True Dork Times - Archives
March, 2020
The Baker's Dozen - S40
Episode 7: And then there was one
By Andy Baker | Published: March 30, 2020
With the Winners at War merging, Andy returns from his hiatus to project the outcome of the remainder of the game. Who will come back from the Edge, how will the post-merge alliances shake out, and most importantly: Who is best positioned to win?
Jeff Pitman's recaps - S40
Episode 7: The ebb and flow of the Edge
By Jeff Pitman | Published: March 30, 2020
Winners at War is now perched on the precipice of the merge, which also portends the (first) returnee from Edge of Extinction. With that in mind, Jeff takes a mid-season look at how this version of the Edge has fared . (Spoiler: Surprisingly worthwhile, or at least it would be if it ended here.)
Top Five, Baby! - S40
Episode 7: Boats or tokens, post-merge Tony, and potent tensions
By Brent Sullivan | Published: March 29, 2020
The final pre-merge episode finds the Edge group getting smaller but more token-rich, and two of the three tribes patching over simmering tensions. Brent brings it all together for this week's five key topics.
Kaiser Island - S40
Episode 7: Thank you for schooling me
By Ryan Kaiser | Published: March 27, 2020
As the final pre-merge torch gets snuffed, Ryan takes a moment to somberly observe the passing of power from old school to new school. Then he gets to the business you've been waiting for: The awarding of the Debbie Donato Wanner Award for Best Performance on a Balance Beam.
Jeff Pitman's recaps - S40
Episode 6: Big moves, big food, big episode
By Jeff Pitman | Published: March 23, 2020
As the merge approaches, the Winners at War gameplay finally ratcheted up to the intensity of its title. As the culling of the legends continues, a new crop of contenders are making legendary moves of their own. It's real, and it's spectacular.
Top Five, Baby! - S40
Episode 6: Peanut butter comfort, spy shack paranoia, and twice the idol fun
By Brent Sullivan | Published: March 22, 2020
Brent breaks down five big moments in the big sixth episode of Winners at War, from Edge of Extinction choices to listening to water-well voices to (of course) making a big splash with idol deuces.
Bloomerang! - AU: All-Stars
Week 7: Shunned stones, Sharn's swing, and suspect surprises
By Mike Bloom | Published: March 21, 2020
Mike praises the more balanced editing in the penultimate week of Survivor AU: All-Stars, but scratches his head at the attempted rock draw, faux flip, and curious fire-making twist option, as ultimately, the Vakama underdogs crumbled.
Kaiser Island - S40
Episode 6: Watch this, Jeff
By Ryan Kaiser | Published: March 20, 2020
Ryan both celebrates and mourns the twin Tribal Councils that sent two legends home, one in particularly legendary fashion, during Episode 6 of Winners of War. Don't worry, some peanut butter will make it all better.
Jeff Pitman's recaps - S40
Episode 5: A nice day at the beach
By Jeff Pitman | Published: March 16, 2020
With its swap episode, Winners at War returned to the promise of its premiere, indulging in its characters and focusing exclusively on the actual game of Survivor. A lot of strategy and social game, a lot of scheming, except for the poor Yaras forced to just stare at each other all day and talk about cookies. But overall: A lot of fun.
Top Five, Baby! - S40
Episode 5: Three new tribes and a lot of hardware
By Brent Sullivan | Published: March 15, 2020
A big swap adds a third tribe and shakes up the game, and Brent examines the new opportunities and dangers lurking as the players face their new tribemates. Plus: the women this season are accumulating some serious hardware: Will it soon come into play?
Bloomerang! - AU: All-Stars
Week 6: I TOLD you stop trying to make Exile happen!
By Mike Bloom | Published: March 13, 2020
After a tragic phone call pulled Lee from the game, SurvivorAU switched over to Exile Beach week for the final nine. Mike evaluates the twist that sent six players to Exile over the three episodes, ultimately eliminating just one of them.
Kaiser Island - S40
Episode 5: Cracks up the wazoo
By Ryan Kaiser | Published: March 13, 2020
After a nod to Yul's noble ALS quest, Ryan recaps the many twists and turns resulting from the swap to three tribes: awkward reunions, even more awkward self-quarantines, and obstacle champ Sandra staying safe and staying out of sight.
Jeff Pitman's recaps - S40
Episode 4: Edge of Extinction vs. Survivor
By Jeff Pitman | Published: March 9, 2020
Strong, beloved characters and fierce competition made the Winners at War premiere a huge success, albeit one that could be watered down substantially by the season's twists. But until then, Jeff looks at the many Survivor records that can and/or will fall this season.
Top Five, Baby! - S40
Episode 4: Lugging logs and legging the trek up from the bottom
By Brent Sullivan | Published: March 8, 2020
Brent revisits a week full of stories of hikes up from the bottom, from the Edge dwellers' literal one (or twenty) to Adam, Rob, and Parvati's metaphorical journeys. Plus a check-in on someone who seems to have completed that journey, and an eye on the swap.
Bloomerang! - AU: All-Stars
Week 5: David & Company
By Mike Bloom | Published: March 6, 2020
It was a grim week for Survivor AU superfans, as one fan favorite was felled right before the merge, and the underdog alliance fell victim to Pagonging thereafter. Mike recaps the happenings, then looks for signs of hope (or, more likely, there is Mo Hope) in the post-merge.
Kaiser Island - S40
Episode 4: He's f***ing dangerous
By Ryan Kaiser | Published: March 6, 2020
It's another week, another favorite leaving for Ryan, but he's not gonna give up, and he'll push through a grueling episode featuring Adam's implosion then recovery, Ethan's near-death experience and survival, and Tyson's near-safe experience that was snuffed by an immovable Queen.
Top Five, Baby! - S40
Episode 3: Fishing, covert missions, and momentous decisions
By Brent Sullivan | Published: March 1, 2020
Winners At War's third episode had some memorable shark-eating hijinks, and a tragic loss as the losing tribe got down to the business of eating its own. Brent highlights the top five moments of this week's feeding frenzy.
Other months/ seasons
- Survivor 46
- Survivor 44
- Survivor 43
- SurvivorSA 9: Return of the Outcasts
- Survivor 42
- Survivor 41
- SurvivorAU 6: Brains v Brawn
- SurvivorSA 8: Immunity Island
- Survivor 40: Winners at War
- SurvivorAU 5: All-Stars
- Survivor 39: Island of the Idols
- Survivor 38: Edge of Extinction
- Survivor 37: David vs. Goliath
- Survivor NZ 2: Thailand
- Survivor 36: Ghost Island
- Survivor 35: Heroes v. Healers v. Hustlers
- Survivor NZ 1: Nicaragua
- Survivor 34: Game Changers
- Survivor 33: Millennials vs. Gen X
- Survivor 32: Kaoh Rong
- Survivor 19: Samoa (2021 rewatch)
- Survivor 17: Gabon (2020 rewatch)
- Survivor 15: China (rewatch)
- Survivor 14: Fiji (2020 rewatch)
- Survivor 10: Palau (2021 rewatch)
- Survivor 4: Marquesas (2020 rewatch)
Of general interest
Survivor seasons index
Our coverage of every Survivor season.
Contestants A-Z
Survivor cast stats and pictures, sorted by name.
Contestants by season
That one person? From that season? Ah, there they are.
Survivor record holders
Single-season and all-time Survivor individual scoring leaders.
Survivor scoring data
Full-season individual contestant performance stats.