water

Season 27 (2013)

Unfortunately for Survivor’s producers, most fans like myself want two things that are opposites. Fans want the players to make serious and brilliant strategic moves while also having fun with the game.

Amazingly enough, Survivor: Blood vs. Water starred many highly strategic and fun players. A perfect example of that was one player who pledged to avenge their loved one who was eliminated and then laughed uproariously about sneaking off and consuming coconuts.

Survivor: Blood vs. Water also included a slew of moments that went down in the show’s history. For example, one of the most hated players in the show’s history had a truly remarkable exit that many viewers will never forget.

4

Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X

Season 33 (2016)

When Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X was announced, there was good reason to assume the season could be bad. After all, the idea of seeing players from different generations talking past each other sounds like it could be terrible to watch.

Thankfully for Survivor fans everywhere, however, Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X became an all-time great season. A huge portion of the reason for that was the fact that the players actually took the opportunity to relate to each other.

Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X also featured several players whose strategy, knowledge of the game, and excitement made the season great. Some examples of players like that include Michaela Bradshaw, Zeke Smith, Jay Starrett, David Wright, Hannah Shapiro, and Adam Klein.

3

Survivor: Micronesia Fans vs. Favorites

Season 16 (2008)

In theory, Survivor: Micronesia probably should have been a bad season. After all, a season that includes the Fans vs. Favorites concept almost always will be destined to be a lopsided mess. Despite that, Survivor: Micronesia managed to avoid that obvious landmine.

While there is no doubt that the Favorites tribe had the advantage, several of the Fans still managed to leave a huge mark on the season. As fans will already know, Erik Reichenbach was so remarkable during this season that he went from being a Fan during this season to become a Favorite later on.

No matter how great he was, Survivor: Micronesia’s legacy was dominated by the alliance known as the “Black Widow Brigade”. Arguably the greatest alliance in Survivor history, the “Black Widow Brigade” was a delight to watch.

2

Survivor: Pearl Islands

Season 7 (2003)

Throughout Survivor history, there have been examples of theme seasons that have become annoying over time. After all, there are only so many times that viewers can stand Jeff Probst trying to make every question reflect a theme that feels tacked on.

Survivor: Pearl Islands is the exact opposite of that. A season that embraces its pirate theme, Survivor: Pearl Islands makes the most of that concept with one fun scene after another. The most memorable example of that was when a player happily stole from the opposing tribe.

Survivor: Pearl Islands was also buoyed by its truly spectacular cast. After all, Survivor: Pearl Islands featured the debuts of Rupert Boneham, Jon “Jonny Fairplay” Dalton, and Sandra Diaz-Twine.

Ultimately, Survivor: Pearl Islands didn’t take the top slot on this list due to the single misstep of including a twist involving eliminated players.

1

Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains

Season 20 (2010)

Arguably the ultimate season, it is hard to imagine how any fan of the show could dislike Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. After all, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains seemed to have everything that any fan could want.

Of course, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains featured examples of the betrayals and strategy that make the show so entertaining. On top of that, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains also included some tender moments for fans to love, like when Boston Rob comforted a tribemate.

On top of all that, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains is spectacular in several other ways too. The most obvious example of that is the fact that Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains has an incredibly stacked cast that befits the title of the season.

It also has to be noted that Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains featured some staggering moments as well. For example, one player practically voted themself out and another attempted a massive move that backfired epically.

For all those reasons, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains is the best season ever.