The first episode of the reality competition show “Survivor” made its way back into our lives on Wednesday, March 9, as Season 42 officially kicked off into high gear. This edition of “Survivor” was being filmed back-to-back after the previous one, with award-winning host Jeff Probst telling the audience that these contestants have no idea what is coming to them. With twists being unleashed onto the game, one contestant dislocating their shoulder and not one but two contestants exiting the game, the season premiere started off in a strange but wonderful way.
The last season of “Survivor” ushered in a new era. The competition not only had game-changing twists that the series had never seen before, but it also lasted for an intense 26 days instead of the usual 39-day adventure. Probst vowed to bring back some of the memorable twists into this new season but also promised to shake things up once again with brand new ones as well.
Among the contestants is a pageant coach, a retired firefighter and an Ivy League student. Upon arrival, everyone was split up into three tribes of six contestants: Ika, Taku and Vati. The starstruck castaways immediately fought for their tribes in the opening moments, with the winning tribe receiving supplies and the other two tribes going back without the necessities for survival. A new twist was introduced during the action with one member of each tribe getting the opportunity to work together on getting an early advantage in the game. The challenge also resulted in contestant Daniel Strunk getting his shoulder dislocated, with the medical team having to pop it back into place for Strunk to continue playing.
The second advantage that was introduced this season was the “Risk or Protect Your Vote” advantage. In a twist similar to last season, one member of each tribe had to make a possible game-changing decision. Two contestants chose to risk it, while the other chose to play it safe, resulting in the risk-takers getting an extra vote advantage.
An emotional scene took place in this first episode. Probst spoke to Jackson Fox, a transgender man who left the island due to having taken medication that endangered Fox’s health. A tearful Fox understood and relayed the information to his Taku tribe members, who responded with comfort.
The action did not stop there, with the first immunity challenge underway. It was a brutal challenge, with both the Vati and Taku tribes reaching immunity and becoming safe from tribal council. The Ika tribe headed to tribal council, where there was a clear target. Zach Wurtenberger, a superfan of the game, was on the outs. At tribal, Wurtenberger was unanimously voted off the island by a 5-0 vote. He did not go down quietly, though, as Zach attempted his “Shot in the Dark,” a twist introduced last season where contestants have a ⅙ shot of being safe, which ultimately didn’t work in his favor.
The opening title for this episode was “Feels Like a Rollercoaster,” and viewers are sure to be on a chaotic ride as the ultimate game of blindside and betrayal is back and ready to crown its next “sole survivor.”
