Furret :

I was thinking about you when I made this thread, so Imma summon you.

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Here is my list of seasons, with a brief (I might do a longer version later, not today, if I feel it would be read) explanation as to why.

For those who have no idea what Survivor is, I have nothing for you.

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1. Heroes vs. Villains - To me, Heroes vs. Villains represents so much of what makes Survivor great, a vast majority of this 20 player cast is incredibly memorable, and there are several huge storylines that get a lot of attention all throughout. The 20th iteration of Survivor, a cast full of returnees, brings to the table a true representation of a game that has gone 33 (soon to be 34) seasons, and has plenty left in the tank.

2. Pearl Islands - This was the first season I saw as a kid (It's overall, season 7). I didn't watch it in full, because at the time, I was just a little kid, and I didn't really want to watch it until I heard about a guy called "Rhyno" on the show. Turns out, they were talking about Ryan O, who was nicknamed Ryno. I thought it was a WWE superstar, not some douche. Turns out I didn't like him very much. But I grasped on quickly with Johnny Fairplay, Rupert, and Sandra, and found the season to be exciting. Later on, I returned to watch it, and found that it captured adventure like no other season has been able to. Its pirate theme is unsurpassed excellence, and is absolutely a must-watch if you are looking to get into the show.

3. Cagayan - I liken this to a modern-day Pearl Islands, for a mix of its amazing characters, strong gameplay, and simple format. Three tribes of six, separated by traits (brains, brawn, or beauty), with one of the wackiest pre-merges of all time. Seriously, someone does something incredibly stupid in like episode 2 and manages to last an extra episode. It's fantastically terrible. Once it gets to the merge, the fireworks begin, and it becomes a top 3 season because of it. Plus, Tony speaks llama and that's fantastic.

4. Tocantins - I miss when Survivor took risks. In season 18, they brought the players to the Brazillian highlands. Now, they frequent island and coastal locales, particularly Nicaragua, although now they are back in Fiji. Tocantins has one of the most exceptional pre-merges, and it follows with an exciting post-merge that has some of the best characters in the history of the show. It's also the birth place of Coach Wade, who has to be seen to be believed. This is high on the list of seasons that a new watcher must 100% watch.

5. Africa - This is an early season, and it shows at times, as it is rather rough. Most people would probably flip this and Australia around, for Australia's pre-merge, but I like the total quality of Africa, as opposed to Austrlia's one good thing (I mean they have good characters too, but I view Australia as rather boring, post-merge. I'm always surprised that so many of the characters from Africa don't return, or only return once (we're at a point where we're about to have 4 players who have played four times, Boston Rob, Rupert, Ozzy, and Cirie). The fact Ethan and Lex only ever play one more time is absolutely criminal. Africa also has one of the most unique locales in the entirety of the series, and is a point where the castaways were in legitimate danger from predators.

6. China - Culturally, China is probably the most unique season on this list. China represents one of the last times (although Cambodia brought some of this back) that the show actually focused on the culture of the location they visited, making it both an educational and entertaining trip. The cast was also complete dynamite. It would be top 5 if not for returnee seasons, and is a definite must-watch. Especially because the post-merge takes off in a way most don't expect.

7. Australia - I liked Australia, but many would argue I'm underrating it. Its pre-merge is exciting and you legitimately don't know what's going to happen with it. It can even be, dare say I, exciting at times. The problem is that the post-merge is entirely predictable, and one bad moment (one of the scariest in the show's history) colors the rest of the season in a pretty bad light, and makes it one of the better "What if" moments in Survivor. It's extremely character driven, and if you want that, this will be a top 5 season for you, as this season has an insane amount of returning players, who complete their character arcs in respectable ways.

8. Palau - This season starts off with one of the greater, and possibly most unfair, twists ever. Rather than spoil it, it just tells you this season means business. The pre-merge is also entirely unique, in that it has never been truly repeated, and is a large part of why the current Survivor format is the way it is. It also has the single best Final Immunity Challenge ever, one that went so long that it too has been a large part of why those challenges have changed in the ways they have.

9. Micronesia - The original "Fans vs. Favorites" season was an anamoly at the time. Half the cast are returning players with a huge target on their backs, but half the cast are new players that have never experienced Survivor. Micronesia is legitimately surprising, and is one of the more strangely strategic seasons in the show's meta. However, it lacks on emotion, but that's not always a bad thing. The thing that bothers me most is probably the who is in it, rather than the whys. Do not watch this season first. Do not watch it second. Don't even watch it third. You need to see at least see seasons 7, 9, 12, 13, 14 and 15.

10. Cambodia - This was a bit higher a year ago, when it first aired, and is part of why I now choose to go with the side of caution with new seasons. Cambodia is the third full-on returnee season, following All-Stars, and Heroes vs. Villains, but is unique, in that the fans chose who played. There were 16 men and 16 women on a ballot, and everyone voted for 10 of each. The 10 men and women with the most votes went straight to the island. Right away. As in, we saw them leave that very night. All of the players on the ballot were one time players who had never won the game, and as a result, they all felt they had something to prove. And this season did not disappoint. In my opinion this is the most strategy intensive season in the history of the game, and a celebration of what makes Survivor excellent. There are a ton of WTF moments, where you have no idea what just happened, and there are lighthearted moments as well. However, the post-merge is predictable, and at times, the game can get too real, and it can make you uncomfortable. This is not a good season for a newbie to watch, because it takes a fun game, and turns it into serious business. It's an amazing season, but only apply if you are a veteran.

11. Philippines - This may be the reason Survivor is still around. At this point in time, Survivor had been rattling off a couple unpopular seasons in a row, and the show was nearing it's contract expiration date. Philippines proved that the show could still work, and be entertaining, and I believe it's a large part of why Survivor as a show still exists. It also has the most unpredictable post-merge any season has ever had, and might be the go-to point for never giving up on winning the game, and just committing to your strategy, no matter what.

12. Vanuatu - Vanuatu is an odd season. Bringing back the men vs. women twist from Amazon, this season has so much emotion and characters and drama, that I feel it's become criminally underrated in the meta. It has an unpredictable post-merge that just makes the winner's game shine.

13. Millennials vs. Gen X - The most recent season, it drops heavily, due to a few ugly ticks against it. While the characters are incredible (you could arguably bring back this entire cast a second time, and have a great season), and the story of the season makes sense, the editing is a total mess, which makes it impossible to follow the story they want you to follow. It also loses all of its intensity after the Final 4 becomes the Final 3. The finale, up until that point, might be the best in the show's history.

14. Borneo - The original season, and a good one, but one that is heavily overrated for nostalgia purposes by pretty much everyone. Borneo brings one of the most electric casts to the show, but is completely devoid of basically everything else. It follows more like a documentary, is completely lacking in strategy, and is a very clunky installment. It is a must watch, because it's the origin of the show. Just don't expect to love the show if this is your first season, and you plan on banking your entire opinion based on this one.

15. Panama - Panama introduces a huge twist to the show, Exile Island, a source of character development for players in future seasons and in this one. The idea that you are being sent out to be alone away from everyone else is just unfathomable unless you are actually out there. Additionally, this rapid-fire season brings in one of the most rapid-fire casts, and has a satisfying conclusion. Only thing I didn't really like in the season, which keeps it from being top 10 is Cirie. Ugh.

16. Kaoh Rong - The second version of Brains/Brawn/Beauty, while not as good as the first, proves that the formula is not a bad one at all, and one they will probably use again. It has the most wild pre-merges of all seasons, with a totally unexpected result to start, features multiple people almost dying, and some of the better characters of the current "era" of Survivor (from Cagayan onwards). Its fatal flaw proves to be an unsatisfying winner, which isn't really explained well by the edit, and multiple non-moves. Definitely does not hold up as well as other seasons in the same period of time.

17. Blood vs. Water - The original Blood vs. Water was the better of the two they've had. Featuring 10 returning players, and their loved ones, this is the first major change to Survivor in the current era of Survivor (the others that may have been major changes have yet to be implemented a second time, such as the Super Idol, and idols at challenges). This is a season that you need to see, to really understand why it's so intense. Plus, someone votes out their mom. It's a very middle of the road season, nothing worth mentioning, but it's a fun season, and one worth visiting.

18. Marquesas - Marquesas needs to get more respect, I say, as I give it possibly too little respect. It was not a great season, it did not have a satisfying winner, and had one of the dumbest moments in the show's history. But Marquesas was where the evolution of Survivor into a strategic game really took hold. Players, up to this point, were afraid of alliances, and it was almost a taboo in reality TV for there to be an alliance. However, in this season, strategy took the forefront for the first time, and all modern strategy evolves from this moment in the timeline. It is also the birthplace of the single best Survivor ever, Boston Rob.

19. All-Stars - Basically Boston Rob comes back. There's too much to say about this without spoiling anything, but that's my positive for you. The rest of the season is tainted with the most disappointing reality you have to face in Survivor. Sometimes, your heroes are not heroes. Multiple players ruin their legacies, multiple players do things that follow them forever. A romance blossoms, and Rupert catches fish. Someone gets naked, and causes another player to leave the game. Someone's mom has cancer, and they leave the game. All the fun players get taken out, and you are left with the most cut-throat players of them all at the end. I love All-Stars for what it is. An incredible story that needs to be told, even though it's more about the bad guys than the good ones. Also, I have some nostalgia for it. It was the first season I saw the entirety of, after all. This is also the only all-returnee season I can say watch before you watch the players original seasons, because it's all uphill from there.

20. Samoa - Disgusting. Russell Hantz is in it, and not much else. Move on.

21. San Juan Del Sur - The second of the two Blood vs. Water seasons, and by far the less fun one. It features multiple great characters, but I personally found myself biased because I didn't like the fact two former Amazing Race players were on the season. Felt they had an advantage over the others. Also, if for whatever reason you hate women dominated seasons, this one will be one of your least favorite, as the men basically vote each other out, and ignore the women's alliance entirely.

22. Guatemala - Disappointing season, but the advent of the Hidden Immunity Idol, which is a total game-changer for the show and its history. Watch Palau first, because two characters from that season and their storylines are basically spoiled in this season. Home of the most gruelling opening challenge to ever happen, which knocks basically every male on their asses.

23. Cook Islands - Racism the Season. Ok, just kidding. They separate the tribes based on race, and there are a lot of great characters, the only reason it's so low is because it's such a basic season that makes things almost boring if you are a veteran of the show. In a lot of ways, I recommend you watch this early, or even first.

24. Redemption Island - A lot of people hate this season, because from episode 3 onwards, it is incredibly predictable. You might even be able to guess the winner on Episode 1. But sometimes, you want to see a Monster Truck crush all the little cars. It has some great challenges, and some good characters, but ultimately, it suffers big time on a re-watch.

25. Amazon - The worst of the early seasons (outside of Thailand), it just lacks much in the way of strategy, has an incredibly unsatisfying winner, and just lacks general coherency. Rob Cesternino also makes his debut, and he's just an incredible guy. He currently podcasts about Survivor basically constantly. It's his full-time job.

26. South Pacific - Honestly, you don't need to watch this one at all, and the only reason it's not last for me is because Coach is in it.

27. Nicaragua - Just very meh. It's a fun trainwreck sometimes, but it's still a trainwreck.

28. Fiji - Haves vs. Have nots was the dumbest twist in the history of the show, and no one knew how to play the game. Skip.

29. Worlds Apart - The single most disgusting human beings on the planet, most of which are blue collar people. Seriously, this one almost got me to stop watching the show. And it had such promise in the pre-merge.

30. One World - It's Redemption Island levels of predictable, but with even less fun somehow.

31. Gabon - You will have no idea who is winning, and when they win, you'll just be like "how"? The answer is dumb luck, and awful play from literally everyone else.

32. Caramoan - The fans aren't fans. The favorites aren't favorites. It may be Fans vs. Favorites 2, but it is also a terrible season.

33. Thailand - An actual sociopath wins a million dollars, a skater dude chokes out an evil man and gets chastised for it, a player has their game blown up by the first ever fake merge, and an unpleasant location all make this the single worst season ever. I regret ever watching this.

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Below is my recommended order for watching, if you want to get into the show.

Cook Islands, Marquesas, Pearl Islands, Borneo, Nicaragua, Amazon, Palau, Guatemala, Vanuatu, Philippines, Tocantins, Australia, Africa, Panama, China, All-Stars, Micronesia, Gabon, Samoa, Heroes vs. Villains, Blood vs. Water, Cagayan, San Juan Del Sur, South Pacific (if at all), Kaoh Rong, Cambodia.

Do not watch, or if you do, save for after a great season - Redemption Island (but only if you've seen Marquesas, All-Stars, and Heroes vs. Villains), Caramoan, Fiji, One World

Do not watch under any circumstances - Worlds Apart, Thailand