'Survivor: Redemption
Island,' redeeming
CBS series succeeds in reinventing itself season to season
By Tom Conroy
Mar 23, 2011
When “Survivor” premiered back in 2000 on CBS, most people believed that network audiences had no interest in seeing regular people in primetime. What they didn’t realize is that the show would turn those regular people into celebrities, whether temporarily (as in the case of the first winner, Richard Hatch) or chronically (Elisabeth Hasselbeck, a standout in the second season).
Now in its 22nd season, “Survivor” has increasingly relied on those manufactured celebrities to lure back viewers, having run three all-star editions and allowed selected stars to return in regular seasons. The familiarity hasn’t hurt the game playing, since experienced contenders tend to be distrusted by their tribe mates. It also helps us viewers sort out what can initially be an undifferentiated mass of players.
The current season, which features two noted “villains” each returning for their third go-round, is yet another example of the show’s ability to keep tweaking its formula to keep it fresh without losing the trademark mix of cooperation and deceit. Though “Survivor” will never recapture the buzz of that groundbreaking first season, viewers who give this version a try will be hooked.
The main tweak this season is “Redemption Island,” where the contestants are sent after elimination. They compete one on one for the right to stay another week and face the next eliminated contestant, with the last reject standing eventually rejoining the main game.
After five episodes, these dual elimination challenges have proven to be remarkably suspenseful and have produced a rootable underdog in 22-year-old Matt, who has won three in a row.
The two veteran contestants are well chosen. The charming Rob Mariano, a.k.a. Boston Rob, came in second in the first all-star season, but wound up marrying the winner, Amber Brkich. He seems genuinely amused by the general incompetence of his fellow players and shares his amusement well in his interview segments. Though he shamelessly lies to and manipulates his supposed allies, he comes across as a lovable scoundrel.
The other veteran, Russell Hantz, a wily Texan, has always followed the Richard Hatch strategy of being arrogant and obnoxious as well as duplicitous. Although he told his tribe mates early on that he was a changed man, a majority of them conspired to lose an immunity challenge specifically so they could vote him off to Redemption Island, where he lost to Matt.
It was satisfying to see Russell, who had been the runner-up in his two previous seasons, get the boot so early. Watching him sob with his hat pulled down to cover his eyes was icing on the cake.
Over the years, the increased complexity of the rules and the strategizing has been accompanied by a decrease in emphasis on literal survival skills. Early in this season, which is set on a beach in Nicaragua, both tribes were given flint and steel, so we’ve been spared the endless segments showing the recently arrived castaways trying and failing to start fires.
They also received a tool kit — with the providing sponsor’s name prominently displayed — so the shelter building went more smoothly than usual.
Sometimes the castaway angle seems merely to be an excuse to show attractive young people in skimpy and increasingly flimsy clothes. As usual, the producers have provided eye candy for both sexes.
Although Rob and Russell have overshadowed the other contestants, one stands out. Phillip is one of those natural reality-TV buffoons who seem to have no idea how they come across to other people, whether in person or on camera.
He constantly reminds us and his tribe mates that his background as a “special agent” gives him special insights into people, even though he has alienated everyone around him. The producers delight in showing the young women’s disgusted expressions as he bends over wearing a pair of pink briefs whose elastic seems to have worn out.
Rob’s interview bites about Phillip have been particularly funny. “Let it be a lesson to you,” he said after Phillip went ballistic at the first tribal council. “Government jobs are stressful.”
The onscreen graphics identify Phillip as a “Former Federal Agent?” It remains unclear whether he is deceptive or delusional, but signs point to the latter.
It’s unlikely that Phillip will last much longer, but we can always look forward to seeing him in a future season featuring all-star jackasses.
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