Survivor: Samoa

## Cast

***Survivor: Samoa*** is the first season of the *Survivor Universe*. It was originally broadcast under the name *Survivor*, but its official title has been changed to *Survivor: Samoa* to distinguish it from its future seasons. Prior to the change to *Survivor: Samoa*, the season was retroactively known as *Survivor: South Pacific*. The change of name became official in Season 3. Leshawna Baxter was ultimately crowned the title of Sole Survivor defeating Duncan Mitchell in a 6-3 vote.

## Production

Due to overwhelming interest in the show's format, more than 6,000 people applied for it. Eight hundred of them were interviewed in 16 cities. Forty-eight made it to the shortlist, which was whittled down to the final 22 players and 2 replacements.

## Twists

* **Team Composition:** The twenty-two campers were divided into Two teams of eleven.
* **Hidden Immunity Idol:** A Hidden Immunity Idol was hidden at each camp.
* **Double Tribal Council:** On Day 20, both tribes must go to Tribal Council to eliminate one of their own.
* **Merge Composition:** There were twelve contestants who were part of the merge.

## Season Summary

The 22 castaways were divided into two tribes of eleven: Savaii and Upolo. Savaii struggled the most, losing 5 members before the halfway point. While Harold initially found himself targeted by an alliance Duncan, Geoff and DJ, he was able to slide by the from being the first two trips to tribal council due to Courtney's performance in the first immunity challenge, Ezekiel's comments toward the women and the tribes belief of Sadie being checked out and the weakest member. Though his luck would run out when he decided to target Courtney who had formed a budding romance with Duncan. Getting him sent home leaving Tyler to fend for himself against two alliances, Duncan's alliance and Courtney and Bridgette's alliance. On Upolo, infighting began immediately as the tribe was having difficulties over building the shelter. Heather built an follower allaince, where she got who she deemed the weakest [Katie, Lindsay and Beth] to fall under her wing. But Leshawna and Gwen saw through this and started an alliance based on their friendships in the game with Cody, Trent with an extension of Owen who would be manipulated by Heather from time to time.

On Day 20, both tribes went to tribal. Upolo had enough of Heather's antics and could've sent her home if she didn't play an idol leading to Cody's blindside. After Savaii went to tribal with multiple plans in place. Bridgette was tired of Duncan's bullying antics and wanted him gone but Courtney had to decide between a romance or an alliance as Bridgette and Tyler had planned to vote together. Duncan's alliance wanted to get rid of Tyler due to barely having a relationship with him. However at tribal Duncan manipulated Tyler into voting incorrectly with a misvote sending him home.

The following day both tribes merged. With tribal numbers being equal but relationships being fractured. Katie joined the Upolo alliance after being mistreated by Heather. The Savaii alliance would come together as one but with Bridgette joining solely to appease Courtney. When Heather won the first immunity challenge, the Upolo alliance decided to set their sites on Courtney who they believed held the group together. To Geoff's dismay Bridgette left the alliance due to Courtney's depature and began to work with Gwen and Leshawna creating an all girls alliance.

Gwen and Trent had been flirting left and right since the beginning of the game but with Heather and Lindsay's manipulation caused Trent to be blindside. The following tribal, Heather won immunity and decided to not play the idol on Lindsay sending her to the jurybut she gave Heather a well deserved verbal assault. After using her idol, Owen was sent home due to still having an affiliation with Heather. DJ

Geoff and Bridgette were the last showmance remaining in the game and everyone had caught on to them by now, they saw them as a threat and sent them to the jury. But In a last-ditch effort to turn the game in her favor, Geoff attempted to orchestrate a seemingly foolproof plan to out Heather out but Leshawna and Gwen reneged on the deal and helped eliminate Bridgette and Geoff instead. After narrowly escaping the elimination, Heather would get Duncan on her side to take a shot at Gwen and Leshawna. Heather would go on to eliminate Gwen in a firemaking challenge. After the loss of her closest ally, Leshawna won the final immunity and put an end to Heather's reign of terror. With a Final Two of Duncan and Leshawna.