Well, I hope that everyone had a terrific holiday season! I know I did, and now I’m rested, refreshed, and ready to begin a new season of Survivor!
Before Guatemala ended, I found out through a news article that Survivor 12 would be filmed in the Pearl Islands of Panama, which would be the third time for the series. The first time the setting was used, it was for the SURVIVOR: PEARL ISLANDS installment, and they used the backdrop of these gorgeous islands to introduce a pirate theme that lasted through the season.
Immediately after this, they used the location again for SURVIVOR: ALL-STARS, and I was glad for that. Rumor had it they had attempted to use Palau as the backdrop for All-Stars, but they did not get an agreement on time for their required taping schedule, so they decided to stay put in the Pearl Islands. In the end, it worked out for the best, because this time, they were not trying to market the location as part of the show: the focus was completely on the All-Stars, no one cared what location was used, so recycling a location was a good move.
So now you can probably understand my initial confusion when I found out they were going to the Pearl Islands for the third time. These are not All-Stars going there, which means what are they going to call the show? SURVIVOR: PANAMA? We’ve already seen Panama!
But then came the night of the Guatemala finale, and we discovered that, once again, they are trying a new season theme that does not have anything to do with location: this time, the idea of the Exile Island.
They tried it for one episode in Palau (and the episode is actually titled “Exile Island”), and instead of being a punishment for Janu (the person sent into exile), it turned out to be the beginning of an epiphany that resulted in her quit from the game.
Now, the idea is back, and I’m very excited for it. I love the idea of someone being forced into exile, and I love even more the idea of having it serve as the running theme of an entire season of Survivor.
So, once again, smart move to recycle a location. Even though the word “Panama” is in the title, no one really cares. Everyone is going to be too intrigued by the ominous Exile Island and what it will mean for the players; we’ll all be too busy to give a rat’s butt about the location.
And, of course, since this is Survivor, even the twist has a twist. Exile Island is not going to be a place merely for punishment, abandon, whatever you want to call it: it also has a hidden Immunity Idol on it, incorporating a twist they introduced to us last season in Guatemala.
It raises an interesting question, namely, will the intrigue of finding a hidden Immunity Idol that could potentially keep you safe in the future possibly make a crafty player somehow TRY and get banished to Exile Island? It’s definitely an interesting concept, and I’ll be watching to see if there’s anyone daring enough to do that. I mean, hey, if there’s a chance for hidden Immunity and you can have an entire island to yourself with nothing else to do but search for it? The conditions might suck, but it might pay off in the long run, so you never know.
And, of course, it could be a good opportunity for someone who might be getting really fed up or frustrated by the others in camp, getting away could prove to be the right cure (namely Janu, although her “cure” was an epiphany that made her decide to quit the game, but we’re past that).
Now, I’m making Exile Island sound like an ideal place to be. Despite the obvious advantages for someone’s game that might be found with a hidden Immunity Idol or even a private get-away, being alone sucks, especially at night outside. And you KNOW that people are going to have overnights alone. Plus, it’s just never a good idea to be away from camp for too long, because while you’re digging around on Exile Island for the Immunity Idol, everyone else can be sitting back and plotting your demise.
So am I intrigued? You’d better believe it. Two weeks from today is the premiere of SURVIVOR: PANAMA—EXILE ISLAND, and I’m looking forward to it immensely. It looks like we have a great season shaping up.
I have now laid the groundwork for the concept of the new season, and hopefully got you thinking about a few things, and hopefully making you eager for the new season to begin. Next week, I will take a look at the most important part of any season: the 16 castaways who will be competing for the title of Sole Survivor, as well as discuss yet another interesting wrinkle: the division into four tribes, along gender and age lines. Don’t miss it!
“See” you next week!
