In the future, when new fans of Survivor are figuring out which seasons to watch first, Jeff Probst wants Survivor 50 to be so great that it gets chosen first. As a result, Jeff has been getting the kind of fans who know who was medically evacuated first and which former players refused to return to the show to weigh in. Survivor fans who have likely seen the best seasons of the reality show that were won by the greatest winners and feature iconic players get to vote on aspects of Survivor 50.

While the fan vote could make Survivor 50 bad, there is no denying that it is a fascinating idea to give viewers that level of power over the season. Considering that viewers have more power over the show than ever before, it is important to note that the third round of the fan vote is the most important.

Survivor 50: In The Hands Of The Fans’ Third Round Of Fans Has A Make-Or-Break Question

When it was announced that fans were going to get to vote on aspects of Survivor 50, most viewers’ imaginations went wild.

Most of all, many fans were hoping that the fan vote would allow them to help decide which players were brought back for Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans. Unfortunately, fans later learned that they would have no control over Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans’ cast. Needless to say, the news fans had no control of the upcoming seasons’ cast disappointed many viewers.

However, it turns out that it seems like fans are getting to decide a much more important part of Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans. During the third round of Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans voting, fans get to answer the most important question about the landmark season.

In April 2025, an Entertainment Weekly article reported on what was going to be decided during Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans’ third round of fan votes.

Thanks to that article, it was clear that fans were going to get the chance to vote on arguably the most important part of Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans.

“The right twist at the right moment can change the game for players in exciting ways. But some fans prefer a more straightforward game where strategic alliances are all that matter. Which are you?”

This one decision that fans are supposed to vote on could make a gigantic difference to how Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans will play out.

At first blush, there is a good chance that fans may be unsure of how to vote on whether they want a simple game or lots of twists and advantages. After all, at face value, having few advantages and twists seems like it may be boring. In fact, it would make sense for fans to at first ask why there can’t be some kind of middle ground.

However, the descriptions of the two voting options should make what most fans should choose very obvious.

On the official voting page, there were descriptions for the two options that disappears after the voting period ends. The description of the first option is for those fans who want there to only be rare advantages. Based on the description of the rare advantages option, it seemed like they were trying to push fans not to choose for there to be less twists.

“KEEP THE GAME STRAIGHTFORWARD I don’t like twists – they get in the way of a clean game. I want a season where players can lean on strategy and social skills, not sudden surprises that blow up their plans. So let’s go old school – twists should be very rare.”

However, it is the description of the option with many twists that most of Survivor’s biggest fans will likely hate.

“KEEP THE GAME SHIFTING I love twists! They add excitement and uncertainty, keeping the players on their toes, and forcing them to adapt and rethink their strategy. Bring on the twists!”

Most Survivor fans absolutely hate it when twists and advantages take agency completely away from players. For example, Survivor 48 featured a horrible journey that included a game where the players, some of whom were forced to go, had their fates decided by a roll of dice.

In the history of Survivor, there have been a lot of awful twists. If fans choose for Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans to have lots of advantages, there is no way to know how many of those horrible twists could be included.

Even if the awful twists from the past aren’t brought back, they could introduce a new advantage that enrages fans. To prove that point, all anyone has to remember is that the much-loathed hourglass twist was introduced during Survivor 41. Clearly, the team behind Survivor is still capable of coming up with bad ideas for the show.

Given that Survivor 50 is supposed to be a landmark season with an incredible cast, having the season ruined by horrible twists would be extremely disappointing. On top of that, if things go wrong just because there are too many twists, that will also be awful.

With all that in mind, every Survivor fan should vote against there being too many twists and advantages.

There Have Been Other Survivor 50: In The Hands Of The Fans Votes That Viewers Should Care About

During the first three rounds of votes on Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans, viewers have been asked to weigh in on things many likely don’t care about. A perfect example of that is the fact that fans were asked to vote on the tribe colors for Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans. However, there have been some things that fans got to vote on that really matter.

In February 2025, an Entertainment Weekly article about the first round of voting revealed some of the decisions that viewers were allowed to make. That article revealed that viewers got to vote on two topics of great interest to many fans.

First off, the fans got to decide if Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans should feature the final four fire-making challenge. Secondly, fans were allowed to decide if there should be a live finale and reunion like most seasons from the past, or if the season should stick with the after-show.

Then, in March 2025, another Entertainment Weekly article detailed what the second round of voting allowed fans to decide.

That article revealed that viewers could vote on how powerful the season’s advantages should be. Secondly, the fans were allowed to vote about whether Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans will have a tribe swap.

Survivor

Release Date

May 31, 2000

Network

CBS

Showrunner

Jeff Probst

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