A Survivor Loved-Ones Episode Idea

Fair warning: This will probably be boring if you don’t watch Survivor. And if you do watch Survivor, there might be very minor spoilers regarding last week’s episode.

One of the milestones in each season of Survivor is the “loved-ones episode.” Usually it happens when there are between 6 and 8 contestants remaining. There’s a reward challenge where someone beloved by each of the contestants–parent, friend, or significant other–shows up on the island, and the person who wins the challenge gets to spend some time with them.

There’s a moment in last week’s episode when, in the middle of the challenge, one of the contestants takes a 5-second break from the challenge to chat with his loved one. Watching this made me realize: What is to stop ALL of the contestants from simultaneously taking a break from the challenge to hang out with their loved one?

It seems like if all the contestants agreed to it, they could literally take over the challenge for as long as they wanted, and the show can’t do anything about it (as far as I know). When they’re done spending quality time with their loved ones, they can finish the challenge (it’s still worth competing for the food).

What do you think? Is it possible? If so, why hasn’t it ever happened?

5 thoughts on “A Survivor Loved-Ones Episode Idea”

  1. With how desperate everyone is to see the loved ones every season and the inability to trust other players already, I’d never trust everyone enough to stay paused that I’d bet that reward/kisstime on it. Somebody would break it.

    I also could see producers telling them to get going or risk them calling it a forfeit and shutting down the challenge with no winner or reward.

    Reply
  2. Interesting idea. That is the kind of “gaming” the game that Survivor could use more of. I remember when “Boston Rob” of Survivor fame competed on Amazing Race and he bent the rules a bit. One example I remember is where he got some other teams to agree to take a time penalty of like 3 or 4 hours rather than complete a task in a race around the world. If only one team did it, then that’s scary. BUT if multiple teams do it, then it’s game on after the time penalty. It was an interesting season where he did that a few times and had some other rule bending compromises.

    I have been a bit disappointed with Edge of Extinction island this season. Should be interesting to see who makes it back next. I thought there would be more re-entries from the Island. Is the jury really going to include everyone who stuck it out on the EoE Island?

    Reply
    • Boston Rob…he’s such a clever gamer!

      I’m very curious about that as well! It seems like if an EoE player makes it back into the game and to the end, they might have a big advantage over the other players, given the relationships they’ve had time to forge.

      Reply

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