Survivor 42

Survivor 42 is the forty-second season of .
Adhering to the format of its predecessor, this season notably featured a greater degree of character development as its cast attempted to navigate the dangerous twists of Survivor's new era. After a medical evacuation at the start of the season, the tribal phase saw two tribes succumb to infighting as the Taku Four emerged as the only unified bloc heading into the merge. Following a fairly straightforward early merge controlled by a supermajority alliance, Maryanne Oketch broke through as a pivotal player that dictated the endgame. In the end, Maryanne won in a 7-1-0 vote over Mike Turner and Romeo Escobar, becoming the second Black woman and second consecutive Canadian to become Sole Survivor.
==Production==
Seasons 41 and 42 were slated for May 2020,https://deadline.com/2020/05/cbs-renewals-1202927097/ but the outbreak of pushed the production and filming of both seasons a year later. Safety protocols and mobility practices used in were still enforced.
According to Survivor 41 contestant Ricard Foyé, his cast had left for the airport the same day that the cast of Survivor 42, who had just finished their quarantine, arrived at Ponderosa.https://twitter.com/RicardFoye/status/1502131615509667872
Eventual castaway Lindsay Carmine was initially cast for this season, but was removed after testing positive for COVID-19.https://popcrave.com/survivor-43-exit-interview-lindsay-carmine/
Capitalizing on the fact that the cast had yet to see Survivor 41, production decided to keep most of the twists introduced in the previous season for Survivor 42. Another holdover from Survivor 41 was the on-location after-show held directly following the conclusion of Final Tribal Council and the announcement of the Sole Survivor. Jeff Probst has expressed his preference for this after-show format, stating that it will be employed for all seasons in the foreseeable future.https://ew.com/tv/survivor-42-finale-jeff-probst-winner-interview/
For the first time since its introduction in , scenes at Ponderosa were not published for unknown reasons.
==Twists/Changes==
* Shortened Game: As was the case in Survivor 41, the game lasted for 26 days, 13 days shorter than the standard 39. Like in the previous season, no food rations and limited camp supplies were given to the castaways and reward items won in challenges were scarce.
* Tribe Division: The 18 castaways were divided into 3 tribes of 6. No unifying theme was used in dividing the tribes.
* Penalties for Losing Immunity Challenges: The tribe that lost an Immunity Challenge was forced to surrender their flint to Jeff and could only win it back if they won the next Immunity Challenge.
* Shot in the Dark: By sacrificing one's vote at Tribal Council, a player in trouble may invoke this advantage for a chance to be immune from the vote. While the chance of a favorable outcome was slim, if successful, the play acted as if a Hidden Immunity Idol was played. In a change to its original mechanics in 41, this power could be invoked until the final six.
* Advantage Amulet: Each player who performed the second leg of the first Reward Challenge had the choice of taking an Advantage Amulet for each of them. If all three amulets were used, they could collectively cast an Extra Vote. If two amulet holders were left, using them together would give them a Vote Steal. If only one active amulet remained, it could be used as a regular Hidden Immunity Idol. The amulets remained in play until there were six players left.
* Beware Advantage: Game advantages were hidden in packages labeled "Beware Advantage", the contents of which may only be obtained if its finder opened it and fulfilled its demands. 
** Hidden Immunity Idols: Each camp had one idol, that if found, its finder had to utter a certain phrase before an Immunity Challenge, and if members of the other tribes respond with their own code phrases, all three idols will have power. Until then, the idols remained powerless and their finders without a vote at Tribal Council. Unlike in 41, however, the idols had full power after the merge when the vote penalty ended. A regular Hidden Immunity Idol with no restrictions was also hidden after the merge.
** Knowledge is Power: At the Day 15 Reward Challenge, a Beware Advantage was hidden for the contestant sitting out to find. Upon opening the advantage, that contestant must then find the Knowledge is Power hidden at camp by sundown; failing which, they would lose their vote at the next Tribal Council. The advantage entitles a player to ask another castaway if they possess a Hidden Immunity Idol or an advantage at Tribal Council. If the target is indeed in possession of the demanded item, the asker may steal it from them; otherwise, the advantage becomes useless. In the event that the target had more than one advantage in their possession, it is up to them which advantage to give up and they do not need to reveal every advantage in their possession. This advantage can be played until there were six players left.
* Journeys: Castaways from different tribes were taken to another island where they were given a choice between protecting or risking their vote on their next visit to Tribal Council. If all of them chose "protect", they kept their votes. If all of them chose "risk", none of them were able to vote at their next Tribal Council. If there was a split decision, those who chose "protect" get to keep their vote, but those who chose "risk" obtained an Extra Vote which would remain playable until the final six. 
*Idol Nullifier: On Day 8, an Idol Nullifier was introduced and hidden at the camp of the tribe that won the Reward Challenge. This advantage however went unaired.https://ew.com/tv/survivor-42-omar-zaheer-interview/
* Earn the Merge: The 12 remaining survivors abandoned their tribe colors and competed in an Immunity Challenge in 2 teams of 5. The winning team earned individual immunity, a spot in the merge tribe and merge feast, and the power to choose which of the 2 unchosen players from the challenge will be joining them. The last player unpicked was sent to Exile Island until the next Immunity Challenge.
**Hourglass: The exiled castaway was presented with an hourglass. If the player wished to "reverse" the events of the challenge, they must break the hourglass, hence revoking the winning team's immunity. The exiled player and the members of the losing team were given individual immunity instead, while the members of the winning team were forced to compete in the individual Immunity Challenge.
*Double Elimination: On Day 17, the Kula Kula tribe was subjected to a Double Elimination, where the tribe was divided into two groups of five and two castaways were eliminated through two separate Tribal Councils. Following the Immunity Challenge, one group remained at the Kula Kula camp, while the other was sequestered at the old Taku camp for the afternoon.
*: On Day 21, the first player to be eliminated from the Immunity Challenge was subjected to a game called "Do or Die", the mechanics of which were identical to the Monty Hall problem. At Tribal Council, the player had to select the box with the fire symbol to win individual immunity. If the chosen box contained a skull symbol instead, the player would be eliminated from the game with no official vote taking place and any advantage or Hidden Immunity Idols owned by the player cannot save them. The castaways were given the option to sit out of the Immunity Challenge if they did not want to take the risk.
* Simplified Final Four Tribal Council
* Expanded Jury and Final Three: The Final Tribal Council was held with a Final Three facing an eight-person jury.
* Reformatted Final Tribal Council: Instead of having each jury member speak individually, an open forum was held to ensure a more insightful rapport between the jury and finalists. The discussion was divided into three portions—"social", "physical", and "strategic".
==Castaways==
Contestant	Contestant 	Tribe Affiliation	Tribe Affiliation	Finish	VotesAgainst
Contestant	Contestant 	Original Tribe 	Merged Tribe 	Finish	VotesAgainst
 	Jackson Fox47, Houston, TXHealthcare Worker 	 	 	 	0
 	Zach Wurtenberger21, St. Louis, MOStudent 	 	 	 	5
 	Marya Sherron47, Noblesville, INStay-at-home Mom 	 	 	 	4
 	Jenny Kim42, Brooklyn, NYCreative Director 	 	 	 	5
 	Swati Goel19, Palo Alto, CAIvy League Student 	 	 	 	3
 	Daniel Strunk30, New Haven, CTLaw Clerk 	 	 	 	5
 	Lydia Meredith21, Santa Monica, CAWaitress 	 	 	 	9
 	Chanelle Howell28, New York, NYExecutive Recruiter 	 	rowspan="11" 	 	9
 	Rocksroy Bailey43, Las Vegas, NVStay-at-home Dad 	 	 	4 	
 	Tori Meehan24, Rogers, ARTherapist 	 	 	5 	
 	Hai Giang28, New Orleans, LAData Scientist 	 	 	7 	
 	Drea Wheeler34, Montreal, QCFitness Consultant 	 	 	5 	
 	Omar Zaheer30, Whitby, ONVeterinarian 	 	 	3 	
 	Lindsay Dolashewich30, Asbury Park, NJDietitian 	 	 	5 	
 	Jonathan Young28, Gulf Shores, ALBeach Service Company Owner	 	 	7 	
 	Romeo Escobar37, Norwalk, CAPageant Coach 	 	SecondRunner-Up 	6 	
 	Mike Turner57, Hoboken, NJRetired Firefighter 	 	Runner-Up 	4 	
 	Maryanne Oketch23, Ajax, ONSeminary Student 	 	Sole Survivor 	2 	
==Season Summary==
Taking advantage of the fact that its cast had yet to see the previous season, Survivor 42 adopted many of the twists used in . The accelerated 26-day game started with three tribes of six: Ika, Taku, and Vati. While Taku was the first to lose two members, they became a united front and dominated in challenges largely due to Jonathan's brute strength. Ika's lack of cohesion resulted in disunity, giving Drea and Romeo the power to dictate tribal dynamics. Vati quickly fractured into three pairs and two chaotic visits to Tribal Council sowed even more discord between its members. 
The individual portion began with the formation of a cross-tribal alliance built on the advantages that its members possessed. However, the introduction of the Hourglass forced the alliance to turn on itself, simultaneously allowing the Taku Four to position themselves securely amidst the two other starting tribes, which dissolved under significant infighting. The majority alliance took out the remaining outsiders before cannibalizing each other, leaving Maryanne and Romeo safe while Mike aligned with Taku to eliminate Hai and Drea. 
At the final six, the Takus finally decided to turn on each other. Realizing that Omar and Lindsay had been controlling the tribal dynamics, Maryanne joined the rest of Kula Kula to orchestrate their eliminations. At the final four, Romeo won the Final Immunity Challenge and brought his late-game ally Maryanne to the finals, forcing Jonathan to face Mike in the fire-making challenge. Mike won and joined Maryanne and Romeo in the Final Three.
At the Final Tribal Council, Mike was commended for his social game, but criticized for breaking his word while also preaching honor; Maryanne was praised for her growth throughout the game, but the jury was unclear about her approach to the game; and Romeo was criticized for having no control in the second half of the game. In a 7-1-0 vote, Maryanne's eloquence in articulating her growth narrative and strategic decisions won her the title of Sole Survivor over Mike and Romeo.
==Voting History==
==Trivia==
* Survivor 42 follows as the second season to contain contestants of East Asian, South Asian, and Southeast-Asian descent.
* Survivor 42 contains 5 LGBT contestants: Chanelle, Hai, Jackson, Lydia, and Romeo. This record was broken in , which had 6 LGBT contestants.
*Survivor 42 is the first season where three different tribes attended the first three Tribal Councils; this would happen again in Survivor 44.
*Survivor 42 is the first season since the introduction of the rock draw where a deadlocked vote occurred during the tribal phase.
* Survivor 42 is the first season with more than two starting tribes to merge with equal numbers between all tribes.
*Survivor 42 ties the record previously set in for most contestants immune at a single Tribal Council; 7 contestants had individual immunity at the final 12 Tribal Council. 
**Survivor 42 is tied with Survivor 41 for most contestants to have individual immunity at Tribal Council, with 10.
**Including Maryanne, who played an idol before the vote at the Double Elimination, Survivor 42 is the first season where every person who made the jury phase had some form of immunity at Tribal Council.
*Survivor 42 holds the record for most consecutive episodes where at least one contestant is sitting out of a challenge, with 8.
** The only tribal challenge in which every remaining contestant participated was the opening Reward Challenge on Day 1.
**With an additional episode outside of this streak, Survivor 42 contains a record 9 episodes where at least one contestant is sitting out.
*Survivor 42 is the first season since to contain multiple individual Reward Challenges.
*The final three challenges of Survivor 42 were all variations of challenges previously seen in the finale of .
*Survivor 42 is the third season, after and , with a three-way tie for most individual Immunity Challenge wins: Jonathan, Lindsay, and Tori each won two challenges. This is the first instance where none of the tied contestants won a challenge in the finale.
**This is also the second season, after , where the same woman (Tori) won the first two individual Immunity Challenges.
*Survivor 42 is the first season to have multiple Hidden Immunity Idols expire unused.
*Survivor 42 is the second season whose finale aired over a year after filming commenced, after .
*Survivor 42 is the first season where women and men were alternately eliminated during the jury phase.
*Survivor 42 is the second season to produce a Final Three containing one representative of each starting tribe, after .
*Survivor 42 is the first season since whose Final Three did not include any Caucasian contestants.
*Survivor 41 and Survivor 42 are the first seasons since and to produce consecutive female Sole Survivors.
* Survivor 42 is the first season since to not have Ponderosa videos for the jury.https://twitter.com/chanellehowelll/status/1517302164330319872
==References==
42
Category:Survivor (U.S.)
Category:Survivor 42
Category:Seasons with a reused location