Episode 13: What a bumpy but fun ride

Survivor 46 Episode 13 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: May 23, 2024

Survivor 46 has at last crowned its champion, and Damnbueno is here to run through all the big whiffs, assisted victories, and surprisingly malleable jurors of the finale and the aftershow.

Episode 12: Death seats and deadly idols

Survivor 46 Episode 12 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: May 16, 2024

As Episode 12 of Survivor 46 delivered more reward haves and have-nots, another unplayed idol blindside, and the first shots fired in the Charlie vs. Maria war, Damnbueno tries to project where this is all going to end up when the jury votes next week.

Episode 11: We need more speedbumps!

Survivor 46 Episode 11 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: May 9, 2024

Episode 11 of Survivor 46 was a series of almost-victories and perilous decisions, with a lot of bickering (and pizza) in between. Damnbueno recaps the plans that worked, those that didn't, and reassesses who is best positioned as the endgame looms.

Episode 10: Are idols broken?

Survivor 46 Episode 10 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: May 2, 2024

The new era has seen the most power come from idols that weren't played, as Damnbueno breaks down the recent history, and recaps the departure of another one from the game in Episode 10 of Survivor 46. Does the potential value of idols still outweigh the risk?

Episode 9: Mid-season report card

Survivor 46 Episode 9 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: April 25, 2024

After updating the remaining players' chances of winning, Damnbueno dives into the continuing Tribal Council chaos seen in Episode 9 of Survivor 46. Is there a clear winner candidate yet?

Episode 8: Was this chaos organized, dumb, or both?

Survivor 46 Episode 8 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: April 18, 2024

Damnbueno recaps the confusing, chaotic Episode 8 Tribal Council from Survivor 46, along with the various hijinks that preceded it, but in no way seemed to prepare anyone for it. What happened?

Episode 7: More sneaky sneaky, less sloppy sloppy

Survivor 46 Episode 7 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: April 11, 2024

It's another rock-draw-driven outcome in Episode 7 of Survivor 46 (just as it was at the same point last season), but as Damnbueno recounts, the intra-Nami squabbling kept things interesting as the two teams attended separate Tribals.

Episode 6: To overplay, or underplay? That is the question

Survivor 46 Episode 6 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: April 4, 2024

It's three tribes, one shelter in Episode 6 of Survivor 46, and Damnbueno gives his thoughts on the unfolding aggressive plays and subtle moves as the semi-merge moves through its new era checkpoints. Who is now best positioned for the future?

Episode 5: Wild cards and wild strategies

Survivor 46 Episode 5 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: March 28, 2024

After a history of loose-cannon players (and how to deal with them), Damnbueno celebrates Episode 5 of Survivor 46 finally revealing the strategic lines within a tribe that isn't Yanu, and the plays and overplays that led to this week's boot.

Episode 4: To lead or not to lead

Survivor 46 Episode 4 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: March 21, 2024

Damnbueno examines the perils of (visible) leadership, as Episode 4 of Survivor 46 shows us Yanu members grappling with perceived vs. actual leadership, someone leading her tribe on a wild goose chase, and jumping lessons.

Episode 3: Lifestyles of the rich and (too) truthful

Survivor 46 Episode 3 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: March 14, 2024

As Survivor 46 settles into its regular run-time, Damnbueno talks about the episode's over-sharing (with one exception), and its "miracles for one are a tragedy for someone else" ending. Plus a look back at players who "don't need the money."

Episode 2: A wide variety of mistakes

Survivor 46 Episode 2 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: March 7, 2024

It's another two-hour Survivor 46 episode, this one spending a long time in the Yanu camp. Damnbueno gives his reactions to their and the other tribe's various strategic triumphs and misplays.

Episode 1: Could this be my dream season?

Survivor 46 Episode 1 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: February 29, 2024

With an extra-long, two-hour Survivor 46 premiere, Damnbueno has a lot of ground to cover, but luckily, one guy keeps volunteering to be in every scene, and keeps messing up and/or quitting. Jelinsky got the title quote and the focus, which unfortunately carried over to Tribal, but Damnbueno is happy about what looks like the perfect mix of contestant types.

Pre-season: But I don't make predictions!

Survivor 46 Pre-season cast analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: February 25, 2024

With the Survivor 46 premiere days away, Damnbueno has watched all of the contestants' pre-game interviews, made when the actual game was mere days away, and has come up with a list of potential standouts and longshots. But he doesn't make predictions.

Episode 13: Satisfaction!

Survivor 45 Episode 13 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: December 21, 2023

Survivor 45 has crowned its champion, and Damnbueno is here with his in-progress reactions to the chaos, challenges, various Jake-ing, and through it all, the calm competence of Dee in the finale and Aftershow. Farewell to a well-played season, hello to a new tribe forming.

Episode 12: The head vs. the heart

Survivor 45 Episode 12 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: December 14, 2023

There's still one more episode of Survivor 45 to go, but Damnbueno is ready to crown the best strategic player of the season: Dee. Episode 12 showed her dodging and manipulating the episode, securing her desired outcome, and doing all this while almost entirely undetected. Can she go all the way?

Episode 11: New era whack-a-strategic-player

Survivor 45 Episode 11 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: December 7, 2023

As another big Survivor 45 player gets the boot in Episode 11, right after making a big move, Damnbueno looks ahead to the player making that move also getting the boot, ad infinitum. Also, a whole lot of jury preference projections.

Episode 10: Can a Big Move be the wrong move?

Survivor 45 Episode 10 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: November 30, 2023

At long last, everyone is finally voting on Survivor 45 in Episode 10, and Bruce does not have immunity. Damnbueno ponders the logic of taking out someone holding an idol while sparing the alliance that seems to be running the game.

Episode 9: It could be worse - it could be raining

Survivor 45 Episode 9 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: November 23, 2023

Damnbueno is thankful that three people losing their votes didn't turn out worse, but Survivor 45's Episode 9 still delivered a bit of a turkey. Which you then had to eat with your bare hands.

Episode 8: A positive evolution

Survivor 45 Episode 8 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: November 16, 2023

The auction is back in Episode 8 of Survivor 45, and Damnbueno takes you through the twists (of course there's a twist) and stomach-turns of that and the immunity challenge, plus a high-powered blindside at the subsequent Tribal Council.

Episode 7: Who's playing the long game?

Survivor 45 Episode 7 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: November 9, 2023

We've hit Episode 7 of Survivor 45, so it's time for the first individual challenge (sort of), and Damnbueno is happy to finally start evaluating who is playing the best long-term strategic game, who's treading water, and who's going under.

Episode 6: The dumb luck factor

Survivor 45 Episode 6 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: November 2, 2023

As the tribes join together-ish, the target narrows to six players, thanks to a twist. But one of them is miraculously saved, thanks to another twist. And another is targeted and leaves, thanks to a third twist. And yet, as Damnbueno agrees, it's all '___ crazy' fun

Episode 5: The power of indecision ... to backfire

Survivor 45 Episode 5 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: October 25, 2023

Episode 5, the last pre-merge(atory) one of Survivor 45, was all about choices - Emily picking a side, or the journey trio deciding between sandwiches and amulets. Damnbueno evaluates those decisions, as the real game seems close to starting.

Episode 4: Who wants to play Survivor? No really, who?

Survivor 45 Episode 4 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: October 19, 2023

On Survivor 45, Episode 4 was a week of firsts - first swap of the new era, first win for Lulu, first time Lulu has fire - and also a week of seconds, as the season experienced its second quit. Damnbueno rounds all this up and evaluates how the swap affected players' positions.

Episode 3: The lost art of silence

Survivor 45 Episode 3 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: October 12, 2023

Episode 3 of Survivor 45 packed more big events into its hour-and-a-half, but it still managed to highlight most of the relationships important to how those events unfolded. Damnbueno recaps those and the big blindside, just before it all gets rent asunder in next week's swap.

Episode 2: The twist that doesn't twist

Survivor 45 Episode 2 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: October 5, 2023

After a denser, richer 90-minute Episode 2 that spent more time in camp than in recent seasons, Damnbueno mulls over Lulu's strategic choices and wonders about the implications of the Ep1 tribe-visit twist that was edited out for time.

Episode 1: Survivor déja vu

Survivor 45 Episode 1 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: September 28, 2023

Damnbueno recounts the drama, collapses, misplays, oversharing, occasional triumphs, general chaos, and downer ending of the season premiere of Survivor 45. Featuring a few players who look like ones you may remember (especially Bruce).

Pre-season: The (lack of) evolution of the Survivor alpha male

Survivor Multi-season analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: September 5, 2023

Damnbueno looks back on the pitfalls and obvious but frequently ignored lessons of attempting to play Survivor as an alpha male. With fewer attempts in the new era, has the archetype finally run its course?

Episode 13: A finale this|close to a classic

Survivor 44 Episode 13 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: May 25, 2023

Damnbueno wraps up his Survivor 44 commentary with a run through the finale and aftershow, with particular focus on a Final Tribal Council that he feels ranks among the all-time best, with each finalist presenting a strong case for the million.

Episode 12: A race to a great finish

Survivor 44 Episode 12 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: May 18, 2023

With the endgame in clear sight, Damnbueno talks about the moves that should or shouldn't have been made in Episode 12 of Survivor 44 (as well as those that actually were).

Episode 11: Mergatory report card update

Survivor 44 Episode 11 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: May 11, 2023

Prior to his recap, Damnbueno runs through an assessment of each member of the Final 7's chances of winning, then dives into the surprise wins and big moves of Episode 11. Is Final 7 too early to make a flashy move?

Episode 10: Oh frontrunner, where art thou?

Survivor 44 Episode 10 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: May 5, 2023

As Damnbueno sees a winner contender fall in Episode 10 of Survivor 44, he ponders the optimal path to the end in new era Survivor, and the lack of a clear picture of who's really 'running the game.'

Episode 9: Final nine is divine ... I hope

Survivor 44 Episode 9 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: April 27, 2023

Damnbueno takes a look at the struggle for power in Episode 9 of Survivor 44, with three tribes trying to seize the reins, as the game finally gets under way in earnest. With the requisite mid-Tribal whispering, of course.

Episode 8: Coping with new era Survivor

Survivor 44 Episode 8 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: April 20, 2023

After a brief deep dive into core strategic approaches that are still valid in the new era, Damnbueno plunges into Episode 8 of Survivor 44, which actually had a fair amount of strategic gameplay, and featured the entire merge tribe finally voting and being at risk.

Episode 7: Mergatory report card

Survivor 44 Episode 7 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: April 13, 2023

Before going through the rock-draw-driven events of Episode 7 of Survivor 44, Damnbueno hands out his mid-season grades for the gameplay of the remaining competitors, then jumps back into the key-finding and split-squadding action.

Episode 6: Textbook self-destruction

Survivor 44 Episode 6 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: April 6, 2023

Episode 6 of Survivor 44 marks the sort-of-merge, and Damnbueno is excited as the game (sort-of) kicks into high gear with the individual phase of the game. But first, a review of the wide gray area between a quit and a medevac.

Episode 5: To sit or not to sit?

Survivor 44 Episode 5 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: March 30, 2023

Damnbueno looks at the maneuvering and idol shenanigans in Episode 5 of Survivor 44, most of which - while entertaining - ultimately became moot as another player left the game for medical reasons.

Episode 4: When living in a crazy world, learn how to speak crazy

Survivor 44 Episode 4 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: March 23, 2023

Damnbueno has the run-down on Episode 4 of Survivor 44, featuring a doubling of active idols, even more fake idols, a sort-of swap, and both literal and strategic bellyflops.

Episode 3: To play is to overplay ... sometimes

Survivor 44 Episode 3 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: March 16, 2023

Damnbueno takes you on a tour through Episode 3 of 44, from the fake idol finds, to coming-and-going injuries, to playing too hard, to competing too little, to hesitating about making a decision. Plus gargoyles!

Episode 2: Survivor minds over Matt-ers

Survivor 44 Episode 2 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: March 9, 2023

After a brief tour through the history of Survivor Matts, Damnbueno dives into Episode 2 of 44, including all the idol hunts, Matt-related events, and surprise reconfigurations of voting alliances at Tribal.

Episode 1: Island of No Secrets

Survivor 44 Episode 1 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: March 2, 2023

Damnbueno is back for 44 with a first-look run-through of the two-hour premiere, from the injuries to the oversharing to the too-many-to-count (and mostly public) advantages and Shots and idols played at the first Tribal Council. Can't any of you people keep a secret?

Episode 13: Stats (some meaningless) for a finale

Survivor 43 Episode 13 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: December 15, 2022

Well, Survivor 43 is certainly over. Damnbueno rolls out his reactions to the action as it unfolds, and his immediate attempts to understand the ending. (It's mostly jaw-dropped Jeanine face.)

Episode 12: This is why I LOVE Survivor!

Survivor 43 Episode 12 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: December 8, 2022

Survivor 43's second-to-last episode features plans on top of plans on top of plans, and Damnbueno is excited about every last second of it, particularly including Jesse's glorious double idol-flushing (neither his own) pièce de résistance.

Episode 11: The agony of the follow-up

Survivor 43 Episode 11 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: December 1, 2022

Damnbueno runs through Episode 11, which follows his favorite episode of the season, and celebrates Survivor 43 ditching Do or Die in favor of a clean Final Seven vote, but then notes the show backslides into a possible Advantagegeddon redux in the process.

Episode 10: To the observant go the spoils

Survivor 43 Episode 10 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: November 24, 2022

A classic strategic catch-22 ensnares one player, while another gets the editors' full endorsement for an "anatomy of a blindside" explainer, all in Episode 10 of Survivor 43. For Damnbueno, was this a great episode, or the greatest episode of the season?

Episode 9: Split-squad drama

Survivor 43 Episode 9 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: November 17, 2022

With one challenge and two Tribals, Episode 9 of Survivor 43 managed to pack in a surprising amount of conflict and big moves, with two key votes breaking up the majority Seven. Damnbueno recaps the big wins and blindsides.

Episode 8: A brief history of Survivor producer meddling

Survivor 43 Episode 8 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: November 10, 2022

In a two-part column, Damnbueno kicks off with a reaction to Knowledge is Power being thrust back into the game a second time, followed by his reactions to Episode 8, where idol-related antics continued. (But KiP was somehow forgotten?)

Episode 7: Survivor Blabbermouths

Survivor 43 Episode 7 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: November 3, 2022

If there was a recurring activity in Episode 7 of Survivor 43, it was talking: Jeff Probst talking and talking through an extra-long challenge, Gabler doing the same in the final stage, James telling everyone in sight about his Knowledge is Power advantage. So Damnbueno is here to talk some more about that, and suggest the missing theme for the season.

Episode 6: Stay humble, or die

Survivor 43 Episode 6 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: October 27, 2022

Survivor 43 sort of hits its merge episode, and Damnbueno highlights the dangers of playing the game with overconfidence, especially in a minefield of random draws and lack of information equilibrium.

Episode 5: Being annoying for fun and profit

Survivor 43 Episode 5 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: October 20, 2022

After a brief journey through Survivor history, Damnbueno looks at the flubs, acting, self-dunks, and strategic miscues of Episode 5 of Survivor 43, with an excited eye to how all the tensions and rivalries could combust when the tribes are brought together next week.

Episode 4: Introducing the Coco tribe

Survivor 43 Episode 4 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: October 13, 2022

A return to the classic reward-immunity-Tribal structure for Episode 4 of Survivor 43, and with it both a camp raid and (finally) a trip to Tribal Council for the Coco tribe, which Damnbueno says reveals a lot about the six players we've barely met until now.

Episode 3: Quick thinking pays off

Survivor 43 Episode 3 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: October 6, 2022

Episode 3 of Survivor 43 was light on strategy and heavy on idols and advantages, but also personalities and relationships. Damnbueno takes in all the actions and reactions and asks whether the Vesi tribe members made the correct decisions.

Episode 2: We're on strategy watch

Survivor 43 Episode 2 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: September 29, 2022

Idol hunting and snooping began in earnest (and paid off ... or did it?), pairs abound throughout the game, and one tribe had to maneuver around one, possibly two missing votes. Damnbueno is back with a more strategy-focused look at Episode 2 of Survivor 43.

Episode 1: LIVIN

Survivor 43 Episode 1 recap/ analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: September 22, 2022

Damnbueno gives his quick reactions to a double-length premiere. He applauds the show's return to a form lacking some of 41/42's most objectionable twists, and tries to parse which of the group of 18 new contestants are the best prepared, and are making good game choices so far.

Seasons past: Why subtlety prevails over 'big moves' in Survivor: Part 2

Survivor Multi-season analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: September 12, 2022

Damnbueno's series on the power of subtlety concludes with a look at a few more winners, plus some non-winners who fell just short, all with a continued emphasis that quiet, non-flashy manipulation of the other players will get a contestant further in the game than someone blowing up the game with 'Big Moves.'

Seasons past: Why subtlety prevails over 'big moves' in Survivor: Part 1

Survivor Multi-season analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: September 6, 2022

In another inter-season series, Damnbueno pushes back on the modern Survivor refrain that "you have to make Big Moves to win," and highlights six specific examples in which eventual season winners instead subtly manipulated their castmates into making moves that ultimately improved their position in the game. Even in the "new era" game!

Seasons past: Race in Survivor: Part 2

Survivor Multi-season analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: August 22, 2022

Damnbueno concludes his look at the history of race (and racism) in Survivor with a deeper dive into individual case studies of players whose seasons included incidents or accusations of racism. Plus an attempt to list why every Black player was voted out.

Seasons past: Race in Survivor: Part 1

Survivor Multi-season analysis

By Damnbueno | Published: August 15, 2022

In which Damnbueno takes a look at the reasons why discussions about race became such a prominent component of Survivors 41 and 42, the show's history of (scant) minority representation, and what the increased diversity of recent seasons means (and doesn't mean) for the show moving forward.