If Survivor fans can rely on one thing, it’s that the show will continue to surprise them, even after all these years. For its 38th season, subtitled Edge of Extinction, the reality series has come up with one of its biggest twists.
This time, when players are voted out at tribal council, they won’t necessarily be finished in the game. They’ll be given a choice: exit the game for good or travel to Extinction Island and wait for a chance to get back in the game.
As its name suggests, Extinction Island is no picnic, with even fewer supplies and means of survival than back at camp. They will have no idea how long they’ll be there and their former tribemates will initially have no idea what has happened to the people they have voted out.
Aubry Bracco, 32, says that when she did find out about the twist, being careful not to reveal whether it was because she was voted out herself or only when those voted out got their chance to return to the game, her first thought was: “[Host] Jeff [Probst] is always up to something!” That was closely followed by: “This, right here, is why the show has been on the air for 38 seasons. Constantly evolving!”
Bracco is one of four returning players this season – the others are Joe Anglim (from Worlds Apart and Cambodia), Kelley Wentworth (from San Juan del Sur and Cambodia) and David Wright (Millennials vs Gen. X). “I couldn’t be more honoured or proud to be one of the four returnees,” Bracco says. “It’s not lost on me that only a few hundred people have been lucky enough to experience this adventure of a lifetime. To say I’ve played once let alone three times is a very special thing indeed.”
Having made it to the final five in both her previous seasons, Bracco comes to Season 38 understanding how to play Survivor. “I’ve learned that it’s not always what you do but how you do it,” she says. “People remember how you make them feel more than what you say.”
She’s also convinced fans will get on board with the “out, but not out” twist, saying, “Viewers know they’re lucky to have this show after all these years, and it’s because the Survivor team is willing to push the limits and players are willing to push their limits just as hard.” (Starts Thurs., Feb. 21 at 7.30pm; 9Go! with eps streaming each Thurs. from 4pm AEDT; 9Now)
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