Survivor: Edge of Extinction

***Survivor: Edge of Extinction*** is the thirty-eighth season of *Survivor*.

The season saw the introduction of the Edge of Extinction, offering contestants a second chance after being voted out in exchange for weathering the abject destitution of the Edge. The tribal phase witnessed the dominance of the Kama tribe, juxtaposed against the implosion of the Manu tribe. The chaotic merge was characterized by numerous blindsides, shifting allegiances and Hidden Immunity Idol plays, with Rick Devens besting his rivals to make the end-game despite being a perpetual target. However, it was Chris Underwood who made full use of his short tenure in the main game after returning from the Edge to win the title of Sole Survivor in a 9-4-0 vote over Gavin Whitson and Julie Rosenberg.

## Contents

* 1Production
* 2Twists/Changes
* 3Castaways
* 4Season Summary
* 5Voting History
* 6Trivia
* 7References

## Production

As has been the case for a decade, this season was filmed back-to-back with its predecessor, *Survivor: David vs. Goliath*.

Due to the nature of this season, the castaways were not allowed to do exit press until the end of the season.

## Twists/Changes

* **Four Returning Players:** Four previous castaways returned to compete alongside 14 new castaways.
* **Edge of Extinction:** After being voted out and departing Tribal Council, a player was given the choice to permanently leave the game or go into the unknown for a chance to come back. After the merge, all castaways remaining on Edge of Extinction that did not quit would form the eventual jury.
* **Advantage Menu:** Hidden at the marooning, the player who found it was given a choice between one of three advantages: to steal the reward from the winning tribe, use the parchment as an Extra Vote, or use it like a Hidden Immunity Idol. The Advantage Menu expired after the third Tribal Council.
* **Hidden Immunity Idol:** A Hidden Immunity Idol was hidden at each camp. In addition, those who returned to the game from the Edge of Extinction a Hidden Immunity Idol upon their return, but in two halves, one of which must be given to another castaway before the next Tribal Council. If both castaways remained after Tribal Council, the two halves can be reunited into one regular idol.
* **Tribe Expansion:** On Day 9, a tribe expansion occurred, spreading the 15 remaining players into three tribes of five, the third being the Lesu tribe.
* **Extra Vote:** On Days 13 and 21, an Extra Vote was hidden on the Edge of Extinction. The person who found the Extra Vote won the right to gift it to someone still in the game. The Extra Vote hidden on Day 13 had the addition stipulation that it could only be gifted to someone attending the next Tribal Council.
* **Joint Tribal Council:** The two tribes who lost the Day 16 Immunity Challenge were both sent to Tribal Council as one group to vote only one player out.
* **Merge:** This season merged with 13 castaways in the game; 12 in the main game and 1 from the Edge of Extinction. On Day 35, the second returnee from the Edge of Extinction became the 14th member of the tribe.
* **Simplified Final Four Tribal Council:** Instead of a traditional vote, the person who won the Final Immunity Challenge chose one person to take with them to the Final Three, leaving the remaining two castaways to compete in a fire-making challenge to determine who would be eliminated.
* **Final Three and Jury:** Three finalists faced a 13-person jury comprised of almost the entire cast. Everyone who stayed on the Edge and lost the return challenge earned a jury seat.
* **Reformatted Final Tribal Council:** Instead of having each jury member speak one by one, an open forum was held to ensure a more insightful rapport between jurors and finalists.