Top Five, Baby! - Brent Sullivan's Survivor 41 recaps
Top Five, Baby! - Survivor 42
Survivor 42 Recaps/ analysis

Looking back on 42

Episode 13: Looking back on 42

Published: May 30, 2022

With the winner crowned and the finale and aftershow shown, Brent looks back on how certain seemingly important (at the time) scenes and narrative threads from Survivor 42 ended up paying off (or not).

Five people, one Survivor

Episode 12: Five people, one Survivor

Published: May 23, 2022

As the finale approaches, Brent takes it all in — the big move of Episode 12 and all the rest — and tries to forecast where the top five (baby) will end up when it's all over and the Survivor 42 winner is crowned.

Edits, alliances, and secrets

Episode 11: Edits, alliances, and secrets

Published: May 16, 2022

Brent ponders what one contestant's curious edit in Episode 11 of Survivor 42 means for their game, how the actual alliances are structured, how Omar's big move will be perceived, and what could happen with all those advantages, with just six left.

Raining idols, rewards, and Omar

Episode 10: Raining idols, rewards, and Omar

Published: May 9, 2022

As the Survivor 42 game clock ticks down to the final seven, Brent takes in the new updates to the idol counts, talks about the reward, and ponders whether the newfound ex-Taku majority will hold together or break apart.

Real-life moves, extra lives, and a move driver

Episode 9: Real-life moves, extra lives, and a move driver

Published: May 2, 2022

Brent talks about the larger-than-life issues raised at the second Episode 9 Tribal Council, the puppet-master pulling the strings at the first, and how the fallout from these two votes could affect the game moving forward.

Power, knowledge, and Knowledge is Power

Episode 8: Power, knowledge, and Knowledge is Power

Published: April 25, 2022

This week, Brent examines the Survivor 42 power dynamics: Who's in the know and seemingly in the middle of every discussion, who's on the outs, who has a massive assortment of advantages and idols — who needs to eat, and who will be eaten.

Goats, idols, amulets, and unexpected popularity

Episodes 6-7: Goats, idols, amulets, and unexpected popularity

Published: April 18, 2022

Brent tries to take in all the newfound friendships and relationships formed in the double-length merge episode(s), and hones in on key bonds formed over allegedly secret items, and some big players that people just seem to like, as the individual phase of the game kicks off.

From three tribes to one (-ish)

Episode 5: From three tribes to one (-ish)

Published: April 11, 2022

Brent wraps up the three tribes' internal maneuverings in the final fully pre-merge episode of Survivor 42. Who is clearly going to flip, who should consider doing so, and which, if any, tribe will stick together after they ... eventually ... merge?

Tribal fallout and outsized competitors

Episode 4: Tribal fallout and outsized competitors

Published: April 4, 2022

Alliances are shifting on multiple tribes (except possibly the one with the Goliath), as Brent examines five big events from Episode 4 that could have long-term significance in Survivor 42.

Underwater, underwear, and under pressure

Episode 3: Underwater, underwear, and under pressure

Published: March 28, 2022

Brent is back with a rapid-fire look at the big events, twists, and chaotic Tribal Council action of Episode 3 of Survivor 42, and the way they could impact the game moving forward.

Key pairs and open secrets

Episode 2: Key pairs and open secrets

Published: March 21, 2022

After an episode exploring the characters more deeply, Brent looks at couples — regular and odd — forming in two of the tribes, people's inability to keep things secret, and of course, Maryanne.

Returns, revisions, and exits

Episode 1: Returns, revisions, and exits

Published: March 14, 2022

Brent is back to break down five key events of the Survivor 42 premiere, from new twists to old, including prominent decisions, actions, and deletions from the fun but rapidly dwindling cast.

Brent Sullivan - Top Five, Baby!Brent Sullivan is a long-time fanatic of Survivor and has been writing about it for years. When he is not writing, talking about, or applying to be on the show, he spends his time with family, doing nerdy IT stuff, and watching movies. Follow him on twitter: @BSully_13