Since the popular TV competition series Survivor first aired in 2000, players have used a variety of strategies to make it to the end of the game. Each recipient of the million dollar prize and the title of “Sole Survivor” has played a unique game that has allowed them to stand out from the other competitors; whether they utilize physical strength, mental wit, social skills, or a combination of all three, the winning players find their own impressive way to Outwit, Outplay, and Outlast. These three words have been the motto of the show since it began and form the basis for players in terms of what they need to achieve in order to be recognized as the best. But what is this game, and why are these three words important?

 

While there have been many variations of the game across the 41 seasons CBS has produced, Survivor is usually played with about twenty contestants who live together in a remote location. In addition to using basic survival skills such as building shelter and obtaining food, the players must learn how to build connections with one another that will help them prolong their time in the game while also competing in physical challenges. Thoughtfully cultivated connections keep the best players from being voted off and help to garner the support of voted-off players who ultimately determine who deserves the one million dollar prize.  

 

When making their choice for who should be awarded the monetary prize and the coveted title of “Sole Survivor” the jury of voted-off players takes many aspects of the remaining players’ game into account, and the manner in which each of them decided to outwit, outplay, and outlast is an integral part of their choice. Although players who dominate in physical challenges are often top contenders for the million dollars, players with a strong social game can frequently become the most successful in outwitting, outplaying, and outlasting the competition. The social aspect of Survivor is also the one that most often connects to players’ everyday lives. For this reason, in addition to finding it the most essential piece of the game to be strong in in order to win, it is one of the most fascinating to observe. Players form social connections in a variety of ways, many of which reflect relationships formed throughout people’s lives in the real world. Those who may be natural leaders at home find themselves guiding the their tribe while others might excel at quiet observation both in and outside of the game. To me, this makes Survivor unique as a reality tv series in that it often mimicks day to day life. 

 

Over the past 22 years of Survivor productions, the social strategy has remained the same while the rest of the game has evolved. With each new season, challenges have become more difficult, strategies have transformed to be much more complex, and winning players have become more cunning by building impressive resumes throughout the game ultimately. Some form close bonds during the competition because of a mutual interest, experience, or a similar identification, while others are drawn towards learning more about someone with vastly different views and experiences than themselves. Players will rely on these relationships for the duration of the game, even as alliances shift with each round. That’s not to say that allies are always true to one another throughout all 39 days of competition, which is when a strategic game becomes important, but the opportunity to employ complex strategies would not arise without players first connecting with each other.

 

Not only do these important relationships reflect those in our society in how they are formed but also in the nature of the relationships that are created. When meeting twenty strangers the players must keep an open mind while getting to know one another and be willing to learn about a new way of thinking or opinion. This is something that I feel should also be true of connections in the real world, which is one way Survivor not only reflects parts of our society, but also shows how connections can be made in the purest form.