“Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans” premiered Wednesday. The episode started with a five-minute montage of iconic “Survivor” moments. Every second of “Survivor” has led to this season, where fans have voted on major aspects of the competition.
Addressing the 24 survivors on the beaches of Fiji, Jeff Probst said, “This is historic. I mean, take a look around. You all represent 25 years and 49 seasons of the greatest adventure on television.”
There were two things the fans voted on that would impact the start of the game. With 53% of the vote, it was decided each tribe would not start with rice. With 60% of the vote, it was decided tribes would have to earn supplies such as a pot and machete.
The Marooning Challenge:
The Marooning Challenge involved releasing paddles with a key, retrieving a locked torch and then lighting it on fire.
The Vatu tribe was the first to release their paddles with the help of Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick and Aubry Bracco. They remained far in the lead, with the Cila tribe attempting to bridge the gap. The Kalo tribe remained in last place despite the efforts of Jonathan Young. Vatu won flint but the tribes had to make a choice to win the rest of their supplies.
One person from each tribe was chosen to compete for supplies on behalf of their tribe. Kalo chose Benjamin “Coach” Wade, Cila chose Ozzy Lusth and Vatu chose Quintavius “Q” Burdette.
The battle for supplies:
To earn supplies, Lusth, Wade and Burdette had to collect various bundles of sticks. They then had to tie the sticks together to grab a key from a pole.
With all three players competing for the same key, Lusth finally knocked the key to the ground. However, before he could pull the key to him, Wade got to it faster.
After Wade claimed his tribe’s supplies, Lusth and Burdette were told to stay behind and read a note. The note revealed a twist: the return of Exile Island. Lusth and Burdette would remain on Exile Island and not return to their tribes until the morning.
The next morning, Lusth and Burdette were handed one pot and one machete and told that they were for sale. In order to receive supplies for their tribe, they had to give up their vote in Tribal Council. The player who did not receive the supplies instead gained the other player’s vote, giving them an extra vote in their first Tribal Council.
Lusth convinced Burdette to give him his extra vote, as Lusth believed the extra vote would give him real power in the game.
Vatu tribe:
Contestants Kendrick and Colby Donaldson originally met on season 20, “Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains,” reuniting on the Vatu beach where they quickly met up for a conversation. Donaldson expressed his disdain for Rizo Velovic, claiming he was annoying and lacked work ethic.
However, Velovic is aware of the players who surround him. In a confessional, he said, “But as a superfan, I know everyone here is very dangerous. So ‘Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans’ is gonna be more like ‘Survivor 50’: Welcome to the Bloodbath.”
A group of four formed on the Vatu tribe between Kyle Fraser, Genevieve Mushaluk, Donaldson and Kendrick.
When Burdette returned to the Vatu beach, he made up a story to prevent revealing he lost his vote.
The Billie Eilish Boomerang Idol was found by Mushaluk. It gave her the opportunity to send an idol to a member of another tribe. She chose to send it to Lusth.
Kalo tribe:
On the Kalo tribe, writer and director of “White Lotus,” Mike White worked to appear less threatening by asking Charlie Davis to strategize for him.
Kamilla Karthigesu showed interest in forming an alliance with Tiffany Ervin and Dee Valladares.
“There are so many smart and strong new era women ready to play, and I love it,” Karthigesu said. “I had a whole season of honor and integrity in 48, and I’m so sick of it. Me, Tiff and Dee all want to have a little bit of fun and then slaughter someone.”
Cila tribe:
Savannah Louie was quick to admit to the rest of the Cila tribe that she won “Survivor 49.” Since the two seasons were filmed only two weeks apart, no one knew anything about Louie or Velovic’s gameplay. This left Jenna Lewis-Dougherty hoping to align with Louie.
An alliance also quickly formed between Rick Devens and Christian Hubicki.
The lack of supplies Lusth returned with was no problem for Cila as they worked together to create a fire utilizing the sun and tribe members’ glasses.
Immunity Challenge:
The first Immunity Challenge of the season involved climbing over a ramp, crawling through a muddy net tunnel, tossing coconuts into a basket and completing a 50-piece puzzle. The tribes remained neck and neck until Kalo and Vatu released their ramps while Cila spent the majority of the challenge watching Cirie Fields struggle with her rope.
In an attempt to run up the ramp, Fraser injured himself, putting a pause on the challenge. The on-site medic team deemed Fraser well enough to continue the challenge. Fraser was warned not to put pressure on his ankle, leading Burdette to push him up the ramp while the rest of the Vatu tribe pulled Fraser up.
The challenge ended with Kalo and Vatu earning immunity.
Tribal Council:
With Cila’s loss in the Immunity Challenge, they were sent to Tribal Council. After many conversations, the tribe members narrowed their votes down to three. News anchor Devens gave a recap in his confessional: “This just into the ‘Survivor’ newsroom, Cila, see ya later tonight at Tribal Council. Jenna, Cirie or Ozzy — it could be any of the three, but at least it’s not me. Stay tuned,” Devens said.
The tribal ended with Lewis-Dougherty — the only returning player from season one — being voted off. Her parting words were “first in, first out.”
Another journey:
In atypical “Survivor” fashion, the episode did not end after Lewis-Dougherty was voted out. Instead, Donaldson, White and Louie were picked by their tribes to go on a journey. As a result of the journey, Louie gained a block-a-vote.
The episode ended with a second player taking the journey home as Fraser was deemed too injured to remain on the show.
With the end of the first episode of “Survivor 50,” it is clear the audience is in for a ride with constant twists voted on by fans.