Survivor: Still the Ultimate Endurance Test

An impressive nineteen seasons in, Survivor is still able to deliver a few firsts, and this season, set in Somoa, has already come up with more than its share. It started out with more contestants than any other season (20), and had a contestant kicked out of a challenge for the first time when Ben was ousted for purposely tripping another contestant. And last night saw a flurry of firsts: First time a challenge has been stopped, and ultimately cancelled (Russell S. from the Galu tribe went into the challenge feeling drained and later passed out on the game board, a harrowing situation, though it took a beat for host Jeff Probst to realize what had happened since Russell was blindfolded). First time so many contestants were at tribal council (both tribes went, which meant there were 13 contestants present). And the first time tribal council ended with no one being sent home (both tribes were to have voted someone off, but the events of the day led to some generosity on the producers’ part).

All this drama plus some colorful characters in the form of Russell H., not nearly as nasty as he was at the start of the game but still able to manipulate his tribemates quite handily; and Shambo, a retired Marine who clashes with her Galu tribemates yet has had no trouble making friends while visiting the Foa Foa tribe. With so much going on on both sides, it doesn’t even matter that Natalie, Laura, Brett, and Mick have yet to establish personalities that go beyond the point of being nondescript.

This is shaping up to be one of the most eventful and physically demanding seasons of Survivor ever. Over the course of the last two episodes, contestants have had to seek out any sort of shelter they can find to guard themselves from the torrential downpours that last for days on end. Right about now, their emotions are as raw as their skin, a fact that was only exacerbated by Russell S.’s forced departure after being assessed by the show’s medical staff. His exit was truly heartrending, with him feeling that he had not only let himself down, but his family as well. Russell played the game with as much determination and fortitude as can be expected, and if the remaining contestants can muster half the grit that he displayed, it should make for an entertaining back half of what has already been an incredibly enjoyable season.