Survivor’s 40th season is officially in full force, with two previous winners currently out of the game, fighting for a second chance on the ‘Edge of Extinction.’ With a cast this stacked, Jeff Probst promises Winners at War will be the best season to date. After the Winners properly land on the beach, Probst reveals they’re doubling the reward, a coveted $2 million grand prize!
The two-hour beginning delivered an unpredictable, entertaining premiere that’s left fans on the edge of their seats, itching for the next episode. Here are the ten best quotes from Wednesday’s premiere.
10 “I Know I Gotta Stay Here ‘Cause I’m On Probation!” -Tony Vlachos
Fans of Team TV were happy to see Tony’s pace change from his haphazardness in Survivor: Game Changers. He said it himself– “my first thirty seconds, I ran around the whole island three times!” Tony laughs in a confessional, realizing the huge target on his back.
“I know I gotta stay here ’cause I’m on probation!” Tony jokes to his tribe, of course referencing the fact that he’s a cop. Tony has played with fellow cop Sarah Lacina twice before when he won Survivor: Cagayan, and when she won Game Changers!
9 “Especially When People Are Family Outside The Game, Like, How Do You Infiltrate That?” -Sarah Lacina
Sarah, Sandra, and Yul spark a conversation about being free agents at the water well. Yul mentions having no outside ties to other cast members, and Sarah just comes out with the fact they’re all skirting around: Boston Rob and Amber’s marriage. “Especially when people are family outside the game, like, how do you infiltrate that?” Sarah says, sounding like a true cop!
“That’s a good point,” Sandra throws in as the three agree on their tribe’s biggest target: Amber. Being the only two-time winner, it’s impressive that Sandra can remove herself from the spotlight, even with “Romber” in the game.
8 “I’m Like A Phoenix Rising From The Ashes… Ready To Burn Down Your House!” -Parvati Shallow
The excitement of an all-winners cast really sunk in when Queen Parvati Shallow had her first confessional. As the women are riding upon a speedboat to Jeff and the men, the edit cuts to a confessional from Parvati, who’s filling fans in on her recent marriage and motherhood. For the uninitiated, Parvati married Survivor: Samoa contestant John Fincher in 2017, and gave birth to their first daughter, Alma, just 10 months before she left for Winners At War!
“I’m like a Phoenix rising from the ashes… ready to burn your house down!” Parvati says with that infectious giggle of hers. She’s letting us know she’s back with a vengeance, more unstoppable than ever.
7 “I’m Totally Using The Mom Card, Are You Kidding Me?” -Parvati Shallow
As the Sele tribe settles into their camp, castaways bond over their recent parenthood. Parvati congratulates Jeremy on the two children he and Val had since the last time he played the game, and we cut to another Parvati confessional. She mentions how much motherhood and being a wife has changed her, and that she’s a completely different woman from the flirty player in her previous games.
She admits to being afraid of navigating the game with a whole new outlook and hilariously says: “I’m totally using the mom card, are you kidding me?” in typical Parvati fashion. Though she’s a completely new person, Parvati’s charisma and enchantment have stuck with her.
6 “My Jungle Boy Boy Number Two.” -Denise Stapley
After losing the first immunity challenge, Adam Klein and Denise Stapley take off into the jungle together, with a map to find the water well. Denise mentions the “Matsing curse,” where she went to tribal council every single time in Survivor: Philippines and still managed to take home the win. Adam provides his condolences, not shy about losing himself.
“If I could be your Malcolm it would literally be my dream come true,” Adam tells Denise, referencing Malcolm Freberg, her closest ally in Philippines. “My jungle boy number two,” Denise tells Adam she feels in her gut she can trust him, and Adam excitedly accepts.
5 “Really? You Have To, Like, Punctuate That With More!” -Sophie Clarke
What a great scene. Strategists Yul Kwon and Sophie Clarke take a walk together and immediately, within about ten seconds, Yul straightforwardly tells Sophie he’s glad she’s on his tribe and he wants to work with her in an alliance.
Stunned, Sophie stops walking, a huge grin beaming from her face. “Really?” she says in an excited, high pitched voice. “You have to, like, punctuate that with more!” she laughs, poking fun at Yul’s direct proposal. Nerds around the globe rejoiced as Sophie and Yul bonded, creating quite the powerful “free agents” alliance.
4 “Oh Yeah, Were You Talking About Shelter?” -Ethan Zohn
Ethan Zohn has made quite the comeback. After winning the third season and losing to Amber on Survivor: All-Stars, Ethan was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a rare form of blood cancer, which debilitated him for several years. Through a recent interview with Rob Cesternino, Ethan revealed he watched Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains during his hospital stay, praying he would one day return to the beach.
Incredibly, Ethan has returned to a completely new Survivor! At the first tribal council, Jeff asks Ethan about sleeping on bamboo again, which Ethan replies: “the pace of this game is shocking to me, compared to the last time I played that was like glacial speed…” Ethan declares. Jeff mentions that Ethan completely glossed over camp life, and Ethan cracks up the tribe when he says “oh yeah, were you talking about the shelter?“
3 “Rob And I Are Like, ‘Are We Being Punk’d?'” -Parvati Shallow
This moment was hysterical and reminded fans why Boston Rob and Parvati are so dangerous. Parvati leaves a group of newbie-winners who can’t make up their minds on who to vote for, irritating Parv in the process. She commiserates with Rob, asking him: “Do you think everyone is just dumb, or just really scared?“
With a smirk, Rob agrees their tribe is seriously bent out of shape, and there’s got to be something wrong when the two of them, the two biggest threats on their tribe, feel secure. During a confessional, Parvati chuckles: “Rob and I are like, ‘Are we being Punk’d?‘” giving the best confessional of the night!
2 “Does Anyone Want To Come Marvel At This Splendor? When We Say Our Prayers, Also Be Sure To Include Me, Thanking Me For How Delicious This Rice Will Probably Be. -Tyson Apostol
This quote began through a Tony confessional, where Tony goes through the reasons he believes Tyson should be the main target. Mentioning his likability, Tony admits “he’s a very funny guy, people love him.” Then the edit cuts to a clip of Tyson making rice for the tribe, and says: “Does anyone want to come marvel at this splendor? When we say our prayers, also be sure to include me, thanking me for how delicious this rice will probably be.“
The tribe breaks into laughter, proving Tony’s point to be valid. Though his ‘Poker Alliance’ came back to bite him, Tyson slid past this vote, making it through another tribal council.
1 “I Feel Like It’s Me!” -Kim Spradlin
Kim Spradlin is regarded as one of the best winners of all time, though she’s only played the game once, against a bunch of buffoons. This being her first time feeling like she’s on the outs, Kim approaches Sandra and Wendell, hoping for some clarification. “Do you guys have someone in mind? It’s me.” Kim asks, worried about her status in the game.
“Do you have someone?” Tyson asks Kim as he approaches, and Kim honestly replies “No! I don’t, but I feel like it’s me.” She looks to Sandra for approval, and Sandra just chuckles for a couple of seconds. “You don’t wanna say it?” Kim’s now even more fearful than before. “No, I’m not sayin’ nothin’!” Sandra humorously shuts her down, back to her famous antics.
About The Author
