The 47th season of Survivor kicked off in classic fashion on Wednesday, with 18 new castaways arriving on the beaches of Fiji to face their first intense challenge. The season premiere featured the typical mix of mud, heavy puzzle pieces, and fierce competition that fans have come to expect from CBS’ long-running reality show.
The contestants were divided into three tribes of six: Tuku, Lavo, and Gata. After a hard-fought battle, the Gata tribe emerged victorious in the first challenge, securing crucial camp supplies. But despite their initial success, the competition quickly turned to paranoia and strategy, as players scrambled to navigate the complex tribe dynamics and uncover hidden “beware advantages”, told USA Today.
As is the custom on Survivor, only one tribe had to face the dreaded tribal council with host Jeff Probst. Gata, the yellow-buff tribe consisting of Sierra Wright, Anika Dhar, Jon Lovett, Any Rueda, and Sam Phalen, found themselves in a tough spot after a disappointing performance in the immunity challenge.
Even though Any Rueda had an outburst and required medical attention during the challenge, the tribe ultimately decided to vote out Jon Lovett, a former speechwriter for President Barack Obama and co-host of Pod Save America. Lovett, who coined the episode’s title, “One Glorious and Perfect Episode,” was seen as a strategic and physical liability, earning him the majority of votes from his tribe mates and sending him home early.
Lovett’s departure marks the first elimination of Survivor Season 47, leaving the remaining castaways to continue their battle for the $1 million prize.
New episodes of Survivor Season 47 air live on CBS and are available for streaming on Paramount+. The premiere was a two-hour special, while subsequent episodes will run for 90 minutes. Fans can catch up on previous seasons of Survivor on Paramount+, where all 47 seasons are available for streaming.
The show, which has been hosted by Jeff Probst since its debut in 2000, continues to film in the Mamanuca Islands of Fiji, where it has been based for the past 15 seasons. Probst, who also serves as an executive producer, remains a staple of the beloved reality series. The most recent winner, Kenzie Veurink, claimed the title of “Sole Survivor” in Season 46, defeating her fellow finalists in a 5-3-0 vote.