The long-running reality show Survivor is set to begin airing another season soon, but it's becoming clearer and clearer that the show needs another Second Chance season before too much longer. The first Second Chance season, Survivor: Cambodia, aired in 2015 with a cast comprised of players who had only played once before. Fans voted these players into the cast from a pool of 32 potential contestants seeking their second chance. The season garnered unprecedented fan engagement and anticipation for the season.
Survivor: San Juan Del Sur standout Jeremy Collins came away with the win in Cambodia after a season full of ultra-strategic gameplay and harsh conditions. Unfortunately, there hasn't been another Second Chance season since then, and the upcoming Survivor 41 and Survivor 42, which have both been filmed, are rumored to feature casts of new players. The next opportunity for a Second Chance season would be in Survivor 43, which would presumably film in the spring of 2022.
Survivor is in need of another Second Chance season for several reasons. The first is that the show has introduced many fan-favorite characters in recent seasons who have only gotten to play once so far. Notable contestants like Janet Carbin, Domenick Abbate, Chrissy Hofbeck, Davie Rickenbacker, and Christian Hubicki were all major players in their respective seasons and haven't gotten the chance to play again. The Second Chance theme also provides an opportunity to give pre-merge boots another shot to prove their Survivor skills. Players like Brice Izyah Johnston, Alexis Maxwell, Chelsea Walker, Molly Byman, and James Lim could surprise fans like Kelley Wentworth did in the original Second Chance season.
Additionally, old school players like Teresa "T-Bird" Cooper, Sean Rector, and Shane Powers need another shot at the game, and because Survivor casts typically skew young, the show might pass them up for future opportunities if they don't cast them for a season in the next few years. Although there are many former Survivor players who deserve a second shot at the game, there is a limited amount of slots on any given cast. Survivor should utilize the incredible roster of potential second chancers they've built over the years, as they're sure to add more names to the list with Survivor 41 and 42. With every season of new players, more former players get skipped over in line for a second shot.
It seems likely that a Second Chance season will happen in the near future. With such an impressive group of potential cast members, the show would be wise to utilize the theme to bring some of them back. Hopefully, Survivor announces another Second Chance season sooner rather than later.
Survivor 41 premieres Wednesday, September 22, on CBS.