Why You Should Watch Australian Survivor
Tristan Kelly breaks down some of the common misconceptions about Survivor, and formulates an argument for why you should give the Australian version a proper go this year.
When people discover my passion for the game of Survivor, they often recoil in shock before launching into a string of accusations ranging from “I didn’t think someone like you would be interested in mindless reality drivel” to “But you do realise it’s all rigged?” and occasionally even to “What’s so appealing about watching a backstabbing popularity contest?” My aim today is to debunk some of these common misconceptions about the show, and to convince the skeptical ones of you out there, that in essence, Survivor is more of an intellectual sport than it is a standard reality TV show.
Here are just some of the reasons why I think Survivor is the greatest game on the planet, and why you should give the Australian version a proper go this year!
It’s not just ‘Big Brother’ on an island
Many reality TV shows have come and gone since May 31, 2000, but incredibly, Survivor has outlasted them all. In the US it’s currently gearing up for its 35th season, whilst in Australia we finally have the makings of a successful franchise following last year’s impressive effort. The longstanding success of Survivor is arguably due to the fact that it’s primarily a player driven game that evolves over time. Much of the drama results from the consequences of individuals making tactical decisions, and the moral dilemma of whether or not the way you play a game is reflective of the person you claim to be in real life.
“It’s become like playing multi-level chess. You’ve really got to think. It’s like House of Cards meets Billions in terms of thinking five moves ahead — if I do this, that’s going to happen.” Mark Burnett, The Hollywood Reporter
If you’re a fan of political drama, sociology, chess, poker, other reality shows, or basically any competitive sport, chances are you will find something of interest in watching Survivor. It is a game that combines physical, social, and strategic elements under the backdrop of deprivation, to create the ultimate human contest. If you can commit to a full season, you will soon discover that Survivor is far more intricate than a bunch of popular kids whinging about each other whilst they battle the elements on a tropical island.
It provides a platform for social debate and change
Survivor acts as a microcosm for present day society. Originally pitched as the world’s greatest social experiment, Survivor is built upon the premise of forcing a group of strangers to work together to obtain food and shelter, but then against each other to vote somebody out every three days. Revisiting Season One of Survivor is like watching a historical documentary – pre 9/11 and iPods, before the reality genre had overtaken our screens. Much of the season revolved around the ethical dilemma that players faced in deciding who to vote out, and whether or not it was in the spirit of the game to form tactical voting blocks. Another major story involved the discovery by a 70 year old Navy seal, Rudy Boesch, that he was actually able to become friends with an overweight gay man:
“Before we got on the island here, I formed opinions about people, but I changed my mind just on that trip in… The homosexual, he’s one of the nicest guys I ever met. And he’s good at what he does.” Rudy Boesch – Survivor Borneo
Seventeen years later, Survivor remains culturally relevant as highlighted by the reaction to contestant Jeff Varner publicly outing his tribemate Zeke Smith as transgender during a tribal council in Season 34. The lines of morality are often blurred in Survivor, but actions that clearly fall outside the boundaries of the game are always condemned. By supporting Zeke to tell his story on his own terms, Survivor has helped to promote acceptance of the trans community to a global audience.
“I am optimistic that this moment will serve as a model for how trans people will be treated by the media in the future.” Zeke Smith – The Hollywood Reporter
On the other side of the coin is the perpetrator Jeff Varner, who has wholeheartedly owned his wrongdoings and is making every attempt to stimulate positive change from his hurtful actions. The at times vicious condemnation that he has subsequently received, raises the question of whether or not one bad act or mistake should equate to an individual being labelled as an inherently bad person.
If you are interested in this sort of philosophical discussion regarding social issues and politics, you will find plenty of topics to discuss within an episode of Survivor!
Anyone can become a winner
In no way is Survivor a popularity contest. The mechanism of the winner being decided by a jury of eliminated contestants prevents this from ever occurring. Likewise, the prerequisites for winning the game vary from season to season depending on the personalities and beliefs of the cast. Good players adapt their strategy to ensure that they can forge a path to the end whilst maintaining the respect of those they oust. Over the course of seventeen years, Survivor has helped to redefine our perceptions of what a winner looks like. It provides hope that on any given day it is possible for any individual to achieve their dreams.
If you look at our show, this is what’s fascinating: white, Asian, Hispanic, African-American, male, female, straight, gay, tall, short, fat, skinny, ugly, beautiful, smart, dumb, old, young. Everyone has won this game—from John Cochran, the least likely, to Boston Rob or Parvati, the archetypes for the manipulative types.” Jeff Probst – EW
It’s a bit like politics really. Sometimes winners are liked, sometimes they’re despised. It’s about working out where the community draws the line in terms of acceptable play, and finding a way to subtly push your agenda without having your leadership overthrown.
Supporting local content is important
There was something kind of comforting about watching the inaugural season of Australian Survivor last year (discounting the previous failed attempts)… For the first time, the greatest game in the world was being played by people with a familiar accent and a unique Australian perspective on life (both positive and negative aspects). It was similar to finally witnessing the launch of a national women’s AFL competition – both developments opening the door for more people to be able to compete at a professional level in their chosen field.
As viewers in this country we are constantly swamped by international content, and generally undervalue the work of our own. Any opportunity to see Australian characters and stories reflected on our screens is a positive step towards growing our national identity. Whilst Australian Survivor might not fit the mould of high art, I would argue that the show holds both social and cultural significance, and if nothing else, highlights the fact that we as individuals are able to compete to the same standard of our US counterparts.
Season Two of Australian Survivor premieres this Sunday 30 July at 7:30 PM on TEN
Give it a go!
And If you’re still not convinced that it’s worth your time, consider watching a few episodes as a minor act of charity… Chances are you know someone who loves the show and/or wants to one day compete – each time you tune in you increase the chances of the show being renewed. You’d therefore be helping people to achieve their dreams! And just maybe, you’ll even discover that you learn to love the game.
Catch up on all the preseason banter from TTHS here.
Tristan Kelly is a 28 year old ex-doctor turned writer, based in Perth, Western Australia. During his final year of medical school he famously watched and analysed every available episode of Survivor (all 368 of them at the time), probably making him more qualified as a Survivor commentator than he ever was a doctor. In between writing and editing short films, he now spends most of his time organising various schemes, and fantasising about one day winning the game.