Going into its 31st season, “Survivor” has done something completely new — casting was handed over to the fans. The show presented 32 players that had been on the show once before and the collective fanbase voted in 20 castaways for redemption.
In the final moments of last spring’s “Survivor: Worlds Apart,” long-time host Jeff Probst announced the cast that would be getting their second chance at the show’s million dollar prize. After the gripping reveal, the lucky castaways were immediately shipped off to Cambodia, a new location, finally away from the bland beaches of the Philippines or Samoa.
The exciting cast ranges from the original runner-up Kelly Wigglesworth back in “Survivor: Borneo,” to crazed super-fan Shirin from last season’s “Worlds Apart.” With the first full all-stars cast since season 20 of “Heroes vs. Villains,” and rumors of pre-season alliances, anticipation was higher than ever going into the premiere of “Survivor: Cambodia.”
It did not disappoint. “Survivor: Cambodia” premiered last Wednesday, and its cast this season is spectacular. There is a certain nostalgia watching castaways who haven't played for 15 years and this season is filled with plenty of villains willing to wreck havoc. The first episode pays homage to its legacy, using the first challenge from the first season again for this episode’s immunity challenge.
With more complex strategy and exciting characters, “Survivor: Cambodia” is off to an incredible start. “San Juan Del Sur”’s Kelley Wentworth and “Cagayan”’s Tasha Fox seem to be in the best positions going forward. The players from the original seasons appear to be in the hot seat, though, since they are out of touch with the modern style of gameplay required to go far.
With a surprising first boot, “Survivor: Cambodia” looks to bring back that freshness the last few seasons lacked. It’s rare for a show that has run for 16 years and 30 seasons to still be just as compelling and superb as it has ever been. “Survivor” is the little engine that could, and with the success of the premiere of “Cambodia,” this show could easily run for another 30 seasons.
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