Survivor 50 premieres on February 25, bringing back some of the most popular castaways from every era in the reality show’s 26-year history. A record twenty-four contestants will compete for the ultimate prize of $1 million and the title of “Sole Survivor,” but many are really fighting for redemption.
Whether a new fan or old, anyone planning on tuning in for Survivor’s fiftieth season will want to get into the spirit ahead of time. Binge-watching all fifty seasons in the next few weeks would be nearly impossible. Thankfully, viewers can get by by watching a handful of excellent seasons that introduce them to fan-favorite players returning for another shot at the title of Sole Survivor.
Survivor: Borneo Created a Worldwide Phenomenon
The cast of Survivor BorneoImage via CBS
Survivor: Borneo is where it all started, twenty-six years ago. The first-ever season of Survivor strands sixteen strangers on the shores of Borneo, dividing them into two tribes who must compete for rewards and immunity. Each week, a new castaway is voted off as the contestants learn how to play the game at the same time as the viewers.
Borneo introduces several fan-favorite personalities, including Jenna Lewis, an energetic and amicable single mom who won the hearts of audiences everywhere in 2000. Now, twenty-six years later, Jenna returns on Survivor 50 for her third outing (having previously returned in All-Stars), with a plan to win the $1 million fifty seasons after her first attempt.
Survivor: Palau Introduces the Show’s First Tribe of One
Stephanie LaGrossa Kendrick competes in SurvivorImage via CBS
Survivor’s tenth season takes audiences to the island of Palau, where two tribes quickly become one. Led by eventual winner Tom Westman, the Koror tribe emerges as the most dominant in Survivor history. Their competitors on Ulong lose every Immunity challenge, leaving sole survivor Stephenie LaGrossa as the show’s first tribe of one before eventually being absorbed by Koror.
Palau is an endlessly engaging season, with plenty of memorable personalities and dynamic storylines — even if the first half of the season becomes extremely predictable. Steph’s story is particularly compelling, as she manages to survive one Tribal Council after another. It is this popularity that led Steph to compete in two additional seasons, Guatemala and Heroes vs. Villains. She now returns for Survivor 50 with a chance to rewrite her story.
Fans vs. Favorites Features the Best of a Legendary Player
Cirie Fields in Survivor — Fans vs. FavoritesImage via CBS
Survivor: Fans vs. Favorites is the sixteenth season of the popular reality series, taking place in Micronesia. There, a tribe of Survivor super-fans is faced with a surprise twist on Day 1. The newcomers are shocked to discover that the competing tribe is comprised entirely of fan-favorite contestants from previous seasons, all of whom are intent on seizing their second chance at winning the title of “Sole Survivor.”
Fans vs. Favorites is one of the best seasons in Survivor history, featuring one of the best wins of all time. It is also famous for introducing the “Black Widow Brigade,” an alliance consisting of fan-favorite castaways Parvati Shallow, Amanda Kimmel, Cirie Fields, and Natalie Bolton. It is in this alliance that Cirie, a returning Survivor 50 contestant, lets her strategic prowess shine. By the end of the season, Cirie proves to be a master manipulator whose charm and strategic mind make her an immense threat.
Heroes vs. Villains Features Survivor’s Most Iconic Players
The cast of Survivor: Heroes vs. VillainsImage via CBS
The landmark twentieth season of Survivor is considered by many to be the best in the show’s run. Heroes vs. Villains unites twenty of the most popular castaways from the last twenty seasons, dividing them by their reputation as “heroic” players or “villainous” players. Among these are several players who are set to return for Survivor 50​​​​​​, including Colby Donaldson, Stephenie LaGrossa, Cirie Fields, and Benjamin “Coach” Wade.
Heroes vs. Villains may sound campy, but it turns out to be a surprising and intriguing season of Survivor in which some villains find redemption, and some heroes prove themselves villains. Heroes vs. Villains is particularly important for viewers looking forward to Survivor 50, as it is the last appearance of several fan-favorite characters set to return in the upcoming game. In particular, Colby Donaldson is back to redeem himself after a surprisingly underwhelming final appearance.
Game-Changers Features Major Twists and Iconic Moments
The cast of Survivor Game ChangersImage via CBS
By Season 34, Survivor had introduced numerous twists and advantages that forever changed the way the game is played. Likewise, many contestants over the years changed Survivor by the way they played the game. Game-Changers celebrates this fact by inviting back twenty castaways who are best remembered for challenging the typical Survivor formula.
While the twists and turns in Survivor: Game-Changers may be difficult to follow at times, it is an overall strong season with even stronger performances from key players. Among these is Aubry Bracco, who will return for Survivor 50, who puts her strategic mind and strong social game on display in her second appearance on the show. Cirie Fields plays Survivor for the fourth time in Game-Changers, where she earns the title “The Greatest to Never Win,” through her incomparable social game and master manipulation.
David vs. Goliath Is One of the Best Seasons in Survivor History
The cast of Survivor David vs. Goliath stand on a beachImage via CBS
If anyone wants to see what Survivor is really about, they can do no better than David vs. Goliath. The show’s thirty-seventh season divides contestants based on their personal and professional lives, splitting them into “Davids,” or those who would be considered underdogs, and “Goliaths,” or those who are used to calling the shots and being in charge. The result is a true David vs. Goliath story that keeps viewers guessing until the very end.
David vs. Goliath is a top-tier season, even if none of its contestants were returning in Season 50. Three castaways from this season will return in Survivor 50, including Christian Hubicki, the so-called “Ultimate David” who won the hearts of millions in his first appearance, Angelina Keeley, a Goliath willing to vote other contestants out to get their jackets the next night, and Mike White, who is now better known for creating the popular HBO series The White Lotus.
Survivor 45 Introduces One of the Most Dominant Winners in the New Era
Dee competes in Survivor 45Image via CBS
Beginning with Season 41, Survivor entered its “New Era,” with a shortened runtime, different twists, and other major changes. While this change is exceptionally controversial in the Survivor fanbase, some seasons manage to deliver the same thrills of the original series. Among these is Season 45, wherein Dee Valladares emerges as one of the most dominant Survivor winners of the New Era.
Ahead of her return in Survivor 50, audiences will want to check out Dee’s game, which includes dominating individual immunity challenges, forging strong alliances that carry her through the back half of the game, and expert manipulation that allows her to keep multiple “Number Ones.” Few winners have had their thumb on the pulse of the game like Dee, which will serve her well as she returns for her second season.
Survivor 46 Is a Chaotic Season That Introduces Three Important Players
Q poses in Survivor 46Image via CBS
Survivor 46 is one of the most chaotic in the New Era, thanks almost entirely to one contestant: Qunitavius “Q” Burdette. After landing on a “Disaster Tribe,” in Yanu, Q manages to make it to the merge, where he blows up the game by asking his fellow contestants to vote him out. Denying his request, the rest of the castaways still make Q the island pariah, forcing him to fight tooth and nail to stay in the game after finding his second wind.
Survivor 46 is certainly the messiest of the New Era, which may or may not appeal to viewers. Nevertheless, it introduces three prominent characters who will be important in Season 50. In addition to Q, Survivor 50 will also include his ally-turned-enemy Tiffany “Tiff” Nicole Ervin and runner-up Charlie Davis, whom many fans believe deserved the victory in 46. All three contestants have something to prove with their returns, which will make Survivor 50 all the more exciting.
Survivor 48 Introduces a Power Dynamic That Could Return for Season 50
Joe comforts Eva in Survivor 48Image via CBS
Survivor 48 may have a reputation for its slower, more cautious gameplay, but it also features some of the most compelling relationships in the history of the game. One moment in particular went viral when Joe Hunter rushed to the aid of fellow contestant Eva Erickson after she broke down during a challenge. The moment demonstrated the strong relationships that can come out of Survivor, even going so far as to make Jeff Probst cry–a rare sight on the show.
Joe is among three returning cast members from Season 48. Survivor 50 will also include 48’s winner, Kyle Fraser, and his not-so-secret alliance member, Kamilla Karthigesu. Given that all three of these players have worked together recently, it wouldn’t be surprising if they forged another alliance in Season 50 if given the chance.
Survivor 49 Introduces a Dynamic Duo Important to Season 50
Survivor 50 poster featuring Jeff Probst and the castImage via CBS
The most recent season of Survivor leading up to 50 introduces one of the strongest pairs in the history of the game. Rizo “Rizgod” Velovic and Savannah Louie start on a dominant tribe pre-merge, but quickly have the rug pulled from under them when a shocking betrayal flips the game upside down. With the help of Rizzo’s idol, Savannah’s challenge prowess, and a few well-timed strategic moves, the two castaways survive much longer than anyone would expect, proving loyal to one another the whole way through.
The unlikely pair of Rizzo and Savannah will meet again in Survivor 50, as the two castaways complete the cast for the landmark season. They have the distinct advantage (or disadvantage) of being the only two players whose season had not aired by the time 50 was played. This makes them total mysteries to the rest of the cast, which can either work for them or against them when they are finally marooned on the island of Fiji for the second time in as many months.