Survivor: Brazil

## DVD Cover

***Survivor: Brazil*** is the third season of CJvivor. The season began on February 18th, 2023 and ended with the finale and live reunion on March 15th, 2023.

The third season ended with Darcy defeating Matt at the Final Tribal Council by a jury vote of 5-2.

At the Final Tribal Council on Day 26, the jury applauded each finalist for their strong, yet dissimilar strengths. For Matt, it was a stronger grasp on the social undertones of the season that allowed him to avoid being eliminated. For Darcy, it was a powerful strategic game that permitted him to stay alive despite being publicly identified as a large threat to win the season.

Darcy was commended for creating strong relationships with the members of the jury and using them wisely to advance himself in the game. He was also credited for maintaining bonds with castaways on both sides of the tribe to achieve a larger understanding of the season's alliances. Darcy was also celebrated for his ability to avoid being eliminated, despite being considered a large threat to win. However, some members of the jury found Darcy's gameplay to be too cutthroat and chastised him for the way he used his bonds with the others to push himself forward. Darcy also met criticism for his gameplay at the final three, leading both Danny and Matt to believe he'd take them to the end.

Matt was praised for making it to the final two with zero valid votes being cast against him over the duration of the season and for his strong, yet quiet game. Despite being winless in Individual Immunity Challenges, the jury noted that Matt was able to navigate the game despite frequently finding himself on the bottom of the tribe. However, the jury voiced their concerns about the passive role Matt took in the game, expressing their disapproval with his lack of initiative and strategic prowess compared to his opponent. It was also highlighted that, despite receiving no valid votes, the majority often considered eliminating Matt from the game.

In the end, the impact Darcy had on the game's trajectory, coupled with his ability to navigate to the final two despite being a frequent target, overshadowed Matt's under-the-rader game. This pushed the jury into Darcy's corner, awarding him five of the seven jury votes and the title of Sole Survivor.

## Production

Applications for *Brazil* began January 29th, 2023. 37 people applied, 35 were selected to complete a secondary interview, and 16 were selected for the final cast.

When the 16 castaways arrived in Brazil, they were split into two tribes: Rio, wearing yellow and Ipanema, wearing purple. Rio is named for the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, while Ipanema is named after the famous Ipanema Beach.

## Twists

**Hidden Immunity Idols:** Hidden Immunity Idols were hidden in the game this season. Each tribe had a Hidden Immunity Idol hidden somewhere at their camp. When played at Tribal Council, the individual who the idol is played on becomes safe, any votes cast against them do not count, and the person with the next highest number of votes is eliminated. The tribe that won the Immunity Challenge also received a clue to the Hidden Immunity Idol.

**Crystal Idol:** At the marooning, the castaways were informed that each castaway voted out during the pre-merge portion of the game would give a castaway still in the game a Crystal. It was revealed that the castaways who received a Crystal would have the chance to receive an advantage at the merge. Once the merge arrived, the castaways who received a Crystal had the decision to put it in the grab bag or not. One Crystal was randomly drawn from the grab bag to determine who would be given a Crystal Idol. The Crystal Idol functions the same as a Hidden Immunity Idol, but is given to the recipient publicly, in front of all castaways. However, the Crystal Idol would not have any power until after the first post-merge Tribal Council. At the merge, KiKi's Crystal was drawn from the grab bag, awarding her the Crystal Idol.

**Mutiny Challenge:** After Emily was voted out on Day 5, the remaining 12 castaways were given a choice before their next Tribal Immunity Challenge. If they wished, could compete in the Mutiny Challenge. The top two scorers in the Mutiny Challenge would earn the right to mutiny and become a member of the opposing tribe. If two or fewer people from one tribe played in the challenge, they would automatically mutiny to the opposing tribe. Adym from Ipanema was the only castaway to take advantage of this opportunity, becoming a member of Rio prior to the fourth Tribal Immunity Challenge.

## Castaways

When the 16 castaways arrived in Brazil, they were divided into two tribes of eight: Rio, wearing yellow, and Ipanema, wearing purple. On Day 12, the 10 remaining castaways merged into a green tribe that they named Redentor. The name comes from Christ the Redeemer, locally known as Cristo Redentor, which is located in Rio de Janeiro and appears on this season's logo.

## Connor's Winner Predictions

Following the Tribal Council of every episode, Connor ranked the remaining castaways on how likely he thought they were to win the game. Connor filled out the Final Tribal Council column following the final two's opening statements to the jury. His predictions are recorded below.

## Trivia

* The background image for the *Brazil* pre-season announcements was a photo Connor took in Brazil.
	+ The photo was taken at Christ the Redeemer, which appears on this season's logo.
* Connor visited Rio de Janeiro and Ipanema Beach, the locations for which the *Brazil* tribes are named, when he visited Brazil.
* *Brazil* is the third season to be filmed in South America.
* *Brazil* is the first season to feature an evacuation.
* *Brazil* is the first season to repeat a castaway name from a prior season.
	+ This name was Matt.
* *Brazil* is the first season to feature Crystals and the Crystal Idol.
* With 37 applications received, *Brazil* is currently the most applied-for season of CJvivor.
* *Brazil* is the first season to feature a Mutiny Challenge and a Mutiny.
* *Brazil* is the first season to have 12 episodes.
* *Brazil* is the first season where the winner of the Final Immunity Challenge went on to become the Sole Survivor.
* *Brazil* is the first season to produce Final Tribal Council vote of 5-2.
	+ It is the second season in which the Sole Survivor received five jury votes, preceded by *Iguazú Falls*.
* *Brazil* is the first season in which the 10th place finisher had a jury vote.
	+ This occurred when Sebastian replaced TJ on the jury, following his evacuation.
* *Brazil* is the first season to have a Player of the Season Award.
* The average age for the *Brazil* cast is 22.68 years old.
* With 26 total days, *Brazil* is currently the shortest season.
	+ Coincidentally, this is the same length of a new-era season of U.S. Survivor.
* To find a Hidden Immunity Idol, castaways had the opportunity to guess once every day where an idol or advantage may be located. To do so, they guessed a country. Each clue castaways received when winning Immunity would narrow the scope of possible countries that could hold the Hidden Immunity Idol.
	+ Rio's Hidden Immunity Idol was found in Cameroon. Redentor's was found in Finland. Ipanema's Hidden Immunity Idol was not found, but was hidden in Albania.
* *Brazil* is the first season to not have the Missing Castaway challenge as the Final Immunity Challenge. Instead, the final three completed a Chain Reaction Puzzle.