Episode 4: What not to do at a swap

Survivor 49 Episode 4 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: October 16, 2025

It's finally time to swap to two tribes in Episode 4 of Survivor 49, and while the numbers didn't favor six contestants, Damnbueno finds some definite successes and failures in how those outnumbered players adapted to their new surroundings.

Episode 3: But is it fun?

Survivor 49 Episode 3 recap/ analysis

By Jeff Pitman | Published: October 11, 2025

With the obviously-going-to-lose tribe predictably losing, and the guy who was on the bottom in the previous episode being voted out, mystery was in short supply in Episode 3 of Survivor 49. But at least it was fun getting there, right? Er, nope. Not really.

Episode 3: Why?

Survivor 49 Episode 3 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: October 9, 2025

Damnbueno has a lot of questions about Episode 3 of Survivor 49, although it's mostly one question, repeatedly, about sharing Beware idol clues, but also choices made about running the increasingly depleted Kele tribe into the ground.

Episode 2: A whole lot of nothing

Survivor 49 Episode 2 recap/ analysis

By Jeff Pitman | Published: October 4, 2025

The always three-tribes-of-six new era Survivor starting format has worn extremely thin, much like the Kele tribe's metabolic reserves, and Episode 2 of Survivor 49 showed just how depleted the new era game and the Kele tribe really were. A predictable loss, a predictable boot, and not a lot else, in a show that desperately needs another reboot.

Episode 2: How to make enemies and not influence people

Survivor 49 Episode 2 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: October 2, 2025

Everything is hot in Episode 2 of Survivor 49, and Damnbueno is here with his hot-off-the-press observations on sensing tribal positioning, crabs, scabs, new post-journey jabs, and of course, idol-finders who blab.

Episode 1: An enthusiastic introduction

Survivor 49 Episode 1 recap/ analysis

By Jeff Pitman | Published: September 28, 2025

The premiere of Survivor 49 was bursting with energy from the new crop of contestants, and while the overlong episode meandered a bit at times, most of the cast seem likely to deliver a fun, gameplay-focused season, even if the first vote was a dull, keep-the-tribe-strong affair.

Episode 1: A season of confessional gold?

Survivor 49 Episode 1 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: September 25, 2025

Damnbueno recaps the supersized Survivor 49 premiere, which was short on big events, but rich in introducing most of the quirky new contestants.

Pre-season: Alternates' universe, the margarita curse, and respect for Russell?

Survivor 49 Pre-season cast analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: September 15, 2025

The possibly last season of the new era is upon us, and Damnbueno is here to assess all the brand-new Survivor 49 contestants, based on their bios and pre-game interviews. Who was an alternate? Who likes Russell Hantz? And most importantly, who is the most likely to win?

Episode 10: The end we all saw coming

AU: Australia v The World Episode 10 recap/ analysis

By Jeff Pitman | Published: September 13, 2025

The finale of SurvivorAU: Australia v The World wrapped up the narrative in a way that you probably expected, but it managed to do that in a satisfying fashion. The winner made sense. A look back at this great season and its deserving winner.

Episodes 7-9: All gas, no brak ... whoops, sorry, all brakes

AU: Australia v The World Episodes 7-9 recap/ analysis

By Jeff Pitman | Published: September 6, 2025

Week three of SurvivorAU: Australia v The World took the competition all the way from final eight to final four, the precipice of the finale. There some all-time moves made, especially in Episode 7's two tribals, but as the week closed, the mood was more one of non-moves. But there are still some potentially historic outcomes awaiting in the finale.

Episodes 4-6: Big alliances form, big alliances break

AU: Australia v The World Episodes 4-6 recap/ analysis

By Jeff Pitman | Published: August 30, 2025

The second week (three episodes) of SurvivorAU: Australia v The World spanned both the pre- and post-merge, and were a whirlwind (lightning storm?) of newly formed and newly shattered alliances. More big players left the game, but there are still many formidable competitors remaining.

Episodes 1-3: A nearly perfect pre-merge

AU: Australia v The World Episodes 1-3 recap/ analysis

By Jeff Pitman | Published: August 23, 2025

The first three episodes of SurvivorAU: Australia v The World had a common theme: They were almost perfect. 10/10, no notes. There was drama, chaotic gameplay, plans replaced by other plans, swapped with other plans, supplanted by still more plans at Tribal. There was comedy, to keep things light. There were big players playing grandiosely - then falling flat. It's everything you could want in 4.5 hours of Survivor.

Pre-season: Survivor 50 cast preview, Part 3: The New Erans

Survivor 50 Pre-season cast analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: July 21, 2025

Twelve players down, twelve (er, ten) to go! It's the final installment of Damnbueno's voluminous Survivor 50 cast preview as we go through the many, many New Era players (minus the two whose games we have yet to see).

Pre-season: Survivor 50 cast preview, Part 2: The thirties

Survivor 50 Pre-season cast analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: July 15, 2025

Damnbueno returns to his Survivor 50 previewing with the second group of contestants, chronologically, those who first appeared in seasons 35-38. Or the non-New Era players who have only played once before.

Pre-season: All hail the new Survivor record holders?

Survivor 50 Pre-season analysis

By Jeff Pitman | Published: July 8, 2025

Survivor 50 marks the first all-star season since S40: Winners at War, and the nine-season gap between the two is the longest without returning players in the show's history. That means it's finally time to dust off the old career Survivor record books (er, web pages), because there is finally a reasonable chance some may be broken. Which titles are most likely to change hands? Read on.

Pre-season: Survivor 50 cast preview, Part 1: The returning returnees

Survivor 50 Pre-season cast analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: July 7, 2025

It's done filming and won't air until 2026, but Damnbueno is already recapping Survivor 50! In this case, he's reviewing the previous games of the first group of contestants, chronologically - those who first appeared in seasons 1-32, all of who have already played Survivor at least twice. These are the returning returnees.