Returning Players

**Returning Player** seasons offer the opportunity to former contestants to play the game of *Survivor* again.

## Background

### Second Chances

A Second Chances cast is composed entirely of returning players, though with an emphasis on those who did not live up to their full potential or were eliminated early. However, any contestant who did not win their competing season is allowed to compete in a Second Chances season. *Bhutan*, the twenty-sixth season, was the first season to employ Second Chances as a season-wide twist.

#### Individual Second Chances

Contestants may be given an individual second chance in another season if their player desires. The first returning player in general was one given a second chance after real-life issues forced their evacuation from an earlier season. Although second chances are most assuredly given in the event of unforeseen circumstances, any player can have their contestant compete in another season if they wish, though acceptance is ultimately at the hosts' discretion. Those that have been given second chances include:

* Retoree, in *Nahanni* (evacuated during *Moon Islands*)
* Ringabel, in *Italy* (evacuated during *Moon Islands*)
* Nero, in *Egypt* (placed 20th in *Siberia*)
* Jeanne d'Arc Alter, in *Cranberry Isles* (placed 5th in *Peru*)
* Rubick, in *Camelot* (placed 17th in *Greece*)
* Ryoma Hoshi, in *Gorgona* (evacuated during *Moon Islands*)
* Nozomu Itoshiki, in *Tanzania* (placed 20th in *Galápagos*)
* Travis Touchdown, in *Bermuda Triangle* (placed 9th in *Socotra*)
* Specter, in *Hokkaido* (placed 23rd in *Nova Scotia*)

Additionally, Noah and Courtney competed in *Peru* as a second chance, returnee Blood vs. Water pair.

### Fans vs. Favorites

The Fans vs. Favorites twist pits a team of returning players, the favorites, against a team of new players, the fans. The first season to use this twist was *Wild West*, and it was followed by *Hawaii*.

### All-Stars

An All-Stars cast is composed entirely of returning players, reflecting some of the most popular and/or successful players in *Survivor*. An All-Stars season was planned out very early on in *Survivor* history, even before the reboot, though it was constantly delayed. However, it was eventually slotted into season 12, which became *Sri Lanka*.

A second All-Stars season is currently in development as season 32, twenty seasons and three years after *Sri Lanka*.

### Captains

*Jan Mayen* featured a twist where the two starting tribes featured two returnees each who served as team captains for the opening challenge. The contestants were split into four camps for just the first day, led by each of the captains, before fully uniting with their tribes. These captains were Kim Kitsuragi and Australian Rick Sanchez for Heroes, and Bray Wyatt and Kirari Momobami for Villains.

*Roanoke* featured two returning captains, one for each of the two starting tribes. Sora, who previously competed on *Egypt*, was the captain of Manteo (played by a different player), while Ash Crimson, who previously competed on *Camelot*, was the captain of Wanchese. During the introduction, they were in charge of first impressions and who got to make decisions on supplies for their tribe.

*Tanzania* also featured two tribe captains, in the form of experienced ORG hosts. This came after the season's theme was changed from Hosts vs. Players to themeless, giving those committed to playing a host character a unique opportunity. Cheiron Archer, who previously hosted two seasons of *Big Brother*, was the captain of Longido, while Tyler, the Creator, who previously hosted *Survivor: Roanoke*, was the captain of Karatu. During the introduction, they were in charge of tribe territory and challenge participant selection. However, because they had only hosted and not competed in prior seasons, they are not counted as returnees.

#### Non-Special Captains

*Tiwi Islands* had three returning players, one each for leaders (Iida Tenya), followers (Jurai Andou) and lone wolves (Junkrat); however, they did not play a role in the season opening.

*Rome* also featured four returnees as part of its Rivals twist (Deadpool, Megumin, Okita Sougo, and Peppino Spaghetti), all of whom brought in a new competing rival from their source material. Three of them were on Thraex and one was on Murmillo; like *Tiwi Islands*, they also did not play a role in the season opening.

Originally, *Italy* was going to feature a captains twist had there been another returning player, though this was scrapped when one of two returning captains changed their pick for the season. Ultimately, Ringabel was the only returning player that season, as an individual second chance.

## Notes

1. ↑ During *Socotra*, Travis was played by Ringabel. As Ringabel was inactive by the time of *Bermuda Triangle*, Jurai picked up Travis and played him for the season with Ringabel's blessing, as an individual Second Chance. There was going to be another Second Chance returnee in *Bermuda Triangle*, Alice Tendou, but her player dropped out between the roster reveal and the start of the season.