The Show that started it All

I just managed to finish watching the first ever season of the show which I, without doubt, follow the most closely. And even as this season has concluded, the latest one is about to do so tomorrow in the US and the sixteenth season will debut in less than 2 months time. But anyway, we shan't talk about the latest seasons of TV's longest running reality show now. There will be time for it later on.

This season was quite enjoyable. From the way it was produced to how it was edited (have I said that the official soundtrack sounded fab?). Though the sets looked like they were produced with a lower budget than now, it was quality versus quantity as seen is some of the later seasons (Fiji much?). It also introduced the now familiar theme known as the Survivor song to the casual viewers. But from the overall product, I'm not surprised that it was a hit when it debuted. Really, who would have thought of marooning 16 Americans on a deserted island for 39 days and the sole survivor being the million dollar winner? Who would have?

The two tribes had really distinct ways of operating. Pagong, the younger tribe, wanted to play fair and go with the gut feel rather than have safety in numbers. Tagi, the generally older tribe, on the other hand went with the numbers game and emerged the top 5 out of the group of 16. It was amusing to see all the castaways struggle with voting through an alliance. Years after this season aired, no one gives a hoot about getting into an alliance. That was a fresh difference I suppose.

As for the challenges, they seemed different from the typical ones these days. There used to be the individual fire-making challenge for a couple of seasons, but that doesn't happen any more. The mud volcano challenge was used again in Cook Islands though. Those were interesting challenges. The army-built obstacle course was brilliant though. Loved the challenges.

1. Sonja - Never really knew her as she only spent 3 days (1 episode) there. But she did seem like a very likable lady.
2. BB - He, on the other spectrum, got on my nerves. I'm not surprised he was voted out when he was. How could you not grate on people's nerves when you're shouting at them to work 16 hours out of 24? And he knew what this game was about, its not about making your life more comfortable. I never did get why he was out there. Oh, right. For all the wrong reasons.
3. Stacey - Maybe she tried too hard, too early? Then again, it is very hard to tell when is the right time to make a move in the game. And with no prior season to act as a reference, it would have been all the more difficult.
4. Ramona - She did try, you have to give her credit. I think it would have been difficult to vote any one out of this tribe.
5. Dirk - I'll say too bad we didn't see him longer. He was nice and you have to take your hat off to him. Bringing a bible all the way out there, sticking to values. In this day with all the influences, its commendable that he sticks to his values. Even one of the other contestants expressed their surprise.
6. Joel - The tribe's foresight got cut off before the merge. Gervase should have taken this spot instead and no, its not racism.
7. Gretchen - Big character. She was different from what I was expecting really.
8. Greg - Very interesting personality. Its almost as if he were a split personality at times. Hah.
9. Jenna - She came off more likable here than she did All Stars. Also, I think she had gotten over the moral thingy when it came to alliances then. It didn't seem to bother her as much. But as one of the All Stars, it was interesting to see the differences.
10. Gervase - I didn't like him really. Possibly the only thing I liked was his voting confessional at the final tribal council. That just cracked me up.
11. Colleen - How did she get the title America's Sweetheart? I liked Elizabeth more than I liked her. But with her snaps at Richard and Kelly, she did give a few laughs here and there. Especially in the final tribal voting confessional - "Go buy a raft, start some tour or something, maybe that will make you nicer".
12. Sean - Loved this guy's character. So whacko. From the alphabet voting strategy to the pure blindness to the alliance.
13. Susan - Not surprised she was an All Star castaway. Goodness, was she funny.
14. Rudy - The oldest Survivor castaway I can think of. You need to take your hat off to him for being so plucky to go out there and survive as long as he did. I remember thinking he was bitchy and grouchy when I first watched but now it doesn't seem as bad as I thought it was.
15. Kelly - I think she should have won really. Or maybe not. Just as she was confused in playing the game, so am I about whether she should have won or not.
16. Richard - Not surprised he won given his profession of being a corporate communications consultant. Gave the best PR speech at the final tribal closing statements. He came in knowing what he was getting into and knowing what he wanted.

Great season indeed. No wonder I love this show.

-LIVESTRONG!-
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