Can you believe it has been 20 years that Survivor has been on the air? The reality competition series, which is currently airing its 40th season, has captivated viewers for decades who love to see contestants compete in tough challenges while enduring brutal and primal conditions in the wild. Players must build their own shelter, start their own fire, and find their own food. Sometimes they are given rewards like flint to start fire or fishing gear. And they get a bag of rice to ration among a tribe at the start. But beyond that, it's pretty much 'fend for yourselves' in a remote location in a foreign country far away from home.
While the series remains popular, we have to wonder if it should hang up its hat for good or if it's worth it to keep going. Here are arguments for both.
It Has History: Keep Going
Can you imagine 20 years from now, Survivor still going strong? With kids who are watching it now competing as the next wave while their parents and grandparents talk about what the show was like "back in their day?"
There's no reason a show can't keep going for so long. Many shows have gone on for decades, like The Simpsons and many soap operas. And we can see Survivor having staying power to last for several more decades. Though what TV might look like a decade or two from now remains to be seen.
The Format Is Getting Stale: End Soon
How many times can we hear the host Jeff Probst say the same things over and over again, like "come on in guys!", "this is what you're playing for," "drop your buffs," and "the tribe has spoken." It seems intentional that he says these phrases the exact same way every time. But it can start to get a bit boring,
The show has been mixed up in various ways over the years but some parts remain consistent, likely by design. At some point, though, they run the risk of becoming stale.
Teaches Kids To Follow Their Dreams: Keep Going
You hear over and over again how Survivor fans and even contestants say they were watching the show from when they were young kids. They have grown up on the show and love it. And while there is lots of drama, backstabbing, and lying, there are underlying themes of the show that send really positive messages to kids.
They learn to try hard at everything they do, never give up in the face of adversity, and to respect peoples' differences. They see contestants break down because they miss their families or because they feel left out, and others comforting them. These are great values for kids to learn.
Quit While You're Ahead: End Soon
Many shows have ended at their peaks for that very reason: to end when they have reached a pinnacle versus continuing to go on just for the sake of going on. Continuing on risks delivering a sub-par season that taints the show's reputation.
Survivor has had some lackluster seasons followed by great ones. It's hit and miss. Nonetheless, Survivor is best to end when the show is still at the top of its game to avoid being remembered as the reality show that didn't end when it should have.
Is a Journey Of Self-Discovery: Keep Going
Beyond the outwit, outplay, and outlast mantra of the show, players find themselves on journeys of self-discovery. We've seen people realize how important their families are to them, come to terms with loss, face their fears, build their self-confidence, and vent about their insecurities.
With days and days on a remote island with nothing to do but think to yourself and talk with others, players learn a lot about themselves. So Survivor, in a way, is a bit like therapy in that while trying to win money players also open up about their feelings.
People Seem To Be Typecast: End Soon
Every season, like many other reality TV shows, seems to typecast players. There's the attractive woman who looks like a model (and might very well be one), the muscle-laden jock, the athlete, the mom, the older person, the nerd, the country bumpkin, the scheming lawyer or salesman, and so on.
Trying to find a diverse group of people means you'll inevitably end up with people that fit different stereotypes. And that is what makes the show interesting. But you begin to spot the "characters" they are casting every season and it gets predictable.
It's A Great Guilty Pleasure: Keep Going
Who doesn't love a good guilty pleasure TV series? And Survivor totally fits the bill. You can curl up on the couch every week to watch the drama unfold, cheer for your favorite tribe, alliance, and/or player, and drop your jaw when a really shocking thing happens at tribal council.
The show is a great escape from reality whenever you need one and it makes people happy. Plus, it provides an opportunity for those who get cast to win a million dollars. And unlike other "game" shows, they really have to work hard for it.
Players Have Figured Out How To Manipulate The Game: End Soon
The show has tried to add twist after twist in order to respond to the ways that players have figured out how to manipulate the game. Every time a new twist is announced, by the following season, players have figured their way around it.
With voting, for example, players figured out how to split votes to ensure the person they wanted to get out would go home. Then came Immunity Idols and what followed? Strategies to "flush out" Idols. Players are too smart for their own good and they ruin the fun when they figure out strategies to get around the twists.
Reinventing The Wheel: Keep Going
If Survivor can continue to reinvent the wheel and come up with interesting new components of the game, like this season's fire tokens, it could remain interesting and keep viewers at the edges of their seats to see what twist or new element will be added to the game next.
Not every reinvention has worked, like Extinction Island which some don't like, especially when someone who was voted out for most of the game came back in and won. But it will be interesting to see how else they can continue to shake things up.
Running Out Of Interesting Themes: End Soon
The show has gone through so many different themes, from Millennials vs. Gen-Xers to men vs. women, brains, brawn, and beauty, and even the controversial season when they divided people into tribes based on race.
There are only so many ways people can be divided up in the game and this seems to be what is fueling each season going forward. It's no longer just a group of 16 random people and a different location every time but there has to be some theme behind it. What could they possibly do next? Maybe it's best to end things now before resorting to a dud of a theme next.