Episode 13: Survivor 48 has ended, long live Survivor 48

Published: May 28, 2025

With the Survivor 48 finale in the rear-view mirror and the Survivor 50 cast just announced, it's a good time to take a final look back at 48, especially in light of the new information we've received since it aired: the exit interviews with the Final Five, and the news of the S50: In the Hands of the Fans cast.

Episode 12: Heading to the exit

Published: May 19, 2025

Survivor 48 is almost done, with just two challenges, one vote-out, and the jury vote left. Episode 12 suggested the strategic game might finally be turning into 'fun betrale.' Will the ending reflect that?

Episode 10: My episodes are ploddin'

Published: May 5, 2025

A brief revisiting of Episodes 9-10 of Survivor 48, which tries to answer the central question of the season: Why does this all feel so slow?

Episode 8: Where the game is headed

Published: April 19, 2025

The post-merge game in Survivor 48 still hasn't really started as of Episode 8, partly for reasons discussed here, but no time for the present to prognosticate the outcome based on the state of the game, and the edit thus far.

Episodes 3-5: Weaponizing journeys: Good stories and bad luck

Published: April 1, 2025

Episodes 3-5 of Survivor 48 had outcomes almost entirely dependent on a single journey. There were strong storytelling moments throughout the latter two episodes, and a big emotional moment that is what Survivor does best, but also an increasing dependence of the game itself on pure luck.

Episodes 2-3: Pointless

Published: March 15, 2025

The lengthy Tribal Council in Episode 3 of Survivor 48 was advertised as 'historic.' And sure, it was the first time one person's vote decided who went home in Episode 3 of a season. Congrats, I guess? But I have another word for it: Pointless.

Episode 1: Heroes vs. Heroes

Published: March 1, 2025

As premieres go, Survivor 48's was solid, if a bit unspectacular. As the eighth new era premiere, most of the rough edges of the rejiggered format have now been sanded off, and it chugged along under its own power pretty well. There were some great, deeply emotional moments along the way, though.