The controversial Shot In The Dark twist on Survivor will reportedly be returning for season 43 and beyond. It started last season, in 41, but has yet to be successful because of its long odds (1-in-6). The Shot In The Dark is one of a handful of new wrinkles to the game that aren't going away anytime soon.
After Survivor took a long break following Winners at War, Jeff Probst decided new twists were needed to spice things up. He dubbed the following season a "new era" and popularized the saying "drop the 4, keep the 1", alluding to the fact that 41 would feel like a new game. In reality, 41 wasn't all that different from its predecessors. Fans at this point are used to Jeff pushing the envelope with funky idols and creative advantages, and 41 and 42 have simply been the next evolution in that process. One of the elements Jeff added was the Shot In The Dark, which allows a player to forgo their vote and give themselves a 1-in-6 shot of staying in the game. It's only been used if the player is near certain they will be voted out that night. It has not worked out for anyone thus far.
In an interview with EW, Jeff told Dalton Ross that "things like small tribes, earn the merge, no food, risk/reward dilemmas, Shot In The Dark, are here to stay." This is a huge reveal, as it provides insight into what the format of seasons will look like moving forward. One of the other twists, earn the merge, has received the most backlash, mainly because it has resulted in Jeff telling one group they have won immunity only for them to find out they are not actually safe later on. Perhaps that idea will be tweaked a bit in 43.
Through two seasons, the Shot In The Dark has been used five times. Sydney Segal unsuccessfully played it in 41, while Zach Wurtenberger, Marya Sherron, Swati Goel and Tori Meehan all misplayed it in 42. The Shot In The Dark has yet to see the light of day later in the game, when it could have a major impact on the outcome of the season.
Part of the reason Jeff is bringing the Shot In The Dark back is likely because he wants to see it work at least once. It has the potential to create a huge moment at Tribal Council, but it could also end up being a bad thing if a fan favorite in a relatively good position in the tribe is removed earlier than they otherwise would have. Jeff has a tendency to be stubborn in holding onto the game elements he likes while also being open to change. Hopefully, he has listened to some feedback so that seasons 43 and 44 can continue to push the show in the right direction.
Survivor airs its season 42 finale Wednesday, May 25 at 8pm EST on CBS.
Source: EW