10 ‘Survivor’ Seasons You Must Watch Before Season 50

Survivor: Borneo (Season 1)

If you’re determined to get into Survivor, you have to take it back to where it all began: Borneo. It was a never-before-seen concept in 2000: 16 average Americans were tasked with surviving on a remote island, voting out the weakest link along the way. Richard Hatch pioneered the concept of alliances, foreshadowing the intense strategy the show is known for today. Ultimately, the season broke records: With over 51 million viewers, the finale was the second most-watched episode of television in the 2000s, coming in just after the Friends finale, per The Hollywood Reporter.

For season 50, original contestant Jenna Lewis is making her first return to the show in over 20 years.

Survivor: Palau (Season 10)

Survivor: Palau starts off with one epic twist: One tribe has no supplies, while the other has everything. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t end well for Ulong, which winds up as the only-ever tribe of one, with Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick holding down the lonely fort.

But it turned out all right for Kendrick, who’s returning for season 50. She’s also previously appeared on Survivor: Guatemala, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains and season 1 of The Traitors

Survivor: Cook Islands (Season 13)

It’s wild concept — and one that would likely never get made today: a season of Survivor pitting castaways of different races against one another, featuring tribes of White, Black, Asian American and Hispanic American people. Despite this, Cook Islands was actually Survivor‘s most diverse season at the time — never before had the show seen a 75% non-White cast.

Cook Islands produced some of the most iconic players ever, including Parvati Shallow, Ozzy Lusth, Yul Kwon, Jonathan Penner and Candice Woodcock. In 50, Lusth will return for his fifth go-around.

Survivor: Micronesia (Season 16)

Even non-Survivor fans may have heard of the “Black Widow Brigade,” which strikes fear into the hearts of male contestants everywhere. Survivor: Micronesia — which followed 10 fans of the show and 10 returning players — is known for its iconic, all-woman alliance, made up of Shallow, Amanda Kimmel, Cirie Fields and Natalie Bolton. It also features one of the most iconic blindsides of all time, involving an immunity necklace and a shockingly terrible decision.

Lusth and Fields — who’s fresh off appearances on The Traitors and Big Brother — are both returning for season 50.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains (Season 20)

Widely regarded as the best season of Survivor ever, Heroes vs. Villains brings back 20 all-star contestants, all of whom fit those archetypes. The real twist, however, is the inclusion of Russell Hantz — since he’d just starred on season 19, none of the other contestants had watched him play before, so they didn’t know about his groundbreaking idol-hunting strategy until it was far too late.

Ultimately, this season proves that watching villains outwit the heroes might be a little more fun. However, heroes Colby Donaldson, Fields and Kendrick are the ones returning for season 50, alongside villain Benjamin “Coach” Wade.

Survivor: Game Changers (Season 34)

Game Changers receives mixed reviews from seasoned Survivor fans. While it features an all-star cast, many of those favorites go home early (or because of an influx of advantages). It also includes one of the darker moments in the show’s history — when Jeff Varner outed fellow castaway Zeke Smith as trans during tribal council. (Varner was immediately voted off because of it and was subsequently fired from his job.)

Many of the early boots, however, pave the way for a satisfying — and unexpected — win. Fields, Lusth and Aubry Bracco will return for season 50.

Survivor: David vs. Goliath (Season 37)

Season 37 — which saw tribes of so-called “Davids,” a.k.a. the little guys, take on the “Goliaths,” or giants in their respective fields — affected more than just Survivor lore. Mike White, who had previously written films like School of Rock, went on to create his hit show The White Lotus after appearing on the show. Since then, he’s gone on to feature costars like Angelina Keeley and Natalie Cole on the show.

Plus, characters like Keeley and Christian Hubicki — who are both returning for season 50 alongside White — make this a truly unforgettable season.

Survivor 45

In many new-era Survivor seasons, there is one tribe that can’t really seem to get it together. That’s epitomized by season 45’s lovable Lulus: After Hannah Rose leaves the game ahead of the first vote, Brandon Donlon is eliminated for poor challenge performance and things got even worse from there. However, this paves the way for two standouts — Emily Flippen and Kaleb Gebrewold — to take on the Reba Four, a powerhouse alliance of Dee Valladares, Austin Li Coon, Julie Alley and Drew Basile.

Valladares and Flippen are both returning for season 50.

Survivor 46

For those that aren’t so sure about so-called “new era” Survivor seasons, Survivor season 46 may be the one for you. The cast features plenty of iconic characters — like Q Burdette, Bhanu Gopal, Liz Wilcox and Venus Vafa — and lots of old-school drama, including one epic breakdown about Applebee’s Bourbon Street Mushroom Swiss Burger.

Burdette is returning for season 50, alongside Charlie Davis and Tiffany Nicole Ervin.

Survivor 48

Miss the loyalty and longterm alliances of early Survivor? Season 48 of Survivor follows two players — Kyle Fraser and Kamilla Karthigesu — who manage to keep their working relationship a secret, ultimately fooling nearly everyone in the game. From behind the scenes, Fraser and Karthigesu pull the wool over their fellow castaways’ eyes, resulting in a dominating run.

Both Fraser and Karthigesu are returning for season 50 alongside challenge beast Joe Hunter, whom fans will remember from his emotional moment with Eva Erickson.

Bonus: The Traitors Season 1

If you’re ready to trade in sandy beaches for a chilly Scottish mansion, look no further. The Traitors season 1, which debuted in 2023, features two castaways from Survivor season 50 — Fields and Kendrick. During this landmark season of the Peacock show, reality stars compete against (and dominate) a cast of regular people. However, Kendrick and Fields bring their all-star past into the game, entering into an informal — and unsteady — alliance.

Ultimately, one of women skillfully outplays the other, making history that’s sure to come into play in Survivor season 50.

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