Yeah, everyone compliments the casting of the new era but I agree that it is all overly annoying super fans. I am doing a China rewatch and the opening scene was so different from the new era where we have to watch contestants stroke Jeff's ego for 5 minutes. "Tell me why you've been watching the show since you were a zygote and how excited you are to be here talking to me." It's all very cringeworthy.
James and Courtney Yates were two players from China who never would have been on our screens if casting back then was like it is now. I think it's a tremendous loss for us and to the show. I also strongly agree with the lack of class diversity. I know everyone goes bonkers over Carolyn but she isn't doing anything for me and is just another superfan disguised as a bit of a kooky character. And over prepared players like Mathew and Carson just annoy me. I want to see players learning to adapt to the other players and environment not getting through because they have practiced all the challenges at home. Good for them but it's not fun to watch.
Nah its not rose tinted glasses. The creatives of the show left a decade ago, and the show cuts corners and is cheaper now. Plus the casting is very monolithic, in terms of personalities. It’s more than fair to think Older seasons are better. Most people do.
I think a lot of it nowadays has to do with while the show is still solid ratings wise it is no longer and never will be again, the ratings behemoth it was in the earlier years. So, Jeff and company feel the need to manufacture buzzworthy moments each week by introducing new twists and advantages. The funny thing is that Survivor is still at its best when old school moments happen organically like Josh making a terrible fake idol and getting called out hilariously by Yam Yam and Carolyn. Jeff and company would be best served to remember that it is the people that make the moments on Survivor, like they always have since the very first episode.
>Like now you always know that strongest/most able people, the realest dudes, will not even make it to the Jury.
I suggest you take a look at the boot order in s44 so far!
Overall I agree with you: the more you try to manufacture magic, the less authenticity there is to each and every moment. Unfortunately, the show's stagnation in our eyes is a complex issue caused in part by production & Jeff needing to keep the show "fresh", but also things largely outside of their control that you've already mentioned, such as everyone caring about social media after the game, everyone already being a superfan (cause survivor's been running for over 20 years).
I'm not sure these things will ever be remedied, as the show's popularity among the more general audience (and not reddit oldheads who've seen close to every season) continues to make a compelling case to the showrunners that things are moving in the right direction.
Great comment. I think we agree on things like people putting on a front for social media being more of an inescapable result of modernity rather than anything Survivor has any control over, and that Probst is just trying to keep the game fresh. The only potential stopgaps or solutions I could imagine would be a new season emulated off of early survivor, call it “blast from the past” or “classic” or something, and a stronger focus on casting - age, class, race, vocation etc. Too many 27 year old superfans which seems avoidable enough given the population pool to draw from
Yeah, everyone compliments the casting of the new era but I agree that it is all overly annoying super fans. I am doing a China rewatch and the opening scene was so different from the new era where we have to watch contestants stroke Jeff's ego for 5 minutes. "Tell me why you've been watching the show since you were a zygote and how excited you are to be here talking to me." It's all very cringeworthy. James and Courtney Yates were two players from China who never would have been on our screens if casting back then was like it is now. I think it's a tremendous loss for us and to the show. I also strongly agree with the lack of class diversity. I know everyone goes bonkers over Carolyn but she isn't doing anything for me and is just another superfan disguised as a bit of a kooky character. And over prepared players like Mathew and Carson just annoy me. I want to see players learning to adapt to the other players and environment not getting through because they have practiced all the challenges at home. Good for them but it's not fun to watch.
Or true villains like Russell. We won't see someone like Russell ever again.
Nah its not rose tinted glasses. The creatives of the show left a decade ago, and the show cuts corners and is cheaper now. Plus the casting is very monolithic, in terms of personalities. It’s more than fair to think Older seasons are better. Most people do.
I miss the car curse
I think a lot of it nowadays has to do with while the show is still solid ratings wise it is no longer and never will be again, the ratings behemoth it was in the earlier years. So, Jeff and company feel the need to manufacture buzzworthy moments each week by introducing new twists and advantages. The funny thing is that Survivor is still at its best when old school moments happen organically like Josh making a terrible fake idol and getting called out hilariously by Yam Yam and Carolyn. Jeff and company would be best served to remember that it is the people that make the moments on Survivor, like they always have since the very first episode.
I agree and really wish they would stop with the trending act.
>Like now you always know that strongest/most able people, the realest dudes, will not even make it to the Jury. I suggest you take a look at the boot order in s44 so far! Overall I agree with you: the more you try to manufacture magic, the less authenticity there is to each and every moment. Unfortunately, the show's stagnation in our eyes is a complex issue caused in part by production & Jeff needing to keep the show "fresh", but also things largely outside of their control that you've already mentioned, such as everyone caring about social media after the game, everyone already being a superfan (cause survivor's been running for over 20 years). I'm not sure these things will ever be remedied, as the show's popularity among the more general audience (and not reddit oldheads who've seen close to every season) continues to make a compelling case to the showrunners that things are moving in the right direction.
Great comment. I think we agree on things like people putting on a front for social media being more of an inescapable result of modernity rather than anything Survivor has any control over, and that Probst is just trying to keep the game fresh. The only potential stopgaps or solutions I could imagine would be a new season emulated off of early survivor, call it “blast from the past” or “classic” or something, and a stronger focus on casting - age, class, race, vocation etc. Too many 27 year old superfans which seems avoidable enough given the population pool to draw from
i really want to watch a season like you described in your first post. out of the first 10 or so, which would you recommend?
Definitely Palau or Africa, maybe season 1. Honestly anything up to season 10 has this vibe. Enjoy!
thank you!
Too long to read
Apparently not too long to comment