We’re solely three episodes into Survivor 44, and there was no scarcity of issues to speak about. From all of the medical points to the colourful personalities to a few girls strolling out the door first, Survivor Twitter has been abuzz with scorching takes, however I’d like to speak about one which’s been flying beneath the radar a minimum of comparatively: faux idols. This season, producers have basically handed some castaways a prepared made faux idol, and the potential long-term repercussions of which are already worrying some former contestants… and in addition me.
Let’s again up actual fast and description what’s happening earlier than we get into the response and the potential implications. This season, every of the three tribes had a locked birdcage positioned close to their camp. In it was a dangling bag with unknown contents. Nicely, as particular person gamers have discovered the keys, we’ve found the bag contained an actual Immunity Idol and a separate souvenir made by manufacturing with no worth. Gamers had been advised they might do no matter they wished with it, however the apparent implication is producers had been hoping contestants would make a faux idol, which is precisely what Danny did, tricking Matt into considering he discovered an idol.
Now, faux idols should not a brand new phenomenon on Survivor. Gamers typically make them to trick different individuals into utilizing benefits, to deflect suspicion or to lure a participant they don’t like. However these earlier examples felt like particular person gamers going rogue and making an attempt one thing. The truth is, Matthew, aka Plant Daddy, did precisely that to poor Jaime when he made one earlier this season, however there’s something that feels very different in regards to the one Matt discovered, which contained an genuine word and was made by producers. How may he presumably comprehend it was faux?
That’s basically what some former contestants had been saying final night time through the episode. In style ex-castaway Stephen Fishbach mentioned the origins of the faux idol “rub” him “barely the mistaken approach.” Right here’s a have a look at his tweet…
There’s one thing that rubs me barely the mistaken approach in regards to the #survivor faux idol being one thing that manufacturing made. There needs to be a way for contestants to have the ability to see by way of it. Removes technique/ company from the gamers – why wouldn’t they consider it’s actual?March 16, 2023
And he’s not the one one who thought it. Former contestant Zach Wurtenberger additionally wasn’t glad and talked about the way it appears like producers engineered your entire factor to make sure forged members look silly, when it’s precisely what they deliberate your entire time. If somebody finds an actual word with an idol that appears legit, why would they be silly for considering it was legit? Isn’t that what each participant would naturally suppose?
He targeted on the way in which the present introduced the entire thing to us and the tone it took. Right here’s a have a look at his tweet…
Producers: makes good faux idolContestant: finds faux idolProducers: yo getta load of this fucken dumbass Tony cue the clown music #survivorMarch 16, 2023
I like that Survivor is an ever-evolving recreation (even when a number of the twists they struggle are objectively horrible). You must experiment with a view to discover the following great point, and as a lot as I really like Survivor 1, I’m not concerned with going all the way in which again to that period. However the producers need to create a recreation that rewards good play. Sure, there’ll all the time be parts of luck concerned. The most effective participant hardly ever wins, however discovering an idol made by producers with an actual word and assuming it’s an idol isn’t unhealthy recreation play. It’s precisely how the present has taught individuals to suppose for greater than a decade.
And let’s put aside the priority over particular person forged members getting screwed this season. What are the long-term implications of nobody ever with the ability to belief an idol they discover? That’s inevitably what will occur if this sorta factor retains taking place, and the consequence, for my part, goes to be idols are going to turn out to be much less invaluable. Gamers are going to be much less assured enjoying them as a part of an advanced tribal technique (as a result of they’ll all the time be doubting in the event that they’re 100% actual), and making a faux idol is simply going to turn out to be the pure step two each single time somebody finds an idol.
Given a number of the backlash and the implication we’ll possible see as this recreation unfolds, I don’t suppose it’s possible Survivor producers will make faux idols for gamers once more on a future season, however there could also be a possibility to make a bigger change right here that has greater implications. I’d wish to see Survivor create a rule by which contestants should instantly destroy any notes they get from manufacturing, whether or not it’s about idols, benefits or the rest. That may imply the participant themselves would all the time know if what that they had was actual (offered they discovered it themselves), however the different contestants would all the time have some degree of doubt since they might by no means see the notes for themselves.
No matter whether or not they use my thought or not, Survivor producers have to take a tough have a look at faux idols after this season. That does not imply they need to all the time hearken to former gamers and even followers who complain a couple of sure change, however when these complaints level out a really actual concern that creates an unfair enjoying area, they want to return to the drafting board.
