Jeff Pitman's S49 recaps
Jeff Pitman's Survivor 49 recaps
Survivor 49 Recaps/ analysis

For a brief moment, two tribes of seven

Episode 4: For a brief moment, two tribes of seven

Published: October 19, 2025

Jeff Pitman praises the decision to, for the first time in the new era, have two tribes of more than six people, in Episode 4 of Survivor 49. True, we didn't get to see the improved strategic possibilities on new Hina, but there's a decent chance for that on new Kele.

But is it fun?

Episode 3: But is it fun?

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.

A whole lot of nothing

Episode 2: A whole lot of nothing

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.

An enthusiastic introduction

Episode 1: An enthusiastic introduction

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.

Jeff Pitman's recapsJeff Pitman is the founder of the True Dork Times, and probably should find better things to write about than Survivor. So far he hasn't, though. He's also responsible for the Survivometer, calendar, boxscores, and contestant pages, so if you want to complain about those, do so in the comments, or on twitter: @truedorktimes