Blood vs. Water (twist)

Blood vs. Water, also known as the couples format, is a twist where the castaways compete against a loved one such as a relative, a significant other or a friend.
==Overview==
In a Blood vs. Water format, the cast is comprised of pairs of castaways, but instead of competing alongside each other, the pairs are separated and assigned to different tribes. Despite the format, the players remain competing as individuals and may vote out their partner if they so choose.
==History==
===International Origins===
In 2011, before the conception of the "Blood vs. Water" moniker, . (the fourth season of the Survivor Philippines franchise) introduced the couples format where pairs of celebrities, each with a pre-existing relationship. However, unlike the U.S. adaptation of the format, the Philippine version had pairs of local celebrities and the tribes had 5 pairs each. 
===United States===
In its titular first season, , 10 former players entered the game with a loved one, with the veteran players on Galang and their loved ones Tadhana. As an added layer to the game, was in play, with the loved one still in the game may switch places with their loved one to compete in the duel.
In its second iteration, , all pairs were comprised of new contestants. Originally, the season was going to be played by 10 pairs similar to its predecessor, but one of the pairs, So and Doo Kim, had to back out due to the latter's sudden health problem, hence the season beginning with only 9 pairs with 10 men and only 8 women. Also similar to its predecessor, the pairs were still separated on different tribes. Although was originally planned to have Redemption Island in play again, this was scrapped in favor of Hero Duel Reward Challenges prior to the merge. A pair of loved ones would compete against each other, with the loser being sent to ; the winner would then choose which member of their tribe would be exiled along with their loved one.
==Pairs==
===Blood vs. Water===
 Loved-One Pairs
 	 	 	 	
Vytas and Aras BaskauskasBrothers 	Candice and John CodyMarried Doctors	Colton Cumbie and Caleb BankstonEngaged	Gervase and Marissa PetersonUncle-Niece 	Kat Edorsson and Hayden MossDating
 	 	 	 	
Laura Morett and Ciera EastinMother-Daughter	Monica and Brad CulpepperMarried 	Laura and Rupert BonehamMarried 	Katie Collins and Tina WessonMother-Daughter	Tyson Apostol and Rachel FoulgerDating
===San Juan del Sur===
 Loved-One Pairs
 	 	
Baylor Wilson and Missy PayneMother-Daughter	Dale and Kelley WentworthFather-Daughter	Drew and Alec ChristyBrothers
 	 	
Jaclyn Schultz and Jon MischDating 	John Rocker and Julie McGeeDating 	Josh Canfield and Reed KellyDating
 	 	
Nadiya and Natalie AndersonTwins 	Val and Jeremy CollinsMarried 	Wes and Keith NaleFather-Son
==Longevity Together==
The following pairs have played on the same tribe/Redemption Island with each other. This list excludes Day Zero.
Longevity Together	Longevity Together	Longevity Together
 	 	27 Days
 	 	25 Days
 	 	12 Days
 	 	11 Days
 	 	11 Days
 	 	8 Days
 	 	7 Days
 	 	3 Days
 	 	3 Days
==Trivia==
* is the first season to have castaways in a familial relationship compete against each other without Blood vs. Water being an official theme of the season. Married couple Amber and Rob competed on the season, starting on Dakal and Sele respectoively. They never played on the same tribe together, due to Amber being voted out before the Tribe Switch and Rob before the merge, but spent 22 days on the together. This is the third-longest time played together of any pair of loved ones, not counting their 36 days spent together on before their marriage.
===Both Seasons===
* In both Blood vs. Water seasons, the winner's loved one finished in 18th place: Rachel Foulger (to Tyson Apostol) and Nadiya Anderson (to Natalie Anderson).
* Both seasons contained a quit: Colton Cumbie in Blood vs. Water, and Julie McGee in San Juan del Sur.
* Both seasons featured castaways who had previously competed on other CBS reality shows (Hayden, Nadiya, and Natalie).
===Survivor: Blood vs. Water===
* According to RC Saint-Amour and Colton Cumbie, the twist was originally going to pit blood relatives (blood) against couples of significant others (water), but the last minute substitution of Candice and John Cody for RC and her father threw off the balance, forcing the loved ones to compete against each other on opposing tribes. However, this has not been confirmed by production.
* Rupert Boneham is the only castaway to accept the offer to switch with their loved one.
* Of the ten pairs, only three had both castaways reach the merge: Aras/Vytas, Tina/Katie, and Laura M./Ciera.
** Five of the ten pairs had only one castaway reach the merge: Tyson, Gervase, Monica, Hayden, and Caleb. All of them reached the merge without Rachel, Marissa, Brad, Kat, and Colton respectively.
** Two of the ten pairs were both eliminated before the merge: Rupert/Laura B. and Candice/John.
* Coincidentally, both the first person and the last person eliminated pre-merge was a Boneham.
* Laura M. and Ciera have the most combined votes received out of any pair, with 33.
** Colton and Caleb have the fewest combined votes received out of any pair, with 4.
* Ciera is the only person to ever cast a vote against her loved one, in this case, her mother Laura M. She cast her vote against her mother at the last Tribal Council where at least one full pair were present and in the game.
* Tina and Katie have spent the most days together in the game, playing on the same tribe from Day 14 - Day 24 when Tina is voted out, and playing together on Day 32, when Katie is eliminated.
===Survivor: San Juan del Sur===
* Jeremy and Val Collins are the only pair in the season to have a unique relationship.
** Interestingly, they were both the second person to be voted off a tribe. In this case, Huyopa for Jeremy (not counting Julie McGee's quit) and Coyopa for Val.
* Of the nine pairs, only four had both castaways reach the merge: Reed & Josh, Missy & Baylor, Jon & Jaclyn, and Keith & Wes.
** Jon & Jaclyn are the first, and so far only, male/female pair to make the merge in a Blood vs. Water season.
** Jon & Jaclyn and Reed & Josh would be the first "water" pairs to play together.
* Dale & Kelley Wentworth are the only pair eliminated pre-merge.
** They are the only parent-child pair to not make the merge in a Blood vs. Water season.
* Twin sisters Nadiya and Natalie were ironically first voted out and Sole Survivor respectively.
* Baylor and Jon were the first jury members in a Blood vs. Water season to cast a vote for their loved ones at the Final Tribal Council.
==References==
Category:Twists
Category:Gameplay
Category:Survivor (U.S.)
Category:Survivor: Blood vs. Water
Category:Survivor: San Juan del Sur
Category:Survivor (franchise)