I’m not a kind of Survivor followers who consistently complains concerning the so-called New Period, however to be trustworthy, I’ve completed my share of complaining. Typically it’s been within the type of snarky feedback to my spouse whereas we’re watching episodes. Typically it’s been within the type of articles I’ve revealed right here at CinemaBlend about modifications I don’t like. I nonetheless love the present, however I haven’t seen each adaptation as progress. That being mentioned, I would like to lift my hand and formally thank Jeff Probst and firm for one main New Period change that was clearly a incredible concept: longer episodes.
The change in query occurred throughout Season 45. CBS talked issues over with Survivor and determined to increase each it and The Superb Race from sixty minute episodes to ninety minute episodes. I used to be initially very excited for the change on account of loving Survivor and wanting extra of it, however a number of seasons later, it’s now apparent the additional thirty minutes, which caught round, is transformative and lets viewers get to know the contestants and the precise gameplay in a method that had been disappearing.
I feel it’s largely concerning the format. Survivor has a really well-defined schedule. Every week, we see the contestants return from Tribal Council and speak out what occurred. Then we see them compete in a problem to attempt to get immunity. Then we see them scheme about who to vote for. Then we see them go to Tribal Council and vote. Simply offering a quick overview of what occurs in every a kind of phases is sort of sixty minutes of tv by itself, which leaves no time for extras.
Through the early seasons of Survivor, you might get to know the contestants much more within the sixty minutes as a result of, to be trustworthy, there wasn’t practically as a lot scheming. We acquired to see contestants go fishing or simply hang around for prolonged durations of time as a result of most episodes didn’t want fifteen minutes of recapping the conversations over who would possibly vote for who. The present was actually extra about surviving and voting was only a factor that sorta occurred.
Sooner or later down the road, nonetheless, contestants began getting much more critical about gameplay, and transient conversations about who the plain weak hyperlink to vote for became arguing the deserves of a number of plans and blindsides that required follow-up conversations. It’s necessary the present retains viewers within the loop on what’s occurring in these conversations since they’re how castaways truly get voted out, however the apparent sufferer of all these evolving plots was the power to let the present breathe.
Sure, most of the finest moments in Survivor are about gameplay, however a few of them will not be. Among the finest moments are about simply watching the castaways hang around and get to know one another, about watching them stand up to wacky shenanigans. The ninety minute Survivor episodes enable us to see a lot extra of that. This season particularly, we’ve been capable of see Eva open up about her autism. We’ve been capable of see a whole tribe bond over the struggles their mother and father went by way of. We’ve been capable of see prolonged idol hunts and two solid members bonding over bizarrely every consuming a gallon of complete milk each single day. It’s been nice.
Typically the dialog amongst Survivor followers on social media may be very unfavourable, whether or not or not it’s about who the present did not solid for Season 50 or the entire modifications which were made in the course of the New Period. I get it. I additionally need the present to return to 39 days as a substitute of 26, and I additionally assume the producers meddle an excessive amount of, give out method too many benefits and do not at all times assume each twist by way of. I’m not telling folks to cease complaining. I actually will maintain voicing my issues, however I feel we also needs to cease and loudly acknowledge how nice these 90 minute episodes have been. They’ve been a big win for all Survivor followers, and I’d be the primary one to complain in the event that they ever went away.